Safrane exhaust flap issue

I had something similar on my Safrane. Sounded like a tractor on startup! Check the flap actuator; that's where my problem was. Is the noise constant, or does it change after the engine warms up?

The noise is most prominent during the cold start and diminishes as the engine warms. Did you observe any other symptoms beyond the auditory anomalies, such as a drop in engine performance, increased fuel consumption or any other irregularities?

Yep, that sounds exactly like what I had. It's likely the flap is stuck open. I didn't notice a huge performance drop, but fuel consumption was definitely up a bit. Honestly, at that point, just take it to a workshop. They can confirm the actuator issue and replace it. It's a fiddly job.

Based on your advice, I took the car to a workshop. The diagnosis confirmed the exhaust flap was defective, and the repair, costing 190€, has resolved the issue. Thanks for your assistance.