exhaust question

Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:43 pm

hi there i have posted a few times about things with my car.

i have a f plate 1989 2.0i 6 cylinder engine, but only have a single exhaust system, can any1 shed some light on why? i was under the ussumption that 6 cylinder engines are a twin system?

Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:02 am

Some 2.0 do have a single system, you can fit a twin system from a 2.5 but im guessing you will need to change the manifold too.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 4:14 am

manifold should be the same, you cant have a 6 into 1 i6 exhaust without one cylinder trying to blow gas back into another's open exhaust valve.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:14 am

Most of the facelift 320i systems I've seen do have twin pipes - albeit of a smaller diameter than a 325i system.

Does your car have the larger cutouts on the rear valance to accommodate a twin pipe backbox ?

Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:19 pm

yea it does indeed, do u think the exhaust system has been changed??

Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:21 pm

notty wrote:yea it does indeed, do u think the exhaust system has been changed??

Very likely.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:23 pm

is the single pipe likely to of changed my performance?

Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:25 pm

Not if it's the correct one for a 2 litre M20. If it's something bodged from a M40 system, then possibly.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 1:39 pm

how can i tell the difference?

Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:40 pm

Have a look at www.realoem.com. Go into the site then go to the archive. You can then specify your car, year, model etc etc.

You can then browse the diagrams for the car, in the exhaust section you will see what was fitted to it when new. Might not be exactly the same as you have now but you'll get an idea.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 3:53 pm

Very early facelift 320s did indeed come with a single tailpipe exhaust and a smaller recess in the rear panel. Most have been weighed or 'upgraded' by now.

Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:32 pm

as his car is on a F plat, doesn't that make it a pre facelift. pre facelift 320s had a single tailpipe. my mate got a D plat 320 all original and one tailpipe also iv had 2 myself

Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:33 pm

ive got an early '88 facelift and thats the same. single pipe from the down pipe back so will need to cut rear valance when i get a new exhaust. any tips?