Differance between automatic and manual exhaust

[martinclan]

I have been looking for a new front exhaust for my (catalytic) 325. It's 500+ from the stealer but I found an exhaust specialist that stocks them for the 325 but automatic only (strange) If you look in the ETK the exhaust for the manual and auto have dufferent part numbers (just 1 digit) but does anyone know what actually is the difference and wether I could use the auto exhaust on my car with the manual box. I have no problem in welding the odd mounting bracket if thats all the difference is and... its actually for the BMW based kit I am building so I don't expect a 100% fit anyway.

Cheers

Robin

[Brianmoooore]

Wasn't aware there was a difference. I've certainly used auto systems on manual cars.
Auto box is bigger than the manual, so maybe auto system stays to one side for a bit further to clear the longer box. If this is the case, then the auto should fit a manual OK.

[martinclan]

Cheers Brian

I was hoping for an answer like that. It might just save me Ԛ£300....

Robin

[Brianmoooore]

The kit will have to meet emission regs appropriate for the year of manufacture of the engine.
Is your engine new enough to require a cat?

[martinclan]

Interesting question.

The 325 I ued as a donor was a 1989 LHD drive import fro Switzerland. It had a cat fitted and the associated cat ECU with the Lambda probe etc.

According to the kit manufacturer as the donor was fitted with a cat the kit also has to be. Personally I think its a grey area because a UK 325 of the age certainly wouldn't have had a cat. I could leave the cat off but the Lamda probe is a bit of a giveaway and if it fails the SVA just because of that it will be an expensive mistake.

Anyone else got an opinion?

Cheers

Robin

[buster]

i think you can bin the cat.Like you said,a uk 325 had no cat unless specified for one but were all cat preped.I dont think you even need to keep the lambda sensor neither.

[Brianmoooore]

You can definitely lose the cat, but keep the lambda sensor if you're using the original ECU . Weld on a M18 1.5mm if neccessary.
(I've a part built seven clone in the workshop, as well as all the BMs, and this has been dealt with several times on the Locost forum).
.

[Turbo-Brown]

Think it depends on how much else comes from the donor car.

If you've got an (or possibly both axles) engine and 'box etc from the '89 car, then you almost certainly don't need the cat' and your kit car can assume the identity of the BMW. However, if you've just got the engine and 'box and all the other gubbins have come from all over the shop, you might have to register it on a Q plate and as such, it'll be subject to today's emmisions laws (although I think this is reduced for low volume cars)

Think it's all in the SVA book which is a good investment for about Ԛ£30

[tbmw]

may be wrong but thought that if a car is registered on a q plate then it doesnt have to conform to emissions reg's

[Brianmoooore]

whether or not you get a Q plate depends on a points system of bits from a single donor vehicle.
If you meet the requirements, then you get issued a registration with the same year letter as the donor, but not the donor reg itself, and can then, if you want to, change this for a same year or older private plate.
If you don't meet the requirements, then you will get a Q plate, and won't be able to put on a private plate.
Either way, you will have to provide documentuary evidence of the build date of your engine, to determine the emmisions requirements of your engine. (As far as Ford engines go, if you write to Ford UK with the engine no., they will write back with the build date. Whether BMW are so obliging I don't know, but the production date from the ETK might be sufficient.)

[martinclan]

In my case eveything comes from the same donor. The only thing that concerns me about dumping the cat is are the SVA people able to look up an engines configuration from the chassis number of the donor?

I guess not but does anyone know?

Thanks

Robin

[Brianmoooore]

If your engine build date was before August(?) 92, then your car does not require a cat for SVA.
This comes up all the time in the Locost forum, where people using a much newer engine than the donor car for their "seven", (especially the bike engined ones), need a cat for SVA, but not for MOT. As a result of this, there's a add on rent-a-cat that does the rounds.

[martinclan]

Thanks for clarifying the cat situation. You're a mine of information - could it be you are proffesional at this stuff?

Cheers

Robin