E30 Zone

So I have received delivery of my exhaust and ALL related parts from Cotswolds...

Front pipes are Bosal... (grey)
Muffler is Eberspacher... (black)

I am redoing the entire system including fixing the broken manifold stud etc...

I want to paint the entire system and related parts black so that I can re-coat and protect if and when necessary...

My question is what do the manufacturers coat the exhausts with?

And any advice on doing the above?

Thanks

Gavla wrote:So I have received delivery of my exhaust and ALL related parts from Cotswolds...

Front pipes are Bosal... (silver)
Muffler is Eberspacher... (black)

I am redoing the entire system including fixing the broken manifold stud etc...

I want to paint the entire system and related parts black so that I can re-coat and protect if and when necessary...

My question is what do the manufacturers coat the exhausts with?

And any advice on dong the above?

Thanks

Just a thought although a good idea to try and protect the system , they all rot from the inside due to the amount of condensation created from the engine running .
Not saying it's not worth doing but ?

Is it worth it, exhausts rot from the inside due to short journeys not expelling the condensation.

If you want to paint the exhaust then a VHT (very high temp) paint should be used but you may need to take the coating off the exhaust you have now for it to stick, to be honest it may not be worth the bother.

From the manifold back to the first silencer i've found nothing that will last on those pipes.
From the first silencer backwards there seems to be a better chance of any paint sticking.

Thanks Gents,

Yes I know that exhausts rot from the inside, it is more about doing what I can from the outside... and being 2 different colours I want to make it asthetically pleasing... I am definatley going to paint the manifold as it looks awful and my engine bay is pretty neat and tidy so figured I might as well do the exhaust as well...

@Biffer
I have had good results on manifolds and other engine bay parts with VHT although it does take patience... I firstly heat the parts (warm) before the first coat and then again in between coats... multiple thin layers each time...increasing the heat each time. Before the final coat I "bake" let it cool and apply a thicker final coat.

If you are happy to, how much for the full new system from BMW ?

The quote came in at just shy of £1000

Thats for a 2 piece 325i and every single exhaust component bolts, nuts, washers,hangers absolutley everything...

I paid a lttle less as I sourced some component parts for a 1/3 of the cost without a BMW Logo...

I ended up paying just over £900...

This sounds like something you intend to keep ?
Pop a few pics up as we would like to see all this happen please.

Mart.

Everytime I think of selling it I give it a clean and polish...stand back... and then think it looks to good to go...

My daily driver so I budget to spend about £1000 a year on it keeping it going and replacing the necessary...

How the hell do you add pics now days...

Gavla wrote:

Everytime I think of selling it I give it a clean and polish...stand back... and then think it looks to good to go...

My daily driver so I budget to spend about £1000 a year on it keeping it going and replacing the necessary...

How the hell do you add pics now days...

I ran my first e30 for seven years as my daily with three kids as well so I applaud you sir

Pic`s , try postimage, works ok for me.

Mart.

Are you going to be viewing the aestically pleasing exhaust from under the car or through the holes in the floor pan Gavla ;o)))))

I use imugr.com for photos, you need the BB link posted in a thread.

You still in Kensington?

Through the holes on floor pan... ... but thats why it needs to look good...

Gavla wrote:The quote came in at just shy of £1000

Thats for a 2 piece 325i and every single exhaust component bolts, nuts, washers,hangers absolutley everything...

I paid a lttle less as I sourced some component parts for a 1/3 of the cost without a BMW Logo...

I ended up paying just over £900...

Thanks. I'd have gone stainless at that price but based on the quality of original exhausts, should last ten years at least.

It would be pretty pricey i reckon, but high temp ceramic power coating would do a good job

Quick update...

So I painted the exhaust with Rust-Oleum Hard Hat High Temp Paint.

Turned out great and I can highly recommend the product.

Got the car back today and... ...

I feel like I am driving a new car

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get the broken exhaust manifold stud done as it will need to be an engine out or head off scenario to do all the studs and bolts properly, it is all rusted pretty bad.. so will have to wait till next time.

But even so, its almost like she has taken a massive deep breath in order to breath properly again... its easy to forget how important the exhaust system is...

Costly but I have a legit BMW exhaust with everything exhaust related replaced and althoughnot great value for money, definately worth while doing...

Still looking for what seem to be elusive tail pipe tips...

So that was the burning smell in Kensington earlier today............