Cheap stainless Exhaust Manifold

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Jim320i
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Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:34 pm

dimebag_from_hell wrote:
Alex wrote:bloody hell any tublar system will be better than standard
I don't think standard bmw did much wrong, I would doubt a cheap manifold will out perform the original.
+1

I dont expect to out perform the original with this, but it will sure look a damn sight sexier in my engine bay :cool:
Dezzy
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Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:15 pm

hongkongfuey wrote:a couple from mine when i did it

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That's proper subtle that :bolt: winkeye
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iDreamBeemer
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Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:17 pm

what about these ones, found the other day...

http://www.schmiedmann.com/3_series/E30 ... .htm#18189

Part No. SCM3034M20 Schmiedmann sport manifold M20 for £226.55

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DanThe
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Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:33 pm

Thats for a LHD car
hongkongfuey
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Mon Apr 18, 2011 10:37 pm

Dezzy i dont do subtle winkeye
if there wern't people like me,
with cars like mine,
who would you put down to make yourself feel better?
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Tue Apr 19, 2011 7:49 am

im getting one :P
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Jim320i
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Tue Apr 19, 2011 3:49 pm

Mine should be here tomorrow with any luck. :cool:
chopper
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Tue Apr 19, 2011 6:35 pm

Get some pics up, on how you installed it and so on, will look wicked in a tarted up bay!
Alex
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Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:03 pm

i was going to invest in one however when your getting 16.7 MPG i need to concentrate on getting the 318i touring on the road :cry:
Jim320i
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Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:22 pm

I'd concentrate on getting that mpg a little bit better if I was you! Whats causing that?! And for £100, i'd invest in one now... As if they stop trading 3 months down the line like most do on Ebay, you got one, and I bet if I relisted mine on ebay with some proper pictures and nice description, it would still go for more that £100. :mad:
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:17 pm

mine arrived yesterday am impressed :)
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:42 pm

Got mine today as well, i'll add some photos in a bit. Looks nice and shining. :) Inside the x pipe section the welds droplets can be seen so looks like i'll be giving that a good polish some how tonight or the next day.

The joints onto the engine itself look good too, inside the manifold there is the edge of metal slightly so i'll smooth this off a litle first too...

Didnt realise I would need to weld the x pipe section to the 2 branches though :o: So hopefully a friend can bring a welder back with him today so we got it here to fit her up at the weekend.

All in all, it looks very nice. :) :cool:
bmw320iSE
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:37 pm

i would upload but every time i use megashack or whatever its called i get a nasty programe telling me i have a very very bad virus and unless i pay them 100s of millions of pounds the virus will kill my computer and then me :roll:
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:54 pm

Jim320i wrote:
Didnt realise I would need to weld the x pipe section to the 2 branches though :o: So hopefully a friend can bring a welder back with him today so we got it here to fit her up at the weekend.
No,do not weld the X pipe section to the fronts,you will be unable to remove either the manifold or the engine if you do....slide the bits together and use a pair of exhaust clamps. :D
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bmw320iSE
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:00 pm

Ah thats why i couldn't understand what jim was saying :mad: yeah dont weld them they have slits in them so the pipes can be clamped up :D
Jim320i
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:49 pm

I have also just been told by 'Eeeferteh' (My welding friend) the same thing :o:

Thanks for that though lads. lol...


Tight gits didnt include any clamps though did they!? :cry: I might fit this tomorrow knowing that then! Pictures of it in flesh to follow shortly.
bmw320iSE
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:00 pm

jim do you currently have a standard system? i have a 320 and have twin pipes from the downpipe into a silencer in the middle then 2 pipes continuing on to the rear silencer is this standard??

with my current system i cant see were this is going to bolt on and looks like im going to be cutting some pipes.
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pauldeacs
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:07 pm

i bought one of these a couple weeks ago, looks fantastic, arrived within two days and fits spot on. perfect imo. £110 delivered to the door
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:15 pm

bmw320iSE wrote:jim do you currently have a standard system? i have a 320 and have twin pipes from the downpipe into a silencer in the middle then 2 pipes continuing on to the rear silencer is this standard??

with my current system i cant see were this is going to bolt on and looks like im going to be cutting some pipes.
Mines a 1987 auto... Not sure whether if this model was different but from my engine I have manifold to down pipes, then down pipes to centre box, from there its a single pipe to the rear box and exits onto a single aswell...

So i'm looking at replacing the middle and rear section with new/second hand stainless.



Saying all that, do you have a 3 peice or 2 peice exhaust system? Perhaps that has something to do with it?
bmw320iSE
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 10:47 pm

I have a 2 piece so maybe its been modified before i had it.
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Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:02 pm

bmw320iSE wrote:jim do you currently have a standard system? i have a 320 and have twin pipes from the downpipe into a silencer in the middle then 2 pipes continuing on to the rear silencer is this standard??

with my current system i cant see were this is going to bolt on and looks like im going to be cutting some pipes.
most 320i's had a 2 piece system from new, the first one joins to the log Fannymold and the rear silencer joins on behind the gearbox,

you will need a 3 piece middlebox and rear silencer to fit these properly ,
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:32 am

I had a look at it last night and sat the whole thing next to the car, lined up with the middle section perfect so i'm assuming I have everything I need... Would be nice to replace the whole system with stainless in one go but i'm itching to get it on and got a few other bits im doing this weekend to her.
Pictures will come, I got work now though...
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 7:19 am

Jim320i wrote:I had a look at it last night and sat the whole thing next to the car, lined up with the middle section perfect so i'm assuming I have everything I need... Would be nice to replace the whole system with stainless in one go but i'm itching to get it on and got a few other bits im doing this weekend to her.
Pictures will come, I got work now though...
Get your finger out Jim - can't you find an OEM twin pipe backbox for now until a stainless one comes along :wink:
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e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
bmw320iSE
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:49 am

e30topless wrote:
bmw320iSE wrote:jim do you currently have a standard system? i have a 320 and have twin pipes from the downpipe into a silencer in the middle then 2 pipes continuing on to the rear silencer is this standard??

with my current system i cant see were this is going to bolt on and looks like im going to be cutting some pipes.
most 320i's had a 2 piece system from new, the first one joins to the log Fannymold and the rear silencer joins on behind the gearbox,

you will need a 3 piece middlebox and rear silencer to fit these properly ,
Thanks for clearing that up :thumb:

looks like its going to have to be straight pipes for me then, what a shame winkeye
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:37 pm

capri_rob wrote:
Jim320i wrote:I had a look at it last night and sat the whole thing next to the car, lined up with the middle section perfect so i'm assuming I have everything I need... Would be nice to replace the whole system with stainless in one go but i'm itching to get it on and got a few other bits im doing this weekend to her.
Pictures will come, I got work now though...
Get your finger out Jim - can't you find an OEM twin pipe backbox for now until a stainless one comes along :wink:
Aha, well currently what I have is twin to single after the new manifold so I can fit it today... :cool: Which I may attempt very shortly once my engine has cooled down, the bonnet is open to let the breeze do its work. :cool:

For now the standard rust looking exhaust can stay on and i'll be fitting it up to that until I find another to get on to replace it, photo evidence will follow tonight with any luck. :D
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:44 pm

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Last edited by Jim320i on Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Dezzy
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:46 pm

Be very careful with the manifold nuts. Hot engine is a good thing while trying to remove these. Snapped studs are VERY common while trying toi fit manifolds. Hard to change a stud in the bay too.

Careful with plenty of spray oil. GOOD LUCK :eek:
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Dezzy
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:48 pm

[quote="Jim320i"]Image

That is fooking horid :eek:

Who would sell a new manifold in that state. Quality control my ass :roll:
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:51 pm

Yeah, thats why I included the pictures of inside pal... Need to get something down there to sort it out a little. The outer is pleasing to look at but like I said before you can see the weld droplets? Well you can see them like that... :?
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harry_p
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 4:11 pm

wonder how resistant to cracking they will be over time? even well known, decent quality manufacturers can struggle to stop stainless manifolds cracking, and i doubt these have had a huge amount of r&d or stress analysis :mad:

still, £100 is silly, you'd struggle to buy the straight stainless tube and the flanges for that!
cheers,

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Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:06 pm

Ordered mine earlier today.... Lets see what its like.... Cant go wrong for 100 quid
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:20 pm

Just checked.. Im either gonna have to get a 3 piece system or have straight through pipes... Wont that be to loud on a 2.7??? Dont want it too loud as my car looks pretty oem...

My exhaust is manifold log, 2 downpipes and centre box as one and then 2 pipes to the back box as one piece...
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:37 pm

Waste of £100 imo.
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

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Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:48 pm

Dezzy wrote:
Jim320i wrote:Image

That is fooking horid :eek:

Who would sell a new manifold in that state. Quality control my ass :roll:
Its £100 worth Dezzy! Its never going to be right for gas flow
Those bits of weld wont make a blind bit of difference to how the manifold works, its not been made with performance in mind just to look 'ok' from the outside. Welding isnt particularly nice for tig either, it will be low grade tube and low quality wire.
Place your bets for how long before it cracks :D
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Thu Apr 21, 2011 6:50 pm

Get saving for a proper BTB manifold! one of the only proven 1`s on the market
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