Cheap stainless Exhaust Manifold

[harry_p]

You need to seperate the studs from the nuts and insert the studs first otherwise you risk stripping the threads out of the head which will be virtually impossible to fix without removing the whole head!

[damageandyy]

the flange will be exactly the same as every other one as it will be mass machine made, only bits that would be any different is the angles of tubes been welded slightly different by a 50p a day worker. most 4-6 branches are a bit of a bit to fit, preserver it will go on.

[gooner1]

No worries Jim. it's here when and if mate.


Aj, no idea mate but no doubt someone will soon let us know.

If Jim doesn't take it, you can.

Mods, apologies for turning this into a sales thread, in hindsight a PM
may have been better, though nowhere as effective.

[DanThe]

the flange will be exactly the same as every other one as it will be mass machine made, only bits that would be any different is the angles of tubes been welded slightly different by a 50p a day worker. most 4-6 branches are a bit of a bit to fit, preserver it will go on.

Early flanges had three holes

[Jim320i]

You need to seperate the studs from the nuts and insert the studs first otherwise you risk stripping the threads out of the head which will be virtually impossible to fix without removing the whole head!

I'll do that pal. Thanks for the advice.

I just been to bmw to see if I coudl just buy new bolts and studs etc etc but they're closed til Tuesday now at parts depot. So, refurb the old ones, need to angle grind the one thats causing me issues and also try to nick the weld on the new manifold aswell to just it that but more angle for clearance.


Loads of work for something that should be straight swap. If I get this done in good time, i'll be on my way over to you Rob!

Mobile is 07871 311 772. Pm yours and i'll give you a text if I get done and want to come get it, but it should be a perfect match too.

[gooner1]

Don't rush things Jim, take your time mate.

[Kedge]

The breaker in Elistown is a prized cock, i wouldn't take a freebie from him! Has very little to do with E30s and if he has anything will want mega money.

Jim, did you try BMW-MAD?

[Jim320i]

I did mate, he messaged me but I didnt hear back. Gooner1 has what I need though so i'm good now... Just got to try and make the manifold fit first.

Some git has nicked my angle grinder aswell so proper stuggling to make this bolt fit and have space to sit in line with the nut on the end.

And its too hot.

[Ajsingh]

Ooh man.. I hope i dont have this issue with mine otherwisr they have it straight back!

Hows it goin jim320???

[Jim320i]

Currently im back in side as its too hot and im getting extremely angry. I'll be going back out shortly. An angle grinder would solve my problem in bout 2 seconds flat.

[Ajsingh]

So whats the issue?? U cant get the nut and stud to separate? So your having to put it on as one??

If i was in your neck of the woods, id be straight round...

[Jim320i]

Thanks for that pal. Same back...

No, the issue is that the middle hole on the new manifold sits very close to the actual branch that is coming off, I listed a picture a few pages ago... Now, the bolt is too long to fit in there as it hits the pipe. This can be grinded off if I had my grinder...

But then, the bolt wont fit on the end due to the welds getting in the way and making the stud sit at an inwards angle... So I need to grind the weld back about 3mm in the corner... Easy fix, if I had my grinder.

[RustyRuss]

Hope you get it resolved and fitted mate, nothing worse when plans dont go to plan Keep your chin up mate

[Jim320i]

Given up for today. Too hot and I dont do well in hot bright conditions. Means im not going to do my cambelt in the morning too as I would need to get the old manifold back on first.

[RustyRuss]

The joys Time to crack open a beer i think!

[Jim320i]

I think you are correct Russ. Just had a crunchie icecream to make me feel better. I'll hopefully find my angle grinder in a bit and get back out when it cools off a bit.

[RustyRuss]

Crunchie ice creams rock - ftw in fact!!! I approve!! Fingers crossed for when it cools off a bit!!

[Dezzy]

You fit this fooking scrap manifold yet then?

I wouldn't give you a job jim, 2 days to fit a manifold........

[Jim320i]

Ok...


Found my angle grinder. Did what I needed to do... Still couldnt get the bolt on, so I lost my temper...


A few swear words and things kicked about. The original log is now back on, just got to tighten up the centre bolts.

Awaiting a reply from the company selling them but its bank holiday so I dont expect a reply until tuesday... I would like them to send me out another one so I can check to see if its just a one off that I got or whether they are all the same. The pipes meeting the end section that joins up to the head didnt sit in line very well, if it had been welded with a little more attention, I think the clearance would have been just fine.


The verdict?

Awaiting another manifold to check... But not very good at all... Maybe just the one I got but I have a sneaky suspision they're all gonna be the same...


Cheap skates 0 - OEM Homos 1.

[penton08]

Your best bet is to send it back and don't even bother with another one, i would be very surprised if the next one would fit properly. It might make more sense to wait for a second hand proper 6 branch to come up for sale.

[Jim320i]

Good advise Penton but the only thing is i'm not after any increase in power. Its a 320 auto so not much power to be getting... So i'm only looking for the cheaper cosmetic kinda thing... But i'll probably just leave it now.


With regards to getting another one, I want to see so that I can advise any other zoners to be honest. Its only £100 and if it doesnt fit then it can go back again...

[Kedge]

Guess that makes this a prime example of "you get what you pay for".

Jim, if i can't get my E36 rack with Dan steering linkage to clear my BTB2 it will be for sale as i'll upgrade to a BTB3.

[Jim320i]

Give me a text mate if it is up for sale as I'll be interested. Pm me a round about price of what you want first though as it all depends on what your asking of course.

And yeah, its a prime example of 'you get what you paid for'. Glad I got it though so we could rule it out as rubbish.

I got a feeling they are the hottunnings returns as didnt they have exactly same issue with a certain batch?

[Dezzy]

Have you ground the weld away on the manifold?

Did you check with them that it was ok with the warranty to gride it?

Hope it works out for you mate. I have a feeling you might struggle

[Dezzy]

[quote="Jim320i"]
And yeah, its a prime example of 'you get what you paid for'. Glad I got it though so we could rule it out as rubbish.[quote]


We already had mate

[Jim320i]

I dont own a grinder according to them. Dont worry, I should be ok as you cant tell, I smoothed it and made it look ok.

I'll update as I go along.

[Jim320i]

And yeah, its a prime example of 'you get what you paid for'. Glad I got it though so we could rule it out as rubbish.

We already had mate

All the oem bummers did... Others didnt.

[Kedge]

I got a feeling they are the hottunnings returns as didnt they have exactly same issue with a certain batch?

Now that could be a possibilty

I'll let you know if i do have clearance issues and need to get rid.

[Dezzy]

All the oem bummers did... Others didnt.

You have learnt a valuble lesson then havent you. You know who to listen to in future

[penton08]

I got a feeling they are the hottunnings returns as didnt they have exactly same issue with a certain batch?

This sounds about right!! selling reject stuff that was not a lot of good in the first place is really shity but as long as they refund you its all OK

[bmw320iSE]

got mine on with not alot of bother mate

I did have the head on my bench to trial fit it all 1st but it all went in ok

will upload some pics when i can

[bmw320iSE]

Cheap skates 0 - OEM Homos 1.

Woah woah woah calm down were not out yet

[Taxin]

I got mine to fit

Cheap skates 1 - OEM Homos 1.

[e30topless]

this is similar to how Hartge fannymoulds are fitted and a few others IIRC,

is there just 1 nut that is as difficult to get to as this one in the pic ?



if so it's easy to overcome, first fit all the studs into the head then ease the manifold on just enough threads to get the nut started,

painfully wind the awkward one's on

then fit and nip up the rest !
drive with a big grin until the coont splits, leaks ect,

the main trouble with any stainless zausts is usually further down, the shiny fookers always leak at the joints/x pipe

I have found that rubbing/scoring the shiny bit off with emery paper until the pipe is dull around the fitting area makes a better seal for zaust compound

[Jim320i]

Unfortunately there isnt space to do this. There is no way the nut can fit on the stud and turn in the space thats left, tried everyway to get it on there too...

Also noticed I had a stud snapped off in the head as well which must have been done by a previous owner. Didnt realise when I was taking it off as I stopped half way through removing them the first time then just assumed I had taken that one out all ready. Bit gutted but ahh well.

Seems to be that others are fitting, just my crap batch one.