ECP Backboxes - any experiences?

[George]

As above, current one has two rather substantial holes in it (no not those ones!) so need changing. Doesn't need to be done immediately at the E30 is due to be garaged this winter.

Was wondering if anyone has experience of ECP backboxes? I bought ECP centre section and it was ok, quality acceptable but not great. I don't need/want anything fancy, just OEM style.

TIA

[daimlerman]

Drop 'meatballs82' an email,he's the zone contact with ECP.He'll be able to discover just what is available and who makes it,so you may have the oppotunity to buy a better built part.

[capnmchl]

Not much help but I think the brand they sell is Klarius. So it might be worth having a look around for reviews on there stuff.

[irish320i]

the klarius stuff is horrible fits badly and doesn't last

[Simon]

Bought a 3 piece back box from ECP once, it was absolutely shocking! Very poor quality, and the fit...well it didn't!

[jmc330i]

^^^^ M40 backbox, had to cut the flange to open it slightly for the o-ring to fit. Then fill it with exhaust paste to reseal the two slits I had to make. Not ideal, but enough to MOT the car and send the box back.

I've seen those real cheap ones that someone posted on here, from a German site I think - £40 for a 325i backbox... can't wait to try one of those

[Morat]

I bought a backbox for my 325 touring from Meatballs82 about three months ago, the guys who fitted it said it was good quality and went on fine.
Here's a pic:


It sounds good, with a nicely burbly idle - but nothing OTT like my old Peko.
(edit: it was just a backbox)

[capnmchl]

I've seen those real cheap ones that someone posted on here, from a German site I think - £40 for a 325i backbox... can't wait to try one of those

Doesn't make sense. You've then got to add postage on etc.

A Bosal one for mine only costs £45 or something. As far as generic pattern exhausts go, Bosal are probably the best quality.

[Morat]

IIRC the one I got was made by Eberspacher... but ask Meatballs.

[jmc330i]

I've seen those real cheap ones that someone posted on here, from a German site I think - £40 for a 325i backbox... can't wait to try one of those

Doesn't make sense. You've then got to add postage on etc.

A Bosal one for mine only costs £45 or something. As far as generic pattern exhausts go, Bosal are probably the best quality.

Can't find the link now, but they were about £28 + post. Worked out about £40.

Where can you find a bosal 2 piece 325i backbox for £45? Cheapest I found was about £75. I think carparts4less do one for around £60, but its not bosal (not sure if that's + post) and that should be the same as the ecp one.

[Meatballs82]

I bought a centre and backbox for my 325 touring from Meatballs82 about three months ago, the guys who fitted it said it was good quality and went on fine.
Here's a pic:


It sounds good, with a nicely burbly idle - but nothing OTT like my old Peko.

Yours was def Eberspacher, not cheap but top quality.

Bosal is considered fairly good quality in the trade, I used to sell tons of the stuff at a previous factor, can't remember having any warranty issues.

[capnmchl]

I've seen those real cheap ones that someone posted on here, from a German site I think - £40 for a 325i backbox... can't wait to try one of those

Doesn't make sense. You've then got to add postage on etc.

A Bosal one for mine only costs £45 or something. As far as generic pattern exhausts go, Bosal are probably the best quality.

Can't find the link now, but they were about £28 + post. Worked out about £40.

Where can you find a bosal 2 piece 325i backbox for £45? Cheapest I found was about £75. I think carparts4less do one for around £60, but its not bosal (not sure if that's + post) and that should be the same as the ecp one.

Mine was a single piece for an M10 316, and was from a local motorfactors. Roughly £100 for the mid pipe, back box, connector pipe and 2 clamps, all bosal. I'm not too sure on twin pipe ones, I expect they're are a bit more but they can't be that much.

When I used to work in a garage, you could definately feel a difference in quality between the Bosal and other makes. The bosal stuff feels much more sturdy and better made. They also just fit much better.

[jmc330i]

Mine was a single piece for an M10 316, and was from a local motorfactors. Roughly £100 for the mid pipe, back box, connector pipe and 2 clamps, all bosal. I'm not too sure on twin pipe ones, I expect they're are a bit more but they can't be that much.

When I used to work in a garage, you could definately feel a difference in quality between the Bosal and other makes. The bosal stuff feels much more sturdy and better made. They also just fit much better.

Ah for a 4 pot, there's the difference. The M40 stuff is a little more, although mine is proper expensive due to the cat, but the 6cyl stuff is more pricey.

My 325i had a bosal backbox, and for the price they are good, but you won't find a 325i one for that cheap.
I need to get one for my touring (for various reasons my M40 car has an M20 exhaust fitted), but I'm going to try one of the cheapest as it only needs to last until its engine swap.

[George]

Meatballs, PM sent

[Morat]

Can't go wrong with these exhausts IMO. I've since got a centre section to match, also by Eberspacher but this one had the BMW stamp so was a bit pricier. I've now got effectively a full OEM system. I thought it would sound weak but the idle is a lovely burble and you can still hear that 6 pot rip at the top end - the difference is that the car is now actually quite refined. OK, maybe it's a bit middle aged compared with the loud stainless pipes but I'm chuffed to bits.

The only downside is that I can now hear the fuel pump whining, which probably means I'll on the phone again after Christmas

[Andyboy]

I've seen those real cheap ones that someone posted on here, from a German site I think - £40 for a 325i backbox... can't wait to try one of those

Doesn't make sense. You've then got to add postage on etc.

A Bosal one for mine only costs £45 or something. As far as generic pattern exhausts go, Bosal are probably the best quality.

Bosal are utter, utter rubbish. I had one that was so bad it was immediately replaced with another that was equally poor. Noisy, restrictive, just vile. Tried a Walker and that diodn't fit. Gave up and bought a BMW zorst, perfect fit, sounded nice and it's been on six years.
Eberspacher are good and supply some of BMW's systems. Whether they are BMW quality or more cheaply made for the aftermarket I don't know.

[bss325i]

Eberspacher supply a lot of the oem systems for newer BMW's like E9x E6x etc.

[Andyboy]

Eberspaecher and Boysen are The Boys. I finally admitted defeat on my '93 318iS rear exhaust. It started to blow from the patch on the outer skin so I unbolted it and fitted an almost new 'no name no blame' replacement.

However, I feel that the factory system should have lasted more than 19 years so a strongly worded letter is on its way to the Four Cylinder building.

[bss325i]

[George]

Incidentally, anyone know what the dealio is re the straight or slanted tail pipes?

Which was correct (OE) for an '86 325 cabrio?

[Andyboy]

Straight out but with angle cut pipes on an '86.

[Meatballs82]

Ordered a Klarius 3 piece rear box in today to have a butchers, here's what arrived!

[Morat]

:smug:

[Andyboy]

That's junk. A 320i box with fatter 325i tailpipes welded on, badly. That will cost about 10bhp.

[Meatballs82]

We are told to push Klarius as OEM replacement, manufactured in the UK etc etc, but when stuff like this turns up I just have to laugh really!

[Rav335uk]

Shocking!