M20 Stainless Steel Manifold / Header discussion...

[PurpleMtec]

The cheapest S/S Manifold will do good for my E30.

This is the part which needs sorting out, how it will fit and if there are any cheaper ones, etc...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30- ... enameZWD1V

[M5pilot]

They will most likely fit LHD cars only.

[PurpleMtec]

There is also this Header which is not the short one.

This seems like it needs less work to fit.

My Exhaust is a SCORPION FULL S/S. CAN ANY ZONERS GIVE ME EXPERT ADVICE.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30- ... enameZWD1V

[M5pilot]

Again,

Looks like LHD only.

[pnd]

don't buy a cheap one it probably won't fit properly and won't add any performance over the standard which can be had used for next to nothing if not nothing.

[Cabrio]

Have fitting for the cat so...look nice dont they....what is postage and customs charge

[PurpleMtec]

Any more info on headers? Anybody?

[oakey]

Splash out and get yourself an btb 6branch. They seem the best to go for by a long way

[PurpleMtec]

BTB manifold are costly, hence,
I intend to remove my stock manifold to replace gaskets (before deciding to install a S/S header).

Can anybody advise me to carry out any other work as necessary while the process is on?

[Cabrio]

Whats your budget!

[tomson]

BTB manifold are costly, hence,
I intend to remove my stock manifold to replace gaskets (before deciding to install a S/S header).

Can anybody advise me to carry out any other work as necessary while the process is on?

a decent rhd 6 branch will be costly!

edit - any rhd 6 branch will be costly!

[cliffybabe]

i've got a alpina orignal on my cab, Dont go after LHD versions it aint worth the trouble time or money

[essfourteen]

I had one of the first Hartge ones, back in '89.. when I sold the car a few years later it had 'bloomed' into a deep blue/purple.. I kept it polished and it got better as it got older.. 'aint no cheaply made job going to give you that sort of pleasure!

[Cabrio]

Other people sell RHD ones in the UK for less money than the BTB...just depends on what your after and price you can pay...should get what you pay for but once you reach a certain price it becomes tricky...if you go to somewhere like Gaydon in August should be other options available from traders etc

[Simon13]

i've got a alpina orignal on my cab, Dont go after LHD versions it aint worth the trouble time or money

no, they just don't fit

[tomson]

Other people sell RHD ones in the UK for less money than the BTB...just depends on what your after and price you can pay...should get what you pay for but once you reach a certain price it becomes tricky...if you go to somewhere like Gaydon in August should be other options available from traders etc

Yes true they do but they change almost nothing about about the car other than noise.
The manifold you mention that was on offer at Gaydon was still in the region of £500 and looked like stevie wonder had made it!

If all you are after is a change in engine note remove the centre box!

There is no way aroung it, any M20 6 branch either new or used isnt going to be a fifty quid bargain, end of.

[M5pilot]

People are willing to pay £500 for a Larini manifold which doesn't really do much other than make a nice noise. What's another £140 to get something which uses atleast twice the amount of stainless steel used in the correct manner and give a proven and quite large gain??

Evo-S

[Cabrio]

tomson...which one are you referring too and how much was it!

[snoops]

the magnex 6 branch is also quite good which is slightly cheaper

[Cabrio]

How much is the magnex!

[core]

There is also this Header which is not the short one.

This seems like it needs less work to fit.

My Exhaust is a SCORPION FULL S/S. CAN ANY ZONERS GIVE ME EXPERT ADVICE.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30- ... enameZWD1V

I had this manifold on my LHD car, as i live in denmark,
but the sound together with scorpion back and center was just beautiful.
Maked no gain in power though.
I now drive a sebring 6-branch instead with scorpion center and AC Schnitler backbox.
About to order the BTB

Which combo give the best sound with the BTB?

[skidmark]

I used my freshly fitted BTB 6 branch at Cadwell Park today. My car is an E30 325i with an oldish engine that is standard and probably tired, in keeping with 150,000 miles. It has a chip and a panel air filter.

The BTB system as supplied by the boys at Evo-S is beautifully engineered and fitted exactly right without any drama's. I had to modify my 2-piece system to a 3-piece and used two front boxes (one in the ususal position and I replaced the big heavy rear box with the other one) ......... they are straight thru affairs, but I don't think that they are large enough in pipe size to do the BTB's justice ?

Today at Cadwell I passed the static noise test with 93 decibels (a sign that my system is too restrictive ?). What was much better was the in-car noise ...... it really seemed to howl.

Most importantly (apart from the underbonnet look good factor) was the effect on speed. There was another well sorted E30 track day car there running a 24valve S50 engine ........ and I'm pleased to say that whilst it was quicker, there wasn't a lot in it. I thought the 6 branch would make it rev much more freely but it was a pleasant surprise that the improvement was right through the drive range. The horsepower gains are useful of course, but the general responsiveness and torque add to the driveability and ultimately reduce the lap times.

I'm quite sure that with a fresh engine (ideally at 2.7 or 2. with Dolly Parton cam lobs rather than my Twiggy ones and some real compression, then the BTB's would give some impressive gains.

Hope this helps a little.

[Kos]

the btb does have on drama, only a minor one the oil filter take off needs to be spun round 180 degrees

i've seen the ones automac does and they are pretty good finish, the one at the show i belive was a display one which was an early development item.

in all honesty i belive its an improvemnt over any cast factory item as its wvery similar on design to the alpina ones i've seen, and at £500 is still a good buy.

i'll get some pictures up of it soon, i've got one lying around which is a better finish. the fact tis polished aswell is a bonus, having a six branch polished is pretty ecpensive to do. i recall the BTB ones are not polished ?

[reggid]

the btb does have on drama, only a minor one the oil filter take off needs to be spun round 180 degrees

i've seen the ones automac does and they are pretty good finish, the one at the show i belive was a display one which was an early development item.

in all honesty i belive its an improvemnt over any cast factory item as its wvery similar on design to the alpina ones i've seen, and at £500 is still a good buy.

i'll get some pictures up of it soon, i've got one lying around which is a better finish. the fact tis polished aswell is a bonus, having a six branch polished is pretty ecpensive to do. i recall the BTB ones are not polished ?

there is no need to spin the housing..........i just drive up onto a block of wood and reach under my mtech 2 front bar and unscrew it from below........works out easier than the standard one actually which was awkward accessing it from the top.

[Simon13]

You can't access the oil filter from the top with a 6 branch, hence the 180 spin. So you can get access from the top Oil filter is only supposed to be finger tight so why the struggle of underneath when you don't have to........

Kos those 6 branches that guy is selling at ace cafe are not alpina manifolds 100%

[skidmark]

That's right Kos ..... the BTB system is not polished. My one did look lovely jubbley on Tuesday, all nice and shiney ........ but now, after Cadwell Park on Wednesday, it is various shades of purple up the top and down beneath there's a bit of blue and a whole lot of yellowing ........ but its not a show pony ........ it has to work hard.

I do think that wrapping the 6 branch would help heaps in reducing under bonnet temperatures ....... I know that doing so on steel pipes can accelerate the rusting procedure (maybe more so with Av Gas than pump fuel ?) ......... does anyone know of any detrimental effect that wrapping would have on Stainless ?

I didn't rotate the filter housing ........ I'm used to grovelling on the ground (oh for a hoist)!

CHEERS
MARK

[Simon13]

the hotter the manifold is the quicker the gasses escape from the manifold so i've been told, so wrapping helps keep engine bay temp down and makes the manifold more efficient. But some manifolds can crack plus it quietens down the engine noise and makes the exhaust itself louder a little

[Kos]

they are a copy of something.............