Blowing exhaust.

B

ben g

Elite
 Essex
My Z4's exhaust is blowing, where the downpipe meets the mid section. There looks to be a gasket in between the 2 exhaust sections and there's a load of black spot around this area.

Is this a simple fix for a regular exhaust place? Or something that will require a specialist garage? I assume the gasket isn't a generic part, though I could be wrong.
 
ben g said:
My Z4's exhaust is blowing, where the downpipe meets the mid section. There looks to be a gasket in between the 2 exhaust sections and there's a load of black spot around this area.

Is this a simple fix for a regular exhaust place? Or something that will require a specialist garage? I assume the gasket isn't a generic part, though I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I seem to remember the downpipe flange where it meets the centre section is a pig as the studs/nuts have usually rotted away to nothing after several years of eating road salt. Best to take off & nuke it from orbit :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
ben g said:
My Z4's exhaust is blowing, where the downpipe meets the mid section. There looks to be a gasket in between the 2 exhaust sections and there's a load of black spot around this area.

Is this a simple fix for a regular exhaust place? Or something that will require a specialist garage? I assume the gasket isn't a generic part, though I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I seem to remember the downpipe flange where it meets the centre section is a pig as the studs/nuts have usually rotted away to nothing after several years of eating road salt. Best to take off & nuke it from orbit :thumbsup:
Rob
Click to expand...
Both my E85s have had this problem.
New bolts fitted then all is good,may need drilling or heat to remove the old bolts
Any respectable exhaust place should be able to do this job.
 
sw4nny said:
Smartbear said:
ben g said:
My Z4's exhaust is blowing, where the downpipe meets the mid section. There looks to be a gasket in between the 2 exhaust sections and there's a load of black spot around this area.

Is this a simple fix for a regular exhaust place? Or something that will require a specialist garage? I assume the gasket isn't a generic part, though I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

I seem to remember the downpipe flange where it meets the centre section is a pig as the studs/nuts have usually rotted away to nothing after several years of eating road salt. Best to take off & nuke it from orbit :thumbsup:
Rob
Click to expand...
Both my E85s have had this problem.
New bolts fitted then all is good,may need drilling or heat to remove the old bolts
Any respectable exhaust place should be able to do this job.
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'll have to get it looked at sharpish. The Z4 sounds like a tank when the exhaust is hot :lol: probably sounds cool to a teenager, but not to a 31 year old man living on a quiet road :headbang:
 
Jesus I’m 30 and my Z is on air suspension with a real loud exhaust .... one of us needs to sort their life out ... probably me :lol:
 
Just had a quote to repair the exhaust. £312 :cry: I was expecting about £100 :lol:

I think that's expensive to replace a couple of bolts and gaskets.

Here's a photo of it:

DSC_0311.JPG
 
That’s real expensive . I got a quality full custom stainless exhaust with lifetime warranty on top of fixing that same issue for £400 .
 
I paid about £140 two years ago at Mr Exhaust, Redhill and got a lifetime warranty. It seems they are used to doing these as the S3 saloon goes the same way. However if you take it in to a garage they are likely to use the S3 gasket which looks identical but the inside diameter is fractionally smaller so will cause an obstruction to exhaust flow. I purchased the specific Z4 gasket and got them to use that as advised by forum members.
 
Mike6 said:
I paid about £140 two years ago at Mr Exhaust, Redhill and got a lifetime warranty. It seems they are used to doing these as the S3 saloon goes the same way. However if you take it in to a garage they are likely to use the S3 gasket which looks identical but the inside diameter is fractionally smaller so will cause an obstruction to exhaust flow. I purchased the specific Z4 gasket and got them to use that as advised by forum members.
Click to expand...

Ah OK, makes sense as the guy said it was a 'universal' gasket. I checked the gasket in real oem and can get the part from bmw for £15 each, so £30 the pair and 4 nuts and bolts. Surely this is something that can be done whilst the car is on a jack at home?

Unsure what else is required really. That's why I was gobsmacked when he said £312 :lol:
 
You could do this layed on your back at home ,but be prepared it is often a right pita to get the old bolts out.
You have been warned! :D
Just to add some experience to this I have had these replaced on a e46 330 and 2 e85s all were a bast**d of a job
 
sw4nny said:
You could do this layed on your back at home ,but be prepared it is often a right pita to get the old bolts out.
You have been warned! :D
Just to add some experience to this I have had these replaced on a e46 330 and 2 e85s all were a bast**d of a job
Click to expand...

I was going to get the angle grinder out and cut the bolts :lol: I certainly don't want to be paying 300+ quid for it :cry:
 
ben g said:
sw4nny said:
You could do this layed on your back at home ,but be prepared it is often a right pita to get the old bolts out.
You have been warned! :D
Just to add some experience to this I have had these replaced on a e46 330 and 2 e85s all were a bast**d of a job
Click to expand...

I was going to get the angle grinder out and cut the bolts :lol: I certainly don't want to be paying 300+ quid for it :cry:
Click to expand...
You can cut them off but you may still have to drill out whats left of them.
 
And dont be tempted to whack the bolts with a hammer or you could end up breaking the header pipes/cats. I thought paying £140 was much better option.
 
Yes,not a standard nut and bolt,
Once you have cut the nut off threre is a good chance the bolt will be still stuck in there,
If i remember correctly they have splines on them,not sure on the technical terms,
A standard nut and bolt can be used for repair,although stainless nuts and bolts are wise so the same problem does not reoccur.
 
firebobby said:
Are they studs then ?
Click to expand...

They're M10 x 40mm Hex bolts and nuts 'with plate', whatever the plate bit means :?

I wish the repair was £140 for me :lol: I'm currently driving it around feeling very embarrassed! Going to be ordering a new car hopefully tomorrow, so I'll park the Z4 up for a bit and decide what I want to do with it.
 
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