Broken Exhaust Flange

M

mike n helen

Member
Put my car up on the ramps today for the first time to have a good look around underneath. Noticed the rear exhaust flanges looked rather corroded.

20140913_162704.jpg


It would seem it's a common problem, and I have found this solution on e-bay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-M3-Z4M-Exhaust-Flange-Repair-/111453123138?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19f31fb242

Has anybody used these or have an alternative solution they could offer??

Thanks
 
Wouldn't worry about it to be honest mate. I'm sure there is still some good steel underneath to see you good for a few years yet.!!
 
The ebay ones are a great solution...

It can be done with Peugeot clamps,70mm IIRC..

A lot cheaper..
 
Yorkie Z said:
Wouldn't worry about it to be honest mate. I'm sure there is still some good steel underneath to see you good for a few years yet.!!
Click to expand...
The issue comes when you need to take the back box off, as the clamp crumbles to nothing and you're left with an unusable car until you can get some more clamps.

The standard ones are no good as you the exhaust is flanged and you'd have to cut and re-flange one OEM clamps were on.

I think the common solution was a Peugeot exhaust clamp, which opens up, wraps around then clamps shut. I think it's what was put on mine, but I've not looked.

This type...
DSC00107.jpg


...or this type I think...
SDC11651_1.jpg
 
The clamps definitely need replacing as they are corroded all of the way through in places. The Peugeot options seems to be a much cheaper solution as those clamps only cost £10 off e-bay. I measured the pipe today as best I could without jacking the car up and looks like the exhaust pipe is approx. 60mm. Just need to find the right size clamp now for a 60mm pipe.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction guys, it's good to know others have worked around the problem without spending a fortune :D

Mike
 
Good luck getting those corroded clamps off. It is an absolute ballache of a job!

I had this exact problem when I changed my backboxes. I used the Peugeot clamps at first but they don't work very well. Wouldn't seal completely and wouldn't give me good enough adjustment to align the backboxes properly. They are good as a cheap temporary measure but for a permanent fix then I fully recommend those 2-piece flanges as per your original post. I bought them and they work brilliantly.
 
Easty-5 said:
Good luck getting those corroded clamps off. It is an absolute ballache of a job!

I had this exact problem when I changed my backboxes. I used the Peugeot clamps at first but they don't work very well. Wouldn't seal completely and wouldn't give me good enough adjustment to align the backboxes properly. They are good as a cheap temporary measure but for a permanent fix then I fully recommend those 2-piece flanges as per your original post. I bought them and they work brilliantly.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that as they are corroded right the way through in some places I can just break them off, if not, it's a job for the grinder :)

I'll try the cheap option first and see how I get on if not it's good to know the expensive option works......
 
Be careful with a grinder. I bought some cutting discs for my dremel to cut mine off. Much easier to manoeuvre and be precise with. I got the bolts out (absolute ballache also) then cut halfway through each flange then used a punch (inside the bolt hole so it didn't slip out) and a lump hammer. A few clean swift whacks and the brackets snapped off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom