Exhaust vandalised - advice on new backbox?

J

James Junior

Member
 Manchester
Hi guys,

My exhaust started making a really annoying rattle the other week when the car is iddling - it resonates all through the cabin. Thought it must have been a loose bracket so got the car up on the ramp at my local garage to take a look.

They asked if I knew if anyone might have tampered with my car, as it appears someone has thrown a nut or screw up the tail pipe into the back box which is now making this awful noise.

The day before the noise began, I had to complain to the council and letting agent (again) about my noisy neighbors in the rented property next door, with whom I have had run ins before.

Pretty strange coincidence that...

Several garages have looked at the exhaust and general consensus is it will be all but impossible to remove the offending object. Even looked into getting an aluminium welder to cut the back box open, remove the screw and weld it back up again, but not looking like an option either.

I had been considering putting a sports exhaust on the car before, but didn't really think it was worth it, as the straight six 3.0 isn't the most characterful engine in terms of aural pleasure and sports exhausts don't seem to make it sound dramatically better.

However, given the current situation I would like to turn a negative into a positive, so looking at what options are available for a sports exhaust in the hope of at least a slight sound improvement.

Eisenmann seem to be about the best, but report a four week production / delivery time which means suffering the rattle for a month before I can get it sorted! Also I was surprised that the Eisenmann is not a direct fit - it requires the existing exhaust to be cut and then welded in place which surprised me given what they charge, though they assured me this is quite normal with BMs because they all tend to be one-piece exhaust systems.

Also looked at JP exhausts near me who I have had a good exhaust from in the past, but they also have a 4 week waiting list and would need my car for a few days.

Tried Longlife in Bredbury who sounded promising and offered a great price (£495 fitted) and have plenty of availability for bookings, but some internet research revealed wildly varying experiences.

Has anyone got any advice/ recommendations?

I want a system that has no boom or drone at low speeds and when cruising on the motorway, but which has a bit more sound to it higher up in the revs. Price not really an issue, though if I could save a few £££s on a good deal then all the better.

Any input would be very much appreciated. :thumbsup:
 
How's it going James, pisser that someone didn't have the balls to face a problem they had like a man but rather chose to mess with your car like a childish brat.

But check this mod out, http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62691

I don't know distances or locations in Britain but if he is anywhere close to you maybe you could hear the results first hand.
 
can you affix a magnet to the outside of the exhaust with araldite. when the nut / screw passes over it, it should stick to it (over time)
 
James Junior said:
Hi guys,

My exhaust started making a really annoying rattle the other week when the car is iddling - it resonates all through the cabin. Thought it must have been a loose bracket so got the car up on the ramp at my local garage to take a look.

They asked if I knew if anyone might have tampered with my car, as it appears someone has thrown a nut or screw up the tail pipe into the back box which is now making this awful noise.

The day before the noise began, I had to complain to the council and letting agent (again) about my noisy neighbors in the rented property next door, with whom I have had run ins before.

Pretty strange coincidence that...

Several garages have looked at the exhaust and general consensus is it will be all but impossible to remove the offending object. Even looked into getting an aluminium welder to cut the back box open, remove the screw and weld it back up again, but not looking like an option either.

I had been considering putting a sports exhaust on the car before, but didn't really think it was worth it, as the straight six 3.0 isn't the most characterful engine in terms of aural pleasure and sports exhausts don't seem to make it sound dramatically better.

However, given the current situation I would like to turn a negative into a positive, so looking at what options are available for a sports exhaust in the hope of at least a slight sound improvement.

Eisenmann seem to be about the best, but report a four week production / delivery time which means suffering the rattle for a month before I can get it sorted! Also I was surprised that the Eisenmann is not a direct fit - it requires the existing exhaust to be cut and then welded in place which surprised me given what they charge, though they assured me this is quite normal with BMs because they all tend to be one-piece exhaust systems.

Also looked at JP exhausts near me who I have had a good exhaust from in the past, but they also have a 4 week waiting list and would need my car for a few days.

Tried Longlife in Bredbury who sounded promising and offered a great price (£495 fitted) and have plenty of availability for bookings, but some internet research revealed wildly varying experiences.

Has anyone got any advice/ recommendations?

I want a system that has no boom or drone at low speeds and when cruising on the motorway, but which has a bit more sound to it higher up in the revs. Price not really an issue, though if I could save a few £££s on a good deal then all the better.

Any input would be very much appreciated. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


I have used both and have had good experiences with both...

No doubt,JP are better at there job..... They have been going for years and used to make manifolds for F1 and TVR..

Craig at Longlife did a BMW for us a while ago.....It was a nice job... £495 seems expensive though..
 
Hi all,

Thanks for your input.

One of the garages that have already had a crack at it have already tried various magnet jiggery pokery to no avail.

They also tried jacking the car up to get the offending article to roll into the right place to extract it but no luck.

Apparantly the exhaust is an aluminium alloy.

Re the Longlife exhaust I thought £495 fitted was great value.

Spoke to BM Tec in Manchester and Andy reckons if they take the whole exhaust off they may be able to fish it / shake it out so giving that a try as a last resort and if that doesn't work think I may just put up with the racket for four weeks and have an Eisenman backbox made up...
 
I can vouch for JP. They have made 2 exhausts in the past for me and made all the SS sports manifolds and cherry bomb system in my TVR. They also make most of the aftermarket TVR exhausts.

Workmanship and quality is excellent.
 
If that happens, buy a can of expanding foam and stick it own there exhaust pipe.

Seriously tho what happens if they do that?
 
If all magnet / grabber thingies don't work..
And someone tried a mini cam on the end of a flexy probe to 'see' wots up ..
(Those cams are quite common and inexpensive )

You could always remove the muffler and give it a good shake and see what falls out.

Im not so sure you weren't looking for an excuse to upgrade your exhaust in the first place.

Bumpy

By the way :fuelfire:
In my opinion,the 3.0 engine has a sweet sounding exhaust.
 
I always thought that the exhaust is a cheapo stainless steel...
Oh well, nice new shiny exhaust will look nice :)
Perhaps you could ask the fitter to weld in a thick steel grid inside the tips on the new one so if the culprit returns, they can't do the same again? Obviously make sure its welded far enough in that you can't see it otherwise it will look gash :thumbsup:
 
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