///M exhaust cat back system

[exdos]

What would you do?! :|

For me, there would be only one choice and that would be 5).

If H&S need to weld flanges onto their X-pipe and charge you £420 for this, just welding flanges onto the existing OEM pipes should cost a fraction of this, so why buy new pipes?

You've been unlucky having the flange corrode in the way that it has done, because, normally, the OEM exhaust system, being stainless steel, should last the lifetime of the car (except for the cats). Unless you're a "noise merchant", why spend any money on a part which is mostly out of sight? I've spent a fair amount of time modifying OEM silencers and they are superbly made. When you get the repair done, make sure that you go back and get the bolts on the clamp retightened after you've driven the car, because they'll need tightening to maintain a seal which will prevent the same thing happening again.

If you don't need the car as a DD, then take your time and find someone who can do the job at a reasonable price for you. Not being silly here, but a blacksmith might be able to help with this, where he can heat the ends of the flange on the pipe to slip a new clamp bracket on to the pipe, and then flare the pipe to retain it, as per OEM. If you are able to remove the exhaust and refit yourself, this will be the cheapest option of the lot. I reckon I'd be able to get this job done for less than £70 within a mile from my home. It's just a case of finding the right people who don't want to rip you off.

 

[inkey$]

Your logic has merit exdos. I've emailed a couple of fabricators to see what the can do for me (Zero Exhausts, Ashford and Solid Fabrications, Orpington). Need to contact another in Dagenham too (Flowtech). All within not-outlandish distance from me.

 

[jamiez]

OT - but where was the pothole? I need to ensure i avoid this bit of road as I drive around there !

 

[inkey$]

OT - but where was the pothole? I need to ensure i avoid this bit of road as I drive around there !

Clapham Northside. Just after the lights at the skatepark heading towards Clapham Common station.

 

[mr wilks]

1st ) no5 runner up no2
i really don't see the need to change the M system & if it wasn't for your pothole the exhaust may well have been problem free for years :?
guess it depends on whether you were happy as it was or if you want something more vocal :evil:

 

[shortfuse 2]

take photos report it to the council .it happened to my mates 3 series 2 new wheels plus tyres and surpenion renewed council paided for every thing he did use bmw to claim for all this though them

 

[inkey$]

Just sent them an email. Checked on google maps and you can see the pothole. Dont imagine I'll get a reply beyond a "sorry, not our problem" bit worth a try and maybe they'll fix it so others dont fall foul.

Here's my email...


Dear Lambeth Council.

On Friday 4th January at approx 3:30pm in the afternoon I was driving from Clapham Northside and onto the A3 Long Road heading towards Clapham Common station. About 200 yards along the road and near to the bus stop on Long Road, my car drove over a rather large pothole and damaged the exhaust on my car. There was an immediate loss of power and of course a deep noise, so I limped the vehicle around towards Acre Lane, parked up and called the recovery services.

The exhaust mid section -where it meets the rear muffler - has sheard due to the severe nature of movement caused by the car driving over the pothole (am attaching a photo of the damage for your reference).

After speaking to BMW, a replacement mid section for my exhaust costs around £710 plus fitting. As this damage to my vehicle was caused by the substandard road surface and there were no warnings of such damage in the approach, I would like Lambeth council to compensate me for the replacement parts.

Please can you let me know at your earliest convenience how I go about making this happen.

Kind regards

 

[Darren Slone]

Well put Inkey$, hope you get a positive response

 

[inkey$]

Cheers Darren. Nothing ventured etc etc etc. Will post any response I get; even if its just for a laugh.

 

[jamiez]

OT - but where was the pothole? I need to ensure i avoid this bit of road as I drive around there !

Clapham Northside. Just after the lights at the skatepark heading towards Clapham Common station.

Is it like a massive grate in the road just before your get to Clapham common tube / road intersection ?
If yes I know exactly the one !

 

[inkey$]

OT - but where was the pothole? I need to ensure i avoid this bit of road as I drive around there !

Clapham Northside. Just after the lights at the skatepark heading towards Clapham Common station.

Is it like a massive grate in the road just before your get to Clapham common tube / road intersection ?
If yes I know exactly the one !

Yeah, thats the one! Like a sort of large, squarish, sunken manhole cover. Avoid avoid avoid!

 

[inkey$]

Got a reply back from Lambeth Council...

'Thank you for your email

As the area in question is part of the highway that is maintained by Transport for London (TFL) and not Lambeth Borough Council I have forwarded your enquiry through to them to investigate.

This is not a matter that can be dealt with by Transport & Highways.'

Have asked them to send me the forwarded email and contact details so I can follow up with TFL...watch this space.

 

[inkey$]

Update: heard back from Zero Exhausts in Ashford.

http://www.zeroexhausts.co.uk/index.htm

The guy there has been really helpful and has said that he could cut new flanges cut from stainless for around £40 each or could make new couplings for the pipes though and use clamps the same as the E92.

 

[inkey$]

Tentatively drove down 60 miles to Zero Exhausts this morning to get my exhaust sorted. Kevin there is a great bloke and is a specialist custom exhaust fabricator working with all manner of exotic and track vehicles. Turns out he also did a new stainless exhaust for the editor of BMW car magazine on a 330i. The very same car that man bought from me a few years ago and is still in the magazine as his main 'Longtermer'. Small world!

We discussed options and he's going to cut the flanges from both the x-pipe and mufflers first, before adapting the same method used on the E92 using a thick cup style clamp and a male into female pipe system. The bonus is there is some movement as it acts like a sort of arm joint until tightened up, so it should work out pretty well and be stronger than before with the dodgy oem integrated flanges. Below are a few images I tried to find to explain better but the best image match up is the one on the top right of this picture. Apparently theyre the same ones used on Astons.

Will post again on here when the work is complete. Oh, and one thing it did teach me as I drove south earlier today was that I dont think I could live with an aftermarket sound personally. Nice at slower levels but I miss the stock M sound.

 

[Woody]

Sounds like a good result Inkey

 

[Bing]

Glad you're getting it fixed inkey$

 

[inkey$]

Me too. At the risk of sounding very odd I actually told (spoke to) ///Molly as I was taking her to be fixed up and to please not let the rear ns muffler fall off on the M20 this morning. She must have listened as we go there safe and sound. Really am looking forward to getting her back and stronger than ever

 

[mmm-five]

Are you getting both sides done at the same time, or risking that you won't hit another pothole on the way home

 

[inkey$]

Absolutely both sides at the same time! Wouldnt risk it any other way.

Must thank exdos and Beedub for their advice while I think about it. Learnt a lot about exhaust systems in these past 7 days.

Also - ///M owners - please please please check your exhaust flanges [yes, I said it again]. As stock items they are rubbish if youve suffered a lot of road crap so check them before they check you.

 

[mmm-five]

Also - ///M owners - please please please check your exhaust flanges [yes, I said it again]. As stock items they are rubbish if youve suffered a lot of road crap so check them before they check you.

No problems there for me, as I've got something similar to you on mine