Advice needed...

[Mike Gunnz]

Hi all! I've joined the forum to get some advice if poss.
I'm not a welder or mechanic, just someone who loves his old Beemer and is after some advice as to what the job entails and where I need to be taking my car to get the job done to a high standard.

I bought the exhaust back box (below) from a chap breaking his (2001) BMW E39 530i Sport as I want to fit it to my car which is a (2001) BMW E39 530i SE. I prefer the look of the Sport exhaust tail pipe rather than the downturned tail pipe as per my current SE model.

Before I start ringing round local places for quotes, thought I would ask you good folk for some feedback as to what's needed to get this box fitted to my existing pipe work (which is all in good order), what questions I need to be asking and how much I should be paying.

As you can see in the 2nd pic below when he removed the back box he cut it pretty ragged.



If it's any use the diagram in the link below shows where the centre and rear silencers join up:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DT62&mospid=47546&btnr=18_0441&hg=18&fg=20

Cheers in advance

 

[steveo3002]

pics dont work

 

[Mike Gunnz]

Working now?

 

[steveo3002]

yeah working

hasnt done you much favours hacking it off like that hey? are you willing to cut the missing piece from your back box and have that fitted to the hacked up one?

 

[BrokenBiker]

hmmm does seem to be cut in the wrong place.

my suggestion would be to offer it up to your existing system then find the best place to cut your current box off so you can weld this one on, or use exhasut joint clamps

 

[Mike Gunnz]

yeah working

hasnt done you much favours hacking it off like that hey? are you willing to cut the missing piece from your back box and have that fitted to the hacked up one?

He's had a good hack at it but TBH that was reflected in the price I paid.

And yeah I am willing to use mine as a donor if it helps.

 

[Mike Gunnz]

hmmm does seem to be cut in the wrong place.

my suggestion would be to offer it up to your existing system then find the best place to cut your current box off so you can weld this one on, or use exhasut joint clamps

Thanks. Is it a case of welding OR clamping or can both methods be used?

 

[BrokenBiker]

there are a few ways to go about it. Either but the 2 bits up and weld, or use a sleeve type clamp, or you can get a bit of pipe that fits over the exhaust joint then weld the pipe to the exhaust at both ends

 

[steveo3002]

id go for welding that new back box to the pipe work thats on your car , have a good measure and think twice before cutting it

 

[Mike Gunnz]

@ brokenbiker & steve3002

Your first option sounds the 'neatest' as it were, but not much margin for error when cutting. The back box is heavy weighs 15 - 20kg. will that make a difference if welding to the existing pipe work?

 

[steveo3002]

no decent welds will be as strong as the original part ,weight will on the mounts not the pipe

 

[Mike Gunnz]

Ok thanks for your input. At least I understand what my options are now.
Difficult to estimate I know but how much should I be looking cost wise?

 

[BrokenBiker]

The weld metal should be stronger than the parent metal. The only issue you may have is the back box moving because the standard hangers cant cope

 

[steveo3002]

if you can take the new back box and stump of pipe already cut and ready to weld you might get a local forum member do it for a good drink

if someone has to jack up the car and roll about under it doing the whole then a fair bit more

 

[BrokenBiker]

just out of interest where are you located

 

[Mike Gunnz]

East Yorkshire

 

[BrokenBiker]

will help in finding someone local that may be willing to help

 

[Mike Gunnz]

That would be great. Goes without saying that I would compensate them for their efforts

 

[Rig Pig]

Should be fairly cheap to get sorted, it's the sort of job I get talked into by my mates for a couple of beers!

 

[Mike Gunnz]

Good good! "Fairly cheap" is music to my ears as long as it's done right. Fortunately for you Rig Pig, Norfolk is some distance from me!

Went to a wedding on a beach down that way some years back, seemed to take forever to get there!