Cat-Back Install...mpg's included.

[makenzie71]

Lots of people have been asking that's to the "cheap exhaust" thread...even though this is nearly one of the simplist installs a person can do...but at least you have some pics.

This is a cheapy Ebay variety of exhaust:

http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback1.jpg

It's not incredibly cheap...the welds aren't top notch, the bends are sloppy, it's about 6 inches too long to be tastefull and the tips are slightly crooked. I think it's worth the $100 I paid for it, though...plus the slip joint is MUCH better (male end is on the cat assembly). Let me begin by saying FedEx sucks...they managed to ding the tips up PLUS I had to send someone 100 miles out to go pick the damn thing up....:mad :mad

...anyway...

Starting with the project I suggest you check these pics out and take note of the bolt locations. Get an all purpose carb-type cleaner and some lube and hit up each bolt head before you start anything else. Letting the oil seap in will aid you later.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback2.jpg

Prior to installing I had the good sense to get some new bolts. You'll need a bunch of these...at least a dozen. Use grade 8.8 8mmX50mm bolts with a 1.5 thread pitch. Get enough washers for two per bolt, enough lock washers for one per bolt, and enough nuts. A man's got to have at least a certain number of nuts to do anything...
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback3.jpg

Break out your tools and make sure you have everything. Essentially all you need are 13mm open end wrenches and sockets. I can't remember using anything else...I'm pretty sure everything is 13mm or 1/2".
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback4.jpg
(I prefer my kindergarten crayon box for my quick-carry tools...you never outgrow the box, you just put more fun stuff in there in place of the crayons)
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback5.jpg

Get a creeper...or a big cardboard box you can lay out. You don't want to spend your time crawling around the dirt and filth. Also get a pair of jack stands and a floor jack and something to chock the front wheels with.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback6.jpg

Long hair? Tie it back or get a bandana or something to keep it out of your way. You'll regret not doing so the first time you get it tangled up in the wheel on your creeper or accidently tighten it up in a bolt in a tight spot. Also take off jewelry, loose cloths, watches, and anything else that could snag you in a bind...
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback7.jpg

Get started. Put your jack under the differential and lift the car up. Place jack stands under the rear lift supports on either side of the car and let it settle, then remove the jack. Push on the car slightly to make sure it's stable BEFORE crawling underneath.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback8.jpg

Start breaking loose bolts here in the order shown.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback10.jpg

Take note of the infamous wedge-ring thingy. You can reuse this for the catback...I'm willing to bet full aftermarket systems use the same ring (oem).
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback11.jpg

Pull these two bolts LAST. Get ready for it to twist and fall with the last bolt. You will have to grab the muffler and pull it toward you (toward the rear of the car) to get it to slide off the cat assembly.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback9.jpg

Remove the stock hangers. This is tricky and you can damage them easily if you're not careful. Lock box wrench against the car's body then break the nuts loose. Don't let the rubbers stretch too much or they will tear.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback12.jpg

Start the new instal opposite the old one. Place the slip joint over the cat assembly first. Then use your floor jack to hold the muffler in the general vacinity it needs to be in. Then crawl back under the car, finagle the wedge ring in place and tighten the butt-joint down first. When doing this only put 5~10lbs/in on one end...then rotate the flanges around so that you have easy access to the loose end. Once you tighten that end down firmly, the opposite will be "scissored" tight. After you get that tight, repeat with the slip joint.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback13.jpg
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback14.jpg
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback15.jpg

The pic is inaccurate...the thread pitches I used are 1.5...it was a typo. This side is rather hard to setup because the bolt needs to be put in from the back of the hanger...you'll have to work to get it done. I put 4mm worth of spacers in it. The opposite side I needed a 75mm bolt to reach, and lots of washers. I'm not sure of the sizes...I had to dig thorugh the spare parts bins to get them. After you tighten it all up stand back and make sure the tips are even...the pipe you see me manhandling in the pic is what I was using the twist the exhaust into the right shape to fit the cutout.
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback16.jpg

I'm going to cut the tips down, probably...they stick out to far for my tastes...
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/catback17.jpg

(right-click/save as please)
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/prone.mpg
http://www.photoartclub.net/catback/run.mpg

^clips will only be up until I get back from vacation.

[makenzie71]

After a bit of driving I think I like the setup...the muffler needs work, though. I'll have to cut it open and pack it with some quality stuff. No droning sound...nice and deep while prone. Can hardly hear it in the cabin with the windows down at highway speed. Not an offensive setup at all.

[makenzie71]

hahaha so many requests for pics, clips and install info and when it'f provided no one cares.

I'm about to order some stainless tubing that'll slip over the catback's runners so I can take a couple inches out of it without sacraficing the interior surface...I'll be able to put it back flush. I don't know that I'll go through the effort or not, yet, though...maybe the length of the tips will grow on me.

http://www.photoartclub.net/bmw/bmr1.jpg

http://www.photoartclub.net/bmw/bmr2.jpg

http://www.photoartclub.net/bmw/bmr3.jpg

[ciffy107bmw]

Nice writeup but your exhaust is about a foot too long. LOL

[makenzie71]

I'm actually pretty sure it's designed that way...that's where the hangers are and everything lines up. But that's why I've mentioned numerous times "shortening it".

[jagerking]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads5/DSC000431121927889.jpg

[makenzie71]

^yup...planning on at least cutting the angles off...

[Mr.M]

The exhaust is definately too long, but for $100, not bad. You could easily shorten the exaust and still pay way less than what the average is.

[Mr. White]

Just my opinion, but DTM style tips look really cheesy.

[makenzie71]

I think all in all I'm going to have to redesign the mounting tabs and at least cut the tips down. I'll have new pics this evening, I'm sure...

[GriFF3n]

Did you feel any difference in powa? I can't get a really good feeling from the clip of what it truly sounds like. Is it loud/ricey? For $100 and a little work, it'll look real nice, just chop those DTM tips :)

GriFF

[makenzie71]

Oddly enough, the clips do the car justice. It's not loud and it's not raspy or choppy. It's smooth and mellow and rather deep. About the only time it gets noisy is at WOT and at higher RPM...at which time it's hardly louder than stock. I've only heard it in the cabin, though...

[m3mobbin]

It looks so long partly because he's still has the OEM diffusor, if he had the M style one on there it would look fine.

[Listen2me]

Nice write-up, sounds pretty good for what you paid for, still better than stock sound.

[makenzie71]

I don't think the M-Difuser would help any...

[325 PWR]

honestly you could just cut the tips just before the DTM bend and they'd look sooo much better. just a suggestion.

[smuggler]

Grade 8 bolt are overkill IMHO.

[yeaaa05]

dtm tips=weak sauce...dyno?

[maxima'90]

Sounds pretty good, but not feeling the tips. And was that a cow mooing at the end of the second video?

[bimma328]

Could you post the Ebay seller or store where you purchased that particular exhaust for $100.00?

[jmejiaa]

I have this same exhaust for sale, I just took it off and put a stock m3 exhaust. It's not new but it's good and I might sell it anyone wants it and I don't keep missing the noise.

[325 PWR]

Honestly the tips are so long you can stagger cut the tips and it would turn out great. try it

[pnyklr]

cool i just bought the same cat back. I havent hooked it up yet but when i do I'll try to post some sound clips also

[theruss1an1]

Im sorry but... those have to be the worst tips Ive ever seen... Rest of the system looks nice. If I were you Id cut off that muffler and toss it. Buy a magnaflow muffler and use those pipes. Or... return that, cut the pipes off your stock muffler and use them for a magnaflow muffler.

-Serge