I tested the S50 headers after the bending operation and when they still didn't fit I came to my senses and bought cheap stainless headers.
These will also need a slight bending to give a little bit more clearance to front subframe but that's no problem. I already proved that bending headers by heating works in principle.
After I had the headers in it was time to test fit the exhaust. For that I threw in the rear bumper and the rear valance. Although, I wasn't able to locate the bumper brackets at the moment. I have them in a box somewhere among all the other parts.
The exhaust is for E36 328i. The front end is unused non-OEM that I bought at the cheap. The rear end is Scorpion stainless catback. I know this will be loud but I expect that to be fun for a while. When I get tired of the noise I'll update the mufflers.
With the car on jackstands, it's difficult to get good all-around pictures of the exhaust under the car. Working on the exhaust also involves a lot of getting under the car so I bought a creeper to make it nicer.
People on the internet claimed that the E36 exhaust will fit an E30 but I find that gross overstatement. It is borderline possible to bolt it there but nothing really fits. (Might be just me, though. I have two non-OEM parts). The pipes hang too low between the front muffler and the downpipes, crossing the rear subframe is a bit iffy and the rear muffler is completely in wrong orientation. Also the exhaust tips point in wrong direction. Althought that wouldn't really matter without the M-tech 1 rear apron.
I decided to redo the pipe between the front muffler and headers and to modify the rear piece to fit the way I want it to. As an end result I'll have custom exhaust almost completely in stainless steel. I won't need to make changes for the section from front muffler to catback connection point so that's where I decided to start. I moved the exhaust lengthwise to best position and fabricated supports for it. I cut the shapes out of 2,5 mm plate, bent them and made pins out of bolts. These were fixed with the heat shield bolts.
I may still alter the position of bolt holes to place the cats a bit higher up. It will require modifying the pipes a little where they go under the rear subframe but I'll check with the gas tank and heat shield in place before doing that.
These will also need a slight bending to give a little bit more clearance to front subframe but that's no problem. I already proved that bending headers by heating works in principle.
After I had the headers in it was time to test fit the exhaust. For that I threw in the rear bumper and the rear valance. Although, I wasn't able to locate the bumper brackets at the moment. I have them in a box somewhere among all the other parts.
The exhaust is for E36 328i. The front end is unused non-OEM that I bought at the cheap. The rear end is Scorpion stainless catback. I know this will be loud but I expect that to be fun for a while. When I get tired of the noise I'll update the mufflers.
With the car on jackstands, it's difficult to get good all-around pictures of the exhaust under the car. Working on the exhaust also involves a lot of getting under the car so I bought a creeper to make it nicer.
People on the internet claimed that the E36 exhaust will fit an E30 but I find that gross overstatement. It is borderline possible to bolt it there but nothing really fits. (Might be just me, though. I have two non-OEM parts). The pipes hang too low between the front muffler and the downpipes, crossing the rear subframe is a bit iffy and the rear muffler is completely in wrong orientation. Also the exhaust tips point in wrong direction. Althought that wouldn't really matter without the M-tech 1 rear apron.
I decided to redo the pipe between the front muffler and headers and to modify the rear piece to fit the way I want it to. As an end result I'll have custom exhaust almost completely in stainless steel. I won't need to make changes for the section from front muffler to catback connection point so that's where I decided to start. I moved the exhaust lengthwise to best position and fabricated supports for it. I cut the shapes out of 2,5 mm plate, bent them and made pins out of bolts. These were fixed with the heat shield bolts.
I may still alter the position of bolt holes to place the cats a bit higher up. It will require modifying the pipes a little where they go under the rear subframe but I'll check with the gas tank and heat shield in place before doing that.
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