m52 almost complete

[polkadot_boxerman]

I've got an m52 in my 318is with welded and wrapped m52 headers. I bought a set of m50 downpipes from Strictly German up the road after he claimed that they would fit. Maybe it's just my but I can't get the exhaust to line up with the exhaust manifold.

Will these work or do I need the m52 exhaust?

[polkadot_boxerman]

anyone? will the m50 downpipe connect to the m52 exhaust manifold if I try and bend it to fit?

[M-technik-3]

They fit fine. I have a S52 Mid pipe on my s50 powered M3. They just changed the portion where it enters the cat not the the section that exits from the down pipes.

M/S50 get a wake up when adding an OBD II mid pipe.

[polkadot_boxerman]

ok. well I'll give it another shot in the morning. I could not get it to line up to both triangle flanges for the life of me.

[hwy84]

Get it up, get it on.

Lift the passenger side of the motor first. Then connect the midpipe to the manifolds. Then lower the motor.

If you're lucky, you will only have to do this twice - once to see how badly the midpipes will hit the swaybar, and a second time after you have clearanced the pipes with a hammer so they no longer hit the sway.

If you are using the stock OBD1 cats, be ready for the O2 sensor to hit the chassis cross brace as well. You'll need to cut it to make room for the O2 sensor... See what I am talking about midway down the page linked below.

http://www.rmeuropean.com/bmw-e30-m50-swap.aspx

[polkadot_boxerman]

I'll have to try this technique of lifting the passenger side of the engine and see if it helps out at all. I'm not really having issues with clearing the sway bar. I can get the rear triangle flange to align but the one that connects to the front exhaust manifold is not lining up. it looks like it needs to be turned 90 degrees in order to line up right.

[328ijunkie]

Dont buy anything from stricktly german

[M-technik-3]

I did mine with a transmission jack, lifting it and manipulating as putting mine in place.

[polkadot_boxerman]

the m50 downpipes definitely would not connect to my m52 headers. took it to a shop to have them put it on. After jacking the engine up and trying we had to cut and weld in order to make them fit.