Holy smokes! Anyone priced out S52 exhaust manifold bolts?

[hugh jass]

The bolts that connect the outlets of the manifolds to the downpipe are $17 each from BMA! $17 for a freakin bolt?! Anyone have a cheaper option? I broke two of them getting the old downpipe off.

[Addissimo]

go to the hardware store?

You don't need anything that fancy, just as long as it'll fit.

The pain the ass will be having to use two wrenches- but $1 per bolt vs. $17 makes it worth it.

-Addis

[Beej '86 325es]

If you have one to go by, get some good dimensions with some calipers (the measuring kind, not the brake kind), and check this site: http://www.mcmaster.com/
chances are they got it.

[permit]

I think mine were 23¢ each from my local import auto store.

[Jordan]

FYI even if you order it from the dealer you don't actually get the same stainless steel stud. They send you a bolt.

So just use bolts.

[FredK]

It is a M10x40.

I broke one on my E36 328is and because I am such a baller, I shelled out $20 for the bolt. Yeah that's right, I have expensive tastes--I buy Nissen Ramen, not that store brand ramen bullshit. HAHAHAHA.

I thought the bolt was special and would press fit or something wicked cool like that, shown in the ETK. Nope. Just a regular-assed M10x40 shoulder bolt, except the shoulder is a custom length on this bolt, and it it stainless steel. You have to hold the other side of the bolt while tightening.

You're going to have to go with a fully threaded M10x40 bolt, because on a conventional shoulder bolt, the shoulder is too long for the M10 nut to properly bottom out against the downpipe flange. I'm almost certain the thread pitch is 1.5mm. Check to make sure though.

[1990m3]

FredK you just ruined my day. I drilled out the old one all nice to save the splines in my exhaust manifold so I could press in the new bolt and not have any worries on holding both ends. So I ordered that $17 bolt (I'm sure I only paid about $6) for it, and it's not even going to work like I want? At least I can tell them I don't want it when I pick up the other parts, I'll just to do a store and get the regular stainless M10x40 I guess.

damn, I spent a good 30 min. drilling out that old bolt and cleaning it up all nice. Maybe I'll weld the new bolt on so it works like the factory one, but something tells me that will come back to haunt me eventually

[Jordan]

You could always just buy a set of used manifolds without a broken stud..

[BimmerToad]

two words: Junk yard

[Ryan Stewart]

FYI even if you order it from the dealer you don't actually get the same stainless steel stud. They send you a bolt.

So just use bolts.

QFT

[FredK]

Haha, sorry about the buzzkill 1990m3!

I spent a good 20 minutes heating up the stud and pounding it out with a sledge while underneath my car. That was fun. I'm sure if I had something hotter than a propane torch it would have gone faster. I'm just glad I had a torch of some kind.

Of course, finding a set of manifolds without broken studs would be ideal, but then again, you still have to unbolt your old manifold from the head. That could turn out to be another adventure in itself. :D