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Magnaflow cat serious fitment issue!!!

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    Magnaflow cat serious fitment issue!!!

    I bought the Magnaflow “1988-1991 BMW 325iX Magnaflow Catalytic Converter –M662355431) for my iX of course.

    I was told that it was a nice unit and pretty much bolts right in. Well – I am very unhappy with it and do not know what to do. Should I try and make it work or should I get my money back and look elsewhere.

    The cat looks like it was designed to fit.
    • It has two flanges that are the right size for the header flanges and the flex joint on one downpipe.
    • It narrows to one inlet just before the cat but than it splits into two outlets to fit the factory muffler and
    • It has the mounting tab for the transmission mount.

    The problem is that … well… there is a a problem with all 3 items.
    • The flanges are indexed wrong. If I slide one flange on the other will sit ½ inch off. Even if I persuade it by prying (utilizing the flex joint’s give) to go on the holes are not lining up. As if the flange was welded with a few degree rotation error.
    • I already fixed that problem. It looked like the welding heat warped the alignment of the parallel dual pipes. They were not true and parallel. Thee end was off about ¼ inch so the dual pipes were miffing the dual inlets on the factory muffler side. I managed to bend them so they now fit…
    • I haven’t even got there yet because I was still unable to conquer the issue #1 but it’s clear the tab is of a different shape and orientation than stock.

    And now not a direct Magnaflow issue but it was caused by the poor fitment: I managed to wreck the thread on the header exhaust studs which eventually stripped the threads on all but two and I also broke one stud in half when trying to remove a stripped/stuck nut from it!! Tonight I will have to remove the headed and try to salvage it…

    WHAT A PAIN!!!

    I already spent over 3 hours dealing with the above and now looking at another who knows how many hours more to deal with something that should have bolted up in about an hour!!!



    Now what do I do?

    Do I call Magnaflow and demand my money back or should I try and re-drill and or die grind the holes on the flanges to allow them to bolt up?
    (.Y.) R cool.
    Falco rocks!

    #2
    Ive had 3 of these "direct fit" mangaflow units

    one on my 1996 f150:

    Missing a o2 sensor bung and the other in the worng place
    headpipes were welded to close togeather
    fit like shit

    one on my 85 ETA

    same flange issue you are having
    trans mount didnt fit
    banged aganst body

    and now one on my 88 vert

    same flange issue
    same tailpipe connecotr issue (too close to one another)
    trans hangar again



    with all the problems that these things have given me, they are too damn cheap not to buy, they work great and after you modify them to fit, eveything is golden


    the one on my 88 vert was a huge pain to get lined up ad then mounted, i gave up on the original studs and removed them and passed longer bolts through, this allowed for easier install

    I also heated and bent the firt "Y" section to get it to fit better

    now my car is next to silent and passes NJ emmissions with almost unbelivable results


    good luck, with the cash you saved, take it to a exhaust shop and have them do it for you
    88 325ic ~~~> Rusty and ugly
    85 E ~~~> RIP

    Comment


      #3
      Thanx for the input.
      I think I will stick with it than and make it work myself...

      It seems that it's not just my unit that's deffective, so trying to persue Magnaflow to send me a new one would just be a wast of time...:roll:
      (.Y.) R cool.
      Falco rocks!

      Comment


        #4
        yea, good luck


        if you called them, they would tell you to go screw


        It will fit, just needs alot of coaxing
        88 325ic ~~~> Rusty and ugly
        85 E ~~~> RIP

        Comment


          #5
          I have one that has been modified to fit fs.....:D

          Next issue you will learn is the o2 sensor placement. Plug that hole and mount it 180 from there, trust me. ;)

          Comment

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