Is a flex pipe really required?

[MatRacer]

Will work on my exhaust this winter since it is leaking very bad. The flex pipe is one of the guilty. The exhaust is a shitty 3'' for on a S50. Will clean and fix this mess.

Is the flex pipe really required or I can just remove it and put a straight section?

[Jaxx_]

do you have solid engine mounts? Flex pipe is usually there to compensate for engine movement and not to rip the exhaust of the hangers.

[MatRacer]

no... S50 on e28 mounts...

Also, if no flex pipe, can the induced load damage the manifold studs?

[digger]

i havent had a flex mount since 2006/7 no issues on a custom stainless system. the engine/exhaust/gearbox are solid mounted together, the engine and gearbox are isolated with stock mounts and the muffler / exhaust is hung on the stock rubber mounts so everything is isolated and there is no mixing and matching of connections (solid mounts) and soft connections (rubber)

[nomansland92]

When I bought my car with the stock exhaust it just had a slip over pipe where the flex used to be and it was clamped on for a little bit of movement, I welded it solid and ive broke the flange right after the stock manifold twice now. Going to use flex next time, also on stock mounts