Time to refresh and upgrade the M20. Looking for feedback on both.

[rfordo]

Thanks for the info. Ordered myself a DEC tonight as well taking advantage of a 15% off eBay offer. I have a new cat back to install, will be following your lead.

My thinking is to remove the manifold bolts first (I want to do the heat shield gasket there) and then drop the whole system to do the manifold to cat bolts off the car. Would this be easier?

[r-mm]

Check the part number for the cat section on realoem for auto vs manual, if they're the same there's your answer. The bracket required serious twisting to fit btw, you can see how its off in my pics. No welding, just twisting.

[rfordo]

Does anyone know if the DEC mounting location is correct for an automatic car?

[r-mm]

Exhaust is up...

Exhaust work is never fun. I suppose this wasn't the end of the world. Took a full day working alone except for ten minutes at the end where a neighbor helped me hold the muffler while I fastened it.

Lessons learned:

1. Should have bought a new rear muffler heat shield. I ended up reassembling w/o as mine was more crust than steel. Think this is the part but really don't have the appetite to drop the system again to reinstall. https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...te-51481945429

2. Assemble rubber hangers to body then muffler to pre-hung hangers.

3. Fit at the catback-cat donut gaskets is fiddly, I had a leak at first then slacked, tried to re-align, tightened, metal-pounded and it seems good now.

4. I believe the muffler I removed may have been an Ansa. The ebay/IE is no louder. Which I am cool with.

[r-mm]

Bracket at cat will need some work

[r-mm]

Exhaust down

[r-mm]

I wouldn’t call it fun but all six downpipe to manifold nuts are off. Takeaway: you cant have enough combos of 14mm (for some I understand it will be 15mm) sockets wobbles universals extensions. The most critical clearance is at the nut to downpipe flange so I would say having the lowest profile sockets and joints. Note the difference between a universal and wobble. I did the unthinkable (gasp) and used non impact sockets with the impact once on account of it is thinner.

[Poorhouse]

I saw that review, misaligned bracket. Hopefully they got is sorted out.

[r-mm]

I've lightened flywheels on cars before (let's say ~18>12lbs) but never something below 7.5lbs. I'm not at all worried about the actual driving part but a wonky, searching and racecar idle will bother me. What I love about the E30 is its ability to be a wife-friendly luxury sedan one moment and a lot of fun the next.

Presuming no nut-apocalypse I'll update my experience on the DEC this weekend. One thing to note is it doesn't come with any gaskets (seller on Amazon admitted the pic is wrong). I am not expecting it to be 100% perfect fit. Possible welding according to one reviewed on Amazon.

[Poorhouse]

My RHD flywheel came last week. It is a pretty piece.

Having run light flywheels on other cars I've got no fear.

Ordered the DEC cats today after seeing your pics.

[r-mm]

Gaskets and DEC cat pipe in the house. Exhaust replacement will be this weekend.

I am getting slightly cold feet about running the extremely light RHD flywheel as this will be a daily driver. SSSquid says they'd tune for a 900-1000 rpm idle to compensate. i reached out to a few on this board who installed the RHD and got generally positive feedback - interested to hear from anyone else who has installed it.

[r-mm]

Well look who’s here. Fits up nicely to the a stock Sachs and weighs in at a feathery 7lb 6oz. When I get Squid to make my chip Im going to ask what can be done to stabilize or very slightly raise the idle to be sure its very dd friendly.

[r-mm]

Tooling up...

Forgot I don’t have external Torx for the new head bolts. E14 is the socket needed fyi.

Some long extensions and wobblers for the exhaust downpipe.

A few powders to try and get a nice natural alum look to the underhood bits.

[r-mm]

RHD told me to use automatic trans flex plate bolts. Is this the right item at the right price?

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-clutch-flywheel-bolt-11221717840

[r-mm]

I like the price and what few reviews are out there. Will have it Tuesday and let you know.