Gasket: Manifold to pipe to cat.

[Times]

I thought there was a leak along the pipes, or at the welds and found that really, it's coming from the front---most likely problem is the gasket between the manifold and the front exhaust system.

Has anyone had to do a replacement of that gasket? I read that you have to disconnect the pipe from the manifold and then sometimes break the gasket and "press" the new gasket in. Now when they say press do they mean remove the whole front exhaust assembly and use a press?

I'm thinking replace the front exhaust assembly, and the gaskets at the same time. Probably a few months down the road. Does anyone figure that leaving it the way it is, will cause more problems to other parts---upstream?

[Xenocide]

never heard of pressing it in.


you take it off, remove gasket, replace, re-assemble.

[cooljess76]

The gasket goes right over the studs and gets sandwiched between the two flanges. No "pressing" required. If you're very careful not to damage the gasket or break the studs off, you may not even have to remove the mid-pipe(catalytic converter section) completely. The only problem you may run into is that the studs become heavily corroded and sometimes(often) snap off when you try to loosen the nuts. Try soaking them overnight with PB Blaster penetrating lube. If they still seem too tight, use a torch to heat the nut, it will expand the nut slightly and make it easy to loosen.

Here's the gasket, $8.75 @ pelicanparts.com:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...ILTER_BMWM=ON#

If the studs break, you can replace them with bolts and nuts, but they're not cheap. Part# 11621427586 and they're $17.26ea at getbmwparts.com

The nuts are part# 18301737774 cost $1.32 @ getbmwparts.com or $0.50 @ pelicanparts.com

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...88&hg=11&fg=50

[MPWR]

Sounds about right.

Expect the studs to give you trouble. On an exhaust train with 200k+, I would go ahead and plan to replace them.

You can pick the hardware up at Tischer without bothering with the website- the 20% off getbmwparts offers is the same 20% Tischer gives CCA members over the counter.

[Times]

I <3 YOU GUYS.

WTF $26 for a bolt?! Wow, must be some magical bolt. @_@
Right now I can't really do much for the car, probably not for at least a few more weeks---

But I'll keep this thread in mind.

[cooljess76]

You might be able to get by with some grade 8 nuts and bolts from the hardware or auto parts store, but definitely don't use nylon locking nuts as they'll surely melt off. Be sure to get the stainless lock nuts with the deformed opening instead. Heck, you might get lucky and not have to replace any of them, it's a good idea to have some replacements on hand prior to taking it apart though just in case.

[Times]

Yeah, I totally hear you on the spare bolts---I'll take my bolt measuring template out to the car next time I have it jacked up and measure the bolts. Stainless steel should be ok, I don't know what temperature they're rated to.

[CirrusSR22]

http://318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24197