standard M42 stuff

[Belteshazzar]

I've been living with my 318 for a couple weeks now, some observations;

a guy gets used to the power level fairly quickly. not nearly as maddening as I feared.

the exhaust sounds TERRIBLE. It all appears to be in decent shape, but just sounds like there's a baffle loose or rattly flexpipe or SOMEthing. It's got this buzz that makes me want to put it in neutral and cost anytime I can.
Funny thing is, my friend's 318ti sounds exactly the same way.

it idles like crap. it doesn't seem like a mechanical deal, like watching an old GM V6 shiver and shake. it's more like an ecu that has no idea what's going on.

Any common cures for this stuff?

[tjts1]

Search:
Idle control valve
the mess under the intake
coil on plug
cleaning the intake

[Belteshazzar]

sounds pretty normal. Does the exhaust always sound this way?

[tjts1]

Nah, my exhaust sounds like crap too. Its all rusted out on the inside.

[kowalski]

another common problem for a hunting idle is the afm. old springs in them, and word out contacts.

[Belteshazzar]

Nah, my exhaust sounds like crap too. Its all rusted out on the inside.

do those flexible connections that are built into the factory header ever wear/get-loose? basically everything behind that on mine is new.

[kowalski]

do those flexible connections that are built into the factory header ever wear/get-loose? basically everything behind that on mine is new.

flexible connections?

[D. Clay]

The exhaust issue is usually loose baffles inside the rear muffler. The M42 is harder on exhaust than any car I have ever owned. Midas and the usual aftermarket mufflers last two years at best. I finally ponied up for the Eberspacher OEM muffler for $185 from bmaparts.com. Unfortunately it is at least twice as heavy as others. I've never had any luck with the one piece cat-backs.

[Petebee]

The exhaust issue is usually loose baffles inside the rear muffler. The M42 is harder on exhaust than any car I have ever owned. Midas and the usual aftermarket mufflers last two years at best. I finally ponied up for the Eberspacher OEM muffler for $185 from bmaparts.com. Unfortunately it is at least twice as heavy as others. I've never had any luck with the one piece cat-backs.

How did you attach this? Cut the one piece cat-back in front of the muffler and clamp the new muffler into the old section of pipe? Most after market cat-backs are quite expensive for these cars, and the Ansa on bmaparts looks pretty cheap.

[D. Clay]

I had it welded at a muffler shop for $30. I have the BMW clamp but it was impossible to get it to seal. Other people have told me they never had a problem with them. My problem is probably that I have heated and bent the exhaust for ground clearance. I never tried the ANSA but I have had one from BavAuto.com for $195 that lasted about two years and one from Midas that was welded on with a lifetime guarantee. I had it replaced twice (cheapy). I think a lot of cat backs are damaged in shipping. The metal is thin. I fixed a cat back once by pushing on it until it quit rattling and then drilled into the baffle a put a sheet metal screw in it. Again, some people look at me like I am crazy when I tell them how many rear mufflers I've had on the car. They buy a cat back from BMA and never have any problems.

[Belteshazzar]

flexible connections?

the short acordian-looking thing that's built into the header before it merges into one pipe.

my muffler doesn't have any baffles to rattle, though that is the sort of sound I'm chasing.

[haledj]

[QUOTE=Belteshazzar;41525]the short acordian-looking thing that's built into the header before it merges into one pipe.
QUOTE]

:confused::confused::confused:

[Belteshazzar]

The factory header goes 4-2-1. Before it merges into one pipe, while it's still two, there's what appears to be a flex-joint built into each. It's not more than about two inches long.
Am I alone?

[kowalski]

The factory header goes 4-2-1. Before it merges into one pipe, while it's still two, there's what appears to be a flex-joint built into each. It's not more than about two inches long.
Am I alone?

yup. No accordion looking things on any m42 headers i've ever seen. post a pic