r/Cartalk • u/got_cello • Dec 19 '20
Bought 2003 530i, previous owner absolutely rednecked the exhaust with plastic tubing. What’s the best way to proceed? Exhaust
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u/got_cello Dec 19 '20
I traded my truck for this 2003 530i with only 98k on the clock. Ran great on the test drive, and I assumed they’d done something to the exhaust because it was a little louder than stock. It was dark and icy so I didn’t get under the car. The day after the trade, I took it out and pushed it harder on some back roads. All of a sudden the exhaust note got super loud and nasty, and it’s sounded obnoxious ever since. I assume this piping underneath came off. I’m doing to try to reattach it and figure out if I should straight pipe it (with actual metal pipe), try to find a full stock exhaust, or some aftermarket solution. I’m new to bimmers, so all advice is appreciated. Other than this, it’s a fantastic running car that I’ll keep for a long time!
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u/ZetoxGaming Dec 19 '20
Like others said, it's a quick-repair thing that's been done. If you go to an exhaust shop they'd make you something new that would suit your needs, if you like it a bit more sporty or whisperquiet.
You could also take a look at local scrapyards, see if they have any 525i or 530i on the lot with an exhaust that you can get. The OEM one is very quiet. Maybe someone is doing a part-out, look at the local websites for that.
Also, I should note that those headlights aren't the original ones, I suspect you might find some funky wiring things behind those to make the 3 little leds work that are near the kidneys.
Apart from that, nice car! I do like an e39 regardless of color, yours it Titansilber I believe.
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u/airpranes Dec 20 '20
This is it! Take it to an exhaust shop and they’ll come up with the cheapest solution for you. Do a shop the specializes in custom exhaust work and they’ll rig something up for you
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Dec 20 '20
take it to a shop
cheapest solution
My guy you're gonna have to pick one. Cheapest solution is buy a universal exhaust kit and put it in yourself. This is the best time to learn. Id bet you could buy a decent used welder, universal kit, and a muffler for less than the price of having a shop sort you out on a system alone.
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u/airpranes Dec 20 '20
Welding might be a little out of OP’s wheelhouse if he needed to make this post in the first place
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Dec 20 '20
That's true but this is how and why we learn. Despite the name I didnt leave the womb torch in hand, and not many people I know did their first exhaust job just for fun.
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u/sungodlito4089 Dec 20 '20
Check your Vanos solenoids they're usually the first thing to fail in a beamer also ECS tuning is rlly good!
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u/SpontaneousPlant Dec 19 '20
Try to grab a used exhaust on Craigslist. People always sell them after upgrading
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u/bobroberts1954 Dec 19 '20
Take it to an independent (i.e. not a chain) exhaust shop, you might be surprised how inexpensive they can be. Quick too.
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u/rocksauce Dec 20 '20
To further this, after you get a quote, ask them if they can knock any cost down if you pay cash.
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u/got_cello Dec 19 '20
Thanks for all the advice. I ended up reattaching the tube for now with JB Weld Ultra Heat wrap for about $15. It’s curing now in the driveway but sounds back to normal, nice and quiet. That should hold me through till I’m ready to do a proper exhaust fix, either aftermarket or a full oem.
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u/RATC1440 Dec 20 '20
As a German and a big fan of the e39, I can only say that those cheap aftermarket headlights are an absolute warning sign.
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u/Randdos Dec 20 '20
Please don't forget while installing your new exhaust to curse the guy who put it in, curse his micky mouse handiwork, curse whoever designed the car, and curse any broken bolts. Throw in a few extra expletives just for good measure. This process adds 10 hp
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Dec 19 '20
Hahahahahahahahaha. Sorry. Just had to get that out, but on a more helpful note RockAuto.com has a few things that may help at a lower price.
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u/Radiant-Estimate6976 Dec 19 '20
You need to determine which part of the exhaust system was damaged/replaced and replace it. Look at a diagram of the exhaust system on RealOEM.com and figure out which piece of the exhaust system was damaged. Order a used OEM part off ebay and order the exhaust gaskets too. All in, this repair is probably around $250 in parts.
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u/Msding Dec 19 '20
You can always buy a used exhaust from a car that has been salvaged. Could go down the fraction of a price from a new one. Safer and better than the temporary solution the car has now
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u/ZeldaNumber17 Dec 19 '20
Yikes, take to to an exhaust shop. They’ll charge you 300-400. It’s pretty rinkey dink.
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u/Drew2248 Dec 20 '20
Gee, I don't know . . . if only there were such things as, you know, muffler shops where they could install a new exhaust system for you.
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Dec 19 '20
I would inspect uninody looks like something had hit the floorboard right by the side skirt, but to answer your question about the exhaust i would mickey mouse a side exhaust exhaust for shits and giggles. Then proceed to find a nice catback aftermarket or oe
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Dec 19 '20
Good lord. I’d be scared to death of whatever else is half-assed on that car. I’d have the car inspected by a reputable BMW mechanic, it’s a possibility you just traded yourself into a real nightmare.
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u/Vino1980 Dec 19 '20
That's exactly what he did. These cars fall apart after 60k miles. For a Toyota 98k is low miles, for a BMW its a ton of miles.
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u/earthman34 Dec 19 '20
Get ready to drop some bucks, an aftermarket cat-back system for this car is north of $1000. Don't even ask what the OEM parts are. This explains the chickenshit repair tubing job you're looking at...like a lot of used BMW owners, the guy couldn't afford to fix it properly.
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u/pineapple_calzone Dec 19 '20
You just need some exhaust pipe welded on. It's not hard. Go to any exhaust shop, they can do it cheap and quick.
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u/urethra5 Dec 20 '20
E39's are the most brilliant used BMW. M54 engine will never die. But yes, you must pay a lot sometimes for rest of car, which can and will break.
And this part is a bitch.
An OEM exhaust for this baby with cat backs is 900 bucks in California, 600 non-California. Installation another 500 at a good shop. Sure you can shade tree this, but give yourself a week. It's not easy.
But yes, the car is brilliant beyond words. Handling beyond words.
Just budget about 3 grand a year for repairs.
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u/got_cello Dec 20 '20
I’m very excited to own it. The handling is remarkable and unlike anything I’ve owned or driven before.
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u/urethra5 Dec 20 '20
Yes, the handling is absolutely superb. It won't keep up with a supercar, but it blows away most normal driving machines - even the newest ones. A beautifully designed symphony of a machine. My 2003 530i has 240,000 miles on it.
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u/lucky-rat-taxi Dec 20 '20
No advice here.
Just wanted to congratulate you on your new car. One of the best 5s imo
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u/strokeherace Dec 20 '20
I must say that your stereotyping is way the hell off. You are confused about southern shade tree repair. 1) they rarely use a coat hanger due to they have or know a buddy with a welder that may or may not weld worth a shit. 2) that stainless flex pipe is way expensive and they would have just cut the cat and muffler off to to straight pipe it. 3) rednecks as you call them put a $20 glasspack on everything to include grandmas car.
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u/EverlastingBastard Dec 19 '20
I do almost everything on my car myself, but exhaust.... eff it. That's just too much of a PITA. I would call the local BMW independent shop and see who they recommend you take it to.
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Dec 19 '20
Take it to a local exhaust shop and have them knock something together for you.
I see snow, so rusty exhausts are common and repair shops should be plentiful.
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u/thegreatgazoo Dec 20 '20
Have you had it inspected by a mechanic yet? If not, that's the first thing to do before investing a nickel into it.
If it has that nonsense on it, it's probably way behind on maintenance, and you need to get that caught up with immediately on those German cars.
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u/all_caps_all_da Dec 20 '20
Go to the scrap yard and get an oem mid pipe and I'm sorry but those headlights are hideous. It does not suit the car at all. I'm a BMW guy, ive owned mostly 3 and 4 series cars but my current one is an X3 with 212k miles . keep it maintained and it will drive forever.
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u/karmat0se '87 E30 / '89 E34 / '98 E39 / '06 E90- BMW Nerd Dec 20 '20
It looks to me like they chopped out 'the lung'. What I would do is just take it to an exhaust shop and have them fabricate a section for you to replace the sections of flex pipe with stainless or whatever. Use v-bands to attach it to make future service easy.
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u/WARGEAR917 Dec 19 '20
That’s not plastic tubing, it’s flex pipe from Vatozone. It works in a pinch but it’s never supposed to be a permanent solution. Best way to deal with the problem? Go buy yourself a full exhaust from a reputable company and have it installed or do it yourself.