Muffler Replacement

Post your E12 technical questions and comments here. Please, no off-topic posts.

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guidonhue
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2022 3:40 pm
Location: El Segundo CA

Muffler Replacement

Post by guidonhue »

Hey all -

The PO of my car used zip ties to mount the muffler to the chassis. Inevitably it cracked the exhaust piped right off the front face of the muffler and peeled the muffler like a can. I'd ideally cut and weld an OE muffler in and call it a day, but I'm having trouble finding a good replacement online. Anyone have any recommendations? Looking to keep costs down so I'm not interested in a 1000 cat-back bolt-on piece.

Thanks!
1979 BMW 528i 4-speed manual
PatinaBeforePolish
Posts: 351
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 1:22 pm
Location: Baltimore, Md.

Re: Muffler Replacement

Post by PatinaBeforePolish »

Hello Guidonhue, welcome to firstfives!

OEM replacements show up occasionally but they tend to be pricey. Early e24 exhausts fit but may have to be shortened at the back section. I have a Billy Boat rear section that I used for a few years that I'll sell for a reasonable price. Or you could visit your local muffler shop who could weld something up. Straight pipe?
Also, showing your vehicle year in your profile is helpful when posting for parts.
79 528i
76 530i - Stored since 1992, can it be brought back to life?
86 944- 2023 project
78 F150- Everyone needs a truck
Harv
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:40 pm
Location: Cleveland

Re: Muffler Replacement

Post by Harv »

PatinaBeforePolish wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 1:39 pm I have a Billy Boat rear section that I used for a few years that I'll sell for a reasonable price.
If the original,poster doesn’t want that B Boat exhaust, I could be interested.
Any pics of it?

John
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Mike W.
Posts: 2781
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Re: Muffler Replacement

Post by Mike W. »

First off, what E12 do you have? Early 530s used a single in,single out muffler, later ones used a twin pipe and 528i's used a slightly different twin pipe. Now to the best of my knowledge all 3 are NLA, but still options differ. If an early 530, single in, single out, a regular muffler shop should be able to hook you up with something. If not, while my experience with muffler shops has not been good, it would still be worth stopping by one or more and asking about options. I wouldn't get my hopes up, but the price of an inquiry is right. At worst they can do something, but be involved, I bought a car one time with a brand new exhaust system, from a well regarded local muffler shop. Well regarded by some at least. They single piped it, had about a 120 degree bend kicking up just past the half shaft kinking the single pipe, going into a muffler that droned like crazy right about 2500 RPM. Replaced it with used BMW parts, E12 muffler and E23 resonator, and it was quieter, especially at cruising speed and had a modest power and usable rev bump.

Other BMWs. E28s are close in many ways to E12s. 533 mufflers would be close, except for hangers but also NLA. 535 pipes are a bit larger, hangers are different and would have to be improvised, but are still available, for how much longer I'm not sure, and are moderately priced, you can get one from Rockauto for ~ $167 or so. But a front and rear hanger would have to be fabricated. Front, you can probably buy the parts that attach to the subframe and screw them on, I did when I had a complete E28 exhaust on my E12. The front was easy. The back I never did do right before I changed it back to an E12 exhaust, but would be somewhat more difficult. Definitely doable, but not as easy.

Then my favorite euro parts supplier, Schmiedmann's. They don't show much, but some. An euro E28 528i, both OE BMW muffler and aftermarket, which would likely have the same mounting problems, is available from them starting at ~ 250, plus shipping which from my experience hasn't been too bad. Less than I feared at worst. https://www.schmiedmann.com/en/bmw-E28- ... 09-catn-ol And the cool thing about them is they show the clamshell design, not the tin can one, which has to be worth at least 10 bench racing HP if not more!

So there are a variety of options, albeit none great, but some decent.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
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