Mod job exhaust trims for diesel

[marinaman]

Never liked the look of the rear without a nice exhaust, lord knows why they didnt put it on the diesel model,  after seeing someone on here do it , i thought i have a go.
Got these off Ebay,, didnt spend too much incase i made a pigs ear of it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161128845831? ... %3AIT 

  couldnt decide between 2 twins like the big boys have or a modern oval.  chose the oval

here are few pics, sorry dont know why they keep appearing sideways,  i tried to cut out with a multi tool but a bit big and cumbersome so borrowed next doors Dremel type thing.  that is what you need for a neat job and a powerfile is highly recommended.
Its a case of make circle in centre for starters to position it, now it will fit through and fasten but the trims point to the floor so you have to score the plastic trim around the shape of the metal trim and you have to cut it out nearly to the top where the clips are,  dont go too far. 
then as you see you have to fasten it, i got a bit of ali and pushed it into the lip you can see and 2 screws to fasten.
the trims had a jubilee clamp for fixing to exhausts but remove this . push back into bumper,  it feels a nice tight fit but to be safe,  i cable tied the rear of the trim where the jubliee was and inside the bumper if you look up you can fasten around the bumper mounting shocker thing,just needs a bit of black silicon to smooth the edges as its impossible to get an exact outline unless you maybe are a surgeon,    if you dont like the fact you can see inside the exhaust trim and see a single circle then i just put some black ali mesh inside it to block it off.
  very easy,  took an hour and half and i think it look much better ,  hope this helps anyone doing the same.

[X5Sport]

The E53 was only approved to EU3 and back then that meant downward firing exhausts for these cars in the EU.  Hence no fancy tailpipes.

Yours do give it a definite lift 

[marinaman]

oh  thats interesting to know,  i thought it was simply they didnt want diesel drivers lookng sporty.  A BMW needs a nice exhuast pipe i think.

[Upex]

I take it these are non functional?

I thought for a mo that you'd be chopping the downward spout off and then welding or clamping on a pipe extension to then join to the tips.

Looks a lot better mind, may consider this myself if ever sort the darn thing out! Nice job

[RickUK]

So basically all they are just 'cosmetic' and not actually connected to the exhaust ??

[marinaman]

Yes, chopping and welding are not in my skill sector and not really bothered,  ive never seen anything much from the back of a beemer anyway so i dont think folk will notice no fumes.
Was just a little mod to add a bit of chrome to the back. Always think they look racier. i like those chrome mirror housing caps you can buy but unsure if they will look chavvy or tacky.
anyone got them on ?

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Marina Man,

I modded my rear silences so that the exhaust actually blows out of the rear pipes in the valence... but the heat & rain makes the stainless pipe trims rust.... so, maybe I have a standard boring pipe & dress it with a none-contact trim that stays cool & won't rust...

Just a thought lol

[marinaman]

that did cross my mind as well,  when much younger i had the single exhaust and clamped the big twin outlets on  only to see them rust away in a month,  at least this way no heat should help preserve them.

[Horizon]

When I had my E53 3.0d I had the back boxes removed and they fabricated a couple of pipes to exit the rear valance.
It felt down on power and I didn't like the drone. ( DOMT BE TEMPTED TO DO THE SAME )
I had it reverted back to standard within 2 weeks.

[X5-D-Sport]

Re Horizon removing the rear boxes & dropping power...

I opened the tops of my silencers - pealed them open like a can lid.. cut off & sealed the under-valence pipe.
Removed the rear wall wadding & cut an outlet pipe out to the rear valence direction, welded up the can lid & gained quite a few HP & better MPG & a nicer noise too...

[dark_stranger]

Been considering this, but was holding tight until I had the Money to pay someone to cut off the down facing section and weld on the tips.  Cant figure out how yours are not facing down, despite exhaust ends pointing down and you haven't removed them.

[X5-D-Sport]

Dark Stranger Sire,
If you want the specifics re chopping the silencers for a gentle rumble, & a tad more power, & having the pipes exit the rear valance holes.... PM me with a mail address to mail you a set of pictures & EXACTLY what to do.

Understand that.... Exhaust Technology is a specific art, & you can't just chop off bits n bobs here n there & expect it to work... there is a bit of science involved.
Happy to share what I've done & can mail lots of pictures & details to do this yourself.

Fortunately I can weld & have a MIG set handy, so my costs were literally £10 of gas, some MIG wire & two exhaust clamps... The end pipes I used are via Ebay - eBay item number:161128845831  £17 incl post UK.
Cheers
Grant B

[dark_stranger]

When I say cutting the exhaust, I am only on about a couple of inches of the end to remove the facing down section, so that the tips can be connected to the straight section. I only say this, as it seems to be the way to do it as discussed in the U.S. X series forum. As otherwise the exhaust tip would be facing the ground. This is all speculation as not taken a look at the car yet.