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      11-14-2011, 01:26 AM   #1
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How to hide exhaust muffler

I don't like the aluminium colored exhaust muffler when I see the car from a distance. Is there way to hide it? I am adding better exhaust tips too.
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      11-14-2011, 01:52 AM   #2
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Done! More to follow.
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Last edited by Lotus7; 11-14-2011 at 02:11 AM..
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      11-14-2011, 01:59 AM   #3
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Thanks for your help.
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      11-14-2011, 02:09 AM   #4
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1. You can paint the muffler with flat-black header paint.

2. You can build a sheet mental cover (fiberglass won't survive that close to the muffler) and paint it flat black, but it will probably trap too much heat and direct some of that heat to the trunk area. Remember, the battery and emergency battery disconnect unit is directly above the muffler. BMW left it exposed to allow the heat to escape.

3. You can remove the muffler and substitute a small diameter straight pipe that does not extend below the bumper cover, but you, and your local police might not appreciate the noise.

4. You can avoid looking at the back of the car from low angles.

Last edited by Lotus7; 11-14-2011 at 02:22 AM..
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      11-14-2011, 02:35 AM   #5
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This is what it could look like with the muffler painted flat black:
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      11-14-2011, 08:14 AM   #6
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This is something that I thought about also. Google some Jeep Patriot forums, as this seems to be something they do. In addition to header paint, people have also used BBQ or brake caliber ceramic paint. Preparation is also important. As for exhaust tips, I think most of us here who wanted tips for the 28i, have ordered OEM tips from BMW.
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      11-14-2011, 08:16 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
This is what it could look like with the muffler painted flat black:
That looks better IMHO
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      11-14-2011, 08:58 AM   #8
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I don't want to hijack your thread but these are the things here and there where you know that BMW cut corners to save money... Another one is the front tube you can see through the front grill.
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      11-14-2011, 09:32 AM   #9
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My M3 2010 looked crap from the rear, same exhaust box showing, it looked awful.
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      11-14-2011, 09:37 AM   #10
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Any idea about the muffler max surface temperature? Will painting it void the warrantee?
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      11-14-2011, 11:41 AM   #11
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A modification of the car will only affect the warranty if it can be shone that the mod. was a the cause of a related failure or increased wear. If you paint the muffler and it rusts out in 6 months, BMW would probably claim that your mod. was the cause of the failure and not give you a new muffler. Since the BMW exhaust system is stainless steel and probably will last 8 or 10 years, painting it won't have any effect during the warranty period anyway.

Painting with the correct paint and performing the surface prep might actually enhance the life of the muffler. The muffler and exhaust tips do get fairly hot but probably not more than 400 or 450 deg. F. Way below what header paint or brake caliper paint is designed to take. However that's still too hot for plain acrylic enamel or powder coating.

Getting paint to stick to the stainless surface is the challenge. You must degrease (acetone works well on SS with pure ethanol as a second choice-Vodka in a pinch) and then lightly abrade the surface (steel wool) to have half a chance of getting the paint adhere properly. High temp. paint also tends to "fade" so you may need to repaint every 2-years or so unless you don't mind a gray muffler instead of a black one.

Here's a link to some directions for muffler painting.

Last edited by Lotus7; 11-14-2011 at 11:53 AM..
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      11-14-2011, 02:01 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post

Painting with the correct paint and performing the surface prep might actually enhance the life of the muffler. The muffler and exhaust tips do get fairly hot but probably not more than 400 or 450 deg. F. Way below what header paint or brake caliper paint is designed to take. However that's still too hot for plain acrylic enamel or powder coating.

Getting paint to stick to the stainless surface is the challenge. You must degrease (acetone works well on SS with pure ethanol as a second choice-Vodka in a pinch) and then lightly abrade the surface (steel wool) to have half a chance of getting the paint adhere properly. High temp. paint also tends to "fade" so you may need to repaint every 2-years or so unless you don't mind a gray muffler instead of a black one.

Here's a link to some directions for muffler painting.
Great info. How did you learn all this? For an ordinary SW engineer and just a user of X3 who has no insight into working of automobiles (like me), this piece of information is invaluable and is like "ready to eat cooked meal". I am sure many more would benefit from it even if they just read it and do not implement in their X3. Thanks Lotus.
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      11-14-2011, 04:01 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lotus7 View Post
A modification of the car will only affect the warranty if it can be shone that the mod. was a the cause of a related failure or increased wear. If you paint the muffler and it rusts out in 6 months, BMW would probably claim that your mod. was the cause of the failure and not give you a new muffler. Since the BMW exhaust system is stainless steel and probably will last 8 or 10 years, painting it won't have any effect during the warranty period anyway.

Painting with the correct paint and performing the surface prep might actually enhance the life of the muffler. The muffler and exhaust tips do get fairly hot but probably not more than 400 or 450 deg. F. Way below what header paint or brake caliper paint is designed to take. However that's still too hot for plain acrylic enamel or powder coating.

Getting paint to stick to the stainless surface is the challenge. You must degrease (acetone works well on SS with pure ethanol as a second choice-Vodka in a pinch) and then lightly abrade the surface (steel wool) to have half a chance of getting the paint adhere properly. High temp. paint also tends to "fade" so you may need to repaint every 2-years or so unless you don't mind a gray muffler instead of a black one.

Here's a link to some directions for muffler painting.

You may want to hit it with a hi temp primer before your top coats are applied.
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      11-20-2011, 03:59 AM   #14
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[QUOTE=Lotus7;10798297]1. You can paint the muffler with [URL="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=high temp header paint black
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      11-20-2011, 04:02 AM   #15
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[QUOTE=Lotus7;10798297]1. You can paint the muffler with [URL="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=high temp header paint black
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      11-20-2011, 12:37 PM   #16
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[QUOTE=Wei Z;10837021][QUOTE=Lotus7;10798297]1. You can paint the muffler with [URL="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=high temp header paint black[/QUOTE]

Yes...but for a quality job, prep the muffler, use high temp primer, and you could use a clear coat after painting the black.
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      11-20-2011, 02:02 PM   #17
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I found the following to be a good source, they have full process sprays for surface prep, prime, paint and finish coat, site also explains the curing process:

http://www.vhtpaint.com/products/flameproof/
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      11-25-2011, 01:57 AM   #18
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Eastwood has a product called PRE that works great to prep surfaces & makes a satin black high temp coating that resists heat up to 1200F.
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