M3 Shooting Flames?

deltamonkey32 · 10-10-2012, 08:46 PM

A friend of mine was driving behind me on the way to a movie when he said he saw my car spit out a 6 inch flame from each exhaust tip. What happened was that I pulled up to a red light and there was a semi in front of me. When the light turned green I changed lanes and sped up around the semi and shifted from second to third at about 7k rpm which is when he said that he saw it shoot out small flames. I did a search already and found that this is normal if you are running a catless exhaust system, but I have an exhaust system that still has cats but has no resonators. It is an 08 e90 6 speed M3 with about 45k miles on it. I am concerned because my warranty goes out in a week and I do not have to pay a repair out of pocket. So is this normal? What could have caused this? Thanks in advance.

sergkoko · 10-10-2012, 08:56 PM

Ive seen lots of Turbo cars spit out flames, not so many Naturally aspirated ones with engines in the front, Porsches tend to do occasionally due to the exhaust being so short. I would say if there was anything wrong and your engine was running the wrong air/fuel mixture and it wasnt burning up properly your 02 sensor would catch that and throw a code. It could be residual fumes that mixed with the perfect amount of air to ignite. If the car is running fine I wouldnt worry about it too much. Hope this puts you a little more at ease about the situation.

rjd598 · 10-10-2012, 09:03 PM

BIGW0RM · 10-10-2012, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

LOL!

It's totally normal to shoot a flame here and there. It's just unburnt fuel. As long as the car hasn't thrown a check engine light, you're fine.

deltamonkey32 · 10-10-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILSMKU

LOL!

It's totally normal to shoot a flame here and there. It's just unburnt fuel. As long as the car hasn't thrown a check engine light, you're fine.

Thank you for the responses, glad it is not something serious

mdosu · 10-10-2012, 09:18 PM

must be the nozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. j/k

Are you still using OEM cats or some type of high flow cats? Likely it's due to your aftermarket exhaust system. Your cats usually prevent any of this from happening.

deltamonkey32 · 10-10-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sergkoko

Ive seen lots of Turbo cars spit out flames, not so many Naturally aspirated ones with engines in the front, Porsches tend to do occasionally due to the exhaust being so short. I would say if there was anything wrong and your engine was running the wrong air/fuel mixture and it wasnt burning up properly your 02 sensor would catch that and throw a code. It could be residual fumes that mixed with the perfect amount of air to ignite. If the car is running fine I wouldnt worry about it too much. Hope this puts you a little more at ease about the situation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdosu

must be the nozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. j/k

Are you still using OEM cats or some type of high flow cats? Likely it's due to your aftermarket exhaust system. Your cats usually prevent any of this from happening.

I believe that the cats are still stock, I will check with the previous owner though

osteome · 10-10-2012, 09:51 PM

VTEC must have kicked in, Yo!

sergkoko · 10-10-2012, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osteome

VTEC must have kicked in, Yo!

LOL, Nice!!!

surlynkid · 10-10-2012, 10:05 PM

i've seen it on 911s at the track. no big deal.

Krozi · 10-10-2012, 10:22 PM

I know my car did it running with a catless exhaust, but its kinda weird yours is doing it with 2 sets of cats lol...you'd have to be running pretty rich I would think?

positiveions · 10-10-2012, 11:21 PM

it's probably a high flow cat. Totally normal.

cposk · 10-11-2012, 07:50 AM

One thing about turbochargers that I miss, insane amount of backfires. I could pretty much spit fire on command with my old skyline powered 240sx. FI cars tend to target richer AFRs than NA.

UnaBomber · 10-11-2012, 09:24 AM

love me some flames

mdosu · 10-11-2012, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osteome

VTEC must have kicked in, Yo!

edit:

Double Vanos kicked in, yo!

weaksauce · 10-11-2012, 09:38 AM

Is your M3 a type r?

TVMA Doc · 10-11-2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

Yeah, but I bet that they have a least a hundred grand under the hoods of each of those cars! Perhaps it's the money catching on fire?

FogCityM3 · 10-11-2012, 11:28 AM

Nice...what are the mods that you have?

kwike92 · 10-11-2012, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

Hahahahaha

But yeah my old 240sx blew fire out the exhaust when I downshifted. Then again it was boosting 21psi through a 3 in exhaust

ashleywebe · 10-11-2012, 07:56 PM

It could be residual fumes that mixed with the perfect amount of air to ignite

DARK_M3 · 10-12-2012, 12:27 AM

Ok I'll be the only one here to say that if you have a full exhaust system in place including cats...

Flames did not come out of the tailpipe. Your friend was mistaken.

ooowowizstev · 10-12-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

I need flames like these.

10-10-2012, 08:46 PM	#1
deltamonkey32 Private 31 Rep 57 Posts Drives: Matte White e90 ///M3 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: united states iTrader: (0)	M3 Shooting Flames? A friend of mine was driving behind me on the way to a movie when he said he saw my car spit out a 6 inch flame from each exhaust tip. What happened was that I pulled up to a red light and there was a semi in front of me. When the light turned green I changed lanes and sped up around the semi and shifted from second to third at about 7k rpm which is when he said that he saw it shoot out small flames. I did a search already and found that this is normal if you are running a catless exhaust system, but I have an exhaust system that still has cats but has no resonators. It is an 08 e90 6 speed M3 with about 45k miles on it. I am concerned because my warranty goes out in a week and I do not have to pay a repair out of pocket. So is this normal? What could have caused this? Thanks in advance. __________________ Matte White e90 ///M3
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10-10-2012, 08:56 PM	#2
sergkoko Comrade 56 Rep 211 Posts Drives: 15 M4 DCT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Tucson, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M4 [0.00]	Ive seen lots of Turbo cars spit out flames, not so many Naturally aspirated ones with engines in the front, Porsches tend to do occasionally due to the exhaust being so short. I would say if there was anything wrong and your engine was running the wrong air/fuel mixture and it wasnt burning up properly your 02 sensor would catch that and throw a code. It could be residual fumes that mixed with the perfect amount of air to ignite. If the car is running fine I wouldnt worry about it too much. Hope this puts you a little more at ease about the situation. __________________ 15 M4 / 14 M235i-Sold / 09 E92 M3-Sold / 07 E92 335i-Sold
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10-10-2012, 09:03 PM	#3
rjd598 Banned 1770 Rep 6,696 Posts Drives: F30 340i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Diego,CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW 340i [0.00]
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10-10-2012, 09:18 PM	#6
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	must be the nozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. j/k Are you still using OEM cats or some type of high flow cats? Likely it's due to your aftermarket exhaust system. Your cats usually prevent any of this from happening.
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10-10-2012, 09:51 PM	#8
osteome Major 195 Rep 1,275 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (4)	VTEC must have kicked in, Yo! __________________ 2022 M4 Competition ConvertibleDravit / Tartufo Full / Carbon Fiber Exterior...loaded 2020 X5:MW/Coffee Extended Merino, M Sport, B&W....loaded 2007 X3: Sapphire Black / Black loaded 6 speed Gone: M3 E93 Silverstone II over Bamboo
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10-10-2012, 10:05 PM	#10
surlynkid Major 115 Rep 1,470 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: League City, TX iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 Porsche GT3 [0.00] 1988 Toyota 4Runner [0.00] 1995 Toyota T-100 4x4 [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 [0.00]	i've seen it on 911s at the track. no big deal.
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10-10-2012, 10:22 PM	#11
Krozi Colonel 167 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SoFla - Bonita Springs iTrader: (24)	I know my car did it running with a catless exhaust, but its kinda weird yours is doing it with 2 sets of cats lol...you'd have to be running pretty rich I would think? __________________ 2008 E92 ///M3 Alpine White//Fox Red//6MT// Florida Bimmer - Join us on FaceBook!
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10-10-2012, 11:21 PM	#12
positiveions Lieutenant General 961 Rep 11,722 Posts Drives: 19 Tacoma, 16 Golf wagon Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upland, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2019 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2016 VW Golf Sports ... [0.00] 1998 BMW M3 [0.00] 1990 BMW 325is [0.00]	it's probably a high flow cat. Totally normal.
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10-11-2012, 07:50 AM	#13
cposk Private First Class 15 Rep 154 Posts Drives: 08 IB M3 (E90) , 12 X5d Join Date: May 2012 Location: Annapolis - Maryland iTrader: (1)	One thing about turbochargers that I miss, insane amount of backfires. I could pretty much spit fire on command with my old skyline powered 240sx. FI cars tend to target richer AFRs than NA. __________________ E46 Auto to 5-Speed Swap
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10-11-2012, 09:24 AM	#14
UnaBomber Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 252 Posts Drives: 2012 X5, 2010 GTR Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bluffton, SC iTrader: (0)	love me some flames __________________ 2015 Alpha16 GTR -17xx WHP, 14xx WTQ, 213 HALF MILE 2010 Nissan GTR,TopSpeed Motorsports 4.4 Liter Alpha12+ Motec, JRZs, HREs, Alcon SuperKit, Carbon Errything,etc 8.97@164 - 206.99 half mile - 1401whp 1095tq Road Race Prepped Monster Killed on Hellbender 28
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10-11-2012, 09:38 AM	#16
weaksauce Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 240 Posts Drives: 2011 e93 M3 6MT AW Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Is your M3 a type r?
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10-11-2012, 11:28 AM	#18
FogCityM3 Colonel 499 Rep 2,400 Posts Drives: M3 (E90) & Porsche GT3 RS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0)	Nice...what are the mods that you have?
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10-11-2012, 07:56 PM	#20
ashleywebe New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: volvo Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: nice iTrader: (0)	It could be residual fumes that mixed with the perfect amount of air to ignite __________________
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10-12-2012, 12:27 AM	#21
DARK_M3 Banned 105 Rep 1,292 Posts Drives: 08 E90, 89 Grand Wagoneer Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: So Cal iTrader: (3)	Ok I'll be the only one here to say that if you have a full exhaust system in place including cats... Flames did not come out of the tailpipe. Your friend was mistaken.
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