Anyone clamped test pipes leak

sftitanium5 · 12-31-2019, 05:06 PM

Anyone have leaks after clamping. What did you do to fix. The shop that put mine on say they all leak a little. I don;t think this is true and wanted others experience. Mine leak to the point in which I can smell them inside the car.

kcdedric · 12-31-2019, 05:20 PM

Mine leaked even though I thought I had an excellent seal with the clamp. Your best bet is to just have a muffler shop remove the clamps and weld the pipes together. They can do it with everything still installed on the car.

GeorgeA · 12-31-2019, 06:27 PM

Mine leaked too so I just got them welded.

sftitanium5 · 01-01-2020, 02:26 PM

I see - I was thinking of welding them, but then it is a pain in the ass to smog. I can't just unbolt them.

derbo · 01-01-2020, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sftitanium5

I see - I was thinking of welding them, but then it is a pain in the ass to smog. I can't just unbolt them.

Install some vband clamps

tdott · 01-01-2020, 07:09 PM

Buy new better quality clamps.

I bought these ones and it fixed my leak issue.
https://amzn.to/2VnzBSg

sftitanium5 · 01-02-2020, 02:02 PM

Thanks for the advice - I was not aware the clamps were shit. I have VRSF pipes. What do you have?

chocstraw · 01-07-2020, 10:01 PM

Torca style (like that amazon link) sleeved clamps do not leak if everything is properly aligned. I don’t recommend welding because of CA smog.

I also had the smell in the cabin and now after getting everything properly lined up, I almost never smell the exhaust. Only if I’m in a parking garage with windows down.

storM3trooper · 01-09-2020, 01:17 AM

Hmmm I'm planning to get the VRSF ones too. Not a fan of welding as well due to smog but I know I will get annoyed with smell that's more than expected with this set-up. Curious how your issue will get resolved.

sftitanium5 · 01-09-2020, 05:30 PM

Fixed with exhaust sealant. Not a big deal.

storM3trooper · 01-11-2020, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sftitanium5

Fixed with exhaust sealant. Not a big deal.

Nice! Did you replace the VRSF clamps? What exhaust sealant did you use?

Vuu · 01-29-2020, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storM3trooper

Nice! Did you replace the VRSF clamps? What exhaust sealant did you use?

I did the same thing he did.

You can find the sealant at Autozone. If I can remember, it's made by JB Weld.

Nicks_M3 · 06-16-2020, 08:40 PM

New user here, I just installed mine, you can actually get the vrsf pipes to slide into the x pipe if you cut it right where the primary cat weld is. Gets in there pretty far and fits up well, no leaks and no welds required.

Jeef · 06-21-2020, 11:01 AM

the leaks you guys refer to, is it the condensation that drips out you notice or are you physically under the car while it's running to check if there are air leaks?

MisterClutch888 · 06-26-2020, 07:13 PM

just muffler cement the joint.

Nicks_M3 · 07-01-2020, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeef

the leaks you guys refer to, is it the condensation that drips out you notice or are you physically under the car while it's running to check if there are air leaks?

When we installed mine we were under the car checking for leaks. Found none but I eventually got paranoid about potential leaks and had them welded

12-31-2019, 05:06 PM	#1
sftitanium5 Private First Class 16 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Supercharged M3 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	Anyone clamped test pipes leak Anyone have leaks after clamping. What did you do to fix. The shop that put mine on say they all leak a little. I don;t think this is true and wanted others experience. Mine leak to the point in which I can smell them inside the car.
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12-31-2019, 05:20 PM	#2
kcdedric Captain 743 Rep 647 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Norcal iTrader: (7)	Mine leaked even though I thought I had an excellent seal with the clamp. Your best bet is to just have a muffler shop remove the clamps and weld the pipes together. They can do it with everything still installed on the car. __________________ Le Mans Blue '09 BMW M3 Sedan - Current Polar Silver '04 Porsche GT3 - Gone Persian Blue '08 Lotus Exige S240 - Gone Space Gray/Imola '08 BMW M Coupe - Gone
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12-31-2019, 06:27 PM	#3
GeorgeA Major 757 Rep 1,408 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	Mine leaked too so I just got them welded.
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01-01-2020, 02:26 PM	#4
sftitanium5 Private First Class 16 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Supercharged M3 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	I see - I was thinking of welding them, but then it is a pain in the ass to smog. I can't just unbolt them.
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01-01-2020, 07:09 PM	#6
tdott Brigadier General 3940 Rep 3,980 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South FL / 6ix iTrader: (4)	Buy new better quality clamps. I bought these ones and it fixed my leak issue. https://amzn.to/2VnzBSg
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01-02-2020, 02:02 PM	#7
sftitanium5 Private First Class 16 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Supercharged M3 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	Thanks for the advice - I was not aware the clamps were shit. I have VRSF pipes. What do you have?
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01-07-2020, 10:01 PM	#8
chocstraw Lieutenant 496 Rep 457 Posts Drives: E92 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Torca style (like that amazon link) sleeved clamps do not leak if everything is properly aligned. I don’t recommend welding because of CA smog. I also had the smell in the cabin and now after getting everything properly lined up, I almost never smell the exhaust. Only if I’m in a parking garage with windows down.
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01-09-2020, 01:17 AM	#9
storM3trooper Private First Class 54 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Chino Hills CA iTrader: (0)	Hmmm I'm planning to get the VRSF ones too. Not a fan of welding as well due to smog but I know I will get annoyed with smell that's more than expected with this set-up. Curious how your issue will get resolved.
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01-09-2020, 05:30 PM	#10
sftitanium5 Private First Class 16 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Supercharged M3 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: NorCal iTrader: (1)	Fixed with exhaust sealant. Not a big deal.
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06-16-2020, 08:40 PM	#13
Nicks_M3 Private 22 Rep 61 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	New user here, I just installed mine, you can actually get the vrsf pipes to slide into the x pipe if you cut it right where the primary cat weld is. Gets in there pretty far and fits up well, no leaks and no welds required. __________________ 2011 BMW M3 2016 BMW M4 2010 BMW 335i
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06-21-2020, 11:01 AM	#14
Jeef Lieutenant Colonel 388 Rep 1,945 Posts Drives: AW E92 335i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (6)	the leaks you guys refer to, is it the condensation that drips out you notice or are you physically under the car while it's running to check if there are air leaks?
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06-26-2020, 07:13 PM	#15
MisterClutch888 Lieutenant 552 Rep 580 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 6MT ZCP Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: 604 \| 852 iTrader: (8)	just muffler cement the joint. __________________ Current - 2011 E90 M3, Jet Black, 6MT ZCP. Recaro/Bilstein/BBS/StopTech/Haimus/Turner/Pinnacle/BE/Auto Solutions/Macht Schnell/GC/Whiteline/Slon/Alpine Sold - 2008 E92 M3, AW x FR, 6MT. CF roof is oh-so-Sexy! IG @misterclutch888 Slow Build
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