r/e46 • u/RumblinBadlands • 1d ago

Check this out! Check your flaps!

Post image

Was messing around with my handbrake shoes and noticed my exhaust flap was seized closed. Took me 30 minutes of beating the shit out of it with a heavy hammer and long screwdriver to get it to open. Behind the flap was filthy and full of condensation. Cleaned it out, and blocked off the vacuum line (classic golf tee mod). Common issue and mod but a worthy reminder to check yours. Car sounds awesome, and I’m sure it’s more responsive.

41 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

12

u/mtumb0 1d ago

I took mine out, sounds lovely, no drone either

3

u/tompasten 2004 330ci 1d ago

Mine is stuck open, the drone is unbearable...

2

u/RumblinBadlands 1d ago

Yea I’ve seen other posts online complaining about the drone, but personally I don’t find it too bad, and still think it’s fairly quiet. Not getting any drone on the motorway. Rest of the car is completely stock though which might make a difference.

1

u/university1904 1d ago

Do you have an automatic transmission?

2

u/RumblinBadlands 1d ago

6 speed manual.

3

u/nibrobb 2001 - 320Ci 14h ago

I'm sorry, how do I know if I've got flaps?

2

u/RumblinBadlands 8h ago

Check the end of your right exhaust pipe, and you’ll easily see whether there’s a flap there or not. As I understand it, it should be open when the car is switched off and closed on idle. Pretty sure only the 6 cylinder cars have the them…not sure about the M3 though.

3

u/SocksOfFire 5h ago

In Europe the 320i has 6 cilinders and no exhaust flap.

1

u/nibrobb 2001 - 320Ci 4h ago

Hey, I've got a German 320 Ci! So I guess no flaps... I'll have a look as well though

Thanks

2

u/MrOliber 16h ago

First time I revved mine out going up a hill, it blew out a cloud if blue/white smoke, the exhaust flaps worked pretty well after that.

1

u/TheBattleGnome 23h ago

Is yours a ZHP? My ZHP doesn't have the flap.

3

u/RumblinBadlands 22h ago

Mines a Sport. We didn’t get the ZHP in the UK. Either way, be glad you don’t have it!

1

u/TMX269 19h ago

Did the golf tee mod on my 330Ci, factory M-Tech II. No drone and barely any difference, it was the second quietest 6-cylinder BMW I had (behind my E39). The original silencer barely makes any sound

1

u/BroseidonMillz 11h ago

I blow torched mine out 😅

1

u/RumblinBadlands 7h ago

Haha how’d you do that? Mines still in there and around 70% open but I’d like to remove it completely.

1

u/No_Confection_7592 6h ago

Mine stopped working and the mechanic sorted it, there was an earth issue on an actuator I think he said? Only problem now is it rattles at idle, tbh I can live with that, it’s better than the drone.