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Been reading and reading that Bavaria manifolds are the ticket to easily removing the thermal reactors. Then somehow over the last week (after buying a pair) I discover that they don't just bolt up anyway.

What's the actual deal? Does anyone have any photos that compare them? If they are just as much work as just about every other option, why do people suggest Bavaria manifolds? why not E28 manifolds or M90 manifolds (I think those are actually the same)?

I suspect it got going during the days thermos were current or shortly thereafter. They aren't a bolt up as you discovered, and appear to be slightly smaller than E28 vintage, but barely. Yeah, not even close to a bolt up. Well, except for the length, angle and rotation they would fit, the bolt pattern is the same as is the gasket, just not in the right place.

Interested to know your progress on this as I have 2 sets.

How exactly do they not bolt up? The downpipes have to be replaced as well to the euro, or the pre-smog E9/E3, PNs: 18111246262 and 18111246255.

Before; with reactors:




After; with E9/E3 manifolds:

nice pics!

Well, it's on the list to attend to on the 530i but wasn't intended to happen right away. Unfortunately, a favor I did for someone backfired and I got stuck with a 265/6 I didn't want. A friend offered to do the installation in my 530i for me since I got screwed on the whole thing. Figured the exhaust would need to come off so better time than any really to ditch the reactors. So, since everything I read pointed to Bavaria manifolds, I asked a local friend who used to have a Bav where his manifolds ended up and made arrangements to buy them from the guy who had them. He even picked them up for me and brought them to me. when I saw them, I didn't figure they would work without modification.

What I was hoping for was something that would just take the place of these stupid things and bolt up without having to do exhaust work or whatever. That didn't happen, so the car still has them, but now it's got a five speed and I'm out even more money on the install on that. I thought I was getting a better deal than I did and had I known, I'd have just done it myself.

Luis A. wrote:How exactly do they not bolt up? The downpipes have to be replaced as well to the euro, or the pre-smog E9/E3, PNs: 18111246262 and 18111246255.

Needing $300 worth of downpipes is how they don't bolt up. IMO, bolt up means with no additional modifications needed, not can be made to work somehow. And it's not like there's a bunch of Bav's in the yards with good downpipes on them anymore.

Ok thanks- I've known these needed pipes added after install that's why mine are not done yet also.

Well, that's info I couldn't find anywhere when I was looking so I have now wasted money on Bavaria manifolds I don't need.

wkohler wrote:Well, that's info I couldn't find anywhere when I was looking so I have now wasted money on Bavaria manifolds I don't need.

You should have asked.

I have 2 sets of these manifolds with a complete exhaust.


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