Hello everyone, i have a question i want to run by you guys, see if i can get some insights.

On my wife's S model, i did the oil filter housing repair. Now everything is put back together, it seems louder, and it definetly sounds to her like the muffler/exhaust is louder, as in vibration when starting to drive. When it sits idle, the sound goes away after a little bit. When driving steady rpm's it's also not as noticeable. The noise is not noticable outside of the car so much.
I suspect it may be the clamp from the downpipe to the flexible exhaust. I did reuse it, but it seems to be seated correctly. I've already tightened it more a couple of times. The downpipe to turbo has a new gasket on it.

So, before i would order a new clamp for the downpipe/exhaust, i wanted to see if people could tthink of anything else it might be? And otherwise i'll get started taking the heat shields back off, to check make sure all my bolts of the downpipe are tight.

Work performed:
replace oil filter housing
replace turbo oil feed and drain lines
replace serpentine belt
replace thermostat
oil change
rear brakepads

It does seem like one of the shocks started leaking after it was jacked up, wheels dropped down, but i'd think that's unrelated to the vibration/noise.

If anyone has any thoughts on this, before i get doing too much, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Fred

 

There is a gasket at the down pipe to exhaust joint. If it got mangled or upset during removal and install, it will create an exhaust leak. I would order up a new clamp, which should come with a new gasket, and remove and replace.

Just get an OEM Mini clamp / gasket. Price is just about the same as the aftermarket versions:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/18302756352/

 

Thanks for the quick reply, Nik.

I was unaware there was a gasket along with that clamp. I will order it, and hopefully that'll fix the issue.
Since i've never seen that style connection before, replacing it, would you know (or anyone) how to go about it? Will the exhaust swing away from the downpipe enough to install the new connection? Surely i would not need to remove the downpipe again..
I did a quick google search, and came up empty. I'll search some more tonight, and order the parts as well.

Again, appreciate the insight

 

There should be enough wiggle room in the flex pipe to move it out of the way to install the new clamp. It might take a little bit of cussing and wrestling, but you should be able to move it enough. Also, now that you know about it, you'll be able to install it correctly.

Make sure, when you get the old clamp off and open the exhaust joint that you triple check for the old gasket ring. And, if that connection isn't lined up just so, the clamp might not be able to pull it together.