grw
03-21-2008, 10:57 AM
Whiners,
When I picked up my K100 standard last year I was semi unhappy that a previous owner had opted to remove the heat shield from the exhaust and grind down the mounting points (eliminating the option of reinstalling the shield).
In addition to my anal attitude towards K100 appearance (I happen to think the shield was effective at minimizing the apparent size of the muffler) the shield also prevented burns. Unfortunately it also rattled and broke loose from time to time. My first K100 (purchased new in '85) went through several exhaust systems in search of a permanent solution to those problems. Fortunately all that exhaust system swapping was at BMW's expense.
I found a relatively intact and inexpensive K100 exhaust with it's heat shield intact on eBay for about $50. On arrival the shield was rusty and scratched but mostly free from major trauma. The muffler was dirty but overall fine. There was one subtle ding from a tip-over.
One of the mistakes BMW made (IMHO) with the K100 exhaust was providing a lifetime stainless muffler with a painted stamped steel heat shield. This guaranteed that he shield would look like crap long before the muffler did and virtually guaranteed that a stainless system would look rusty to the world.
I took the exhaust and shield over to Brooks Performance Coatings (BPC) in Sherwood, OR to talk to Daniel about a permanent solution. BPC was recommended to me by Jeff Earls. Daniel strongly suggested a ceramic coating for both the muffler and heat shield (I had originally been thinking about powder coat for the shield and polishing for the muffler). To keep the stock look the shield would receive a black coating and the muffler would get an aluminized coating.
The ceramic coating on the steel shield will not scratch or flake off and will clean up nicely. The exhaust would be returned to it's like new appearance (before the stainless yellowed/blued). And it would stay that way.
The results were really impressive. If anyone is interested in having the shield or muffler coated (the headers could be coated to match, too) I can provide photos of the results or post them here. The cost for cleaning up the muffler, shield, and coating was $375. Too much for a permanently spiffy looking exhaust? Not to me.
The aluminum coating on the muffler polishes up nicely using Mother's Mag Wheel polish (basically an aluminum polish). Nothing sticks to the ceramic coating. Dirt just wipes off.
BTW I had to order new mounting hardware for the shield as some was missing/rusty and the front rubber mount was broken. BMW is getting an arm and a leg for screws and bolts these days. A complete hardware kit for the shield will set you back around $50. A couple of the nut retainers are damaged so I may be safety wiring one or two nuts in place to prevent them escaping along the road.
-Gary
When I picked up my K100 standard last year I was semi unhappy that a previous owner had opted to remove the heat shield from the exhaust and grind down the mounting points (eliminating the option of reinstalling the shield).
In addition to my anal attitude towards K100 appearance (I happen to think the shield was effective at minimizing the apparent size of the muffler) the shield also prevented burns. Unfortunately it also rattled and broke loose from time to time. My first K100 (purchased new in '85) went through several exhaust systems in search of a permanent solution to those problems. Fortunately all that exhaust system swapping was at BMW's expense.
I found a relatively intact and inexpensive K100 exhaust with it's heat shield intact on eBay for about $50. On arrival the shield was rusty and scratched but mostly free from major trauma. The muffler was dirty but overall fine. There was one subtle ding from a tip-over.
One of the mistakes BMW made (IMHO) with the K100 exhaust was providing a lifetime stainless muffler with a painted stamped steel heat shield. This guaranteed that he shield would look like crap long before the muffler did and virtually guaranteed that a stainless system would look rusty to the world.
I took the exhaust and shield over to Brooks Performance Coatings (BPC) in Sherwood, OR to talk to Daniel about a permanent solution. BPC was recommended to me by Jeff Earls. Daniel strongly suggested a ceramic coating for both the muffler and heat shield (I had originally been thinking about powder coat for the shield and polishing for the muffler). To keep the stock look the shield would receive a black coating and the muffler would get an aluminized coating.
The ceramic coating on the steel shield will not scratch or flake off and will clean up nicely. The exhaust would be returned to it's like new appearance (before the stainless yellowed/blued). And it would stay that way.
The results were really impressive. If anyone is interested in having the shield or muffler coated (the headers could be coated to match, too) I can provide photos of the results or post them here. The cost for cleaning up the muffler, shield, and coating was $375. Too much for a permanently spiffy looking exhaust? Not to me.
The aluminum coating on the muffler polishes up nicely using Mother's Mag Wheel polish (basically an aluminum polish). Nothing sticks to the ceramic coating. Dirt just wipes off.
BTW I had to order new mounting hardware for the shield as some was missing/rusty and the front rubber mount was broken. BMW is getting an arm and a leg for screws and bolts these days. A complete hardware kit for the shield will set you back around $50. A couple of the nut retainers are damaged so I may be safety wiring one or two nuts in place to prevent them escaping along the road.
-Gary