@Eugene@MMP - let me please address this commentary, since it was significantly in response to my comments:
I hear you. But if you look where mine was, it split wide open and didn't burn. Not close to any exhaust, relatively speaking.
Very simple if you do not get the necessary clearances clearly stated in the install guides, they are gonna burn.
A few points of order:
- Our MMP inlets and outlet never came with instructions. Hence why we interacted with Mauricio during the install. BTW Mauricio was very nice, quick, and helpful. But again to your assertion, there were no install guides with our outlet and hence, to your words, nothing "clear" regarding clearances. We applied common sense.
- We received a 1.5" x 2" approximate size silver heat shield patch, I suppose one might call it. We placed it where it most obviously blocked close proximity to the exhaust manifold. BTW, the failure is nowhere close to the heat spot. As the photo shows, the failure is a simple lateral material split in the middle of the tube.
Learn how to research or get a mechanic that knows what he is doing to install them.
I understand that you might choose to call in to question our experience, and that you don't know us. It's not something I normally address, but given the circumstances and how you've called our competence into question, I'll provide some information. I co-built the car in question with Barry Battle.
@barry@3DM co-founded bimmerworld, co-founded RRT (Road Race Technologies), and was responsible for building and racing cars in the Grand Am series. He was the technical co-founder of both, to be clear. I've run two automotive related businesses, spent 6 years working in two IMSA race teams - built everything from road race showroom stock cars to body bucks and chrome moly tube frame GT cars. Spent lots of time building cars that competed in road race endurance between 4 to 24 hours. Was just at the Brickyard last fall as the head wrench for a GT3 car at the Runoffs.
There are people here that know way more than I do, and probably have way more experience as well. But that said, I believe it is safe to say that the MMP outlet installation was accomplished without tremendous difficulty given our combined experience.
I'd also go so far to say that anyone with reasonable N54 knowledge could look at the photo I posted, the location of the break, know the proximities in play, examine the split and easily deduce that a "bad install" hasn't got anything to do with the failure. Frankly it is a bizarre failure, but maybe what happened will become more obvious once I pull the outlet. Ironically I had been periodically inspecting the outlet and in 7,500 miles had seen no signs of issues, albeit I was inspecting it while on the car by touch and sight.
To whom are you referring,
@Eugene@MMP ?
@barry@3DM and I actually spoke with Mauricio twice when we did the install, as I was one of the first people to run the new batch of MMP outlets. Look at the photo - plenty of clearance. No signs of burning - just plain split in two. Care to comment? Would you like additional photos? Glad to oblige, just say the word.
Above I let you know that we originally spoke with Mauricio, and that there is plenty of clearance, no burning, and a split outlet. I offered to provide more photos if they were helpful. It just seems that, as the vendor, that could be useful product development feedback.
You can stir the pot all you want, if you supplied pics of the outlet taken off to see what really happened and it was a manufacturing issue it gets replaced. if its burnt thats on your install.
I didn't ask for a refund. I didn't ask for a warranty. I didn't ask for freebies. I offered information and also offered to provide additional information. If you would like photos of the outlet when off the car, more than happy to provide them to you. If you'd like I'll even send it back for your all's product development analysis.
IMO the photo I posted is actually more valuable than off-car photos, as in-car shows the failure with the outlet installed so one can see EXACTLY where it is installed. Nonetheless I'm glad to provide additional photos if you find it useful.
Not everyone is out to get you. But I'm sure you can imagine it is frustrating when something blows and one's car is stranded for several weeks. I ordered PSP aluminum hard pipe which I expect may have some greater reliability than silicone as a general rule of thumb. Murphy's law says I'll probably get proven wrong.
BTW,
@Eugene@MMP , Barry and I designed and fabricated in the machine shop a bracket to hold the front MMP inlet so it does not dangle loosely in front of the engine. Also a simple strain relief Adel clamp was affixed to the front of the motor to route and stabilize the MMP inlet so as not to flop around and hit the drive system. Some of these items could be good product add-on order options (an install kit for instance) and create a far more reliable, practical, and elegant installation IMO. I actually have no idea what MMP recommends for installation of the inlets since we never saw instructions. Maybe you all have this kind of stuff available now. Anyway I would have gladly paid for these items instead of having to design and fabricate them - we felt the dangling inlet was an issue worth taking the time and cost to address.
Filippo