Let's get nerdy. The other evening on the way home I followed a badgeless, newish BMW 3 estate. It was smartly driven - zipped past the one dawdler in the one safe overtaking spot quickly enough to leave space for me to follow, and took the big hill that follows at full A-road speed, as few seem to manage. So I deduce it was one of the six-cylinder models.
What caught my eye, though was the exhausts: one each side, but my impression was that I could see right into the one on the right, while the left one seemed to be closed by a shiny disc. It was a sunny evening, so the contrast between the two was striking and consistent. Was I imagining it, or is there some technical reason I don't know about?
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They are blanked up, part of the image/marketing/what have you, but not required.
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Prompted by this, I've just been and peered up my twin exhausts, never ever an easy thing to do elegantly, but I'm pleased to say they are both functional.
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Maybe a flap to open/close depending on what kind of exhaust note you require, seen them on Jaguar V8s.
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Some of those rectangular chrome exhausts on both sides of the car are fake with a normal exhaust behind only one. And the real exhaust possibly pointing down to the road.
At least the diesel exhaust doesn't make them dirty :-)
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Seen similar on an Alfa I was helping a neighbour with. When I put my hand over one exhaust I suggested the RH bank wasn't firing. He replied that's a blank.
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Seen quite a number of Golf R near where I live, with 4 exhausts on the back.
They all have soot on the centremost pipes and clean looking outer ones.
Intrigued by this I called my pal in Preston who has one - he says there is a valve that normally actuates at wide-open throttle - when closed it only uses the innermost pipes.
As he goes everywhere in 'Race' mode he has 4 sooty pipes as the valve is open all the time.
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My single exhaust pipe works just fine and satisfies my needs admirably. 😊
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Remember those exhaust booster thingies that used to suck air in at speed to help the exhaust fumes get out quicker and improve performance ?
HaHa...gone the way of clip-on headrests, imitation bullet holes and so much more rubbish we bought with our early pay packets !
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Er, no. I do remember head restraints that looked a bit like proper ones but just slipped over the top of the backrest. And great big round spotlamps on the front bumper.
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>great big round spotlamps on the
>> front bumper.
Had a couple of those rectangular stainless steel things set into the grille of my Maxi, relayed into the main beam. A wonderful enhancement and certainly gave a 'wake-up' call to those coming the other way that didn't dip soon enough.
Think they're still in my shed!
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>> HaHa...gone the way of clip-on headrests, imitation bullet holes and so much more rubbish we
>> bought with our early pay packets !
>>
What happened to those How-near-the-kerb-you-are-finder bits of wire things people had sticking out from the front wings?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curb_feeler
(It was a long time ago)
Last edited by: Duncan on Wed 22 Jun 16 at 06:34
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In my earlier motoring days there was a rule that tailpipes had to extend at least beyond the rear edge of the bumper. I remember failing an MOT but the tester found a short length of pipe of the right size and stuck a few inches on the end.
But now I see lots of exhaust pipes stop short underneath the bodywork - those would certainly have failed an MOT in the old days.
What's happened - is it because exhaust gas is not dangerous any more?
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Really? The LEC's exhausts are not visible from behind the car. It was only when I was rummaging about on the ground to fit the towbar for the bike carrier that I noticed there are two of them.
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They are flaps that allow for a change in back pressure.
They are quite common on performance cars up to say 10 years old but can't think why they would be on one side only.
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Tailpipes - sooty123
