Muffler Solenoid

[PR bimmer]

My muffler solenoid went on the fritz. Apparently the rubber ring that keeps the solenoid tight inside the muffler went bad and now it sounds like "marrakas" in my exhaust. If I take it off and forget about it am I going to create a backpressure issue or is everything going to be ok?

[Hootie]

Why not just buy a new O-ring? Can't be more than $2. I would think the solenoid just measures the exhaust mixture, but you might generate an SES if you remove it.

[peterkulesza]

muffler SOLENOID???? what the heck is that there for???? u mean o2 sensor?

what are marraks??

[Dirty_Tool]

Did you try replacing the muffler bearings? Sorry, couldnt resist. That flap in the muffler alters the backpressure under acceleration. Its best to have it functional for optimal horsepower an fuel economy, however I dont think it will cause a CE light if you bypass it as long as you cap off the vacuum supply to it.

Peter, I think he means maracas. :P

[PR bimmer]

BMW won't sell you the ring, I wish!. The bastards want you to buy the whole muffler assy. between 365 to 650 smackers! I found the web site for the manufacturer of the muffler and I wrote them a letter. I hope the ywill sell me the ring.

[PR bimmer]

Originally Posted by peterkulesza

muffler SOLENOID???? what the heck is that there for???? u mean o2 sensor?

what are marraks??

According to the manufacturer it helps with low gear pick-up, noise, back pressure.

Marrakas, if I spelled it right is a music instrument from the Islands. It's like a coconut shell- empty and dryed up with a stick and rice inside and when you shake them they almost sound like a rattle snake.

[PR bimmer]

Originally Posted by Dirty_Tool

Did you try replacing the muffler bearings? Sorry, couldnt resist. That flap in the muffler alters the backpressure under acceleration. Its best to have it functional for optimal horsepower an fuel economy, however I dont think it will cause a CE light if you bypass it as long as you cap off the vacuum supply to it.

Peter, I think he means maracas. :P

thanks for correcting my spelling. I've always said, engineers are the worst spellers! - it's ironic a Puerto Rican can't spell the names of his native music instruments!! :lol:

[325isBaby]

Huh, that's funny I've fixed em in the dealer before without screwing the customer....must be a different market

[peterkulesza]

thank you all for the fabulous explanations, both mechanical and musical.

[PR bimmer]

Originally Posted by 325isBaby

Huh, that's funny I've fixed em in the dealer before without screwing the customer....must be a different market

You know how to fix this muffler issue. I found in my book they call it a "pipe flap solenoid" hopefully now some people will know what I am talking about. And to be quite honest, I don't know why they did this to the 330 and not others:

[bwdearman]

Maraca(s) n. (mah-RAH-kahs) - A Latin-American percussion instrument consisting of a hollow-gourd rattle containing pebbles or beans and often played in pairs.

That's what Dictionary.com says about the subject, but I recall Spanish Flamenco dancers using something called maracas and they were just a couple of round hardwood plates loosely bound together by string. The dancer has a pair in both hands and they clack them together as part of the music.

The bottom line is that I'm just a gringo that doesn't know anything for sure other than the fact that you need to replace your muffler.

bd

[PR bimmer]

Originally Posted by bwdearman

Maraca(s) n. (mah-RAH-kahs) - A Latin-American percussion instrument consisting of a hollow-gourd rattle containing pebbles or beans and often played in pairs.

That's what Dictionary.com says about the subject, but I recall Spanish Flamenco dancers using something called maracas and they were just a couple of round hardwood plates loosely bound together by string. The dancer has a pair in both hands and they clack them together as part of the music.

The bottom line is that I'm just a gringo that doesn't know anything for sure other than the fact that you need to replace your muffler.

bd

thanks guys. I did replace the muffler just to find out the piece that was missing was just a small lock ring on top of the pipes that holds the flap tight! probably a 30 cent part. Oh, by the way the instruments that the women in spain use and they have one on each hand is not maracas they are "castanuelas"

[Needle Damage]