Has anyone tried a process like the one described in the linked thread for polishing the M3W header pipes? Seems like a great way to keep them shiny. Any chance that this would damage them?
Going out on a limb here and not exactly hoping it won't be cut down. It will be cut down.
These pipes get too damn hot to have them maintain their original finish and patina.
If you drive this car hard and fast, which you should, the operating temps will do their thing. My replacement pipes are black as they will eventually go there.
I've seen these pipes glow cherry red at night and things just change when those temps are reached.
I went so far as to wrap the headers with white fiberglass banding and that help in the looks department as well as protecting the turn signal lamps from too much heat!
What's your mileage? Who cares. Is it practical? See #1. What happens when it rains? You get wet.
Going out on a limb here and not exactly hoping it won't be cut down. It will be cut down.
These pipes get too damn hot to have them maintain their original finish and patina.
If you drive this car hard and fast, which you should, the operating temps will do their thing. My replacement pipes are black as they will eventually go there.
I've seen these pipes glow cherry red at night and things just change when those temps are reached.
I went so far as to wrap the headers with white fiberglass banding and that help in the looks department as well as protecting the turn signal lamps from too much heat!
Good point - although I don't expect them to maintain their original finish, I'd like to polish them up as a part of my annual maintenance to keep the car looking new(ish). The instructions mention that the process works as long as the pipes are stainless steel and that it won't work on aluminized pipes. Assuming that the M3W pipes are stainless steel, this seems like a good way to restore the shine.
Not only b/c it's futile, but the vid is specific to unpolished stainless. I believe...and I could be wrong...that the headers on the M3W are plated. If you use all those abrasives, you will basically take the plating off.
I like the bluing, it gives the car that mechanical look that is so inherent in it's function. If it bothers you, as others have said, either wrap them or swap them out for the black ones.
Not only b/c it's futile, but the vid is specific to unpolished stainless. I believe...and I could be wrong...that the headers on the M3W are plated. If you use all those abrasives, you will basically take the plating off.
I like the bluing, it gives the car that mechanical look that is so inherent in it's function. If it bothers you, as others have said, either wrap them or swap them out for the black ones.
I believe the headers are plated, so you're right that this method would remove the plating. Thanks for this feedback.
I don't think the stainless steel headers are plated with anything. As mentioned earlier, it's like cutting the lawn, if you want to keep them looking like new you have to put some work in occasionally. I have found Blue-Job or Autosol stainless steel polish work well. They still blue but that's not a bad look to my mind and it reminds people it gets hot.
+1 I'm pretty sure the headers are'nt plated, i've just spent an hour or so doing mine with Solvol Autosol and a cloth tightly wrapped around the pipes, it's hard work but i don't think theres an alternative, they came up very well.
