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Wish I was there. Looks like great fun.

My Brooklands exhausts have finally cracked after 1600 miles. Mario - any updates on yours?

Ok, an update. Finally the workshop has all the parts needed to fit the new spec exhausts (with an extra mount below the silencer, I'll cal them Mk 5 to make it easier). I suspect all this time was due, among other known issues, to some head banging between the dealer and the factory about if this was a warranty claim or not. Go figure ...


Now I am facing a true dilema. Quick recap of events:

Mk 1 (the originals) - lasted 500 kms

Mk 2 (the thicker pipes version) - lasted 1500 kms

Mk 3 (the stronger welds version) - lasted 2000 kms

Mk3 "mariocp edition" (cracks repaired and a second flexible section added) - used for about 1000 kms during 2016, waiting for Mk 4

Mk 4 (same as Mk3) - lasted 2000 kms (no surprise there). Cracked by the end of 2016, when the car had about 7000 to 7500 kms

Mk3 "mariocp edition" - refitted to the car after Mk 4 cracked. Have done about 6000 kms since and these, added to the 1000 kms of their first "run", make them good enough for 7000 kms of coping with whatever made all others crack. 7000 kms so far, they don't show any signs of wear or impending cracks.

Car now has almost 14.000 kms


So, what to do? Do I drill new holes to the car, change its ECU, fit the new exhausts as they come, so their own warranty doesn't get void?

OR

Do I drill the holes to fit the new mount, but have those pipes cut to add a second flexible joint too, and do nothing about the ECU? Of course that'll be me releasing MMC of any and all responsability for what happens next.

Or something else entirely different? Advice would be welcome

If it was me i would fit the new exhaust/ECU and keep the warrenty running. The dealer should make good the bodywork as part of the installation.

Mario. I'm not sure if you still have the Mk 4. If you do is it possible to make a Mk 4 "mariocp" edition by repairing and modifying the Mk 4 to take the same mounts as the Mk 5 Morgan edition, plus the extra flex joint?
In that case you could keep the new silencers in a box for future use. I imagine that at this point Morgan may be unlikely to supply any further warranty replacements.

Unless something has changed with the internals of the Mk 5 version the ECU should be OK with all the versions.

Given the length of time between failures and receipt of exhausts, I'd rule out future warranty work unless Portuguese law is different, of course..

You now have a set of new exhausts in a box.

You have a set of tried and so far trusted exhausts on your car.

I'd stick with your tried and trusted exhausts..

What I really, really like about the M3W community is the way they are collectively making modifications that are proving invaluable as time rolls on. It should never have to be of course, but that's just the way it is.

You all have my admiration, I jumped ship..!

Thank you all for the advice. Peter, the MkIVs were in fact identical to MkIII (the ones I have repaired and "modded") and they have been sent back to the factory by their request.

So, what hardware do I have? In total, 3 sets of exhausts:

Mk2s, both sides mended after cracking only to a bit later crack again. The thickness of the pipes was better than Mk1s but the welding was very weak (it was polished). I think they are pretty much of no use, an historical artefact for generations to come.


Altered Mk3s, currently being used and apparently sound, but the work made on them was very "rough", I know that form must follow function but ... they're not too pretty.

New Mk5s, requiring some work on the car to intall them as per factory instructions (and I either do as told or they'll be void of warranty).

Now, disregarding the old Mk2s, these are my options:

a) The SBM way - keep the Mk3s running as they are, store the Mk5s for a future need.

b) The Gambalunga way (adapted because I don't have Mk4s to work on) - Do a second intervention on the Mk3s so they can take the same mounts as the Mk5s, do the needed changes to the car (drill a few holes, use the mounting parts provided with the Mk5s) and test them to see how it Works.

c) The deano way - store the Mk3, use the Mk5 as the factory instructed (this means not only installing the new mounts, but also to flash the ECU)


Apparently it is not a portuguese condition that in a group everyone has a diferente opinion to all others! The funny thing is that in this case all the different options are equally prudent and reasonable, all have sound reasons backing them


TBH, I am leaning towards the "Gambalunga way".

Maybe it is best if I stick with what I have (SBM way) because what I have so far is working, but if I can go one better why not?

However, to go for the new exhausts, as deano suggests, will mean that I can't go back to previous exhausts without altering them. I'm referring to the fact that installing the Mk5s requires drilling the bodywork. Also, to make it in a way that follows entirely the factory instructions requires me to flash the ECU (in this case without even knowing what exactly is being made to it), something I'm not to keen on doing.

So ... here's what I'll probably do: I will drill the holes, install the new mounts, but at the same time I will have work done on the current Mk3 exhausts so they can take the new mounts too (and maybe they'll polish the previous work a bit).

I won't flash the ECU (I do like the brutish nature of the M3W and am afraid to tone it down) and I won't use the new Mk5s until I truly understand if this 3rd mount solution, coupled with the 2nd flexible joint I already have, is enough to make these exhausts last for many thousands of kms more.

And I'll still have the Mk5s in store, in case I need them in the future. It would be a simple swap (while installing them now and storing the Mk3 without changing them would make these obsolete due to the lack of the 3rd mount).

Writing this post was helpful for me, I sort of came to a conclusion while articulating my thoughts. Again thanks all for the advice given, and duly received and considered!

Hi Mario
Greetings from the ever so sunny and hot New Zealand !!

A thought for you, the ECU flash is a very simple thing to do using the S&S Protune software.
If you ask your dealer to make sure they have the current boxfile and the new bofile, you can switch between the two as you desire
Files are small and easily emailed and should probably be held by your dealer

i have "flashed" mine a few times.

You would need a windows driven laptop as i dont think the software is IOS compatible.

You would be able to view the tune maps for both within the program before flashing and see what is the difference.

regards
nigel and wendy

If it is possible to copy and save the existing calibration, the way I can do with the Omex system, I would feel inclined to do that and then try the new calibration. In that case you could swap back if you don't like it.