E39 M5 Exhaust fitment

[Preston2711]

Dear Fanatics..

Got my hands on a custom exhaust for my M5, need to get my hands dirty and restore this back to almost new before fitment... (anxious much)
I need some advice on how to begin a DIY cleaning/restoring this and what to use/not to use... to get that shine back..
note, there is a lot of oil in it
current pics...

 

[Sankekur]

Out of interest, why? You're never going to see it. It is also not going to stay clean very long.

I would just clean the tips and be done with it.

 

[Preston2711]

Out of interest, why? You're never going to see it. It is also not going to stay clean very long.

I would just clean the tips and be done with it.

the vehicle is actually going in for a detail and some other stuff. call me finicky but with a clean under carriage don't want it going in like this..
what do you recommend i use for those tips?

 

[graan13]

Would not bother too much about the internal piping, if you want it "looking" nice I would say its going to be a lot of elbow grease with steel wool and handy andy or engine degreaser.... depending on the finish of this system... I am assuming its not been painted at any stage?

 

[Dhp507]

change the crush bends...............to some mandrel............

Instead of making them shine :rollsmile:

 

[Preston2711]

Would not bother too much about the internal piping, if you want it "looking" nice I would say its going to be a lot of elbow grease with steel wool and handy andy or engine degreaser.... depending on the finish of this system... I am assuming its not been painted at any stage?

nope not painted, ill upload pics once im done with it..

 

[boost3d]

Prepsol and some wire brushes....

 

[Sankekur]

Out of interest, why? You're never going to see it. It is also not going to stay clean very long.

I would just clean the tips and be done with it.

the vehicle is actually going in for a detail and some other stuff. call me finicky but with a clean under carriage don't want it going in like this..
what do you recommend i use for those tips?

Prepsol just for the first step of cleaning, (if there is old oil residue on it I would recommend using a solvent based cleaner first followed by prepsol for the initial cleaning)
Then I would use a wirebrush on drill to clean it down to bare metal. Depending on the type of finish you want you can finish it with increasing grits of sanding paper up to a metal polish, this is if you want a mirror finish (which personally I feel looks nice on an exhaust.)

You can obviously use all of these steps to do the whole exhaust, but be prepared to spends weeks (depending on the finish you want) doing so, also be prepared to redo it again in a couple of months time.

 

[sash]

i think prepsol with a stiff bristle brush, thereafter a metal polish should bring back the life.

 

[Preston2711]

after an 'exhausting' weekend.. i'm almost there.. here's some pics

 

[boost3d]

Nice work there....how did you tackle the "project"

 

[Teezy_F30]

nice work man .. im the same with you when it comes to fitting parts .. its gotta be clean before it goes in .. whether its something u see everyday or never will see again

 

[ET was here]

nicely cleaned up, almost looks new

 

[Preston2711]

Nice work there....how did you tackle the "project"

picked up a 5L prepsol as advised, loads of steelwool and really got into it.
prepsol in a spray bottle scrubbed and sprayed got most of the old deposits off, it really did the job...
To finish up i used autosol (metal polish) and left that on for about an hour and with a good microfibre cloth i managed to get some life back into it.
awaiting fitment now