Realistic Berk Race AB install time

Back N Black · 06-02-2015, 09:35 AM

Been working on cars long enough to know that what looks simple, invariably ends up being a bigger pain in the ass than anticipated. Also know that things get faster the more times you've done them. Since I don't plan on doing this often for practice, I'm hoping to hear about all the little things that tend to pop up from those that have done it.

Got my Berk Race AB the day before I left town for two weeks, so now I'm itching to get it put on. So, how long are we talking in realistic terms? On its face it looks like about an hour.

ShocknAwe · 06-02-2015, 09:39 AM

Really easy job. Nothing has to come off the car, just jack stands, 3/8 ratchet and socket, elbow grease.

5 minutes to jack up the rear of the car and get it on jack stands, 2-3 minutes to undo the spring bolts by hand. Lets say 10-20 minutes to get the rubber mounts off the hangers if you don't have the tool. 10 minutes to wiggle around taking the old axleback out and putting the new one in.

Should be easily doable in 45 or less unless your rubber hangers are petrified. If they are, PB blaster does a nice job of lubricating them.

Back N Black · 06-02-2015, 10:00 AM

That's about what it looked like to me. Last couple of car projects I've undertaken there's been something stupid that goes wrong. I've gotten a little gun shy doing anything on a weeknight.

ShocknAwe · 06-02-2015, 10:03 AM

The only thing you should be aware of is that the spring bolts and nuts welded to the midpipe really suck and will cross thread if you blink wrong.

drunkenup · 06-02-2015, 11:40 AM

The muffler section was the easiest portion of my catback swap (dp bolts shearing). Most of the hangers you can just unbolt the entire assembly then switch swap the rubbers while the axleback is off the car and easier to handle.

Miko226 · 06-02-2015, 01:52 PM

30 minutes. 5 min to jack up + put on stands. 5 minutes to unbolt two bolts. 15 min to get old muffler out of hangers ( Hardest Part). 5 min to place new one in and rebolt. Done

You can remove lower rear panel for easier access

Russiandl · 06-02-2015, 05:29 PM

Use some lithium grease on the hangers they will slide off much easier. Also the passenger rear hanger is held on by a torx screw but a 8mm will take it off and drop the side down. Then all you have to remove is the driver rear. Keep something under the AB so when you have something catching the fall.

Ginger_Extract · 06-02-2015, 06:04 PM

An hour, just because I've always been a slow worker. The midpipes and axleback are pretty painless on this car.

Indo Rider · 06-03-2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

The only thing you should be aware of is that the spring bolts and nuts welded to the midpipe really suck and will cross thread if you blink wrong.

Yeah, midpipe hanger bolt seized up on me. Had to drill it out. Turned a less than 1 hour job into a huge PITA.. Lol.

highbrowed · 06-10-2015, 10:29 AM

I would say 20 minutes if you know what you're doing and an hour if you don't. It really is only 2 nuts you need to take off to separate from the midpipe to the axleback, and 6 screws to remove the diffuser. There's 3 rubber hangars to slip off and the axleback is free from the car. Like everyone noted if you are having trouble with the rubber hangars sticking, give them a shot of white lithium grease, it will make the removal super simple.

06-02-2015, 09:35 AM	#1
Back N Black New Member 4 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2011 135i MSport Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Flower Mound, TX iTrader: (0)	Realistic Berk Race AB install time Been working on cars long enough to know that what looks simple, invariably ends up being a bigger pain in the ass than anticipated. Also know that things get faster the more times you've done them. Since I don't plan on doing this often for practice, I'm hoping to hear about all the little things that tend to pop up from those that have done it. Got my Berk Race AB the day before I left town for two weeks, so now I'm itching to get it put on. So, how long are we talking in realistic terms? On its face it looks like about an hour.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-02-2015, 09:39 AM	#2
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3236 Rep 7,896 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	Really easy job. Nothing has to come off the car, just jack stands, 3/8 ratchet and socket, elbow grease. 5 minutes to jack up the rear of the car and get it on jack stands, 2-3 minutes to undo the spring bolts by hand. Lets say 10-20 minutes to get the rubber mounts off the hangers if you don't have the tool. 10 minutes to wiggle around taking the old axleback out and putting the new one in. Should be easily doable in 45 or less unless your rubber hangers are petrified. If they are, PB blaster does a nice job of lubricating them. __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2015, 10:00 AM	#3
Back N Black New Member 4 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2011 135i MSport Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Flower Mound, TX iTrader: (0)	That's about what it looked like to me. Last couple of car projects I've undertaken there's been something stupid that goes wrong. I've gotten a little gun shy doing anything on a weeknight.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2015, 10:03 AM	#4
ShocknAwe 1Addict 3236 Rep 7,896 Posts Drives: E82 Mutt, M57 Truck Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charleston iTrader: (22)	The only thing you should be aware of is that the spring bolts and nuts welded to the midpipe really suck and will cross thread if you blink wrong. __________________ 2010 135i 6MT Jet Black N54/3 FE82 Mutt \| BUILD THREAD \| GARAGE SALE
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2015, 11:40 AM	#5
drunkenup Captain 215 Rep 988 Posts Drives: 2009 135i, 2021 F150 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	The muffler section was the easiest portion of my catback swap (dp bolts shearing). Most of the hangers you can just unbolt the entire assembly then switch swap the rubbers while the axleback is off the car and easier to handle.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2015, 01:52 PM	#6
Miko226 Captain 61 Rep 722 Posts Drives: 11' 335d Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (0)	30 minutes. 5 min to jack up + put on stands. 5 minutes to unbolt two bolts. 15 min to get old muffler out of hangers ( Hardest Part). 5 min to place new one in and rebolt. Done You can remove lower rear panel for easier access __________________ 11' m57 335d 165k Miles - JR 2, ATM Full Exhaust & Intake, Wagner FMIC, AAR Boost Pipe, AAR Swirl Delete, AAR EGR Delete 08' n54 135i FBO E85 - SOLD Last edited by Miko226; 06-02-2015 at 02:00 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2015, 05:29 PM	#7
Russiandl First Lieutenant 63 Rep 368 Posts Drives: 2009 Bmw 135i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Roselle iTrader: (2)	Use some lithium grease on the hangers they will slide off much easier. Also the passenger rear hanger is held on by a torx screw but a 8mm will take it off and drop the side down. Then all you have to remove is the driver rear. Keep something under the AB so when you have something catching the fall.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-02-2015, 06:04 PM	#8
Ginger_Extract California-bound 385 Rep 1,480 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (3)	An hour, just because I've always been a slow worker. The midpipes and axleback are pretty painless on this car. __________________ Streets of Willow: 1:27.7 CW 11/15/15; 1:29.5 CCW 8/15/15 \|\|\|\| Autoclub Speedway ROVAL (CCW): 1.52.6 - 12/2/17 Willow Springs - Big Willow (CW): 1:35.8 - 3/31/18 \|\|\|\| Buttonwillow #13 (CW): 1:59.3 1/27/18 https://www.facebook.com/JakeStumphRacing \|\|\|\| http://www.youtube.com/user/RaceMeMZ3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-10-2015, 10:29 AM	#10
highbrowed Boost Addict 335 Rep 1,244 Posts Drives: 135i 6MT w/ N54 Delete Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: South Florida iTrader: (4)	I would say 20 minutes if you know what you're doing and an hour if you don't. It really is only 2 nuts you need to take off to separate from the midpipe to the axleback, and 6 screws to remove the diffuser. There's 3 rubber hangars to slip off and the axleback is free from the car. Like everyone noted if you are having trouble with the rubber hangars sticking, give them a shot of white lithium grease, it will make the removal super simple.
	Appreciate 0 Quote