BMW E36 Forum

I've been looking around at some performance parts. Stuff like headers, intake manifolds, and induction systems. But they're all extremely expensive, and it occurred to me - this stuff looks simple. No moving parts, no impossible materials (usually, the exception being carbon fiber), and just generally nothing that looks too difficult to make.

So is it possible, assuming I have access to the proper tools and materials, that I could just make this stuff myself? Or is there something about the way these parts are made that make that impractical? Is there some super-tight precision that I can't replicate? Or is it really just some good metal tubing welded together in the simplest, most straight-forward way possible?

Better yet, has anybody done it before?

Hello
I run an engineering company in stafordshire UK.
I have just bought an 318i and I am looking to make parts myself.
I have very little experience with cars but I do make parts for a local company who import Jap cars.
The main problem I think you will have is getting hold of drawings , which include dimensions , material specs and tolerances.
I have made gear knobs and pulleys for the jap cars , can`t be to hard on an E36
Well good luck
If you have any luck or I do , I`ll keep on posting.

Cheers

With a little bit of knowlage and some average skills you should have no problem making headers, intake manifolds and induction systems(assuming you're only talking about hard pipe sort of thing, not actually building a turbo etc.)

Some things are built different lengths and shapes for different purposes for example intake manifold and extractors. With a little research you should be able to find something to try and copy.

With the list of things you mentioned you should have too much trouble with dimensions, material specs and tolerances. If you need measurements take the straight off the engine/chassis and they aren't structural or rotating at high speeds so you should be alright.

You may find though that depending on what tools you already posses it may end up cheaper to just buy pre fabricated stuff that equip yourself with all the necessary tools.

If you provide more info on what exactly you'd like to build, who tools you own and your abilities it'll be easier to tell you if it's worth doing it yourself... but in general I think DIY is a great thing so go for it.