Exhaust pipes stainless?

Having Problems with your BMW R1200RT/R1250RT? or have some Maintenance and Service questions?
Post Reply
falconmick
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:47 pm

Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by falconmick »

Have just bought a 2012 R1200RT SE and would like to know if the exhaust pipes are stainless or mild steel?
Would like to set to with some fine steel wool and SolVol to brighten them up a bit? Thanks in advance Mick
guest2360

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by guest2360 »

They are all stainless but the header pipes always go blue.  The end can in most cases is also chromed.
falconmick
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:47 pm

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by falconmick »

Thanks for the reply, blue doesn't bother me, but there's some crud on the connector pipe that I want to get off and give the whole of the system a spruce up.
guest2360

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by guest2360 »

All I've ever used on them is Autosol.  steel wool could damage the surface stainless or not.
falconmick
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:47 pm

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by falconmick »

Noted thanks
Steve F
Posts: 673
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 2:56 pm
Bike Model and Year: R1250RT 2022
Great Britain

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by Steve F »

Yes, don't go near stainless steel with steel wool - it'll scratch like bu$*ery! The mechanics at the dealer workshops usually have a few useful 'unofficial' cleaning methods (for sprucing up bikes being put up for sale) up their sleeves, so asking them may be helpful...??
Last edited by Steve F on Sat Mar 26, 2016 3:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8342
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 395 times
Great Britain

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by David. »

RealOEM lists two Exhaust Manifolds, http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=18_0529

I had a 2007 RT SE with Stainless Steel header pipes & end can, Chrome was an option at the time.

My 2012 RT SE has a full Chrome system, pipes & end can.

Two end cans are also listed, one Chrome & one not, http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showpar ... Id=18_0614
Last edited by David. on Sat Mar 26, 2016 8:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8342
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 395 times
Great Britain

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by David. »

falconmick wrote:Have just bought a 2012 R1200RT SE and would like to know if the exhaust pipes are stainless or mild steel?
Would like to set to with some fine steel wool and SolVol to brighten them up a bit?
The exhaust pipes are Chrome plated.

Not having had a Fender Extender fitted from new, the connector pipe was a bit pitted.
Used some 00 Grade Steel Wool & Autosol, ended up with a few light scratches.
As an alternative, a toothbrush or similar works well with Autosol.

Image

Image
Last edited by David. on Sat Mar 26, 2016 9:48 am, edited 1 time in total.
falconmick
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:47 pm

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by falconmick »

Thank you gents, the two photos show how I would like mine to look.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8342
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 395 times
Great Britain

Re: Exhaust pipes stainless?

Post by David. »

This is what Stainless Steel exhaust pipes look like after & before polishing on a 2007 RT.

Image

SS shines but doesn't have the lustre of Chrome.
Last edited by David. on Sat Mar 26, 2016 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Post Reply