exhaust valve developed rattle with ARCS system

[Nobby_Mike]

My exhaust valve developed a rattle on startup a while ago now, but now it rattles all the time at low revs.

I have the austin racing ARCS system installed.

Its been to BMW and the valve can not be replaced, they keep saying it will need the full exhaust replacing, which wouldnt be a problem exept that i have cut the cat out and its going to cause warrenty issues, i did bung the cat back on when it went to them but they could see what id done.

They are currently making contact with BMW head office to see if they can still do a warrenty claim or not because of what i have done.

but its not looking too good.

So if they cant replace it, i got a few options...

1. buy a new stock system from ebay and cut it up again.
2. buy an actual full system without the valves.
3. buy another stock system and leave it the f**k alone.

Im wondering though if the change in flow rate from removing the cat damages this valve over time??

something needs to be done though as the bike sounds like gash as it is now.

have a listen..

YouTube - BMW s1000rr exhaust valve rattle

was filmed on an iphone so not great quality.

[YELLOPER1L]

**** mate! That sounds horrific.

I assume that to cut your cat off you had to remove the whole lot from the bike? I can see Mr BMW saying that you may have damaged the valve whilst the headers etc were off the bike and being worked on. I hope that I am wrong and that they sort it out for you.
Of all the options you're contemplating if BMW don't step up I think I'd go for new aftermarket headers simply because you've spent a fortune on a sweet looking and no doubt sweet sounding exhaust there.

[HyperM3]

Thats the first time Ive heard anything like that. Who did the install for you?

I dont see how having the cat cut off would compromise the valves in any way. No different than running a full system except that you have stock headers. I cannot accept that this wouldnt be warranty covered other than the fact that it could be install related.

[YELLOPER1L]

HyperM3 I agree with you that it SHOULDN'T affect the warranty but the majority of companies will use whatever excuse they can to avoid a warranty claim. I could simply see them arguing that you could've dropped the stock headers and dislodged something or that the vibration generated whilst cutting the cat off caused the failure of the valve. Very tenuous I know but I expect them to clutch at whatever straws they can.

Someone on this very forum suffered an engine failure, (crank or cams, I can't remember which), and the stealer/BMW cited his aftermarket rearsets as a potential cause! WTF?!

[Zug]

This is exactly why I keep all my stock parts. I am getting the ARCS system from Austin Racing but the only reason why I am doing that is because I got a stock pipe of ebay for $70. (and because I think it is a great looking system)

I understand that this does not help your situation.

I do have a question for those in the know.

Is that valve spring loaded like the one at the back of the pipe behind the CAT? Is it possible that the spring could have come lose or failed. Is it possible to just disconnect the exhaust valve and wire it either open or closed. If this is possible which one would you do and why?

[Nobby_Mike]

I did the install myself, but getting on for this time last year now.

Was fine for a long time, only recently started doing it so can be nothing to do with install.

They said how can they send the exhaust back to bmw cut up?

I have argued with them though and they are trying to sort something out for me. They better do or i said they can have the bike back.

bike runs fine otherwise.. its just annoying as it sounds like ****.

appparently top bmw guy who passed through dealer had heard of a few others with exhaust valve rattle but didnt say how it was resolved.

[Nobby_Mike]

Originally Posted by Zug

This is exactly why I keep all my stock parts. I am getting the ARCS system from Austin Racing but the only reason why I am doing that is because I got a stock pipe of ebay for $70. (and because I think it is a great looking system)

I understand that this does not help your situation.

I do have a question for those in the know.

Is that valve spring loaded like the one at the back of the pipe behind the CAT? Is it possible that the spring could have come lose or failed. Is it possible to just disconnect the exhaust valve and wire it either open or closed. If this is possible which one would you do and why?

yes it is spring loaded, but the bolt that holds it all on the pipes is welded on.

i could buy another standard system again off ebay, but what im saying is, would the ARCS eventually kill the valve again??

maybe its just mine...

[1000RR]

Just remove the cables and safety wire it open. Will sound better at low RPMs too I know you don't retain the stock rear valve that way, but it's only their for noise requirements anyway and doesn't do anything after ~5000 RPMs (i.e. it's wide open after that)... you'll still have the functionality of the valves and cross-over on the headers. Which from all accounts is one of the intents behind the ARCS exhaust.

[Zug]

Originally Posted by 1000RR

Just remove the cables and safety wire it open. Will sound better at low RPMs too I know you don't retain the stock rear valve that way, but it's only their for noise requirements anyway and doesn't do anything after ~5000 RPMs (i.e. it's wide open after that)... you'll still have the functionality of the valves and cross-over on the headers. Which from all accounts is one of the intents behind the ARCS exhaust.

I believe he is talking about the valves and cross-over on the headers and not the valve at the back of the exhaust. He has an ARCS system which means he would have cut out the CAT which would have eleminated the rear exhaust valve.

[noymfb]

My bike has been in the shop since April 29th for the same problem. I still have the factory exhaust on my bike. Still dont know if it will be covered under warranty. Im suppose to get my bike back sometime this week. I will post what happened asap.