The MagnaFlow BRE is a BRExhaust direct-fit replacement kit, part 106-0316, built for the E30 BMW 325i, 325is, and 325ix with the M20 2.5L engine. It is an OE-style swap rather than a performance cat-back. The kit replaces only the piping and muffler components downstream of the catalytic converter. The BRExhaust direct-fit line uses durable, aluminized steel construction, and the manufacturer says its precision mandrel bent pipes maintain a consistent interior diameter through every curve.
Compared with a worn stock section, the appeal is fit and time saved. The multi-piece, bolt-on layout is designed to be installed around obstacles such as axles, crossbars, and brackets, so you avoid hand-fabricating pipe. No cutting, bending, or welding is required. The trade-off is material: aluminized steel is not stainless, and the manufacturer's direct-fit kits carry a 2-year warranty. Buyers after a louder, performance-oriented tone should look at a different MagnaFlow cat-back instead.
Year coverage details vary, so confirm your exact model year and submodel with the manufacturer's vehicle selector before ordering. Shoppers searching for 1987-1991 BMW 325is exhaust replacement, E30 M20 direct-fit exhaust, or no-weld E30 cat-back replacement will find this kit suits a bolt-on job, though rusted hardware and stiff rubber hangers are the usual hurdles on these cars.
No. The manufacturer's direct-fit kits replace only the piping and muffler downstream of the catalytic converter, so the converter is not part of this kit.
The manufacturer says its direct-fit kits are engineered to match original equipment specifications for a specific year, make, model, and engine, with no cutting or welding needed. It still advises confirming fitment with the vehicle selector before purchase.
The manufacturer packages everything needed for installation in one box, including gaskets and clamps. Exact hardware counts vary by part number, so check the hardware section on the product page.
Owners on user forums say the rubber hangers are stiff to stretch over the bump where the two halves meet. One suggests loosening the upper hanger bracket and using a screwdriver to slide under the lower bracket to ease the hanger into place.
Difficulty is moderate and depends mostly on rust rather than complexity. Plan on a jack and stands, a 13mm socket for the upper hanger bracket, and penetrating oil for the exhaust fasteners. Owners on user forums describe seized nuts as the biggest time sink, and one reports using an angle grinder to remove a stubborn system. Some owners remove studs with a double-nut method, but replacing studs is considered a risky step, so take care with the exhaust manifold and flange threads.
