Clio mk3 rs 200 2010 exhaust issue

[Neo mk3]

Hi all, I’ve seen a lot of forums about this topic and can’t seem to find a straight and definitive answer. I recently became the very proud owner of my beautiful Clio rs 200 and brought with the full knowledge that the manifold flexes had the dreaded common fault. I’m struggling to find a effective solution to replace the manifold and not remove the pre cat on the current exhaust system as I’m confused if it will pass a not if it is removed

[E-bmw]

Neo mk3 said:

Hi all, I ve seen a lot of forums about this topic and can t seem to find a straight and definitive answer. I recently became the very proud owner of my beautiful Clio rs 200 and brought with the full knowledge that the manifold flexes had the dreaded common fault. I m struggling to find a effective solution to replace the manifold and not remove the pre cat on the current exhaust system as I m confused if it will pass a not if it is removed

Firstly, what exactly do you mean by "pre-cat"?

If by "pre-cat" you mean a flexy, then that is just a flexy & has no bearing on the cat or the emissions.

If the "dreaded common fault" is a failed flexy, just replace the flexy, personally, I have done this on other cars & find the only real way to do it is with the old one cut out, put everything back in position & weld it up (or at least tack it together) in exactly that position to make sure there is no tension on it. Of course you can only do that with good/reasonable access.

Surely it is either a cat or it isn't?

If you remove/disable/bypass a part of the emissions control systems it will fail an MOT & likely not pass for emissions reasons anyway.