Exhaust clamp - what size?

[el romeral]

Looking for a clamp for a 63mm exhaust pipe. Should I use a 58-63mm or a 63-68mm size of clamp?

[GreenV8S]

What sort of clamp are you looking at?

[el romeral]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/63mm-68mm-Mikalor-W2-St...

Something like the one in the link. Not sure if these are the best style or not? It will be to connect new tailpipes to the existing exhaust (quad tailpipes on an ML55). Welding would be better but the yearly "MOT" test, where I live, takes a dim view of modifications, so best to have them removable I think.

[GreenV8S]

Those are good clamps. Either size would work. Given a free choice I'd go for the larger size. The pipes might end up growing due to rust, paint or whatever; with the larger size, you know that's no problem. If you do find they're too large, it's easy enough to shim them down, whereas it's hard to get a small clamp to fit a pipe that's too big.

[el romeral]

GreenV8S said:

Those are good clamps. Either size would work. Given a free choice I'd go for the larger size. The pipes might end up growing due to rust, paint or whatever; with the larger size, you know that's no problem. If you do find they're too large, it's easy enough to shim them down, whereas it's hard to get a small clamp to fit a pipe that's too big.

Many thanks for the reply and advice, yes I can see now it makes sense to go for the larger ones like you say. Will get them bought.

[E-bmw]

If you use Mikalor clamps just beware that they aren't actually as good as they make them out to be.

I used some a few months ago & ended up either breaking or throwing them away.

https://www.iq-parts-shop.com/en/mikalor-supra-w2-...

If you look at the 2 bits on each end of the screw you will see they aren't full circle & only actually pull together on a small part of the ends of the clamp part.

Whereas if you look at these:

http://themetalcompany.co.nz/shop/Products/Clamps/...

The ends are full circle & the same tension is spread over a far greater area, so if you need to do them tight as you will to close up the exhaust onto the smaller pipe you can damage/break the Mikalor type.

[GreenV8S]

I haven't replaced any Mikalor clamps recently, but the ones I got a few years ago looked similar to the second picture. Have they cut corners recently?

[E-bmw]

I wouldn't be at all surprised, they are CERTAINLY not as good as the solid type IMHO.