1:24 BMW e46 Muffler

The tip under the rear bumper

The 3 Series of the Munich carmaker with the factory designation E46 was built from 1998, and over eight years it became the most widespread compact sedan of its class. The sedan, the touring, the coupe and the convertible shared a front end but differed at the rear, and that is exactly where most owners made their first change: the series muffler came off and a sport one with a bolder tip took its place.

In the kits of this generation the exhaust tends to be rendered as a solid cylinder with a mere dimple instead of a mouth. The difference from a part with an open pipe is conspicuous above all on models photographed from behind and on builds set low over a base, where it is possible to look in under the bumper.

Installation and painting

First try the part dry against the underside of the body and shorten the pipe by which it joins the middle section of the system as needed. Sand the surface with very fine paper so that the texture is evened out, and spray it in a dark metallic shade. Darken the inside of the mouth with matte black and polish the outer edge, because it is that contrast which creates the impression of real metal.

Anyone building a worn car will add brown and gray pigment around the tip. A film of soot is typical of this generation and it takes more of the plastic look off a model than another coat of paint.

A separate part is supplied. The kit of the car, paints and pigments are not included.

One small thing that is forgotten is also worth trying: suggesting the deformation of the metal around the cutout in the bumper. Real cars carry scores there from a jack after some years, along with a coarser surface, and the model gains age from it.

Let the paint harden overnight, and only then seat the part for good.