Whenever I start my 'tour, I hear this rattle / clanking sound from the underside of the car. It appears to be the thin metal heat shield that surrounds the exhaust pipe (as it travels the length of the car). The shield seems to have torn and broken away from some of the retaining bolts.
Soooo - I thinkin' of removing the parts of the shield that are rattling. Is there any problem with this? Does the thin metal actually protect the underside of the car from the exhaust pipe heat?
As for the bolts, bolts are pleatiful and inexpensive. if it is broken away from around the bolts, a replacement can't be terribly expensive.
98 Silver Frost SVT
97 BMW 540I Sport, six speed
"Blue is for sky, black is for soil, and white is for simplicity, purity and hope for the future"
"A coveted car should never stunt your life, but should make it more rich and interesting."
Get some extra SS large hose clamps like they use to connect flexible ductwork (Home Depot or a sheet metal contractor) and wrap them around the shields. This will hold them tight, keep them from rattling and allow them to serve their purpose.
