Has anyone on the site fitted an alloy manifold in place of their later shite looking plastic one. I had the alloy type on my old 214 sei M reg. I now have another 214sei which also an M reg but has the ugly plastic job.
I fitted it last week but the car was running terrible.
What I need to know is has there been a mod to the block with the plastic manifold ?
I have a painted and polished alloy manifold sitting in my shed, if I cant fit it soon it will be sitting in the skip out the back of my house or maybe weighed in for scrap.
Before you ask, I changed the ECU and tried my old one, checked all the pipes and gaskets etc.
The only difference i can see is the gasket between the block and manifold.
Can someone please help, thanks Bren.

I have put a plastic manifold on an engine which had an alloy manifold on it.
There is no difference in the block. Actually it bolts to the cylinder head.
Like you say, the gasket is different but the mating face is the same.

There are two supporting rods fitted to the alloy one which aren't fitted to the plastic one. They bolt to the lower part of the block and either end of the manifold. Shouldn't affect running initially but would put extra strain on the manifold to head joint due to the extra weight.

How was it running badly? More info might give some pointers.

You may need to reset the stepper motor.
Turn on ignition and press the throttle pedal fully down 5 times in succession. You should then hear the motor reset.
Then start as normal.

Ah that sounds like a plan. I did ask for advice previously regarding this exchange but didnt get any help. That sounds as if it could be the problem, i wasnt aware of yhis procedure.
When I say it was running bad it would start but not tick over, you had to keep you foot on the accelarater pedal to keep it running, if you lifted it cut out and when it was running the engine was lumpy as hell.
Thanks very mauch for that info, I will give it a try and let you know how I get on.
Thanks again, regards Bren.

If the stepper reset doesn't do the job, you can increase idle airflow by screwing the little hex-headed screw on the throttle body out a bit (assuming that it has one - I can't tell from the pic). I eventually managed to get a decent idle speed on my 820 that way.

Or, you could read my post of today re crankshaft sensor. Good luck, Dave W