About to put a downpipe on MY98.

Is it best to put exhaurst wrap round it?

 

If you don't put the original shields back on, then yes, probably best to wrap it, but then again there's plenty folks out there who haven't and haven't had any problems.

A

 

I wrapped my downpipe (and turbo). There is a s l i g h t gain in efficiency by keeping the exhaust gasses hotter. Now having done it, I think there are even greater gains from reduced underbonnet temps When I ran a TMIC my charge temp was lower round town after I wrapped the pipe.
IMHO It's worth doing it at the installation stage as it's a pain to do later