The method for manufacturing heat exchanger elements includes the steps of forming an open tubular base body having a longitudinal extension having a width that is substantially greater than the height thereby defining narrow and wide sides of the tubular base body. In the longitudinal extension of the tubular base body a longitudinal opening with longitudinal edges remains. Two strips of sheet metal are removed from a supply roll and corrugated to form corrugated sheet metal strips. The open tubular base body and the corrugated sheet metal strips are advance continuously and parallel to one another in the direction of the longitudinal extension through a fastening device such that the wide sides face the corrugated sheet metal strips. The corrugated sheet metal strips are pressed onto the wide sides and then fastened to the wide sides at some locations of contact between the wide sides and the of corrugated sheet metal strips. Subsequently, the longitudinal edges of the opening are joined to close the opening and form a closed tubular structure. During fastening of the corrugated sheet metal strips onto the wide sides, the wide sides of the open tubular base body are supported from the interior by a support structure.