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      12-12-2011, 07:55 PM   #1
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Decision: Stay with Modded OEM Exhaust or move to Akrapovic

I have the OEM Exhaust mod and love the sound, but I now have an opportunity on a full Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust at a decent price. If I hadn't done the OEM mod, I would have jumped at the deal, but I'm very satisfied with the sound so I'm debating whether I should pull the trigger.

I think Akrapovic Evolution sounds great, but I really love how the Modded OEM exhaust turned out and it's bone stock look.

Akrapovic
Pros: Weight savings, power, good sound.
Cons: Need for a tune to get full power, warranty issues, $$

OEM
Pros: Sound is awesome, tremendous help with heel toeing, rev matching, $$
Cons: weight


Anything I should look out for on a used Akrapovic Full Exhaust Evolution? Is the mounting hardware good for a reinstall?
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      12-12-2011, 07:59 PM   #2
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Kinda of a big jump really. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Akra again. The 53lb weight difference is a huge benefit for the Akra. You use all your stock hardware for the install. The Akra just comes with clamps for their system.
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      12-12-2011, 08:04 PM   #3
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I just ditched my OEM modded exhaust in favor of a full system and IMO its the best thing I ever did. More power, better sound, less weight and I love the smell too!
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      12-12-2011, 08:07 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
Kinda of a big jump really. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Akra again. The 53lb weight difference is a huge benefit for the Akra. You use all your stock hardware for the install. The Akra just comes with clamps for their system.

Ok, I wanted to make sure I wasn't in for any surprises on an install with "one-time" use pieces.
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      12-12-2011, 08:08 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor251 View Post
I just ditched my OEM modded exhaust in favor of a full system and IMO its the best thing I ever did. More power, better sound, less weight and I love the smell too!
Are you running a tune with it? It must be quieter than your modded OEM, right?
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      12-12-2011, 08:11 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Bubbles View Post
Are you running a tune with it? It must be quieter than your modded OEM, right?
I am running a tune. You don't HAVE to. You will want at a minimum the Delete-R so you don't get the CEL.
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      12-12-2011, 08:26 PM   #7
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I have always wondered how the full Akrapovic Evolution system sounds compared to the OEM exhaust mod. Are we talking two different ballparks here? Or are they fairly similar as far as volume and tone go?

I'd appreciate any input you may have. I do not know of anyone even remotely close to me with an Akra and I have always wanted to hear one. Although with the substantial price difference the Akra would need to sound REAL good to convince me to switch.
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      12-12-2011, 08:28 PM   #8
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Sound is nowhere similar IMO.
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      12-12-2011, 08:28 PM   #9
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akra all the way. I cant stand how the OE exhaust and those whimpy tips look.
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      12-12-2011, 08:30 PM   #10
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akra all the way. I cant stand how the OE exhaust and those whimpy tips look.
I have to agree completely with that. Looks alone would make me want to get something else other than OEM.
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      12-12-2011, 08:30 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
I am running a tune. You don't HAVE to. You will want at a minimum the Delete-R so you don't get the CEL.
Thanks for the information. What tune are running?
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      12-12-2011, 08:31 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Bubbles View Post
Thanks for the information. What tune are running?
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      12-12-2011, 08:34 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
Sound is nowhere similar IMO.
Thanks for the info, but could you please elaborate on that? Is the Akra a lot louder, a little louder, quieter, etc.? Also I assume that you mean the tone is nowhere similar as well?

Thanks
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      12-12-2011, 08:36 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
I have to agree completely with that. Looks alone would make me want to get something else other than OEM.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucewonder View Post
akra all the way. I cant stand how the OE exhaust and those whimpy tips look.
I have to say when I drive by (insert American muscle) car, the looks I get are priceless.
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      12-12-2011, 08:38 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
Evolve
Evolve, did you do a DYNO before and after?

What made you go with Evolve?
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      12-12-2011, 08:43 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cghempel View Post
Thanks for the info, but could you please elaborate on that? Is the Akra a lot louder, a little louder, quieter, etc.? Also I assume that you mean the tone is nowhere similar as well?

Thanks
Tones are different for sure. Since I've not personally had the modded OEM on my car, I won't say which is louder.
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      12-12-2011, 08:44 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bubbles View Post
Evolve, did you do a DYNO before and after?

What made you go with Evolve?
No dyno, don't care as it's been done before so to do it on mine would just be wasting money. I went with Evolve because I preferred their business practices and service over the other choices.
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      12-12-2011, 08:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
Kinda of a big jump really. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Akra again. The 53lb weight difference is a huge benefit for the Akra. You use all your stock hardware for the install. The Akra just comes with clamps for their system.
Agreed. When I changed my axle-back, I was blown away at how heavy the muffler is. That alone makes it almost worth it.
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      12-12-2011, 08:54 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
No dyno, don't care as it's been done before so to do it on mine would just be wasting money. I went with Evolve because I preferred their business practices and service over the other choices.
Ok, thanks.
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      12-12-2011, 09:10 PM   #20
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Hi guys, I've started thinking more about the in-cabin experience rather than outside tone. In-cabin would be windows partially or fully down. Although I have an AA rear, let me share this and id be curious if the Akra or modded sound is better described the same.

The AA is bassy and it also has a high pitch that is more like a smooth sign wave. Outside the car it sounds great as most do. Inside I don't hear the interesting stuff, I only hear a humm and a higher pitched hum. None of the grunt and racy sounds reach the cabin. My guess is that bassy sound doesn't travel as well.

When I had xpipes mated to my oem, the emphasis of sound was more in the mid range up to high. I didn't feel the rumble but I heard more interesting tones. A blip would be more pronounced like it just punched you in the face. Rev matching was alot easier. The AA rear only does have as pronounced blip but it is loud enough to rev match.

So, given thw Akra is bassy, would you say in-cabin experience similar to a bassy exhaust like the AA.

It's so hard trying to describe this. Bottom line is one can get bored if the in cabin is just a hum rather than a snotty cough like m performance and oem.
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      12-12-2011, 09:14 PM   #21
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By the way, my intention is to she some light to help the OP in his decision as well as others and not hijack his thread.
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      12-12-2011, 09:25 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bubbles View Post
I have the OEM Exhaust mod and love the sound, but I now have an opportunity on a full Akrapovic Evolution Exhaust at a decent price. If I hadn't done the OEM mod, I would have jumped at the deal, but I'm very satisfied with the sound so I'm debating whether I should pull the trigger.

I think Akrapovic Evolution sounds great, but I really love how the Modded OEM exhaust turned out and it's bone stock look.

Akrapovic
Pros: Weight savings, power, good sound.
Cons: Need for a tune to get full power, warranty issues, $$

OEM
Pros: Sound is awesome, tremendous help with heel toeing, rev matching, $$
Cons: weight


Anything I should look out for on a used Akrapovic Full Exhaust Evolution? Is the mounting hardware good for a reinstall?
Do it. If you don't like it, you could throw it back on the market and take little to no loss.

If you buy the evolve setup for the tune, you will also have logging eventually - when they release it. So it will be of great benefit even if you chose to run the stock programming. You can use it to diagnose problems, etc. But, none of this may be important to you...everyone is different. There are simple flash tunes that seem to produce solid gains - so various options there.

To me, the M3 is all about being greater than the sum of its parts. If you look at any "weight savings" in a vacuum, it may seem pointless (eg carbon fiber roof, plastic fenders, etc). So something like the Akrapovic is the perfect compliment - saving over 50+ lbs and producing serious power.

Unless...potential warranty issues really keeps you up at night. In that case, perhaps the grass really is always greener? ; )

Good luck.
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