stock exhaust mod

[kwike92]

can someone tell me more about this mod?

any power gains? is it worth the time and trouble of removing, modding, and reinstalling? or is it just better to cough up the coin and get a axle back exhaust ???

[SiRR]

Originally Posted by kwike92

can someone tell me more about this mod?

any power gains? is it worth the time and trouble of removing, modding, and reinstalling? or is it just better to cough up the coin and get a axle back exhaust ???

It has been discussed many times if I recall...

It is more for sound, unless I am worng others will chime in...

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=658326

It really depends what you want...

OEM mod definitely cheaper than a slip on or full exhaust; and even a temp mod until you find the right full exhaust you want...few hundred bucks, and it sounds diff and will look stock still.

After market exhaust, well that ranges from $ to $$$$$...again, your call in the end...

If you have the tools, and dont mind working on your car, I say go for it, only thing u need is to find a shop that will cut it open, weld shut the perforated pipe, and weld it back up for you...

I am doing the OEM mod for now, until I find a system I like, but that is just me... HTH!

[kwike92]

cool. im gonna let other chimes in. thanks for the info.

[Raptor251]

IMO not worth it at all

[KJ]

Originally Posted by kwike92

can someone tell me more about this mod?

any power gains? is it worth the time and trouble of removing, modding, and reinstalling? or is it just better to cough up the coin and get a axle back exhaust ???

Axle back exhausts on our car don't make power even when you spend $2-$3K on them. This makes the mod the best bang for the buck by far.

If you don't like it, it's not much to spend at all.

Check out the video I made comparing the different versions:

- KJ

[tibra1]

No power gains..purely sound ..best $400 I have spent on the car..I have #1

CLICK

1. Replaced 2 Long perforated pipes w/ straight pipes

2. Replaced all 4 perforated pipes with straight pipes

[A-Man]

Originally Posted by Raptor251

IMO not worth it at all

Can you please elaborate..

[gatorfast]

I did this mod myself and posted about it a few threads down. I love the sound and for the price you can't beat it. Best of all it retains the factory level of comfort in the cabin (no drone!).

[Raptor251]

Originally Posted by A-Man

Can you please elaborate..

You only get a little sound gain, no performance gain and you still have the ugly stock muffler can with the hideous OEM tips...

[1sikbmr]

NO rear muffler will give you any gains for this car.

I had the OEM exhaust mod for a while in between looking for the right exhaust. I loved it. Never got trouble from the cops and always got compliments on it. IMO it was the perfect loud. I did everything myself except for the welding shut. In total it cost me around $200 for a new OEM and to modify it.

[EliteM3]

Hey there.

Thank you tibra for posting those...I was trying to find the difference between the two).

Can anyone tell me if drone exists in #2 (4 pipes replaced) I know that the drone is non-existent for the 2 pipe replacement, but haven't heard about drone with the 4 pipe replacement. The ACM mod seems to have drone you have to drive around.

Thank you! And I am sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. I have been searching for 3 hours without any definitive answers.

[PaneristiDriver]

IMO not worth it either because of the look of the stock exhaust. Sounds decent, but not as good as some aftermarket exhausts.
Honestly, if you want a cheap exhaust that sounds great, you can buy a Megan exhaust which sounds awesome, looks great with nice style tips and costs ~600 new and you dont have to hack up your stock exhaust.

[kawasaki00]

Originally Posted by PaneristiDriver

IMO not worth it either because of the look of the stock exhaust. Sounds decent, but not as good as some aftermarket exhausts.
Honestly, if you want a cheap exhaust that sounds great, you can buy a Megan exhaust which sounds awesome, looks great with nice style tips and costs ~600 new and you dont have to hack up your stock exhaust.

I agree, the wife just would not go for the 2grand exhaust. I bought the megan and think it sounds great, slight drone at 19-2200 but that is it. I will be posting a thread on doing a modification to the exhaust to get rid of the drone. Look for it on Sunday.

[PaneristiDriver]

^I enjoyed the Megan a lot while I had it. The quality of it was very good too. Actually better than some of the more expensive exhausts out there.

[EliteM3]

So I just had my local muffler shop replace 2 of the 4 pipes in the exhaust based upon how everyone reviewed the mod.

I have to say, that I wish I would have done all 4 at this point. You honestly cannot tell that anything has been done to the car under idle, except for maybe a slightly deeper tone. With the windows up, i will go 25% louder (max) while accelerated under load. It sounds quite good with the windows down in the lower gears (1-3), and best at 3-4k, good at 5k, and honestly can't tell much a difference past there...maybe 10-20%. With the windows up, only when it is under a heavy foot that you can easily tell there is a difference. The sound is quite ferrari-esque though...which was surprising to me. I thought I would hear a deeper american V8 note (which the videos of others seem to suggest), but alas, it is a higher pitch tone that brings the made-up word "aerrati" to mind with a soft rolling R. That probably only makes sense to me, but that is how I describe it.

This is really surprising (that it's not louder) from replacing the longer perforated pipe with a solid one. I don't know that replacing the other 2 would really make that much more a difference (since its maybe only 25% the size of the longer pipe. But had I been able to go back in time a few hours, I would have had the shop replace all 4 pipes.

I am a new father as of 3 weeks ago, and didn't want to blast my newborn nor wife out, so I took the more conservative route. If anyone is thinking of doing this mod, then replace all 4 inner chamber pipes. you might as well while your in there. If you don't like it due to it being too loud, let me know and I will do a straight swap with you. I have a stock 09 E90 M3.

Hope this helps.

[gatorfast]

^ have you heard it from the outside? I think it's significantly louder than stock.

It's not loud inside (which is why everyone loves it) but it screams from outside.

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

^ have you heard it from the outside? I think it's significantly louder than stock.

It's not loud inside (which is why everyone loves it) but it screams from outside.

+1 especially over 3K RPM..

[SmytheAlissa]

I love the sound and for the price you can't beat it.

[EliteM3]

Hmm, well, no I suppose I haven't heard it from outside, so my perspective from the drivers seat. So perhaps, take my review with a grain of salt. But for me, I modified the exhaust so I could hear more of it and have that visceral response/experience.

Dont get me wrong, it sounds good with the windows down and my foot in it. I just wish their was more heard/felt from the drivers seat (without drone)...that's all.

[mesropb23]

It's honestly only worth the time and effort if you're going to do the straight-through method

[tibra1]

Originally Posted by mesropb23

It's honestly only worth the time and effort if you're going to do the straight-through method

Couldnt disagree more..if I wanted a straight thru setup I would just get a set of magnaflows and be done with it..and lose about 30 lbs of exhaust weight in the process..single perforated pipe method is the most refined sound w/o being obtrusive..

[F82_SID]

Here is a before and after of my OEM Modded exhaust (Perforated pipe method). This is easily the best mod and money that I have spent on my car. I get soooo many compliments from guys with Akra, M Performance, and other much more expensive exhaust setups. I even had a few buddies sell their aftermarket exhaust and do the OEM mod because they love the sound and the price... Yes you still have the stock tips but you can replace those and a diffuser helps dress everything up.