Can Opener Exhaust aka OEM Exhaust Mod

[chaos888]

Followed Periokid's footsteps and modded my stock exhaust. I took it to Exhaust Works in Belmont, CA. The owner, Todd, did a great job. He was able to do all the work from the top of the exhaust so it looks completely stock from below. He cut out the large perforated sections and put in solid pieces like SOCAL's exhaust mod. I decided to replace the piping because I wasn't sure how well muffler tape would hold up. Kept the small perforations wrapped in the steel wool and repacked the insulation.

The exhaust sounds great. It has no drone. It's more raw and aggressive as you can hear in the videos that Periokid and SOCAL posted from their mods. It's hardly louder than stock inside with the windows closed unless you're hard on the throttle. With the windows down it's louder although I think it could be louder than it is now and still be okay.

I don't have the pics of the work inside yet. Todd was only able to take camera phone pics so not sure how good they'll be.

Here's what it looks like on the outside.

[sehrgut]

Dayum he did one heck of a job, looks awesome. Please state or pm me price to have this done at that shop. Did he use stainless steel pipes inside instead of the perforated pipes?

[chaos888]

$200 for the work.
$75 for the install.

To be honest I don't know if it's stainless steel or not.

[SOCAL]

Very clean work and once again, my hat is off to another forum member for trying this mod out! It is 110% worth it IMHO!

Nice job!

SOCAL

[sehrgut]

Originally Posted by chaos888

$200 for the work.
$75 for the install.

To be honest I don't know if it's stainless steel or not.

Damn thats a steal definitely. I'm sure it sounds amazing. I will do this as well to my OEM laying but since I've had to much to do lately and I'm not a welder it hasn't been done. About the stainless steel i was just curious, don't really think it makes much of a different since pipes are inside.

[Grail05]

haha mine is somewhat exactly the same but i paid 250 LOL...

he might be able to go down to 200 if we get a group buy... like 5 people maybe more...

this is something everyone should do if your driving a stock exhaust without hurting too much of your bank...

[chaos888]

The mod is totally worth it. For the price, it really doesn't make sense to me to get a "sport" exhaust. It's perfect for daily driving but I wouldn't mind having it louder every once in a while.

I had thought about adding the EV like C'sM3 when I was trying to decide between adding an EV or just modifying the stock exhaust. I decided to modify because I was worried about drone having the EV in front of the Hemoltz Chamber. I wasn't sure what I'd get so I went the "safe" route. Now I'm ready for more!

I saw this on another car and I was wondering if this was possible, bypassing the 2nd cats and resonator completely. Not sure if there's room. Also would it trigger CELs?

[Grail05]

I just finished installing mine and DAMN it's a night and day comparison

I will make my own thread and post some pics once I'm back home.... For 250 what a MOD I suggest everyone should do it...

[chaos888]

I am loving this exhaust more and more every day. It's actually been a little too cold to drive with the windows down but I've been doing it anyways just so I can hear it.

I can't imagine paying 10+ times more for an aftermarket exhaust than what I paid for this mod and get 10x more enjoyment or satisfaction.

[JCtx]

Hey guys, has anybody just removed the steel wool/insulation? I heard one of the clips and sounded too 'unrefined' and pushrod-like. I don't like the 'exotic' sound, but much prefer it than an 'out of tune' V8 sound.

Somebody mentioned replacing pipes and leaving 'some' perforated pipes in place; everybody seems to be doing something different, and it's hard to keep track of that. And finally, did any of you actually weld the inner metal layer, or you just welded the outer one? Remember seeing that the muffler has a dual layer of metal; wonder if it's important. If I could weld, I'd probably do it, but am afraid anybody in this town will do a crappy job, and I'd have to still pay them. Stock is perfect for me inside, and almost perfect outside, so no biggie. Just want a bit more outside if at all, hence my question to just remove insulation. Take care.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by chaos888

I can't imagine paying 10+ times more for an aftermarket exhaust than what I paid for this mod and get 10x more enjoyment or satisfaction.

Well not all people replace the exhaust for sound only....... I am 90% satisfied with the sound of the stock exhaust (it only needs a little more volume) on the M3 but I found that great big muffler looked awful. I think you have a good sound and volume with your mod. If I could make one suggestion it would be to have the muffler Powdercoated or Painted flat black to make it look less noticable from the rear of the car.

[chaos888]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Hey guys, has anybody just removed the steel wool/insulation? I heard one of the clips and sounded too 'unrefined' and pushrod-like. I don't like the 'exotic' sound, but much prefer it than an 'out of tune' V8 sound.

Somebody mentioned replacing pipes and leaving 'some' perforated pipes in place; everybody seems to be doing something different, and it's hard to keep track of that. And finally, did any of you actually weld the inner metal layer, or you just welded the outer one? Remember seeing that the muffler has a dual layer of metal; wonder if it's important. If I could weld, I'd probably do it, but am afraid anybody in this town will do a crappy job, and I'd have to still pay them. Stock is perfect for me inside, and almost perfect outside, so no biggie. Just want a bit more outside if at all, hence my question to just remove insulation. Take care.

They're all a little different but I don't believe they affect the sound that much. Periokid wrapped his perforations. I replaced it with solid pipe. Most people left the insulation and the pipe with less/smaller perforations intact. Both external layers were rewelded.

If you don't like the sound of the modded exhaust, I doubt you'll find a solution that's better than stock or an aftermarket one.

I had the Meisterschaft GTS before this. I loved the way it sounded from the outside but it was too loud inside the car. The GTS and the modded OEM sound very similar. The GTS sounds deeper and has a richer, more layered sound but the underlying note is what's heard with this mod.

[chaos888]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

Well not all people replace the exhaust for sound only....... I am 90% satisfied with the sound of the stock exhaust (it only needs a little more volume) on the M3 but I found that great big muffler looked awful. I think you have a good sound and volume with your mod. If I could make one suggestion it would be to have the muffler Powdercoated or Painted flat black to make it look less noticable from the rear of the car.

I agree I wish it looked better. The stock exhaust is pretty boring looking. I considered replaceing the tips with something bigger and nicer but it would've required a lot more work and I wanted to keep it simple.

What I love about it now is the exhaust looks totally stock. Visually you can't tell anything's different. All I wanted out of this was for it to sound better. I got that and a noticeable gain in power as a bonus!

[JCtx]

Originally Posted by chaos888

If you don't like the sound of the modded exhaust, I doubt you'll find a solution that's better than stock or an aftermarket one.

Stock is almost perfect to me; that's why I'll probably leave it alone. Inside is perfect, and don't want it any louder. Outside the tone is perfect too, but a bit subdued. At least with the clip I heard, the modded exhaust is definitely louder, but the quality of the sound went to the toilet IMO. Maybe it sounds better in the flesh. What I don't like is people always make a vid at WOT, when you drive the car over 90% of the time like a normal person. Remember one of those modded exhaust sounding a bit like an exotic car, which I don't particularly like, but don't mind either. The last one I heard sounded like an old Mustang. Will have to listen to them again and find the one that sounded best IMO. But I'm in no hurry to mess with it. And yes, you folks need to paint it black, like I did; made all the difference in the world. I also replaced the orange hangers with slightly shorter black ones, and exhaust is tucked up perfectly, and you can't see anything thru the rear grille (hated that). Take care.

[chaos888]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Stock is almost perfect to me; that's why I'll probably leave it alone. Inside is perfect, and don't want it any louder. Outside the tone is perfect too, but a bit subdued. At least with the clip I heard, the modded exhaust is definitely louder, but the quality of the sound went to the toilet IMO. Maybe it sounds better in the flesh. What I don't like is people always make a vid at WOT, when you drive the car over 90% of the time like a normal person. Remember one of those modded exhaust sounding a bit like an exotic car, which I don't particularly like, but don't mind either. The last one I heard sounded like an old Mustang. Will have to listen to them again and find the one that sounded best IMO. But I'm in no hurry to mess with it. And yes, you folks need to paint it black, like I did; made all the difference in the world. I also replaced the orange hangers with slightly shorter black ones, and exhaust is tucked up perfectly, and you can't see anything thru the rear grille (hated that). Take care.

I would be interested to hear which ones you liked and what your ideal is. So many people rave about the Akrapovic which to me it looks nice but sound wise is lacking in character.

As for painting the exhaust. Right now it looks stock and even though it doesn't sound stock I think the average person wouldn't question it. If it's painted so it doesn't look stock AND it doesn't sound stock well then there's no question anymore.