Still Can't Find an Exhaust For Me... Opinions?

[Drew1204]

Hey all,

I'll start off by saying I have a 2004 cobra with borla stingers cat back and a mac prochamber x-pipe. That car is loud and sounds sick. Here is a video of me at the drag strip to give you an idea for the sound.



It took me a few weeks at most to figure out that this was the exhaust for me. Now that I have an M3 I really love how it sounds F1'ish and revs to 8400 RPM.

I HATE raspy exhausts. The M3 is my daily driver and I'm looking for something that is high pitched, low amount of drone, not raspy (ie most Dinan vids i have heard are raspy, even some eisenmann videos...) I'm not really going for the muscle car note on this car, more of the exotic pitch.

I have searched and searched but it seems with the M3 people mix and match 10 different X-pipes with 10 different exhausts and I've been looking for months now trying to figure out the best sound before I make a purchase.

I would probably be just buying the rear section of an exhaust, but would like to add an x-pipe for more power without getting too loud cruising around since its my daily driver.

Favorites right now,

Meisterchaft GT
Active Autowerke Signature

Thank you all for your help!

[dcgolfdr]

Of those two choices, AA.

[Crazy Bimmer]

Originally Posted by dcgolfdr

Of those two choices, AA.

[jonasaurus]

What about ksg? Given its a daily driver at least its switchable!

[lm1z]

AA quality is greatness.
However, I have a GT and love it. Nothing but thumbs up over the past few days.

Either way, you've picked two very good sounding pieces.

[Drew1204]

Originally Posted by jonasaurus

What about ksg? Given its a daily driver at least its switchable!

What is KSG? Is that the exhaust that is $5,000?

Originally Posted by lm1z

AA quality is greatness.
However, I have a GT and love it. Nothing but thumbs up over the past few days.

Either way, you've picked two very good sounding pieces.

Hmmm youre not helping haha :P...

Do you think the meisterchaft is "loud?" is the M3 your daily driver? Is it comfortable cruising at 70mph for 2 hours?

[therealsullyz]

Best of both worlds and nearly half the price of KSG.
The full system is the most aggressive sound I've heard from an E9X M3 and with the valves closed, the quietest of any system with no cats or resonators.... quieter than most axle back only systems.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501161

[Cptn Mo 703]

Here's a video a buddy and I made, his space gray has Akrapovic rear section with gintani catless xpipe with 2 resonators, and my Melbourne Red has meisterschaft gts with gintani catless xpipe with 4 resonators.

Here's another with just the MR

[Drew1204]

Originally Posted by Cptn Mo 703

Here's a video a buddy and I made, his space gray has Akrapovic rear section with gintani catless xpipe with 2 resonators, and my Melbourne Red has meisterschaft gts with gintani catless xpipe with 4 resonators.

Here's another with just the MR

Dang I like the way the way the space gray sounds, red seems WAY to loud on camera at least...

Originally Posted by shift@red

Honestly, it sounds like eisenmann sport is what youre looking for.

I have the eisenmann race and its got an 'exotic' pitch to it and its quite ok for daily driving IMO, but the sport gives you the same thing without as much volume (obviously).

Any videos of eisenmann sport that doesnt sound raspy?

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys!

[stltowpg]

I installed a AA signature two weeks ago and couldn't be happier. Exhaust note is loud and deep (not raspy) up to 2,000 rpm. After 2,000 it's not much louder than stock, until you got on it.

[eVitO]

Look into Elite mufflers.

[lm1z]

Hmmm youre not helping haha :P...

Do you think the meisterchaft is "loud?" is the M3 your daily driver? Is it comfortable cruising at 70mph for 2 hours?

Definitely not loud. My M3 is my daily. I picked up a client at the airport today - windows up, 70 on the highway, no drone, full on conversation (that hopefully leads to sales! haha).

The exhaust has such a high pitch to it that it's almost like a slight whine at higher RPMS.

[J08M3]

Of all I've owned 8 total (I think). You probably want AA. Sound is awesome build quality is top notch and AA is a solid company you can rely on if you need something.

[Drew1204]

Originally Posted by stltowpg

I installed a AA signature two weeks ago and couldn't be happier. Exhaust note is loud and deep (not raspy) up to 2,000 rpm. After 2,000 it's not much louder than stock, until you got on it.

Hmm, sounds like it would be a good choice. How is it with the windows up just cruising casually? Do you have DCT, if so are the downshifts sick? How is the supposed "drone" everyone gives AA crap for?

Originally Posted by lm1z

Definitely not loud. My M3 is my daily. I picked up a client at the airport today - windows up, 70 on the highway, no drone, full on conversation (that hopefully leads to sales! haha).

The exhaust has such a high pitch to it that it's almost like a slight whine at higher RPMS.

Dang, now you got me back on meisterchaft haha.

Originally Posted by J08M3

Of all I've owned 8 total (I think). You probably want AA. Sound is awesome build quality is top notch and AA is a solid company you can rely on if you need something.

I have read a few of your posts and various exhausts you have had actually and tried typing them into youtube and just got even more confused I can't remember did you ever have AA?

Originally Posted by shift@red

I cant think of any, but my race is NOT raspy at all. It has a good amount of bass down low but opens into a nice harmonic sound that is exotic sounding. IMO its the best tone of any exhaust out there which is why I chose it.

Race may be too loud to me... Anyone know how loud AA is compared to Eis race and meisterchaft GT?

[J08M3]

Yes I had AA. I had it combined with an xpipe and HFCs.

[Drew1204]

How did you like AA when you just had the signature section? Did it drone a lot? How was it after you got the X-pipe and HFC? If i got the AA and later wanted to get an x-pipe for more power would it become obnoxiously loud or raspy at all? How did the x-pipe and HFC affect the supposed "drone" AA has? AA now + x-pipe later is starting to sound like a good idea... with HFC did the car smell? The primary cat is what robs us of power in the M3 correct? Do HFC replace the primary cat? Slightly confused.

[DOUT]

Originally Posted by eVitO

Look into Elite mufflers.

those define DRONE

[SchnellM3]

IFull IPE Valvetronic and be done with it. Its bad ass can't wait to get mine in, Send John @ Rimier MotorSport a message he's a great guy to deal with. I was in the same boat couldn't make up my mind what to put on the car for two years until I found the Innotech

[stltowpg]

[QUOTE=Drew1204;9364587]Hmm, sounds like it would be a good choice. How is it with the windows up just cruising casually? Do you have DCT, if so are the downshifts sick? How is the supposed "drone" everyone gives AA crap for?


Yes I have DCT. Downshifts are awesome in M mode. Drone is noticable below 2,000 RPM, but goes away over it. Can't hear it at all at highway speeds.

[AMPowerJ]

I have the Dinan with a Challenge Sport pipe. I will have videos up later tonight. I don't think it is raspy at all. Check it out and let me know what you think.

[Drew1204]

Originally Posted by SchnellM3

IFull IPE Valvetronic and be done with it. Its bad ass can't wait to get mine in, Send John @ Rimier MotorSport a message he's a great guy to deal with. I was in the same boat couldn't make up my mind what to put on the car for two years until I found the Innotech

That sounds raspy to me... Thanks though.

[QUOTE=stltowpg;9365433]

Originally Posted by Drew1204

Hmm, sounds like it would be a good choice. How is it with the windows up just cruising casually? Do you have DCT, if so are the downshifts sick? How is the supposed "drone" everyone gives AA crap for?


Yes I have DCT. Downshifts are awesome in M mode. Drone is noticable below 2,000 RPM, but goes away over it. Can't hear it at all at highway speeds.

I am usually above 2,000 RPM so thats good

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

I have the Dinan with a Challenge Sport pipe. I will have videos up later tonight. I don't think it is raspy at all. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Look forward to hearing it!

[kitw]

Originally Posted by Drew1204

That sounds raspy to me... Thanks though.
!

The only M3 exhausts that I've heard that are raspy, aside from some of the crappy straight pipes and custom jobs, are only raspy on startup. And, pretty much all exhausts are raspy on cold start.

You gotta hear exhausts in person, in my opinion, or at least have heard an exhaust shot by the same mic. There is just too much variance.

I've had:

Magnaflow
Corsa
Riss Racing
Autobahn Exotics
Vanguard
Vanguard + Fabspeed X pipe (stock cats)
Akrapovic slip on + Fabspeed X pipe
Akrapovic slip on
Akrapovic Evolution
Challenge Sport X pipe + Akrapovic Slip on
Challenge Sport X pipe + Arqray titanium

I've gone back the Akrapovic as being the best combination of power, looks, fit and sound. The Magnaflow was insanely too loud. the Corsa sounded the best to me with the most melodious tone, but was by far the ugliest exhaust on the planet. The AE was smooth and bassy, but a little too loud at 2k rpm. The Vanguard was nice sounding and light. The Akrapovic is quiet no matter what X pipe is in front of it... and it screams at high rpms. The Arqray was great as a catback/slip on but was too bassy with the Challenge X pipe. Really screamed up high, though.

The key is to decide whether or not you want to do an X pipe and choose your rear section accordingly. If you don't want something that drones, wanting an x pipe in the future limits your choices a bit.

Hopefully Morristown BMW comes through, and I'll be able to post a review of the BMW performance exhaust compared to all of the above soon.