Factory M3 Performance Exhaust Install $

12-29-2011

Awesome to hear (all the replies)! I just pulled the trigger and ordered the M performance exhaust today from Trisher (best price I could find). I am going to attempt the install myself. If I can't do this, maybe I don't deserve to drive an M3 :-)

10 years ago I put suspension lifts on my leaf-spring based jeep wrangler and my coil-spring based jeep wrangler (before my subaru, I was a jeep wrangler only guy), so I think this will be plenty easier than that was (though I don't have access to the same garage and tools as I did then). All I can remember with those are the constant prying and bending to get the leaf-springs into place to bolt them back on.

12-31-2011

Denk wrote
I paid $75 at a local exhaust shop to get mine installed. Install is a piece of cake, it's just a BOLT ON, no cutting required. 30 minutes and I was out the door.

What shop in town installed the exhaust for you at that price? I'm looking to purchase the performance exhaust as well.

12-31-2011

Pizzatt wrote
What shop in town installed the exhaust for you at that price? I'm looking to purchase the performance exhaust as well.

Exhaust Specialties, there are a few locations around Portland. There is one right across the street from Kuni.

01-08-2012

So, my performance exhaust from Trisher should be here on Tuesday. I won't have a whole lot of free time Tuesday and Wednesday, and had some time today, so I did the removal of the OEM stock exhaust. 12 bolts and its off. It was so simple, it was ridiculous. Must have taken me 30 minutes tops, and I was taking pictures of every step. If any shop charges more than $100, they are certainly ripping you off.

I just followed the DIY axel-back exhaust from the DIY forum. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=299777

01-08-2012

FYI - BMW only charges $60 if you have it installed at the port as I did.

01-08-2012

great job! I'd like to see the installation photos and hear the new exhaust when up :party0048:

01-08-2012

J08M3 wrote
FYI - BMW only charges $60 if you have it installed at the port as I did.

Do you have to pay msrp for the exhaust doing that?

01-08-2012

crabman wrote
Do you have to pay msrp for the exhaust doing that?

I didn't. My dealer gave it to me at cost to help make a deal on the car with me. He said the only way he could do cost is if I went ahead with install at port so the dealership would never have any responsibility for touching it. Otherwise I would've installed myself for free

01-08-2012

J08M3 wrote
I didn't. My dealer gave it to me at cost to help make a deal on the car with me. He said the only way he could do cost is if I went ahead with install at port so the dealership would never have any responsibility for touching it. Otherwise I would've installed myself for free

Not that is matters all that much, but just curious, do you get the original OEM stock exhaust too, or does the VPC keep it?

For me, I had no choice, since the performance exhaust was not available when I ordered my car, back in Nov 2010

01-08-2012

robackja wrote
Not that is matters all that much, but just curious, do you get the original OEM stock exhaust too, or does the VPC keep it?

i'm also considering the vpc installed option and was wondering the same. i'd rather install it on my own if the port install option means i have to lug back an oem exhaust when taking delivery.

01-08-2012

they kept the OEM, I didn't get it.

01-10-2012

J08M3 wrote
FYI - BMW only charges $60 if you have it installed at the port as I did.

A bit different than I understand. I was given a price sheet for all of the Performance parts. Installation was free for all of them - rear spoiler, splitters, exhaust, carbon interior trim, etc. But price was full retail and they wouldn't negotiate. You got a bit better deal on the exhaust, but I got my car for $500 over. :cool:

I was pretty surprised they wouldn't negotiate. I didn't buy anything VPC other than the rear spoiler, which was perfectly installed.

01-10-2012

If the install is this straightforward, why do people loosen the differential bolts to remove it? Doesn't seem like that is necessary, yet it seems that some shops have done that with disastrous results.

01-10-2012

rye m3 wrote
If the install is this straightforward, why do people loosen the differential bolts to remove it? Doesn't seem like that is necessary, yet it seems that some shops have done that with disastrous results.

Don't know why someone would do that. Even from just a visual inspection it is clear the diff bolts have nothing to do with the exhaust removal...

01-10-2012

I think people might be confusing the differential bolts with the nuts near the differential that are used to hold up the hangers towards the front of the car. Removing the nuts makes getting the hangers off about 10x easier while the differential bolts do not need to be touched.

01-10-2012

roddyc wrote
I think people might be confusing the differential bolts with the nuts near the differential that are used to hold up the hangers towards the front of the car. Removing the nuts makes getting the hangers off about 10x easier while the differential bolts do not need to be touched.

I agree, removing the red polyurethane bushings with the exhaust off is difficult enough. Soapy water or WD-40 helps a lot. Without a lift, it would just be annoying. Removing those hangers makes the job 1-2-3.

01-10-2012

These make the hangers trivial:

http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-38350-Exhaust-Removal-Pliers/dp/B0012S9A5U/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_1

01-11-2012

Well, it took me about 55minutes to put it on. It was much harder to align
it on the way up, then the way down with only one person. Plus the pieces fit very tight.

Overall verdict: slightly disappointed. It quieter than I thought it would be from the videos. I've been on BMW drives where some people had after market exhausts and they were much meaner sounding. Though I haven't heard it from the outside yet. It seems only a little bit louder than stock, though I like that it doesn't sound over-the-top. On the cosmetic side, the exhaust tips don't stick out from under the bumper as far as it does in many photos of it that I've seen. You really can't see the ///M engravings too well. I really couldn't have adjusted the exhaust any further out the back without pulling out the connecting pipes. On the up side, I'm 22 lbs lighter, so like 0.25% of 1% in gas savings, .000001 seconds faster in the 0-60.

Now I wonder if I torqued some bolt too tight or too loose. Maybe I should keep my stock exhaust until I make sure this one doesn't fall off.

I don't have time to post photos or videos today or tomorrow, I'm working on a deadline, and getting it installed set me back enough already. I'll try to do something this weekend.

01-11-2012

rye m3 wrote
If the install is this straightforward, why do people loosen the differential bolts to remove it? Doesn't seem like that is necessary, yet it seems that some shops have done that with disastrous results.

Never under-estimate

01-11-2012

elp_jc wrote
I have a story to tell you. Once upon a time, somebody from this board had his exhaust installed at a reputable shop, and the differential broke a few weeks later, after a BMW dealer installed the wrong parts, with reportedly $10K worth of damage. Anyway, it's a long story, but most of us know what happened: Shop removed the hanger brackets (much easier than trying to pry the hangers out of them), and probably forgot to tighten them, basically leaving the differential without 2 of its 3 mounting points. And my point is both an independent shop and a BMW dealer screwed up on the same car .

I'd rate an exhaust installation a 3 out of 10 in degree of difficulty, and between 2 people, it's a piece of cake. Invite a friend over, buy the pizza, and do it in an afternoon. All you need is a pair of ramps and and a 3/8" socket set with extensions. The new exhaust will be much easier to install than the old, since it's 3 pieces, rather than one. And much lighter. And you know things would be done right. Plus you can clean and detail the undercarriage, especially around the differential, to notice any leak in the future.

Even if you get the exhaust done by a dealer or shop, I'd inspect the job myself, so might as well just do it . Good luck.

I remember that thread !
+1 on the advice !

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