Rate your exhaust loudness from 1 to 10

[omniphil]

I'm in a condo. I leave at 5am. I would like to keep the neighbors from killing me.. I start the car up and immediately drive off very slowly. Not letting it sit to be considerate of the neighbors.

When stock the cold cycle noise just sounded bad, and sort of loud. I added test pipes and tuned the cold cycle off. This was nicer..

I want to uncork the back of the exhaust to free up some ponies, but I want to be quietish... I was thinking about the Borla Type S, seems like one of the tamer setups? (With test pipes).

So for all you folks out there, let me know what exhaust setup you have and what you'd rate the idle and low speed/cruise volume (I don't care about wide open throttle loudness) 1 being a regular car and 10 being a car with straight pipes.

So on a scale of 1 to 10, I would say the stock setup was a 2.5 to 3, and with test pipes and cold start cycle off maybe a 2. Or is this exercise useless as any rear exhaust will be too loud vs the test pipes alone?

Results for quick comparison, I'll try my best to average the results from folks. Hopefully this will help out others looking for exhausts (TP = Test Pipes / CSD = Cold Start Disabled)
2.0 = TP + CSD
2.5 = Stock
3.5 = Corsa + TP + CSD
3.5 = Stock Muffler + Macht Schnell Catless X-pipe + CSD
4.5 = New Remus + CSD
5.0 = Akrapovic Mufflers
5.0 = IPE F1 valves closed
6.0 = Dinan
6.0 = OEM Mod
6.0 = Borla Atak + Highflow X-Pipe + TP + CSD
7.0 = Akrapovik Full System
7.0 = OEM Mod + TP
7.0 = New Remus + Macht Schnell X-pipe HFC installed + CSD
7.0 = Active Autowerke
7.0 = Agency Power/Megan
8.0 = Remus Race + Macht Schnell X-pipe HFC installed + CSD
8.0 = Remus Race
9.0 = IPE F1 valves open
9.0 = Meisterschaft GT2 + Dinan X-Pipe + CSD
9.5 = Meisterschaft GT2 + TP + CSD
10 = Akrym

[Ingenio]

Corsa cat-back with M3 World test pipes... Probably a solid 3.5. Who knows what it'll be once I do the X-pipe though!

[MTrezzz]

I would say Gintani Sport, MPE, AA, Eisenmann Sport, Dinan, or AE Racing. Any Sport muffler will do.

Ohh not to be Mr police here but you shouldn't drive right a way when the car starts up because it needs to go through the heating cycle. And if your really care about your neighbors get a valved setup from Gintani OR IPE Valves closed is like stock.

[omniphil]

I drive very very easy initially. Shouldn't harm the car as its pretty much the same as letting it idle...

So Corsa cat back sound like a pretty quiet alternative too...

[apecush]

Originally Posted by MTrezzz

I would say Gintani Sport, MPE, AA, Eisenmann Sport, Dinan, or AE Racing. Any Sport muffler will do.

Ohh not to be Mr police here but you shouldn't drive right a way when the car starts up because it needs to go through the heating cycle. And if your really care about your neighbors get a valved setup from Gintani OR IPE Valves closed is like stock.

Read manual.

Start driving immediately after startup...

[omniphil]

Originally Posted by Ingenio

Corsa cat-back with M3 World test pipes... Probably a solid 3.5. Who knows what it'll be once I do the X-pipe though!

Do you have a tune with cold start disabled?

[Ingenio]

Yes sir... I sure do...

[Patrón]

Old Agency Power copy exhaust-9
current Dinan-8
stock-4

friends old Arykm-10+

[omniphil]

Originally Posted by Patrón

Old Agency Power copy exhaust-9
current Dinan-8
stock-4

friends old Arykm-10+

Is that Agency Power one the $500 Megan one too?

[JsL]

Low speed/cruising volume of exhausts I've owned (all paired with oem xpipe):

Oem 3
Dinan 5
Oem Mod 6
Active Autowerke 7
Remus Race 8

I know you were asking loudness with test pipes, but i hope this list will help you.

My favorite was the Active Autowerke, but be ready to be heard 1/2 block away.

[rjd598]

I have test pipes with oem exhaust mod. I would say 7-8 only because I've heard a straight piped e92 m3 and its hell on wheels

[Ezio]

I always hated the way cold start sounded and the way the car drove.

[blankstar43]

Stock - 3
Akrapovic mufflers - 5
Akrapovic full - 7
IPE F1 valves closed - 5
IPE F1 valves open - 9

[kninjak]

Meister shafts gt2 with test pipe + cold start delete
I would say about 7
But that akrym valved exhaust is 10 plus

[BrewRifle]

Originally Posted by kninjak

Meister shafts gt2 with test pipe + cold start delete
I would say about 7
But that akrym valved exhaust is 10 plus

There's no way GT2 + Test pipes is only equal to full Akra. It's more like 10+ and Akrym is 10++. Just the GT2 is 8-9 (and wouldn't have it any other way).

[Jesus E90 M3]

Originally Posted by Ingenio

Corsa cat-back with M3 World test pipes... Probably a solid 3.5. Who knows what it'll be once I do the X-pipe though!

100% agree. same setup going x-pipe next. sold my eissenman and got the corsa.

[JsL]

Originally Posted by BrewRifle

There's no way GT2 + Test pipes is only equal to full Akra. that's more like 10+ and Akrym is 10++. Just the GT2 is 8-9 (and wouldn't have it any other way).

Agreed. I've heard the GT2 by itself and you can hear it 1.5 blocks away.

[dcpatters]

My only experiences

Stock Muffler + Macht Schnell catless X-pipe + tuned no cold start = 3.5. Car sounded nearly stock until upper RPM range, then it was just too raspy.

Remus Race + Macht Schnell X-pipe HFC installed + tuned no cold start = 8, start up wasn't too bad. But after that, wow!!! My son hops in the car, he's like, "Dad what did you do to the exhaust?"

New Remus + Macht Schnell X-pipe HFC installed + tuned no cold start = 7, seems just as loud as Race.

New Remus + OEM X-pipe + tuned no cold start = 4.5. Start up in garage no issues, drive off is very subtle.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by omniphil

Is that Agency Power one the $500 Megan one too?

Yes, I think they are all made by the same place in China. Good deal for the money and wouldn't hesitate to buy another one but with cat delete they drone.

[Ingenio]

Jesus... which X pipe are you going for out of interest? I'm looking at the M3 World HFCs + Resonators for a more subtle increase in noise...

[burtonsbs5114]

I have just the AA and I love it. Inside the car it is not that loud. I am never really outside my car with it running so not sure, lol.

I also live in a condo complex with underground parking and my neighbors tell me how great my car sounds, lol.

[8600RPM]

Keep in mind there is no hp to be gained with a rear section so if that's the reason you are doing ir, don't bother. Oem exhaust flows very well