M-Performance Iconel exhaust paired with Active Autowerke X-pipe - Video

[DanMpower]

After installing my M-Performance exhaust on my 2011 Competition Pack M3, I really enjoyed the sound it produced but I thought it was a little on the quiet side. Did my research and knew an X-pipe would add some volume but I also wanted to keep my primary cats.

Thought I had found the solution with the Challenge X-pipe street version, turns out the company either went belly up or they just don't respond to queries at all. With more research, I found out Active Autowerke makes a similar looking X-pipe, as a bonus it has a V-band clamp at the end, making it a modular setup and I can swap in a test pipe, high flow cats, or used the "stubbies" they sell to use my factory primaries!

Ordered up the X-pipe plus stubbies, super fast shipping direct from AA and the quality of the pipes were very good. I've also used their products before on my F80 so I was familiar with their quality.





I bought a spare factory X-Pipe, cut off the Primaries and had a local fabrication ship TIG weld the stubbies on. Everything bolted back up perfectly!







Sound Review-
M-Performance exhaust combined with the AA X-Pipe produces an intoxicating note, has this really nice hollow and higher pitch sound to it plus zero drone. I'm so in love with it right now and it's hard to capture on video especially with an iPhone XS but in real life, it sounds ridiculous!

Have a listen.

[Rochen_00]

Good sound and good job!

[Dave07997S]

Sounds great!!

[GORDON.M3]

I don't think Challenge is in business anymore...
But beautiful sound! the Challenge x-pipe was apparently the best x-pipe ever made for the S65, its a shame they don't make them or sell them anymore.

[RC Post]

Sounds amazing!! Any problems passing smog with this set up? I don't think it'll be a problem since stock primary cats are still used but just curious.

Been on the hunt for an e90 mpe..

[DanMpower]

Thanks fellas, I'm addicted to the downshifts, it has a mean bark. I'm thinking about doing HFC's next but I'm afraid it might change the sound too much, for me it's just about perfect right now.

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by RC Post

Sounds amazing!! Any problems passing smog with this set up? I don't think it'll be a problem since stock primary cats are still used but just curious.

Been on the hunt for an e90 mpe..

I don't think there should be any problems smogging if they just plug in and check the readiness monitors. Now if they snoop around and do a visual, you might fail if they know what they're looking for since the secondaries are gone.

[M3SCUZZI]

Sounds great

[wahwill]

I like how it maintains the same MPE sound and just makes it louder, not raspier.

[L4ces]

Originally Posted by wahwill

I like how it maintains the same MPE sound and just makes it louder, not raspier.

This!

[L4ces]

You have just solved one of the greatest mysteries. My priorities have been reset.

You are hero status in my book. It is hard to believe it can sound this damn good!

More videos please. Seriously.

[L4ces]

Is this pretty much what it would sound like with the secondaries removed?

[dpilat8588]

sounds amazing. It actually sounds very similar to my AE Performance/Macht Schnell setup.

[shimmy23]

Nicely done! I like it!

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by wahwill

I like how it maintains the same MPE sound and just makes it louder, not raspier.

This was exactly what my goal was, turns out after installing the X-pipe, not only does it maintain the MPE's sweet exhaust note, especially between 3-5k, it amplifies it and opens that sweet spot all the way till 7k before induction noises drown it out. Between 5-7k it has a higher pitch note inside the car that is difficult to describe, it sounds quite amazing.

[kyippee]

To confirm, this is their straight/race X-pipe with the stubbies used to keep stock cats, yes?

Any benefit doing this instead of buying their catted X-pipe? And when you say no drone, is it really no drone like MPE only? (car is mute when cruising on the highway)

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

To confirm, this is their straight/race X-pipe with the stubbies used to keep stock cats, yes?

Any benefit doing this instead of buying their catted X-pipe? And when you say no drone, is it really no drone like MPE only? (car is mute when cruising on the highway)

Correct, using the stubbies will keep your factory primary cat.

The benefit is no check engine light and not needing a tune. Also no smell.

I didn't go with the catted version was that AA uses 100 cell cats so the smell will be there, just not as strong, in my line of work I cannot have my clothes smelling like I just cut the lawn when I arrive to work. I've had 100 cell cats before, while it did cut down the smell, my clothes would always smell like unburnt fuel after a drive. With the stock primary cats, there is no smell.

The car has zero drone, as in when cruising on the freeway you cannot hear the exhaust with the windows up.

[Richbot]

a) INCONEL

b) I have the aFe HFC xpipe paired with mine. Shuts up at part throttle and doesn't drone, but is LOUD at WOT. No "cat delete" tune and no CEL, because it uses a 300cell cat. The AA would have to be significantly louder with a 100cell cat I'd think

c) you could hear the MPE on the freeway above 70mph with the stock xpipe, you can hear it a bit more now, but it's not the "boominess" people usually talk about when they're talking about drone. I think the risk when doing any xpipe mods with the MPE is rasp so I like the OP's setup. It's probably 3-4lb lighter than stock too. I can't imagine it being any louder than my car's, and when you're not hooning, mine is just as civilized as say, a stock Mustang GT inside exhaust noise wise.

[kyippee]

Do you think with that xpipe + stock cat setup, it would be louder than magnaflow muffler alone? I am trying to pass sound at Laguna but MPE is too damn boring. I might just give up and not pass sound

[Exclusivs]

Sounds like a great pairing!

P.S- thanks for posting an exhaust video without doing burnouts or donuts

[ramo135]

I have the MPE V2 and I'm finally going to get a tune this week so I've been searching around for good MPE combos.

So is the main difference between what you got with the stubbies vs the AA Xpipe+HFC that it will smell worse with the HFC? Not a lot of good shops near me so having to cut pipes etc might be something I want to avoid

[JDMHolic]

Sounds really good. Just curious, do MPE V1 and V2 have different sound tone?