X pipe Paired with Axle Back

[itsnotq]

I know this has been discussed a whole lot. Still not sure which option to go with.

I want to run a gintani tune with a catles x pipe and an axle back exhaust.

I was leaning towards an akra slip on but can?t decide on an x pipe that won?t be crazy loud and drone to much. Of course I?m open to all options. What do you guys think? My main thing is I want it catless without to much drone and isn?t crazy loud

Thanks

[Montaver]

Why don't you look at an X pipe with HFC, like Evolve or ESS. The performance loss through having HFC's is marginal, and it lessens smell, soot build up etc. I'm considering both of these myself. If you really want catless get one with resonators, there are quite a few options.

[itsnotq]

Originally Posted by Montaver

Why don't you look at an X pipe with HFC, like Evolve or ESS. The performance loss through having HFC's is marginal, and it lessens smell, soot build up etc. I'm considering both of these myself. If you really want catless get one with resonators, there are quite a few options.

I do want to get one that?s resonated, but my main thing is having it paired up with an axle back and it be really loud with too much drone

[Montaver]

I've only heard the ESS x-pipe with HFC and an evolve catback on a fellow forum members car, it was significantly louder than stock and sounded great but didn't drone. I really don't see the advantage to going fully catless.

[itsnotq]

Originally Posted by Montaver

I've only heard the ESS x-pipe with HFC and an evolve catback on a fellow forum members car, it was significantly louder than stock and sounded great but didn't drone. I really don't see the advantage to going fully catless.

Thank you for the input! And as of the fully catless I?m trying to squeeze out all of the horsepower I can get, and the gintani tune will code out the engine light

[6ixSpd]

The benefits of having HFC instead of deleting all four cats far outweighs the 3-4whp you'll gain by being fully catless.

[Solo_M_Tech]

BMW MPE with a catless ( or HFC) X-pipe is the perfect combo. I have it and honestly love it. Zero drone, not crazy loud, still sound aggressive as f@#k, it's loud outside and mellow inside!

[itsnotq]

Originally Posted by ham_sammich

BMW MPE with a catless ( or HFC) X-pipe is the perfect combo. I have it and honestly love it. Zero drone, not crazy loud, still sound aggressive as f@#k, it's loud outside and mellow inside!

Which x pipe are you running?

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by Qe92

Which x pipe are you running?

Top Speed F1, resonated from Ebay. Perfect fitment and quality welds.

[itsnotq]

Originally Posted by ham_sammich

Top Speed F1, resonated from Ebay. Perfect fitment and quality welds.

Thanks man, really helpful I?ll look into that?s setup!

[JustAnothaM4]

Bimmerworld X-pipe with added cats

[L4ces]

Originally Posted by ham_sammich

Top Speed F1, resonated from Ebay. Perfect fitment and quality welds.

I switched to an MPE. Would happen to have video on the net?

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by project e46m3

Bimmerworld X-pipe with added cats

How much does it cost to add quality cats?

[JustAnothaM4]

Originally Posted by dmk08

How much does it cost to add quality cats?

Depends....you want super high quality or do you want something decent at a lower price point? Magnaflow cats are decent and can be had for a couple hundred bucks + install/labor costs.

[impulsive]

One of the best sounding catless exhausts I've personally heard would either be from an x-pipe paired with akrapovic, eisenmann or supersprint muffler. In that order.

Best value for the money would be to just get test pipes and pair it with a good muffler. If you care more about performance, and wouldnt mind the catless smell, go for a bimmerworld, macht schnell, or gintani x pipe.

I've had IPE, eisenmann, and akrapovic. But imho, it's very easy to make the s65 sound good without breaking the bank. Good luck on your decision!

[slipaway37]

Originally Posted by ham_sammich

BMW MPE with a catless ( or HFC) X-pipe is the perfect combo. I have it and honestly love it. Zero drone, not crazy loud, still sound aggressive as f@#k, it's loud outside and mellow inside!

I respectfully yet COMPLETELY disagree with this comment if running the non-cat option (unsure about the HFC setup/combo).

I had this setup VERY briefly, and is/was the WORSE sounding EVER! I am totally lucky no police ever tracked me down just by the horrible/obnoxious sound she was making from least 1/2 mile away. I mean it was SO raspy it was disgusting, and embarrassing to drive.

IMHO the best my ride EVER sounded was with an MPE and OEM x-pipe; however, I now have the Gintani 4 resonator catless x-pipe paired with the Akra axle-back, and BAM! The sound is amazing, and damn close to the MPE/OEM configuration. I need to get my dyno video posted for a good "sound byte."

For the cost of what you desire, be very careful and try to actually meet someone with a setup you are potentially looking at.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by slipaway37

I respectfully yet COMPLETELY disagree with this comment if running the non-cat option (unsure about the HFC setup/combo).

I had this setup VERY briefly, and is/was the WORSE sounding EVER! I am totally lucky no police ever tracked me down just by the horrible/obnoxious sound she was making from least 1/2 mile away. I mean it was SO raspy it was disgusting, and embarrassing to drive.

IMHO the best my ride EVER sounded was with an MPE and OEM x-pipe; however, I now have the Gintani 4 resonator catless x-pipe paired with the Akra axle-back, and BAM! The sound is amazing, and damn close to the MPE/OEM configuration. I need to get my dyno video posted for a good "sound byte."

For the cost of what you desire, be very careful and try to actually meet someone with a setup you are potentially looking at.

I'm like the rasp and f*&k the police!

[xander_g]

i have a dinan catless midpipe and axleback and it sounds spectacular. No drone whatsoever, not too loud and it sounds great when you get on the power.

[Pig Farmer]

You may want to go a slightly different route. I paired the unmodified OEM axle back with the Evolve Xpipe which has HFCs and resonators. There is zero drone throughout the rev range. The volume is only about 5-10% louder when driving "normal". In fact there is barely any difference with the windows up. When you put your foot into it, things change dramatically. The volume increase is enough to get everyone's attention and the tone is very unique but refined. It's definately an octave or two above the muscle car sound produced by many aftermarket exhausts, but not raspy at all. I only mention rasp since there is a YouTube video out there with this setup and the mic has a hard time capturing the sound. There is only one drawback of this setup that I can see... you have to live with the weight of the OEM axle back.

BTW, I opted for the cold start delete with my tune and with this setup the car is much more civilized than a bone stock M3 when firing it up in the morning. It really is the best of both worlds.

[jeffkukuruda]

I am voting for the MPE as well, but I have mine paired with a challenge sport x pipe (HFC and resonators) and I think it sounds fantastic. I've heard complaints of MPE with x pipes, but my car came with the MPE so I gave it a shot, I think the HFC and resonators keep it from being too obnoxious, but I'm sure if it was completely cat and res free, I would feel differently. I have heard much louder and crazier set ups and I only wanted enhanced sound and performance. i am not a fan of race car loud on the street. take it for what it's worth. I love the MPE exotic notes and they are definitely still there on this set up.

If my car had the stock x pipe when I got it, I would have kept it and just got test pipes with MPE, but it came with factory primary cats, fabspeed resonated x pipe and MPE, so this wasn't an option for me.

Good luck.

-Jeff

[L4ces]

Originally Posted by jeffkukuruda

I am voting for the MPE as well, but I have mine paired with a challenge sport x pipe (HFC and resonators) and I think it sounds fantastic. I've heard complaints of MPE with x pipes, but my car came with the MPE so I gave it a shot, I think the HFC and resonators keep it from being too obnoxious, but I'm sure if it was completely cat and res free, I would feel differently. I have heard much louder and crazier set ups and I only wanted enhanced sound and performance. i am not a fan of race car loud on the street. take it for what it's worth. I love the MPE exotic notes and they are definitely still there on this set up.

If my car had the stock x pipe when I got it, I would have kept it and just got test pipes with MPE, but it came with factory primary cats, fabspeed resonated x pipe and MPE, so this wasn't an option for me.

Good luck.

-Jeff

One of the signature sound characteristics of the m3 is the howl. Depending on the exhaust, it is typically slightly muted or pronounced. Either case it is detectable. Think of the videos with the Corsa exhaust which happens to really make the howl standout.

The stock setup with MPE has in addition to the hollow sound, a slight raspiness that sits a little above the howl, it is that blappy sound. What I notice with test pipes is more of the blappy stuff and less of the howl. I'd be surprised if your challenge setup produces less of the blappy stuff as opposed to slightly more than a testpipe setup.
However, the only video of this combination is the lime green e93 coupe on YouTube and surprisingly it sounds like the best setup overall for an MPE. Makes me wonder if the audio was equalized and therefore slightly deceptive.


Perhaps you can post a video of your setup with the mic away from the exhaust so we can get a more realistic example.

[Bomiz]

Originally Posted by slipaway37

I respectfully yet COMPLETELY disagree with this comment if running the non-cat option (unsure about the HFC setup/combo).

I had this setup VERY briefly, and is/was the WORSE sounding EVER! I am totally lucky no police ever tracked me down just by the horrible/obnoxious sound she was making from least 1/2 mile away. I mean it was SO raspy it was disgusting, and embarrassing to drive.

IMHO the best my ride EVER sounded was with an MPE and OEM x-pipe; however, I now have the Gintani 4 resonator catless x-pipe paired with the Akra axle-back, and BAM! The sound is amazing, and damn close to the MPE/OEM configuration. I need to get my dyno video posted for a good "sound byte."

For the cost of what you desire, be very careful and try to actually meet someone with a setup you are potentially looking at.

My MPE w/ Catless Custom RPI X pipe sounds amazing. On my last e90 i had Dinan+MS Caltess Xpipe, and I prefer this setup