Borla Atak vs Cheap Full exhaust

k_mann · 03-12-2019, 12:54 PM

Hey All,

So weighing my options here between a cheap full exhaust (megan + bw or topspeed x pipe) vs the borla atak. Of the reasonable axlebacks, I think I like the borla atak most reviewing videos, but I've noticed for the same cost I could run a budget friendly full exhaust which seems to sound really nice. I really like the sound of a dinan full (mufflers + midpipe) but, even used, I'm not sure I can justify 3k+ for an exhaust.

Mainly I'm looking for a really nice sounding volume increase. I had a bmw pe on my old 328xi, it was nice an civil, but I'd like something more with my m3. Definitely okay with some slight drone, and more volume! I want to hear the exhaust still with windows up.

I do drive it to work a couple times a week.....so that makes me wonder about catless volume/smell. What do you guys think?

M3 Number 86 · 03-12-2019, 12:57 PM

xchosun1x has Dinan and a brand new MS xpipe for sale. I think $1800 or something like that give or take a couple hundred bucks.

Boom. There you go.

R3dliner · 03-12-2019, 01:27 PM

The other cheaper route would be a xpipe and a oem exhaust mod which sounds really good.

eatsleepboost · 03-12-2019, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R3dliner

The other cheaper route would be a xpipe and a oem exhaust mod which sounds really good.

I am not a fan of this setup as the stock mufflers are huge and heavy. I had the borla atak with stock xpipe and loved the sound. It became too loud when I went with a catless xpipe. Sounds like test pipes on your factory xpipe and the ATAK or similar rear section is the best bet. It's on the cheaper side to do and retains the secondary cats which will cut down on any smell.

I currently have the top speed xpipe with 4 resonators and love it. Cheap and has great fitment.

k_mann · 03-12-2019, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatsleepboost

Quote:

Originally Posted by R3dliner

The other cheaper route would be a xpipe and a oem exhaust mod which sounds really good.

I am not a fan of this setup as the stock mufflers are huge and heavy. I had the borla atak with stock xpipe and loved the sound. It became too loud when I went with a catless xpipe. Sounds like test pipes on your factory xpipe and the ATAK or similar rear section is the best bet. It's on the cheaper side to do and retains the secondary cats which will cut down on any smell.

I currently have the top speed xpipe with 4 resonators and love it. Cheap and has great fitment.

Well I'm leaning towards the atak just for emissions reasons and smell. I'm not die hard on catless as the cars performance is more than I need stock.

How was the atak on stock x, I mean was it noticeable with windows up?

R3dliner · 03-12-2019, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eatsleepboost

I am not a fan of this setup as the stock mufflers are huge and heavy. I had the borla atak with stock xpipe and loved the sound. It became too loud when I went with a catless xpipe. Sounds like test pipes on your factory xpipe and the ATAK or similar rear section is the best bet. It's on the cheaper side to do and retains the secondary cats which will cut down on any smell.

I currently have the top speed xpipe with 4 resonators and love it. Cheap and has great fitment.

Agreed, those things are heavy. I really liked my setup of M-performance exhaust paired with the dinan mid pipe w/ 4 resonators.

eatsleepboost · 03-12-2019, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aututto

Well I'm leaning towards the atak just for emissions reasons and smell. I'm not die hard on catless as the cars performance is more than I need stock.

How was the atak on stock x, I mean was it noticeable with windows up?

It is for sure noticeable with windows up. Cold starts are quite loud. Overall a great sounding rear section for a good price. Looks much better than stock and good weight savings. Many people mention changing the tips but I didn't mind them for the time I ran it. I had a 3mph window (71-74mph) in 6th gear that it would drone. Wasn't that bad and such a small window it didn't bother me. If running stock xpipe it's certainly the rear section I recommend. Watch some YouTube videos with high quality headphones to get a good idea of the sound.

SAMM3Y · 03-12-2019, 05:10 PM

Stock x pipe on a m3 is a very nice high quality piece, I'd leave it and go borla if they were my two options. You'll get plenty of cabin sound..

M3_Ronny · 03-12-2019, 05:32 PM

ATAK sounds great, but I’m biased

k_mann · 03-12-2019, 08:17 PM

Sounds like the borla atak is the smarter option since I'm not concerned with with the power gains from catless x (just more liked the sound they provide paired with a more free flowing muffler.

I came across this video, is this a decent representation of a borla atak? or is there something more done to the mid pipe maybe?

DreamTime · 03-13-2019, 08:42 AM

I have the ATAK with stock X pipe and it sounds amazing. Cold start is loud and I love it - not sure how my neighbors feel, but

While driving, the beautiful, deep tone is noticeable in the cabin with windows up, but with windows down on a nice day it sounds soooo good... especially driving under bridges/through tunnels, or near walls. *Drool* There is a slight drone it seems around 70 mph on the freeway (I'll need to take note of the rpm range next time I drive it) but overall I'm really happy with it and am leaving the setup as is.

I can't give you a report on the sound in the video you just posted, as I'm in my office and I *probably* should not be listening to exhaust clips first thing in the morning lmao. I can listen to it later and report back if someone else already hasn't.

k_mann · 03-13-2019, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamTime

I have the ATAK with stock X pipe and it sounds amazing. Cold start is loud and I love it - not sure how my neighbors feel, but

While driving, the beautiful, deep tone is noticeable in the cabin with windows up, but with windows down on a nice day it sounds soooo good... especially driving under bridges/through tunnels, or near walls. *Drool* There is a slight drone it seems around 70 mph on the freeway (I'll need to take note of the rpm range next time I drive it) but overall I'm really happy with it and am leaving the setup as is.

I can't give you a report on the sound in the video you just posted, as I'm in my office and I *probably* should not be listening to exhaust clips first thing in the morning lmao. I can listen to it later and report back if someone else already hasn't.

Thanks for the feedback, seems I'm getting a lot of positive responses in running the atak.

And lol I on the other hand need to stop watching exhaust videos in the office

Look forward to your feedback!

850tgul · 03-13-2019, 11:24 AM

The ATAK is a great axleback. I just picked up my M3 and it was already installed. I actually ordered a Remus Race as I'm looking for a bit more aggressive tone but no denying the ATAK sounds sweet. If the Remus doesn't deliver like I'm hoping I could very go back to the ATAK.

dparm · 03-13-2019, 11:59 AM

Go to a local meetup and hear one in person. Or, post in your local forums and see if anyone has it -- buy them lunch and ask to meet them/ride along. Judging things based on YouTube videos is a recipe for frustration and wasted money; everyone's camera and mic setup is different, and hearing varies greatly from person to person.

DreamTime · 03-13-2019, 12:24 PM

^^ This is good advice, dparm. You are absolutely right, nothing really compares to hearing the exhaust in person, if possible. That is 100% what sold me on getting an ATAK for my car – hearing it in person on a buddy’s E90.

DreamTime · 03-13-2019, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aututto

And lol I on the other hand need to stop watching exhaust videos in the office

Some days I can’t help myself, like when I was looking for exhaust clips with ATAK + different cat setups… That’s the beauty of having a door on my office I guess. Although, it was still pretty obvious what I was doing in here lol

03-12-2019, 12:54 PM	#1
k_mann Lieutenant 372 Rep 445 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	Borla Atak vs Cheap Full exhaust Hey All, So weighing my options here between a cheap full exhaust (megan + bw or topspeed x pipe) vs the borla atak. Of the reasonable axlebacks, I think I like the borla atak most reviewing videos, but I've noticed for the same cost I could run a budget friendly full exhaust which seems to sound really nice. I really like the sound of a dinan full (mufflers + midpipe) but, even used, I'm not sure I can justify 3k+ for an exhaust. Mainly I'm looking for a really nice sounding volume increase. I had a bmw pe on my old 328xi, it was nice an civil, but I'd like something more with my m3. Definitely okay with some slight drone, and more volume! I want to hear the exhaust still with windows up. I do drive it to work a couple times a week.....so that makes me wonder about catless volume/smell. What do you guys think?
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03-12-2019, 12:57 PM	#2
M3 Number 86 Major General 3221 Rep 6,218 Posts Drives: black m3 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: pasadena iTrader: (1)	xchosun1x has Dinan and a brand new MS xpipe for sale. I think $1800 or something like that give or take a couple hundred bucks. Boom. There you go. __________________ dadmobile IG: @M3number86 youtube: track vids
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03-12-2019, 01:27 PM	#3
R3dliner Lieutenant Colonel 935 Rep 1,930 Posts Drives: 18 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	The other cheaper route would be a xpipe and a oem exhaust mod which sounds really good.
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03-12-2019, 05:10 PM	#8
SAMM3Y Colonel 3085 Rep 2,747 Posts Drives: 2008 m3 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2)	Stock x pipe on a m3 is a very nice high quality piece, I'd leave it and go borla if they were my two options. You'll get plenty of cabin sound.. __________________ 9ers
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03-12-2019, 05:32 PM	#9
M3_Ronny Private First Class 46 Rep 117 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	ATAK sounds great, but I’m biased
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03-12-2019, 08:17 PM	#10
k_mann Lieutenant 372 Rep 445 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	Sounds like the borla atak is the smarter option since I'm not concerned with with the power gains from catless x (just more liked the sound they provide paired with a more free flowing muffler. I came across this video, is this a decent representation of a borla atak? or is there something more done to the mid pipe maybe? Last edited by k_mann; 03-12-2019 at 08:24 PM..
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03-13-2019, 08:42 AM	#11
DreamTime Captain 865 Rep 765 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (2)	I have the ATAK with stock X pipe and it sounds amazing. Cold start is loud and I love it - not sure how my neighbors feel, but While driving, the beautiful, deep tone is noticeable in the cabin with windows up, but with windows down on a nice day it sounds soooo good... especially driving under bridges/through tunnels, or near walls. Drool There is a slight drone it seems around 70 mph on the freeway (I'll need to take note of the rpm range next time I drive it) but overall I'm really happy with it and am leaving the setup as is. I can't give you a report on the sound in the video you just posted, as I'm in my office and I probably should not be listening to exhaust clips first thing in the morning lmao. I can listen to it later and report back if someone else already hasn't.
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03-13-2019, 11:24 AM	#13
850tgul Captain 279 Rep 998 Posts Drives: 718 GT4, F87 M2, F30 330xi, X3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (15)	The ATAK is a great axleback. I just picked up my M3 and it was already installed. I actually ordered a Remus Race as I'm looking for a bit more aggressive tone but no denying the ATAK sounds sweet. If the Remus doesn't deliver like I'm hoping I could very go back to the ATAK. __________________ Current: 718 GT4 6MT, F87 M2 6MT, F30 330xi, F25 xdrive35i Gone: E82 128i M-Sport, 997.2 911, B8.5 S5, 987.2 Cayman, W211 E550, E92 M3, B8.5 S4, 981 Cayman, E82 128i, E46 M3, Z4MC, Mk5 GTI VR6, MZ3R, C5 Z06, B5 S4, Volvo T-5R, Volvo 740Ti
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03-13-2019, 11:59 AM	#14
dparm Stop the hate, get a V8 3850 Rep 8,625 Posts Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	Go to a local meetup and hear one in person. Or, post in your local forums and see if anyone has it -- buy them lunch and ask to meet them/ride along. Judging things based on YouTube videos is a recipe for frustration and wasted money; everyone's camera and mic setup is different, and hearing varies greatly from person to person. __________________ Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
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03-13-2019, 12:24 PM	#15
DreamTime Captain 865 Rep 765 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (2)	^^ This is good advice, dparm. You are absolutely right, nothing really compares to hearing the exhaust in person, if possible. That is 100% what sold me on getting an ATAK for my car – hearing it in person on a buddy’s E90.
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