exhaust options

[FredK]

C ///M has S52 headers, OBD-II midpipe, and Stromung cat back exhaust. If you keep your stock CAB brackets you'll have to mod the downpipe to clear the brackets. If you run Treehouse Racing CABs you don't have to do any cutting / welding.

However, if you want to run an O2 sensor, I suppose that you'd have to weld in some kind of merge pipe so you can sample both front and rear banks of cylinders...

I guess the stock M3 exhaust doesn't work because the can is too big. That sort of puts a big dent in MY plans! :( I was planning on S52 headers, OBD-II midpipe, and stock M3 exhaust. I guess I'll have to see what happens. I think the can might be too big to clear the rear suspension or something.

Anyway, a Stromung costs a lot of $, new or used. I might have to get a cat back exhaust because of clearance issues, in which case I will most likely get a magnaflow with a fairly small can and weld it up to the stock M3 exhaust pipes. Or something like that. I could always just stick the M3 exhaust on my E36. :)

Here's the breakdown of my welfare exhaust:

S52 headers $100
OBD-II midpipe $175
M3 exhaust, may have to cut to salvage the pipes only $100
Magnaflow muffler $150

$375 to 525, depending on what I have to do.

[equate975]

I had a full out custom with a single 2.5 made for about $550 with custom mid pipes. I think you can run a stock e36 exhaust. Your best bet if this is possible if to get an e36 exhaust and cut the mid pipe off and weld on a custom one from that back.

[rede30]

custon exhaust doesnt really mean more expensive, i have thought it to be less. headers to dull 2.5" pipes to a hallow cat to a ________ exhaust(probably stock e36 m3) is my plan and i belive that labor cost wont be to bad.

[Rev Engineer]

Could people chime in with the various exhaust systems they have gone with? I'm nearing the last step of my s50 conversion and need to decide on an exhaust system. I've read that a e36 m3 with a stromsong muffler works without too much difficulty. Seems like most people go full custom, but this sounds like an expensive route. Is there anything else that's common? I'd like to keep this thread open to everyone for future reference, but my specific criteria consist of:

- s50 with s52 headers - (should I cut and reweld the flange that's near the CAB?)
- don't care about having a cat but wouldn't object to having one
- would like it to be free-flowing (e30 325i exhaust wouldn't work)
- I'm not interested in having a loud muffler - something a little louder to moderately louder than stock is ok. I've heard this might require more than one muffler.

I'm open to having someone build a full custom exhaust if necessary, but I'd like to explore less expensive options first. Seeme like buying used e36 m3 exhaust parts and a new stromsung muffler might be a lot less than a full custom setup.