S54 Swap Exhaust systems

[e30polak]

If I had to do it over I'd probably still use the Borla but use a Vibrant Streetpower Muffler for the fancy tips. I've read that the vibrants aren't to loud so I don't think it would affect it much. If you wanted it even quieter you could use a turbo style muffler. However, I chose not to do that because the cfm numbers were all pretty lousy on those.

Vibrant Street Powers are one of the loudest mufflers out there. I know, as I've had them on most of my cars, and it takes a quieter center muffler to keep the Vibrant tame. They do however have a great tone:

My old s52 e30 with a Borla mid muffler, and a Vibrant rear muffler, with ebay SS headers and 2.5" single exhaust:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS2RJCk_itY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2H5YreLZqk

[95///M3]

I have been running 2.5 dual from headers down to a 2-1 2.5" collector. Single 2.5" the whole way back. Goal was to keep it close to the floor boards and quiet. Still make over 300whp with tune.

[digger]

It's a fairly short height muffler, one of the lowest profile mufflers out there.

yeah only 4", i used two 3.5" hotdogs to improve clearance but 4" would still be ok and xs would work better i feel

[BMWfanz]

Does someone lost HPs and torque in swapped e30 with custom exhaust? I saw a lot of opinions that custom exhaust make lower HP than stock e46 system (about 20HPs). Is it true?)

[328ijunkie]

We dont do alot of different exhaust setups for these cars, typically use off the shelf setups but the few we have done and the tons weve tuned ive learned a few things.
The closer to the manifolds the merge is coupled with a larger diameter single= horrible down low <3K rpm scavenging. This car has Epic headers and merge to a 3" with a race cat, vibrant muffler and res. (run 3 was untuned before cat, Next run is after cat with a base tune, then after final tweaks)


Trimming AFRs and vanos as much as possible i trimmed out the down low freakout but there still is a massive torque loss because of merge placement. But on the other hand, every car ive tuned with the merge like this, rips on the top end because of it... Everything is a compromise.

[e30polak]

We dont do alot of different exhaust setups for these cars, typically use off the shelf setups but the few we have done and the tons weve tuned ive learned a few things.
The closer to the manifolds the merge is coupled with a larger diameter single= horrible down low <3K rpm scavenging. This car has Epic headers and merge to a 3" with a race cat, vibrant muffler and res. (run 3 was untuned before cat, Next run is after cat with a base tune, then after final tweaks)


Trimming AFRs and vanos as much as possible i trimmed out the down low freakout but there still is a massive torque loss because of merge placement. But on the other hand, every car ive tuned with the merge like this, rips on the top end because of it... Everything is a compromise.

The single 3.5" cars typically make 8-12whp more up top, and maybe hold 5-10wtq better to redline. It really depends on gearing too. If the car has short gearing, than sub 3k rpms are never an issue. Longer geared cars, especially heavy e46 m3s, will feel this more, and it's more apparent in higher gears. Good headers obviously effect the power band as well. Epic headers probably cause a bit of the bottom end loss as well do to their large primaries, but they make up for it above 4k where it counts on a track car.

Personally I think a proper dual system will always sound better than any single system I've heard.

[digger]

yeah, a single exhaust is lighter, cheaper, easier to produce and has more potential but the dual sounds better and offers slightly more clearance

[BMWfanz]

Could someone share XDF file for tuner pro? i have mss54 211322002101 version of soft. The reason why i'm asking cause there is no possibility to tune my car by evolve and other stuff cause there are some tunes that must have to be tuned online on dyno, and in Kazakhstan there are no specialists who can make it. My friend have a lot of expirience in M50 and S50 engines, but he doesnt have XDF for my ECU. Would be pleased if someone able to help me with it)

[e30polak]

yeah, a single exhaust is lighter, cheaper, easier to produce and has more potential but the dual sounds better and offers slightly more clearance

And dual makes better torque below 3.5k and has better exhaust scavenging around town. In a light e30 there is still plenty of torque even with a single exhaust though.

[digger]

And dual makes better torque below 3.5k and has better exhaust scavenging around town.

not really, those that lost torque down low going to a single exhaust gained it back when they put the merge in a more suitable location

merging from twin collectors into a Y or X pipe is going to be much of a muchness. the single exhaust might have a topend advantage because the Y-pipe is going to flow better than an X-pipe with the same outlet cross sectional area simply because the shape is better.



both 3" exhausts

even 3.5" exhaust done properly still make excellent bottom end

[Luke_M]

Vibrant Street Powers are one of the loudest mufflers out there. I know, as I've had them on most of my cars, and it takes a quieter center muffler to keep the Vibrant tame. They do however have a great tone:

My old s52 e30 with a Borla mid muffler, and a Vibrant rear muffler, with ebay SS headers and 2.5" single exhaust:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS2RJCk_itY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2H5YreLZqk

Well shoot dang! I'm glad you told me before I pulled the trigger on one. Is it much worse then a universal magnaflow? Any advice on a 3" high flow muffler with purdy dual tips?

hows the ground clearance with borla proxs there? are you lowered?

Very much lowered. It's not bad at all. It fits pretty well just below the driveshaft. Here's a good thread from Nando: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=183420

[frantic]

Which Ebay Headers does everyone use and how much modification?

I have some Euro E46 M3 ones, the front section won't even fit down between engine and chassis rail to see how bad that is, Rear one the #6 fouls on the firewall and may or may not just clear the steering.. Joys of RHD!!

[diesekte]

Can an S54 E30 make use of the full length of an E46 M3 section 1? I was hoping to Y after the section 1 if possible to a 3"

[diesekte]

Bump, anyone know about section 1?

[burkey001]

I will hopefully be able to add a dyno graph to this page soon.
Buttoning up my S54 swap, have my exhaust now done.

Custom headers, custom mid section, E36 Eisenmann M3 rear muffler. I realize it may be 'a bit' raspy with no centre muffler. We'll see. :)

It's dual 2.5in







RHD car, so steering clearance is the main limiter for making headers...