S54 Swap Exhaust systems

[*freshm3]

Dragging this back from the dead to clarify, since some of the image links are broken. Is there enough clearance for Euro or typical E46 M3 aftermarket headers to fit in the E30?

Yes, based on my experiences with my S54 E30 and other similar cars. At times it may be a bit finicky around the FCAB area which may need to be dented on the headers for clearance. It really depends...

[R3VM3UP]

Dragging this back from the dead to clarify, since some of the image links are broken. Is there enough clearance for Euro or typical E46 M3 aftermarket headers to fit in the E30?

[digger]

id advise people to replicate the OEM E46 M3 section 1 exhaust philosophy if they are building a system for the street. its pretty hard to beat. Most economical from cost and weight and likely performance would be twin pipes into Y pipe and run a single exhaust unless you prefer the sound of twin pipes.

[TheAxiom]

everything ive seen says its not the number of tubes at all, simply the merge location

This is absolutely correct. 2.5 dual with oem merge placement into a 3 or 3.5" single is literally the best of both worlds.

[e30polak]

Short vid of my exhaust
Not that loud at all when cruising, even on the freeway (in 6th). Moderately loud with more than slight acceleration. The video doesn't do it justice though, it sounds fantastic imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7a-f8qGHeA

and another
https://youtu.be/EQiSDhvy1sM

Does sound good, would love to hear it driving or on a dyno!

[diesekte]

Short vid of my exhaust
Not that loud at all when cruising, even on the freeway (in 6th). Moderately loud with more than slight acceleration. The video doesn't do it justice though, it sounds fantastic imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7a-f8qGHeA

and another

https://youtu.be/EQiSDhvy1sM

[e30polak]

Borla Pro-XS isn't that quiet of a muffler on it's own. If you can fit a 3" Vibrant Ultra Quiet resonator in the middle, and the Borla out back, it will be tame enough around town, and scream like a banshee above 4k rpms!

[burkey001]

So you're three inch from the petrol tank back?

Define quiet. OEM 2016 328 quiet? OEM 2016 M3 quiet? Supersprint / remus quiet?

With no centre muffler you may be best trying to reuse an OEM piece. The rear muffler from a F30 3 series is 3 inch inlet and long and cylindrical. I bet if you flipped it around it would fit in an E30.
F30 is turbo so exhaust shouldn't be too restrictive and it also only runs 1 muffler and 1 res so it should be good at shutting up drone. I say "should" :)


If you went back to twin why not get an E36 Eisenmann rear section. It fits, it sounds nice.

[frantic]

I finished mine just over a month ago, But only up to the fuel tank. I need to get some good mufflers, I've gone for 3" since it is quite low and I have driveshaft hoops so couldn't really get it tucked up into the tunnel.

Can anyone recommend some Quiet mufflers? I want atleast two in there. Leaning towards a Borla Pro XS 3" in, Dual 2.5" out for the rear. But if I could put a 3" in / out Borla and fit the biggest rear muffler I can fit to make it quiet i'd do that.

Suggestions?

[burkey001]

Looks good dude. RHD e30 s54 headers seem to be a bitch to install. I have to do everythung u say plus lift the motor up a bit

[frantic]

OP is back!

I finally got my headers after about 9 weeks from Ergen Motorsport in the UK. They are an absolute bastard to fit with the motor and everything in, have to slide the rack forward, remove the engine arm and mount, then slide in from underneath.

Got some V bands welded on so I can fit them on and then get the rest made up. Mine are dual 2.5", I'm going to keep it dual 2.5" to the back of the gearbox and probably merge into a single 3", seems everyone likes to keep the merge quite far down?

[diesekte]

Yeah I couldn't find one in stainless last night for some reason but now I just did

[digger]

use 2x2.25"---> 3" Y-pipe?

[diesekte]

Looking for some feedback here...this is my old exhaust. The reason I'm looking to more or less replicate it is because I already know it fits, so I can just order parts and bring them to the shop to be welded up. It was non mandrel bent mild steel with that shitty magnaflow Y pipe, then a vibrant resonator, then some ??? muffler that was on the car when I bought it that actually sounded really good. No cats obviously



Here is what I plan on doing...modified E46 M3 section 1 with an AR20 added and modification of the pipes as needed to bring them closer etc....then do 2.25" v-bands, 2.25 -> 2.5 expanders, with a 2.5 -> 3" Y pipe very forward in the "section 2", essentially where the H is on the stock e46 section 2.
From there, I would +/- add a 200 cell magnaflow cat - my previous setup had a little too much rasp for my liking when I would really get on it and I didn't always love the smell.
For muffler I was just thinking the vibrant 1047 or one of the variants unless anyone has any good recs.

[Staszek]

Will try dyno soon, my setup is dual 2.5" with 2 resonators and remus M3 e36 muffler, Euro headers.

Cant wait to see and hear this!! Its similar to what I am looking at doing.