Car in question: 1990 325i, manual transmission
Today was the day my stock exhaust decided to retire. I knew it was coming, but didn't think it would be so soon. While the timing isn't the greatest (just dropped some heavy coin on suspension stuff), it's just as well. A month or so ago I started looking around at what was available, researching, listening to sound clips, watching videos, comparing prices, etc and discovered that the mufflers I liked were priced much higher than I could ever justify.
After reviewing all of my options, I think I'd like to go the route of a custom Magnaflow setup. The clips I've found with E30's running Magnaflow components seem to have an acceptable level of sound, the pricing is within reason, and the product is readily available. Now, I know trying to get an idea of what a custom setup is going to sound like or how it will perform is rather difficult so I won't ask those questions, but I do have a few you guys might be able to answer from experience or general exhaust knowledge.
Please forgive me if these questions seem dumb in any way. I usually buy a pre-fabbed system so this is all new to me. Here are the components I am proposing to use:
-Magnaflow Muffler 14568
-Magnaflow 36008 Catalytic Converter
-Magnaflow Muffler 14468 (as a pre muffler/center section to reduce noise)
Questions:
1. Catalytic Converter: My current one is toast. It broke up into little pieces and plugged the muffler so it needs to be replaced. Since I live in California, I have to have one and I have to have the one for CA emissions. I had a look on the Magnaflow site and the cat it pulled up for my car had a dual inlet, single outlet. My current cat has dual inlet, dual outlet. The cat I listed above is supposed to be for a 1989 535i and has the dual in, dual out like what I have now. Can anyone see why this wouldn't work or be allowed?
2. Main Muffler: I read and saw clips of guys from the forums running the 14815, 14816, and the 11378. Aside from the differences in pipe diameter and tips, those three boxes are all quite a bit smaller than the OE unit. Is there a reason people choose these dimensionally smaller boxes to the larger one I have listed above (14568). Though lacking experience, my logic says to try for the closest thing to stock. Are the smaller ones better for sound?
3. Center Box: This one is a huge unknown for me. The last performance exhaust system I bought was a S/S Jetex for my GTI. It had a resonator, a small muffler, and then a larger muffler. I liked the quiet yet unrestricted qualities it had. However, with the bimmer the engine, configuration, and number of pipes is quite different so following the model of my old Jetex system may not be the way to go. My main reason for wanting a center box or some kind of resonator is to quiet things down as much as possible. I really don't want drone or an exhaust note that tells cops across town I might be headed in their direction. I did a little reading about the difference between a muffler and a resonator, but after visiting the Magnaflow site and seeing what looks like resonators being referred to as mufflers, I've become confused. Also, exactly what sort of resonator do you use for a dual exhaust setup? Do you buy two resonators, one for each pipe? Will adding the center section or resonators restrict the flow too much?
Priorities for the setup are in this order:
1. Cost
2. Subtle-moderate sound qualities (excluding WOT. NO DRONE!!!)
3. Performance/flow
Thanks in advance for any help you guys want to throw out there.:D
Today was the day my stock exhaust decided to retire. I knew it was coming, but didn't think it would be so soon. While the timing isn't the greatest (just dropped some heavy coin on suspension stuff), it's just as well. A month or so ago I started looking around at what was available, researching, listening to sound clips, watching videos, comparing prices, etc and discovered that the mufflers I liked were priced much higher than I could ever justify.
After reviewing all of my options, I think I'd like to go the route of a custom Magnaflow setup. The clips I've found with E30's running Magnaflow components seem to have an acceptable level of sound, the pricing is within reason, and the product is readily available. Now, I know trying to get an idea of what a custom setup is going to sound like or how it will perform is rather difficult so I won't ask those questions, but I do have a few you guys might be able to answer from experience or general exhaust knowledge.
Please forgive me if these questions seem dumb in any way. I usually buy a pre-fabbed system so this is all new to me. Here are the components I am proposing to use:
-Magnaflow Muffler 14568
-Magnaflow 36008 Catalytic Converter
-Magnaflow Muffler 14468 (as a pre muffler/center section to reduce noise)
Questions:
1. Catalytic Converter: My current one is toast. It broke up into little pieces and plugged the muffler so it needs to be replaced. Since I live in California, I have to have one and I have to have the one for CA emissions. I had a look on the Magnaflow site and the cat it pulled up for my car had a dual inlet, single outlet. My current cat has dual inlet, dual outlet. The cat I listed above is supposed to be for a 1989 535i and has the dual in, dual out like what I have now. Can anyone see why this wouldn't work or be allowed?
2. Main Muffler: I read and saw clips of guys from the forums running the 14815, 14816, and the 11378. Aside from the differences in pipe diameter and tips, those three boxes are all quite a bit smaller than the OE unit. Is there a reason people choose these dimensionally smaller boxes to the larger one I have listed above (14568). Though lacking experience, my logic says to try for the closest thing to stock. Are the smaller ones better for sound?
3. Center Box: This one is a huge unknown for me. The last performance exhaust system I bought was a S/S Jetex for my GTI. It had a resonator, a small muffler, and then a larger muffler. I liked the quiet yet unrestricted qualities it had. However, with the bimmer the engine, configuration, and number of pipes is quite different so following the model of my old Jetex system may not be the way to go. My main reason for wanting a center box or some kind of resonator is to quiet things down as much as possible. I really don't want drone or an exhaust note that tells cops across town I might be headed in their direction. I did a little reading about the difference between a muffler and a resonator, but after visiting the Magnaflow site and seeing what looks like resonators being referred to as mufflers, I've become confused. Also, exactly what sort of resonator do you use for a dual exhaust setup? Do you buy two resonators, one for each pipe? Will adding the center section or resonators restrict the flow too much?
Priorities for the setup are in this order:
1. Cost
2. Subtle-moderate sound qualities (excluding WOT. NO DRONE!!!)
3. Performance/flow
Thanks in advance for any help you guys want to throw out there.:D
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