Exhaust Shopping Frustration

[aTron12]

Ok, so I've done a bunch of research and I am clear on all of my options for mufflers. For some reason, I can't seem to find any straight answers on how to choose best even though I know exactly what Volume/Sound I am looking for. Just a deep note at idle and tasteful volume when driving. No setting off of car alarms or headaches after a 20 minute highway drive. I like to hear my stereo (thanks Luke!). My goal is to keep this under $500 which should be enough to have a decent sounding exhaust.

I love the sound of the Magnaflow but everyone reports that they are too loud. It also seems like the Ireland Engineering exhaust might be a good option too but I can't find a good example of how they sound.

Also, I just talked with a guy at the local muffler shop and he said that my cat has a resonator in it so I shouldn't need one which sounds contrary to what most of the guys on this forum are doing. ....and from what I understand after reading quite a few threads, resonators don't really lower the volume, they just affect the tone.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Anyone have the IE exhaust or a quieted down Magnaflow? Any other options?

[Justin B]

vibrant mufflers

[Albuquerque30]

I'm getting a vibrant 1149 in a couple weeks. I've gone back and forth with magnaflow and vibrant and I've grown to like the vibrant on a I6 more than the magnaflow.

Plus, it's a little cheaper and black. (For some reason, I don't like stainless over black exhausts.)

[blueapplesoda]

Stromung Custom FTW. I think it was like $3-400 for the muffler?

Derek
DedericMS

[bmwstephen]

ireland engineering sounds stock

[AnimalE30]

ireland engineering sounds stock

I liked mine when I had it. Was pissed when I first got it because I couldn't hear a thing, but after a couple weeks it opened up and sounded great.

Don't bother with buying from IE, you can find the same ones on ebay for 150 bucks.

[aTron12]

There aren't any clips of the IE exhaust on youtube. Can you describe how it sounds? I'm thinking about a glasspack with Magnaflow but it seems like the IE would achieve the same thing without having to buy two mufflers.

I liked mine when I had it. Was pissed when I first got it because I couldn't hear a thing, but after a couple weeks it opened up and sounded great.

Don't bother with buying from IE, you can find the same ones on ebay for 150 bucks.

[bmwstephen]

I personally like IE because it has nice Stainless steel construction. Very free flowing and has a slightly aggressive throaty sound while being humble like OEM. Not to mention it weights 20lbs less. It was a great replacement over my ansa OEM-spec one that rusted like a mofo.

if you are ever around the south part of east bay area (union city/fremont area), I can let you hear my exhaust.

And if you like it, I can even sell it to you because I have plans on actually purchasing a real OEM Exhaust from eberspaecher (I'm a purist)

[aTron12]

I'm into that. Getting a load of work done this week so maybe next weekend. I'll send you a PM..

adam

I personally like IE because it has nice Stainless steel construction. Very free flowing and has a slightly aggressive throaty sound while being humble like OEM. Not to mention it weights 20lbs less. It was a great replacement over my ansa OEM-spec one that rusted like a mofo.

if you are ever around the south part of east bay area (union city/fremont area), I can let you hear my exhaust.

And if you like it, I can even sell it to you because I have plans on actually purchasing a real OEM Exhaust from eberspaecher (I'm a purist)

[bmwstephen]

I'm into that. Getting a load of work done this week so maybe next weekend. I'll send you a PM..

adam

cool no hurry. I encourage you to take your time and do your research because here you see me ending up with an IE/ebay exhaust because I was desperate to get a replacement. Nothing wrong with it of course and its the next best thing between an OEM exhaust and a true aftermarket one but not my taste considering it was money I could've spent towards the eberspaecher one.

[AnimalE30]

There aren't any clips of the IE exhaust on youtube. Can you describe how it sounds? I'm thinking about a glasspack with Magnaflow but it seems like the IE would achieve the same thing without having to buy two mufflers.

A glass pack with a magniflow will be very loud. There would be zero baffles in that setup. That's what I'm about to do with my m50 swap tho : p

The IE has baffles, and will keep it closer to oem. However, my cats were completely shot so I pretty much had straight pipes to the muffler. It sound throaty with no rasp. For 150 you can't go wrong, it will bolt right up to you cats.

[aTron12]

A glass pack with a magniflow will be very loud. There would be zero baffles in that setup. That's what I'm about to do with my m50 swap tho : p

The IE has baffles, and will keep it closer to oem. However, my cats were completely shot so I pretty much had straight pipes to the muffler. It sound throaty with no rasp. For 150 you can't go wrong, it will bolt right up to you cats.

Sounds like the IE is definitely between stock and aftermarket which isn't such a bad thing. I'll keep my research going before deciding on that-- but it seems like a safe step into aftermarket.

This must lower the db level of the Magnaflow. I've read so many threads lately that I can't find the comment but I do remember someone on R3v saying that they used this in conjunction with a 14815 and it was pretty quiet. Any thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Ultra-Quiet-Resonator-Polished/dp/B002TBAWBU

Adam

[AnimalE30]

Sounds like the IE is definitely between stock and aftermarket which isn't such a bad thing. I'll keep my research going before deciding on that-- but it seems like a safe step into aftermarket.

This must lower the db level of the Magnaflow. I've read so many threads lately that I can't find the comment but I do remember someone on R3v saying that they used this in conjunction with a 14815 and it was pretty quiet. Any thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-Ultra-Quiet-Resonator-Polished/dp/B002TBAWBU

Adam

A resonator will help get rid of rasp, but it's still straight through with no baffles. It will sound very good with the 14815, but should be on the loud side. I'm going to run a 22in magniflow resonator with the 14815, should sound tits. Also the 14815 is a beautiful pc, I can't wait to get it mounted.

[aTron12]

Doesn't this sound like it would lower the DB level of the Magna?

"Vibrant resonators feature a True Straight Through perforated core, surrounded by premium multi-layer sound absorption materials to dampen noise levels without restricting exhaust flow. The Ultra Quiet Resonators feature a larger sound chamber, which provides better sound dampening than the standard bottle resonator, and eliminates the rifling noise common with 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder engines equipped with straight through performance exhaust systems."

Also, if not then what's the best way to do this? And yes! I can't wait to get that 14815 installed!

Adam

[AnimalE30]

Doesn't this sound like it would lower the DB level of the Magna?

"Vibrant resonators feature a True Straight Through perforated core, surrounded by premium multi-layer sound absorption materials to dampen noise levels without restricting exhaust flow. The Ultra Quiet Resonators feature a larger sound chamber, which provides better sound dampening than the standard bottle resonator, and eliminates the rifling noise common with 6 cylinder and 8 cylinder engines equipped with straight through performance exhaust systems."

Also, if not then what's the best way to do this? And yes! I can't wait to get that 14815 installed!

Adam

Don't get me wrong, the resonator will quite it down a bit, but it will still be a straight through exhaust. It's really up to what you think is loud I guess lol. There are plenty of set ups on YouTube, search BMW 14815 and you'll be able to find set ups with the stock cat + muffler only and set ups with resonator + muffler only.

If you want to be heard go with a resonator + 14815. If you want to be a couple clicks up from stock, go with IE plus stock cat.

Also keep in mind the longer the resonator the quieter it will be. I went with the 22in magniflow over the vibrant because it was cheaper and will quiet my setup more.