3" turbo exhaust is TOO LOUD :(

[Wiglaf]

So I've been running a 3" setup. Old muffler was a straight-thru glasspack with most of the glass actually burned out from previous tuning fails. It was too loud so I bought a new can off summit.

Flowmaster 40. It's a 3 chamber design, should be quieter, right? Nope. It's even louder. Too loud and drones badly.

At this point I'm feeling convinced that all "performance" mufflers are unacceptably loud. There's no logical way to compare them either.. on flow rates or decibels. What a shit industry. How the fuck am I supposed to know if it will be quiet enough? This trial and error method is bullshit. Even worse than clutches being all "Stage II" and "stage III" instead of just giving holding torque numbers.

I don't care if it's a stock truck exhaust off ebay. I need a cheap setup that will be QUIET. This car is my daily driver now.
And no, I'm not going to notice if the flow reduces and I lose 5HP off the top end. Plenty cars have no problem putting out 300+HP and being quiet about it.

Suggestions please.
Thank you.

[ForcedFirebird]

Use 2 mufflers or a decent resonator and muffler. Make the first muffler the "resonator". I try not to buy online and actually go into the stores and peak inside them. The quietest ones will have the inlet/outlet offset from each other and glass in them, the louder ones will have metal chambers, or be straight through with glass.

[MR 325]

Flowmaster 40 series is a 2 chamber actually. But no, 3" doesn't have to be loud. My car has straight 3" exhaust to a Magnaflow muffler. I'm not sure on the part number but it's one of the larger ones. Now my car is not whisper quiet but it's very manageable. Much quieter than my 323i which has smaller exhaust, a cat, and a similar Magnaflow.

If I were you I'd consider a Dynomax Super Turbo muffler or a Magnaflow XL which is chambered.

[Wiglaf]

my bad it's a 50 not a 40.
this is what I bought:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FLO-8430502

currently there is no resonator, just a little high-flow cat

[haggardfab]

just go to the parts store and buy a 3" oem replacement muffler.. you cant buy a "performance" muffler and expect it to be quiet, thats the point of them.. to be loud..

[Wiglaf]

is it? plenty of stock cars out there have no problem breathing 500HP of air. the POINT isn't to be loud, it's to flow well.

[MR 325]

I think the Dynomax Super Turbo is going to suit your needs well. They still flow well.

[Wiglaf]

Thank you, I'll keep it in mind. Just got snow tires so just going to have to put up with this for a few months until i can afford to mess w/ this again.

[mitchlikesbikes]

consider the size and number of restrictions of a stock exhaust, then consider the added output of a turbo motor with only a performance muffler, no cats or resonator, and large tubing that you're running. why would you expect that to be quiet?

if it were me i would try to retrofit an OEM type muffler from a "quiet" high performance car.

..but then again, if it were me i wouldn't be dailying a high horsepower turbo e30, especially in the winter, so a loud exhaust wouldn't be a huge concern.

anyway if all else fails: