M20 Exhaust too loud

[ryan.ororke]

I know there are many threads like this one, but none quite getting me a good answer. I have headers, 3" pipe, a high flow cat and a magnaflow muffler that is nearly straight through, you can see light through it if you hold it up. M20 engine w/ cam and some other unknown modifications. I love the sound that it makes, but it is too loud. An hour long drive gives me a headache, I have to nearly yell on the highway, and ever since my engine/trans/exhaust swap, I havent let my 3yr old daughter ride in the car, for good reason.

I still want a performance sound, I dont want to go back to stock. I am on a bit of a budget as well, with another kid on the way. I have heard plenty good about Stromung exhaust, but they seem a bit expensive for me at the moment, maybe somewhere down the road. With my current setup, I also have ground clearance issues near the rear axle.

Ive done many hours of research here on r3v and elsewhere, and I find that there are tons of different opinions, as expected. I guess what I need to know is should I use my current parts and get a different muffler, or just sell my whole exhaust setup and start over? I would prefer to keep my current parts (being the high flow cat and headers,) but Im just so lost in the sea of opinions to know what to do.

Any help would be appreciated.

[3vilE30]

Any videos? Been dying too hear some m20 through 3in pipes.
As for your problem get a chambered muffler. Either put it behind your existing muffler or replace it. Also look at Spintech mufflers they're pretty cheap and offer better performance.

Been in an iS with 2.5in piping, resonator and stock manifolds out to a older chambered magnaflow I'm surprised how loud it still is outside but quiet enough to listen to music a low volume.

[ryan.ororke]

No videos at the time, but I could probably get one in the next few days or so. I figured a different muffler would make a difference, just didnt know how much of a difference it would be.

[e30onBBSs]

I'm not sure how effective they really are but some cars come with resonators for a reason, maybe check that out. http://exhaustsystemsguide.com/exhaust-resonator/ This says they really cut back on the drone which could be part of problem?

[digger]

need a big resonator between cat and muffler, and muffler should be a s a big a volume as will fit if not already. also 2.5" will be a little better than 3" but you can get it quieter with 3"

the issue with fitting a resonator is the ground clearance

[ryan.ororke]

I already have an issue with ground clearance, and the muffler I have is already too long, but nearly straight through so its loud. I'm thinking my quick fix would be a new muffler, but most of the muffler brands I've seen recommended I've only found sold as cat back setups.

[digger]

I already have an issue with ground clearance, and the muffler I have is already too long, but nearly straight through so its loud. I'm thinking my quick fix would be a new muffler, but most of the muffler brands I've seen recommended I've only found sold as cat back setups.

i have a straight through muffler and its not loud, but i have two resonators in parallel as its a dual pipe. with more resonator volume/length mine would be even quieter as mine are quite short

[15Michaeljoseph]

M20 Exhaust too loud

leave it loud. screw the neighbors. they're probably democrats anyway.

[ryan.ororke]

As much as I laughed at that, I don't care about the neighbors. I care about my kids hearing, if I ever let her ride in my car.

[3vilE30]

You could get a long glasspack, it should quiet things down. Do you have oval tube style muffler or a typical square one? I'd go with what digger said. Resonators do quiet things down and reduce drone. Look up aero exhaust a lot of e46 m3 guys use their stuff.
If you want quiet quiet get an oem stock type muffler from a shop.
I have 2.5in piping from stock manifolds to a ca legal cat to a flow master hush power and to an oem stock type muffler. It's so quiet the valvetrain is louder

[ryan.ororke]

I do currently have a oval muffler, but I have been looking into resonators and new mufflers. Im not looking for too quiet, just quiet enough that it doesn't make my ears ring after my 30 min drive home. I will look into that brand though, its been pretty tough searching for specific mufflers, I never know where to start.

[ryan.ororke]

Any videos? Been dying too hear some m20 through 3in pipes.

Tried to get you a video today, but there was too much trunk rattle (don't exactly feel safe just putting my phone on the ground as I'm in the car) to hear the exhaust. I'll work on it though.