The exhaust thread - list your setup with a soundclip!

[Sean]

Hey guys,

So, I need to figure out what exhaust to get. I'm positive I want to go a universal muffler (since I have some custom shorties) and I'll most likely be doing either a straight 2.5" all the way back, or have a high-flow cat somewhere down there too. Not sure yet. But, most likely doing single 2.5" all teh way back.

Problem is, I'm really not sure what universal muffler to get to get the best sound. I think the best sound is loud at full throttle, some noise when not on it, and of course, a nice rumble at idle. I just don't want drone at high speeds, and when needbe, I have to have it quiet. I'll be making many road trips in excess of 500-600 miles in the next 3 years, and I need an exhaust that won't give me a headache.

So, I figured, what best way then to list your exhaust setup, and the sounds it makes, and your take on your setup.

Here's the format I think will work best:

Picture of your setup - on a lift, or just the muffler
Description of setup - custom piping? Custom cat? Headers? All this has an affect on sound!
Muffler information - in the case of universal mufflers, what'd you use - details! (dimensions, model, maker, etc etc)
Mini review - how does it sound? Drone on highway? Rumble at idle? DETAILS! Does it get respy and annoying? Does it SOUND like an Inline 6?
SOUND CLIP - if you can get a sound clip. I'd be happy to host it. Send it to me at shayes at onewest dot net!

Hopefully this will not only help me, but also myself. Lets try to keep this thread focused, some conversation is fine, but lets keep it to the exhaust systems! :D

Thanks guys!

PS: If you have an awesome exhaust system that would sound great with straight pipes and/or a highflow cat, PM me and let me know what it is. I relaly need to figure out which muffler will sound best!


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Exhaust setups added by me - found on the internet/made by other users

bmwm3n528 (Trevor) - 1989 325is
-Y-pipe from where OE catalytic converter was
-2.5" single from there on
-Catco catalytic converter
-22" Magnaflow resonator
-Magnaflow 14815 muffler w/ Tips

Sound clip: http://other.electrontek.com/r3vhost.../TevorsCar.wmv

[JRKOUPE]

x..awst.....

My goals were keep costs down, keep it good quality, appearance was not a big deal..and sound should be on loud side. I track this car mainly.......and I wanted to hear it w/ my helmet on and windows open.

I did a Magna flow cat....its small, light and SS... cost was like 50.00. I Y piped before cat, after my x pipe and run aluminized 2.5 into a Borla SS can...2.5 in/out( 150.00) Install was like 175.00 bucks or so..I forget. It turned out quieter than I hoped but loud enough for a daily driver..maybe too loud. Its strong and deep w/ a rasp at WOT, is subdued on maintenance throttle and mild resonances thru the rear parcel shelf. It has gotten a bit louder over the yr. I swear she pulls harder above 4500..I run a MarkD chip and nothing else.









If I were to do it again...Id go more aggressive on muffler and put a SS tailpipe on can rather than aluminized...no biggie. I love it.

If I download a clip to a digi camera then what?........usb cable to my mac and then?.....Im a 'tard bout this stuff.

[bmw332i]

My exhaust system is pretty custom all the way from headers back.

Here's a pic of the headers:


Pic of the custom x-pipe:


Pic of the Euro Metallic race cats:


Pic of the pipes back to the muffler:


The headers are Turner's shorty headers, but with a custom mandrel bend to clear the firewall. The whole system is 100% SS. The x-pipe is completely custom. The cats are "basically" Supersprint Euro e46 M3 cats. The muffler is a e30 M3 B&B TriFlow. The piping size is 3" if I remember correctly from headers to just past the cats, and then it goes down to 2.5". The gentlemen at Turner made several set-ups, and found that this configuration was best for the power I wanted from a custom exhaust. 10hp and 15ft/lb gain.

It wasn't cheap either, about $1k for the headers, $1,200 for the cats, and $700 for the muffler, plus whatever it cost for the piping, welding supplies, and labor for the preliminary tests. Somewhere around $3500-$4k for the whole thing, if I remember correctly.

As far as sound is concerned, all I can say is, the only time it's quiet is when the car is off. It's loud. There's some drone, but it's soo sexy, that when it's nice out, I ALWAYS turn the radio off, and roll down all the windows just to hear it. I love the sound of it going WOT under bridges, and when I'm in a parking garage, I can set off any car alarm just by going by the car and blipping the throttle. Of course, it's even louder now, as I had some serious intake and headwork done to the engine. So much so that when I start the car next to an alarmed car, I will set if off. The sound is not for the faint of heart, nor the seeker of that understated sleeper-sound.

This clip is of the exhaust before I had the headwork done to it:

[ed94r]

The exhaust on BMW332i's car is a real work of art. I've been immersed in exhaust work for the last week and I know 1st hand how a well designed system will make serious power..and sucker systems will rob it.

Recipe for a big $$ exhaust for Big Power Gains: BMW 332i FTW.

Ed

[bmw332i]

Thanks Ed, the guys at Turner did a first rate job. I don't work for them, but sometimes I feel like I do because of the high praise I sing for them and the work they've done on my car.

[erik325i]

Pic of the custom x-pipe:

What is the purpose of having an x-pipe?

-Erik

[MrK]

What is the purpose of having an x-pipe?

-Erik

Something about 'balancing the exhaust pulses'. One set of 3 exhaust pulses passing thru the x-pipe will induce scavenging for the second set of 3 to follow, ultimately smoothing out the exhaust flow and adding some hp.

[Nyne]

hmm, sounds interesting

[bmw332i]

Something about 'balancing the exhaust pulses'. One set of 3 exhaust pulses passing thru the x-pipe will induce scavenging for the second set of 3 to follow, ultimately smoothing out the exhaust flow and adding some hp.

What he said. I'm no expert on exhaust theory or mechanics, but that's the general jist of it.

[Sean]

That exhaust setup is BEAUTIFUL!!

If I did dual 3" all the way back, it'd be waaay too much for my motor. lol I'm going to doa single 2.5"