86 325 ES 2.7 Exhaust questions recommendations

[oreilly]

So I'm looking to make the ES sound better. The current exhaust is all stock and since lowering the car the part under the axle has been hit a couple of times. I really want a nice thoaty sound under hard acceleration and little to no drone when doing 70mph on the highway.

I saw some recommendations for the Magnaflow 14816 which is 14"x5"x8". Should I step up the overall piping to 2.5 from the cat-back?

Would the Magnaflow only, add the sound I want? Think a Vw VR6 with exhaust work!

I'm sure this has been covered but I spent the afternoon searching and came up with little to nothing.
Thanks,
Mike

[Mike30e]

I just put a Supersprint on my 86 325e, it's the model for the i so I had to put on a y-pipe, fits great and sounds very nice. Cat-back, no resonator, gives off a little rumble down low and I love the sound at wot. A little louder down low but no drone to speak of, and up high it's a great sound. Well made, excellent fit, does have the throaty sound, much better sound than the stock eta set up...

[urbancynic]

My 86 es has basically a stock system until the muffler. At the muffler it goes in as one, but has dual exits just like the "i" cars.

It has a nice sound to it and I like it. No drone at speed, but on acceleration and slow speed/rpm seems to have a good throaty sound.

[MR 325]

If you're going with new piping, go with single 2.25". Usually a Magnaflow will sound great on these engines.

[Van Westervelt]

I just put a Supersprint on my 86 325e, it's the model for the i so I had to put on a y-pipe, fits great and sounds very nice. Cat-back, no resonator, gives off a little rumble down low and I love the sound at wot. A little louder down low but no drone to speak of, and up high it's a great sound. Well made, excellent fit, does have the throaty sound, much better sound than the stock eta set up...

Did you buy this from Levent? I wanted that one if so! It has dual angled pipes, and I have a Supersprint Magnum with dual straights on my eta.

[Jand3rson]

If you're going with new piping, go with single 2.25". Usually a Magnaflow will sound great on these engines.

I had a Magnaflow on my 325es (2.7L M20), and it sounded great. Very throaty and a good growl down low, and it howled up high.

[Mike30e]

Did you buy this from Levent? I wanted that one if so! It has dual angled pipes, and I have a Supersprint Magnum with dual straights on my eta.

Yep, that's the one! I love it. It has the angled pipes but the tips were DTM so I had those cut off and I have a pair of nice double wall ss tips on order from Stainless Works.

[oreilly]

Thanks guys! Any input as too the model Magnaflow I should go with. I was always told to get the biggest muffler I could fit in the space.

[hotghias]

I welded a 2-1/4" thrush turbo muffler on mine when my old muffler rusted out. It was $23 at Advance Auto. Sounds alright for a cheap fix.
BTW the harbor freight tailpipe expander tool is a piece of doodoo - it broke before expanding anything so I returned it.

[Fleksta]

I have the 14816 welded on after the resonator. It drones pretty bad on hills and low RPM, but sounds great over 2k. Still, I'm debating putting a stock muffler back on as the noise gets old quick.