Should I do it???

[BMWM5LOVER]

I realize this should probably go in the Tech section, but it may take a while to be read/answered so I thought I'd ask here for a more quicker response.
Here is the situation:
I have a 1990 325iS with a rediculously rusted exhaust. At the moment it is broken in about 3 places, and has many holes in the muffler. Basically nothing past the cat. The reason I neglected it so much is because I wanted to do other things(rims, splitter, lapping days, etc) prior to the exhaust which was slowly detiriorating. Anyways, after having driven with the annoying 'race car' like sounds emmited for about 5-6 months now, I can;t take it. I'm only 19, I should BE into loud exhausts, but it's gotten to the point where I can't take it, so I picked up a very nice full E30 stock i exhaust. here are my questions:
I wouldn't mind( I guess) a bit of a sound, but my main concern are power gains. If I were to remove the cat/resonator, and runsame or slightly thicker piping to replace it into the muffler, would I gain or loose anything, and where would the gain/loss be? Secondly, how much louder would it be?
I talked to someone at a meet, who said I would notice some more 'pep' to it, is that true, or is it being optimistic? My car for now is a stock engined iS with an M30 AFM, M52 injectors, and a tunerworks chip.
Thanks guys, looking forward to the responses.

[DarkWing6]

I think you should get better performance out of it without the cat in there and it will sound louder, but I don't think obnoxious loud.

[Jand3rson]

It will definitely be louder without the cat. Not only that, if you do want to remove the cat, you're either going to have to do it yourself, or find a friend that welds to cut it out and weld in new pipes, as NO muffler shop will do it, since it's illegal (in respect to emission standards). If you're really hellbent on getting rid of the stock cat, go with an aftermarket hi-flow, such as Magnaflow (they make universal hi-flow cats).

[BMWM5LOVER]

Eurospeed, I was thinking of a LEGO type thing. I still have to do emissions for a couple more years, so I thought of replacing the whole csection with piping but not welding, rather using joints and big clamps so that I can put it back in when needed.

[e30Matt]

You'll pick up a slight gain to improved flow, but that's about it.

Slightly o/t, but I'm syked b/c we only have to deal with emissions here for another 2 months. January 1, 2006 is the end of emissions testing for OBD-I and previous cars here. :)

[e30evolution]

exhaust shops will make you a test pipe that will eliminate the cat... they will not install it unless the car is trailered out

[jmalixi]

Exhaust

I am way older than you and so I have more reason for getting tired of my exhaust :-) I have a fairly new custom exhaust (Magnaflow muffler, 2.25" stainless steel pipe from the cat, and a resonator that reduces the famous Magnaflow rumble) used for 3K kms. It sounds really nice and I get a lot of compliments from younger guys but my wife doesn't appreciate it's sporty sound (my 12 year old son loves it though).

Long story short, I'd like to trade it for the E30 stock exhaust you recently picked up. Is it new?

[BMWM5LOVER]

^^ not interested man. I want to get AWAY from the noise(unless it's minimal). Plus, Im a stickler for dual in, nothing but that

[BMWM5LOVER]

On topic, I should hopefully be doing this, if I get the time, before I store the car, if not, I will work on it throughout the winter, and put it all together in the spring when it comes back out. Should be nice....
Thanx guys.