Can the exhaust note be improved?

[Lifted07Duramax]

I hear the stock exhaust isn’t very Likeable and I’ve heard it on the internet and yes doesn’t sound the greatest.

Can anything be done to make it sound like a beast?

Straight pipe? Aftermarket exhaust? And if not why does it sound so bad?

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by Lifted07Duramax

I hear the stock exhaust isn’t very Likeable and I’ve heard it on the internet and yes doesn’t sound the greatest.

Can anything be done to make it sound like a beast?

Straight pipe? Aftermarket exhaust? And if not why does it sound so bad?

Oh boy another exhaust thread

Listen in-person to get a better idea. Videos don’t capture sound very well.

[Vegetable]

I have never heard of anyone not liking the sound of the S55. Everyone (especially that dangerously obese guy from The Smoking Tire) loves the sound of our cars.

[Lifted07Duramax]

Originally Posted by aBMWfan

Oh boy another exhaust thread

Listen in-person to get a better idea. Videos don’t capture sound very well.

I will say it does sound like poop on YouTube and the competition does not 🤷🏼*♂️

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by Lifted07Duramax

I will say it does sound like poop on YouTube and the competition does not *

Having done 10 exhausts on car, although I'm sure there will be some that disagree.

Three things that fix the sound (best results if done all at once)

1. AA Midpipe
2. Titanium Muffler
3. Downpipes (High Flow Catted or Catless)

Best non competition exhaust I've heard so far:

But again video doesn't capture it like our ears do

[Lifted07Duramax]

I have to say that video does sound a lot better than most. And that’s with the combo you listed above? What titanium muffler are you talking aboit

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by Lifted07Duramax

I have to say that video does sound a lot better than most. And that’s with the combo you listed above? What titanium muffler are you talking aboit

This one has the M Performance Muffler, connected to AA midpipe, and AR High Flow Cat Downpipes, not tuned.

[EB89]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

I have never heard of anyone not liking the sound of the S55. Everyone (especially that dangerously obese guy from The Smoking Tire) loves the sound of our cars.

You have never heard of anyone disliking the S55 exhaust? Really?

Not sure where you have been but it’s universally considered to be the worst sound M car ever made.

[EB89]

Originally Posted by aBMWfan

Having done 10 exhausts on car, although I'm sure there will be some that disagree.

Three things that fix the sound (best results if done all at once)

1. AA Midpipe
2. Titanium Muffler
3. Downpipes (High Flow Catted or Catless)

Best non competition exhaust I've heard so far:

But again video doesn't capture it like our ears do

That does sound good, the part of the exhaust I hate the most on other S55s is that rattle you hear right before an up shift,

[kyrix1st]

Issue with the S55 is it sounds like a choked S54.

I personally like it because of the distinct sound, but in terms of sound refinement N55 of M2 wins hands down.

[ReddsektoR]

Originally Posted by PureModelsOnly

What? This is news to me as well.

Count me in as WOW wtf?! Everyone knows the stock exhaust is shit

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by EB89

You have never heard of anyone disliking the S55 exhaust? Really?

Not sure where you have been but it’s universally considered to be the worst sound M car ever made.

Your sarcasm detector must be malfunctioning


But anyway, no, there is nothing you can do to make it sound better.

[shay2nak]

Soon to be released Evolve exhaust sounds great and saves 33lbs.

[AutoTalent]

Anything with the single mid pipe is good, the design reduces majority of the rasp:

[ssgm1x]

how do u mate up the M Performance exhaust with AA Midpipe without hacking it together ?

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by ssgm1x

how do u mate up the M Performance exhaust with AA Midpipe without hacking it together ?

Please see the attached image:

You need to cut where the red lines are. Easily reversible.

If you don't feel like doing this to a new MPE, I suggest you buy a used one.

[behindthen0thing]

Originally Posted by AutoTalent

Anything with the single mid pipe is good, the design reduces majority of the rasp:

If one were to drive like that in a German neighborhood you'd literally have multiple people making rude gestures at you and possibly calling the police.
I thought it was funny because the girl in the video didn't even react to the car at all.

Anyway that car sounds awesome.

I've got an AA midpipe waiting for me to install it. Catless downpipes and stock exhaust. I hope it sounds great!

The I've had a few people tell me that my car sounds like it's broken because it backfires and such. old timers hate that sort of thing. funny.
You get used to the crappy sound to a point, but there are some RPM's and loads that make the car sound great! Also there is a certain range that reminds me of a 90's honda civic with the coffee can exhaust.
I'm hoping the AA pipe will solve that problem.

[Schultz28]

Originally Posted by EB89

You have never heard of anyone disliking the S55 exhaust? Really?

Not sure where you have been but it’s universally considered to be the worst sound M car ever made.

S54 easily takes the title of worst sounding M car ever made. Sounds like a Honda Civic with marbles in the exhaust.

I personally think the s55 sounds decent, given the right exhaust setup.... obviously it’s no s65 or any of the BMW V8’s for that matter. But, for an I-6 it’s not bad.

[DanMpower]

Originally Posted by Schultz28

S54 easily takes the title of worst sounding M car ever made. Sounds like a Honda Civic with marbles in the exhaust.

I personally think the s55 sounds decent, given the right exhaust setup.... obviously it’s no s65 or any of the BMW V8’s for that matter. But, for an I-6 it’s not bad.

THIS, the S54 hands down is the worst sounding M car in my opinion. I distinctively remember a time when I heard a car coming up, and I swear to god I thought it was the worst sounding Civic I have ever heard, turned out to be a modded E46 M3.

BMW M cars in general never really sounded THAT good to me, the only M car that has ever tickled my pickle is the S85 V10 M5. Now that baby sounds dreamy, every other car from M division is mediocre sounding, yes even the S65 is only slightly above average for a V8. I also hate the way all AMG cars sound as well, that low bassy monotonic sound they produce is not my thing yet a lot of the press likes it.

I like engines that sound unique, higher pitch, more exotic. I think the Audi RS3 sounds great, LFA, Huracans, Carrera GT, GT3s are all amazing. The S55 may not sound like a V8 or V10 but I think it is very unique sounding and has a lot of character, it also screams with the right exhaust setup. I hated the way it sounded when I watched all the YouTube videos but owning one in person the sound really grows on you. In fact, I think I may actually like the way it sounds a tiny bit more than my E92 M3. *runs and hides*

[allinon72]

The exhaust doesn't stand out like it would on some cars, but the sound IN PERSON is not nearly as bad as it's made out to be. If I hadn't been on this forum, I wouldn't think twice about it in stock form. Certain group-think sentiments on a forum spread like wildfire and people spread it around just because they've heard it from others. Just like you'd think every Fxx car is going to imminently blow up from a failed crank hub, if you rely solely on the echochamber of an internet forum.

[EricSMG]

Sigh.

Stop listening to YouTube. That's not what these cars sound like from the driver's seat which is all that matters.

[joooiiiiii]

Welllll with the appreciation and understanding of the engine plus turbo setup might help me love the exhaust note so much on the F80. I've heard it on the track and high pitched screaming at the top of the rev range and she sure does sing.