Review: Stock F80 M3/M4 exhaust w/ Custom Midpipe Setup

[M3Teg]

So for the past few months I've been trying to find someone who did a custom exhaust setup on their m3/m4 and I was shocked that not many people attempted to do anything. There was one page by parky1215 that inspired me. He replaced secondary cats with high flow mufflers and replaced resonator with X-pipe.

There were a few other posts talking about possible setups but there were no videos or pics that I could find of people doing anything that didn't involve spending thousands on downpipes or exhaust or mid-pipes or some combination of those.

I know there's gonna be someone to comment this so I'm gonna just lay it out there. I know this is an M car and someone's gonna say why your gonna do a custom setup on an M. Why not buy one. I'm not looking to spend 1000s on an exhaust but I would definitely want something a bit louder.

I've been running open valve on my m3 dct since almost day one, a year ago. And it's great never had any complaint. Very minimal drone, nothing that bugs me at all. If I do get some drone that's what downshifting is for, and if I am revving I’m not gonna be revving in 7th or I’m not really gonna get anywhere.

So anyway what did I do?
I did a 2nd cat and resonator delete, replacing it both for an Magnaflow X pipe.
There were a few pages talking about it or people who got AA mid pipes or supersprint mid-pipes but they all had downpipes with mid pipes or had some after-market exhaust and mid mid pipes. I couldn't find any videos or pics or any info with straight mid-pipes and stock muffler and stock downpipes. So I decided to give it a go.

So this cost me $80 for Magna Flow X pipe 10791, $215 for labor so total 295. Just in my budget. lol
Yes this shop didn't take the muffler fully off but I've been going to this guy for years, I have referred 15-20 customers to this guy he's legit, does a top-notch job, good welds, no leaks. And most importantly he's an honest hard working guy.

My review on this setup
Let me start off by saying there is Zero drone cruising at any speed 7th gear. So it's actually pretty nice and sounds quiet cursing on the highway without getting too much attention. You hear pops and backfire sound at every shift, even low rpm. It is little raspy mid-range but it's not too bad at all. Also downshifting sounds AMAZING. I seem to like to the overall setup and am satisfied with my decision. I have showed it to a few of my friends in the area and they all said it definitely sounds better.

Let me know what you guys think. Here're a few pics and vids.

Video 1
A few revs 3-4k rpm
then drive shifting around 3k
Low rpm down shift at end
My neighbors really hate me cause of my drivebys, they are gonna hate me even more.

Video 2
Cold start
rev to 2.5-3k rpm

[AlbeeM]

Can't bet $295 for a bad ass exhaust sound. Nicely done! I want something like this, but I would prefer replacing the stock muffler at least and bigger tips.

I think I would go a similar route. I can't put myself up to dishing out $3K+ for a different exhaust note. Awesome job

[shawshank772]

Now I have to find a shop around me to do this. Thanks for sharing.

[BoosTonian]

Been looking at doing this. I just picked up a Meistershaft gt axleback and will be replacing the secondary cats with straight pipes (stock dps and resonator). Will see how this sounds. If I want more I'll do the xpipe as well.

So hard to find that "right" mix, especially since people like different things. Your setup definitely sounds deep and aggressive!

[M3Teg]

Originally Posted by AlbeeM

Can't bet $295 for a bad ass exhaust sound. Nicely done! I want something like this, but I would prefer replacing the stock muffler at least and bigger tips.

I think I would go a similar route. I can't put myself up to dishing out $3K+ for a different exhaust note. Awesome job

The reason i went with a mid-pipe not a muffler because with the valves open most of the air is bypassing the muffler and going straight out the back anyway. so it would have probably been the same loudness just with a different tone to it. but the cats and resonators seem very restrictive so i went that route.

Originally Posted by MThree_driver

Been looking at doing this. I just picked up a Meistershaft gt axleback and will be replacing the secondary cats with straight pipes (stock dps and resonator). Will see how this sounds. If I want more I'll do the xpipe as well.

So hard to find that "right" mix, especially since people like different things. Your setup definitely sounds deep and aggressive!

Would love to hear how that would sound with stock dps. Also most people with an muffler almost always have catless dps so its something different.

Yes thats pretty much exactly what i wanted.

[Sedan_Clan]

Thanks for posting this.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Very cool. How does it sound upshifting under load?

[M3Teg]

Originally Posted by NiceGuyEddie

Very cool. How does it sound upshifting under load?

i haven't gotten a chance to get to a open road where i am able to do a few pulls. i will try to do a few videos tonight.

[14SRT-15M4]

I had the same thing done also, but I also opted to have muffler open and take all of the insulation out... I don't think taking insulation out made it any louder, still no drone though. I love this setup, $300 for my too.

[Powaup]

Thanks for sharing. Have you heard a car with DPs only in person? And if so how does it compare?

[M3Teg]

Originally Posted by NiceGuyEddie

Very cool. How does it sound upshifting under load?

i dint get any videos, but up shifting at 6.6-7k you do get pops out of the exhaust.

Originally Posted by Powaup

Thanks for sharing. Have you heard a car with DPs only in person? And if so how does it compare?

i have, with dps you do get better flow b/c its closer to the turbos making them spool better, and you definitely hear the turbos a little better. but i decided to go a different route because it would be an issue with inspection, and id also need to go get a tune so i wouldn't get codes and etc.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Originally Posted by M3Teg

i dint get any videos, but up shifting at 6.6-7k you do get pops out of the exhaust.

Thank you. Does that sound good? In other words, is it a pop, or a "fart?" I am having trouble finding a video of any aftermarket exhaust that I think actually sounds good on the upshift, but to my ear, this one and AA are right up there in my book right now.

[M3Teg]

Originally Posted by NiceGuyEddie

Thank you. Does that sound good? In other words, is it a pop, or a "fart?" I am having trouble finding a video of any aftermarket exhaust that I think actually sounds good on the upshift, but to my ear, this one and AA are right up there in my book right now.

its real pops at high rpm shifts, the only time i do get a fart sound is mid rpm (3-4k) shifts 3rdto4th rd and 4thto5th gear. but i usually never shift 3-4 rpm those gears either i'm driving like a grandma or i'm driving hard

[Marth06]

Sounds good
I'm thinking of putting the cross pipe but leaving in secondary cats......
Anyone done this?
I wonder if it will sound different to your setup....

[F80Dreamer]

Thanks for posting, sounds great...I know it's a totally different car, but I put on an X Pipe on my '16 Mustang GT to replace the factory resonator and it just sounds incredible. Zero drone, and a nice deep sounding exhaust that is just slightly louder than stock. Perfect for what I was looking for.

[CaryTheLabelGuy]

I keep scraping my secondary cats on the ground coming out of my parking garage and am considering deleting them and the stock resonator and replace them this x-pipe. I have downpipes, so in sure it'll be crazy loud and raspy.

[Xtabi]

That sounds awesome!

[ZAGA_M3]

Did you have to drop the full exhaust to do this or no?
Good work

[an_DREW]

Originally Posted by CaryTheLabelGuy

I keep scraping my secondary cats on the ground coming out of my parking garage and am considering deleting them and the stock resonator and replace them this x-pipe. I have downpipes, so in sure it'll be crazy loud and raspy.

Don't do it. I tried the same setup and the rasp was extremely unbearable. Sounded like a Honda w a fart cannon. Currently running catless dp's/stock secondaries/x pipe in place of the resonator/ and locked open valves. Sounds much more agressive than stock and will definitely hold me over until either the BMS or maximum psi setups are released.

[ryank382]

sorry if i missed it but are the valves open or closed in the vids? Sounds amazing for 300$. I was thinking remus but for the money this might be a better solution. Thanks for sharing

[M3Teg]

Originally Posted by Marth06

Sounds good
I'm thinking of putting the cross pipe but leaving in secondary cats......
Anyone done this?
I wonder if it will sound different to your setup....

I thought about it but it wouldn't be much louder with no pops at all. in my opinion it wouldn't be much different then stock.

Originally Posted by F80Dreamer

Thanks for posting, sounds great...I know it's a totally different car, but I put on an X Pipe on my '16 Mustang GT to replace the factory resonator and it just sounds incredible. Zero drone, and a nice deep sounding exhaust that is just slightly louder than stock. Perfect for what I was looking for.

Exactly! its perfect. it actually sounds even better now since the weather got a little better completely no rasp the little bit that was there went away. I guess I pipes got broken in too.

Originally Posted by CaryTheLabelGuy

I keep scraping my secondary cats on the ground coming out of my parking garage and am considering deleting them and the stock resonator and replace them this x-pipe. I have downpipes, so in sure it'll be crazy loud and raspy.

I don't think that will sound to good. there would be a lot of rasp. With 2ndary cat delete and x pipe its like borderline with the rasp any more freeflow would be horrible

Originally Posted by gassian

Did you have to drop the full exhaust to do this or no?
Good work

Nope didn't drop it. but iv been going to this guy I went to for a while and I know many bmw owners who have gone to him and he does good work.

Originally Posted by an_DREW

Don't do it. I tried the same setup and the rasp was extremely unbearable. Sounded like a Honda w a fart cannon. Currently running catless dp's/stock secondaries/x pipe in place of the resonator/ and locked open valves. Sounds much more agressive than stock and will definitely hold me over until either the BMS or maximum psi setups are released.

That's a good setup Would love to hear how it sounds.

Originally Posted by ryank382

sorry if i missed it but are the valves open or closed in the vids? Sounds amazing for 300$. I was thinking remus but for the money this might be a better solution. Thanks for sharing

Valves OPEN. idk why but the car while valves are closed sounded even quieter then before the resonator and 2ndary cat delete. I don't know if that's me or its really quieter, iv had the valves open from week 1 of me having the car. Probably just me lol

[joeyb26]

sounds great, and this is exactly what i'm looking for too. A small improvement over the stock exhaust without paying thousands of dollars. you should come to the edgewater nj meet so we can hear it in person http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1234965