Equal-length exhaust discussion: new S55 sounds

RugbyBro · 04-26-2021, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBobby Jr

An MPE muffler can still be considered the stock muffler, as that is what some cars came optioned with from the factory. I took a look at his IG page and just to confirm, it looks to be a MPE muffler as shown by the exhaust tips and the muffler appearing to be tucked in, unlike the non-comp/comp/cs muffler. I also noticed from the sound, since the MPE muffler is Titanium. It gives off a different tone, more of like a high pitched sound which I really like. Too much titanium on the exhaust system will frankly sound terrible, but having the muffler be titanium gives off a nice touch.

You're right that you could option MPE as an add-on!

For this guy though, I think he really just has the stock muffler and put on carbon tips to match his diffuser. I noticed in the video, it looked like he had the signature BMW muffler "udder" hanging down (although less noticeable due to the diffuser). If you look at the following photo from his insta, you can see the "udder" there and its design grooves/channels (it's dark but you can just make it out). MPE would be tucked up & away a little more and be smooth (no groves or channels) - with that diffuser I doubt you would be able to see it.

McBobby Jr · 04-26-2021, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBobby Jr

An MPE muffler can still be considered the stock muffler, as that is what some cars came optioned with from the factory. I took a look at his IG page and just to confirm, it looks to be a MPE muffler as shown by the exhaust tips and the muffler appearing to be tucked in, unlike the non-comp/comp/cs muffler. I also noticed from the sound, since the MPE muffler is Titanium. It gives off a different tone, more of like a high pitched sound which I really like. Too much titanium on the exhaust system will frankly sound terrible, but having the muffler be titanium gives off a nice touch.

You're right that you could option MPE as an add-on!

For this guy though, I think he really just has the stock muffler and put on carbon tips to match his diffuser. I noticed in the video, it looked like he had the signature BMW muffler "udder" hanging down (although less noticeable due to the diffuser). If you look at the following photo from his insta, you can see the "udder" there and its design grooves/channels (it's dark but you can just make it out). MPE would be tucked up & away a little more and be smooth (no groves or channels) - with that diffuser I doubt you would be able to see it.

Dude, good eye. I tried to look pretty for the muffler but really couldn't see it. Even just looking at the photo you posted, you have to really look to spot the ugly oem muffler.

RugbyBro · 04-26-2021, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBobby Jr

Dude, good eye. I tried to look pretty for the muffler but really couldn't see it. Even just looking at the photo you posted, you have to really look to spot the ugly oem muffler.

Hehe at least we don't have M2C levels of udder going on. Also, a simple coat of black VHT header paint really makes a massive impact in drawing your eye away from the muffler

Kilabyte · 04-26-2021, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBobby Jr

An MPE muffler can still be considered the stock muffler, as that is what some cars came optioned with from the factory. I took a look at his IG page and just to confirm, it looks to be a MPE muffler as shown by the exhaust tips and the muffler appearing to be tucked in, unlike the non-comp/comp/cs muffler. I also noticed from the sound, since the MPE muffler is Titanium. It gives off a different tone, more of like a high pitched sound which I really like. Too much titanium on the exhaust system will frankly sound terrible, but having the muffler be titanium gives off a nice touch.

I have the MPE, with AA's midpipe

McBobby Jr · 04-26-2021, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

I have the MPE, with AA's midpipe

How has that setup worked out for you?

Kilabyte · 04-26-2021, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McBobby Jr

How has that setup worked out for you?

I like it, there's a vid of it here somewhere

tauzins · 04-26-2021, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

Sounds great! Another W for the stock muffler

thanks, f80ho did a full on video of mine vs his, he should be posting soon. this was part of it.

1000hp · 04-26-2021, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

How much did the sound change by going resonated? Did it quiet down a lot? What rear section are you running?

It's quite a bit more quiet with the resonators, and the sound quality is much better, IMO. The resonators kill the brassy VQ35 sound that the non-resonated EL sometimes makes.
I have tried both back to back on the same day with everything else stock.

kaiv · 04-26-2021, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

How much did the sound change by going resonated? Did it quiet down a lot? What rear section are you running?

I've been running resonated for 2 months, only ran un-resonated for 10 minutes so with that caveat I can answer the opposite of your question.

Not much volume difference switching to unresonated with normal driving. Driving at WOT the farts and burbles are louder, more aggressive and raw.

Resonated to me sounds more tame but cleaner and classier.

This is on a stock ZCP.

RugbyBro · 04-26-2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaiv

Resonated to me sounds more tame but cleaner and classier.

So what you're saying is:

McBobby Jr · 04-26-2021, 05:49 PM

I love the volume of the non-resonated midpipe paired with catless downpipes, but the tone gets lost in the sound. But I also love the sound of the resonated midpipe with catless downpipes, but just not quite loud enough. If only there was a way to have both.

joon. · 04-26-2021, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

Chainsaw you say? I raise you the following:

Possibly the worst S55 exhaust I have ever heard

This one is in the classified section. It was bought for like $1,500 & the dude is reselling it for like $4,000 because of its 1/1-ness. lol

bmwmdistrict · 04-26-2021, 08:11 PM

Hey guys as promised here is a video showing some acceleration drive bys, revs, etc. of my exhaust.

It's not the greatest and it was a quick recording and edit but it will have to do for now since I know a lot of people want to hear this exhaust.

I put the notes in the video but here it is again:
- This (was) is a base M4, so it's not a ZCP
- I have no tune
- There are no exhaust burbles
- Active Autowerke equal length midpipe, non-resonated
- DINAN axleback
- Stock downpipes

Thank you Luc@Speed&Tech and RJ for the awesome job!

Enjoy...

Kilabyte · 04-26-2021, 11:59 PM

Sounds good bro!

The more vids I watch the more I feel like getting rid of the MPE for a steel muffler. Maybe it's just my video where to me it sounds "truckish" where these mufflers sound smoother. I need to get under there and check clearances again. I haven't heard my car from the outside but inside it sounds insane.

rborane · 04-27-2021, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsm.m4

Hey guys as promised here is a video showing some acceleration drive bys, revs, etc. of my exhaust.

It's not the greatest and it was a quick recording and edit but it will have to do for now since I know a lot of people want to hear this exhaust.

I put the notes in the video but here it is again:
- This (was) is a base M4, so it's not a ZCP
- I have no tune
- There are no exhaust burbles
- Active Autowerke equal length midpipe, non-resonated
- DINAN axleback
- Stock downpipes

Thank you Luc@Speed&Tech and RJ for the awesome job!

Enjoy...

Sounds great! OEM valve settings?

bmwmdistrict · 04-27-2021, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rborane

Sounds great! OEM valve settings?

Yes it's using the OEM valve controls which are retained with the Dinan axle back. I almost had a valve control kit installed but decided not to. I'm honestly glad I didn't install it, it's plenty loud when I want it to be and pretty quiet in efficient mode.

bmwmdistrict · 04-27-2021, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

Sounds good bro!

The more vids I watch the more I feel like getting rid of the MPE for a steel muffler. Maybe it's just my video where to me it sounds "truckish" where these mufflers sound smoother. I need to get under there and check clearances again. I haven't heard my car from the outside but inside it sounds insane.

I would not get rid of the MPE. That's just me but it's not worth the money to remove it and get something else. I personally think the MPE + AA EL is the best there is, but I wasn't going to buy a brand new MPE and cut up that midpipe just to get a AA EL midpipe to work. That's way too much money on an exhaust at that point.

So I went with what I did and I have no regrets, Dinan + AA EL is a very close second best. I think the Dinan gives it a deeper growl which I really liked.

I was coming from a completely stock exhaust so the whole thing had to go regardless. I wanted to do it once and do it right. But like anything else it comes down to personal preference.

ntg44 · 04-27-2021, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

Sounds good bro!

The more vids I watch the more I feel like getting rid of the MPE for a steel muffler. Maybe it's just my video where to me it sounds "truckish" where these mufflers sound smoother. I need to get under there and check clearances again. I haven't heard my car from the outside but inside it sounds insane.

SS gives a lower fuller tone, naturally resonates differently than titanium. I've personally never been a fan of titanium for an exhaust. They look cool, but a lot of times people get caught up in other characteristics of titanium and assume it's by default better than SS. And that's not always true, when arguably the most important characteristic of an exhaust is the tone.

Follow your gut, maybe meet up with a local to compare

Don't feel pigeonholed into your MPE just because "titanium."

f80tanz · 04-27-2021, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

Sounds good bro!

The more vids I watch the more I feel like getting rid of the MPE for a steel muffler. Maybe it's just my video where to me it sounds "truckish" where these mufflers sound smoother. I need to get under there and check clearances again. I haven't heard my car from the outside but inside it sounds insane.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilabyte

Sounds good bro!

The more vids I watch the more I feel like getting rid of the MPE for a steel muffler. Maybe it's just my video where to me it sounds "truckish" where these mufflers sound smoother. I need to get under there and check clearances again. I haven't heard my car from the outside but inside it sounds insane.

I realize that sound is subjective, but I got to say that seeing you continually say it sounds 'truckish' is just not true to me. I have the same setup with stock downpipes, non-resonated EQ, & MPE, and I couldn't be happier. It's definitely louder than MPE on its own, and higher pitched at WOT without the rasp. Efficient mode feels super quiet, which is a nice option to have. I thought your car sounded great in the video you made, and I think everyone realizes that it's very hard to capture the true sound of an exhaust via video.

That being said, the Dinan setup with AA non res EQ also sounds great bsm.m4 . Congrats, hope you enjoy it, and I bet you are starting to forget you even had to wait for it!

six75LT · 04-27-2021, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsm.m4

Hey guys as promised here is a video showing some acceleration drive bys, revs, etc. of my exhaust.

It's not the greatest and it was a quick recording and edit but it will have to do for now since I know a lot of people want to hear this exhaust.

I put the notes in the video but here it is again:
- This (was) is a base M4, so it's not a ZCP
- I have no tune
- There are no exhaust burbles
- Active Autowerke equal length midpipe, non-resonated
- DINAN axleback
- Stock downpipes

Thank you Luc@Speed&Tech and RJ for the awesome job!

Enjoy...

that sounds perfect. was going to go with dinan but went with remus due to dinan being back ordered. hoping remus + aa sounds like that

bmwmdistrict · 04-27-2021, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by six75LT

that sounds perfect. was going to go with dinan but went with remus due to dinan being back ordered. hoping remus + aa sounds like that

It should be very very close. I almost went with Remus myself. I just couldn't justify the extra grand when I was really happy to hear how the Dinan setup was.

You should be very happy with the Remus.

bmwmdistrict · 04-27-2021, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by f80tanz

That being said, the Dinan setup with AA non res EQ also sounds great bsm.m4 . Congrats, hope you enjoy it, and I bet you are starting to forget you even had to wait for it!

Thanks! Yes you're right, I can honestly say the wait was worth it!

04-26-2021, 05:49 PM	#2189
McBobby Jr Lieutenant 212 Rep 576 Posts Drives: '18 240i xDrive Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Anchorage, AK iTrader: (0)	I love the volume of the non-resonated midpipe paired with catless downpipes, but the tone gets lost in the sound. But I also love the sound of the resonated midpipe with catless downpipes, but just not quite loud enough. If only there was a way to have both. __________________ current '18 F22 240i xDrive - FBO '16 F82 M4 ZCP - FBO previous '08 E90 335i Montego Blue
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04-26-2021, 08:11 PM	#2191
bmwmdistrict Major 908 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: NoVa iTrader: (10) Garage List 2020 BMW X3MC [10.00]	Hey guys as promised here is a video showing some acceleration drive bys, revs, etc. of my exhaust. It's not the greatest and it was a quick recording and edit but it will have to do for now since I know a lot of people want to hear this exhaust. I put the notes in the video but here it is again: - This (was) is a base M4, so it's not a ZCP - I have no tune - There are no exhaust burbles - Active Autowerke equal length midpipe, non-resonated - DINAN axleback - Stock downpipes Thank you Luc@Speed&Tech and RJ for the awesome job! Enjoy... __________________ Rob \| instagram 2020 F97 X3 ///M Donington Grey 2018 G01 X3 xDrive30i Alpine White Previous: 2016 F82 ///M4 Black Sapphire Metallic \| My Build Thread Last edited by bmwmdistrict; 04-26-2021 at 08:18 PM..
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04-26-2021, 11:59 PM	#2192
Kilabyte I'm Batman! 3948 Rep 1,477 Posts Drives: Mineral White M3 6MT Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	Sounds good bro! The more vids I watch the more I feel like getting rid of the MPE for a steel muffler. Maybe it's just my video where to me it sounds "truckish" where these mufflers sound smoother. I need to get under there and check clearances again. I haven't heard my car from the outside but inside it sounds insane. __________________ S55, 2JZ, M48.00
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