Equal Length (Active Autowerkes) + Akrapovic install

[flexspec]

This has been one heck of a journey. Of the systems I have worked on, this was the least technical, but a little bit more rewarding at the end. Maybe it was the unique problems that were encountered - but it felt extremely satisfying when I started it up.

The challenge: Don’t cut the Akrapovic Exhaust and complete the install before 2021
Challenge Accepted!

A 24hr BMW-TIS subscription was required to get the torque settings for the nuts and bolts. lol@ $30 - but well worth it. While exhaust work is forgiving, precision is a must.

After measuring the distance between the end of the slip-on and the mid-pipe, the mid-pipe connection pipes were cut.
As you can see from the picture, one side fit perfectly, the other side would require an additional cut, and slip fitting.

Overall, this proof of concept that the Akrapovic Exhaust can indeed work with the Active Autoworke Equal Length exhaust with minimal effort and unique solutions.

I have included a cold start, flaps closed and open for your enjoyment.

It sounds so much better driving. Each gear sings a uniform discernible tone. It is like a new car all over again.

Couldn’t have done this install without this communities help and countless posts/personal experiences.

Cheers and Happy New Year all!


Cold Start

Flaps Closed

Flaps Open

[BzsBimmer]

I would’ve given you the torque values for free! Lol.

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

I would’ve given you the torque values for free! Lol.

Thanks bro.
Next time. There are always more projects in the pipeline.
Cheers!

[icegrill]

Looks awesome! Can't see the vids tho

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by icegrill

Looks awesome! Can't see the vida tho

Uploaded to Youtube. Will do some drive by recordings - which is where this system really shines.

[BzsBimmer]

Sounds good so far... running any downpipes?

I’m on full Akra, downpipes back
Would love to hear drive by comparison.

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Sounds good so far... running any downpipes?

I’m on full Akra, downpipes back
Would love to hear drive by comparison.

Nice. How do you like the tone? Is it louder or does the sound character change with downpipes?

I’m running stock downpipes for now. Will do it in the future though.

[BzsBimmer]

Full Akra is stupid loud on full open and WOT. I scared my friends son driving by him with his window open lol.

Definitely has more of a high pitched tone. Tommy L Garage hacked his up for the AA midpipe. You’re the first I know of to do it with the EL.

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Full Akra is stupid loud on full open and WOT. I scared my friends son driving by him with his window open lol.

Definitely has more of a high pitched tone. Tommy L Garage hacked his up for the AA midpipe. You’re the first I know of to do it with the EL.

OH man!!! That must be awesome! At least I know I’ll have something monstrous to look forward to going full Akra. My neighbors would feel some way with me going WOT in my driveway for forum vids lol

I saw Tommy’s video and I instinctively knew I didn’t want to go that route. It’s a personal choice, but I had a really deeply visceral reaction to seeing it cut. LOL

That said, someone else on the forum has done a custom connection between the Akra and the EL — but I was unable to see pics. I initially wanted to go that route, but then I saw an opportunity to use the provided mid-pipe extension to connect the two - as a somewhat out the box *with a little help* solution.
Active Autowerke could easily include these pieces for consumers with minimal impact to their bottom line even if they didn’t increase the price.

Either way - I hope this helps someone.

[Spun Crankhub]

I am a big Akra fan(had a rear section on my E92 M3,) but I gotta say I dont hear any difference here vs. straight piped cars with stock box.
To each their own, and again kudos for going with a quality system, but that is big money for an exhaust mated to a motor that is just always going to sound for the most part, basically the same no matter the exhaust setup.

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by Spun Crankhub

I am a big Akra fan(had a rear section on my E92 M3,) but I gotta say I dont hear any difference here vs. straight piped cars with stock box.
To each their own, and again kudos for going with a quality system, but that is big money for an exhaust mated to a motor that is just always going to sound for the most part, basically the same no matter the exhaust setup.

I know what I want to say...and I hope its understandable. lol

Sound is a subjective topic - but - in the same breath I have to respectfully disagree.

While price is the biggest barrier to entry, even on the E9X platform, the price was still paid to make an already great sounding engine sound even better. The plethora of Akra systems for sale in the classifieds when the F8X was released is evidence of this.

It’s easy to trash on the S55 sound, but there has to be some acknowledgement at some point at least, that equalizing the exhaust does result in an appreciable change in the sound, and that sound varies depending on the exhaust setup. It may not be a drastic change, but it’s enough to notice (I don’t particularly like the EL+Remus setup)

It may not have the rich deep notes of a V8, but it does sound markedly better than a factory setup. It may not bring all the boys to the yard, but there like it’s better than yours - if yours is factory.
Kelis approves of the last line.

[Spun Crankhub]

Originally Posted by iceweasel

Sound is a subjective topic the price was still paid to make an already great sounding engine sound even better.

It may not have the rich deep notes of a V8, but it does sound markedly better than a factory setup.

Sound unequivocally is subjective, so hooray for anyone liking their setup.
Trashing of the S55 has become something of a cult following, but I actually love how it sounds once you remove the cats and resonators in the middle of the vehicle.
Definitely no V8, but gone are those days, and as long as you pick up any one of the aftermarket solutions you will no longer sound like you have an old folgers coffee can with a penny rattling around, for an exhaust.
Again congrats on your setup, and heres to the continued scaring the s**t out of small children!!

[gixxer_kidd]

Appreciate the writeup and pics. I've been thinking about this same exact setup and have searched through every thread I could find. Good to know it's possible.

Do you have links to the extra parts needed to make this work? Thanks in advance!

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by gixxer_kidd

Appreciate the writeup and pics. I've been thinking about this same exact setup and have searched through every thread I could find. Good to know it's possible.

Do you have links to the extra parts needed to make this work? Thanks in advance!

This is an "everything is in the box" solution. All the parts you will need come in the Active Autowerke box and the Akrapovic box - which includes the reducer.

When do you plan on making the change?

[gixxer_kidd]

Originally Posted by iceweasel

This is an "everything is in the box" solution. All the parts you will need come in the Active Autowerke box and the Akrapovic box - which includes the reducer.

When do you plan on making the change?

Thanks! Time to place some orders.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Nice!

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by gixxer_kidd

Thanks! Time to place some orders.

If you need more detailed help/specifics feel free to send me a pm, or post here.

I’ll be posting drive-by audio later this week.

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by Spun Crankhub

I am a big Akra fan(had a rear section on my E92 M3,) but I gotta say I dont hear any difference here vs. straight piped cars with stock box.
To each their own, and again kudos for going with a quality system, but that is big money for an exhaust mated to a motor that is just always going to sound for the most part, basically the same no matter the exhaust setup.

I got something even better. Will post videos later this week

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by aBMWfan

I got something even better. Will post videos later this week

[gixxer_kidd]

Originally Posted by iceweasel

If you need more detailed help/specifics feel free to send me a pm, or post here.

I’ll be posting drive-by audio later this week.

Apprciate the offer. Will reach out when all the parts come in. Looking forward to more videos.

[repols]

Any plans for rolling sound clips? Inside and out of car

[flexspec]

Originally Posted by repols

Any plans for rolling sound clips? Inside and out of car

Not the cleanest launch - but the sound captured was glorious.
Ignore the dead-cat in frame. The boom mic was huge with the dead-cat on. The purpose was to eliminate any ambient wind noise.

For those interested: stock DP's. bootmod3 Stage 1 93octane.

Will upload more.