M Performance Exhaust

[j997tt]

After much deliberation I had the MPE installed this weekend. It is so sweet. Very different tone than stock. I waited until I got through break in wanting to experience the stock exhaust system. I highly recommend it. Got 20% off list and $150.00 to install at my dealer... To those on the fence I say do it.

[chillindrdude]

when pair with stock catted DPs, can someone list the following in terms of increasing loudness/aggressiveness?

MPE
AWE resonated
AWE non-resonated

Thanks

[gthal]

^---- I'd like to know this too.

If someone is looking for a deeper, smoother and only a little louder sound, it is hard to compare the options because so many are going very aggressive with their set up (or, aggressive by my standards ).

[gthal]

Originally Posted by j997tt

After much deliberation I had the MPE installed this weekend. It is so sweet. Very different tone than stock. I waited until I got through break in wanting to experience the stock exhaust system. I highly recommend it. Got 20% off list and $150.00 to install at my dealer... To those on the fence I say do it.

Would you elaborate on this? Is it deeper or higher pitched? How about raspiness?

[FAM3]

Trying to see if it is worth it to port install MPE as an option on the car and roll payments into lease or just outright buy and resell later.

I've always bought exhausts aftermarket so I could have the stock exhaust handy as well. What do you guys think? Is it really that smart of an investment to roll exhaust payments into lease and then not have anything to resell?

I mean MPE is pretty standard on resell price from what I have seen and holds its value.

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by gthal

Would you elaborate on this? Is it deeper or higher pitched? How about raspiness?

Deeper, louder, and more raspy when you get on it. Very nice!

If I were to try something different, I'd go AWE Resonated.

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by chillindrdude

when pair with stock catted DPs, can someone list the following in terms of increasing loudness/aggressiveness?

MPE
AWE resonated
AWE non-resonated

Thanks

Top down = Quietest to loudest.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by mc3456

Top down = Quietest to loudest.

Interesting... how much louder is the AWE resonated vs. MPE? Is it also a deeper sound? From the videos (which are tough to compare), the AWE resonated sounds deeper and smoother than the MPE. Almost a little more of a V8 sound. Comments?

P.S. Appreciate your input so far... very helpful

[04cobra]

How does MPE + DPs sound vs AWE (resonated) + DPs ?

Any opinions on those 2 combos?

[chillindrdude]

stupid question time.

for MPE installation, the stock exhaust is cut off. let's say you want to reattach the stock exhaust down the road, how is this done?

reweld on? or are there exhaust clamps that address this issue?

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by chillindrdude

stupid question time.

for MPE installation, the stock exhaust is cut off. let's say you want to reattach the stock exhaust down the road, how is this done?

reweld on? or are there exhaust clamps that address this issue?

You could do either, but the long clamps would be the easiet.

[8600RPM]

I put a most 6k on my mpe and I can say it's much much more M sounding than stock. It has a higher pitch raspy scream at high rpm. In general it's a bit higher pitch. It sounds much closer to my catless e92 with stock rear. Or an e46 with a tad deeper sound at high rpm. It sounds pretty damn loud and incredible. It's not so raspy it sounds bad but into the 6k plus rpms it starts a higher pitch scream.

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by gthal

Interesting... how much louder is the AWE resonated vs. MPE? Is it also a deeper sound? From the videos (which are tough to compare), the AWE resonated sounds deeper and smoother than the MPE. Almost a little more of a V8 sound. Comments?

P.S. Appreciate your input so far... very helpful

MPE is not that loud. Just barely louder than Stock. On a 1-5 scale where 1 is stock, MPE is about a 2.5. AWE would be about a 3.5. AWE is always noticably deeper on everything. They are masterful at tuning for deep tone. I just heard one on an Audi S5 and it roared. On a 911 Carrera S, it was pretty mean. Made the 6 cyl sound like an 8 cyl. It caught everyone's attention at the track, especially the other Porsche drivers.

If I could do it again, aside from the more awesome MPE Carbon Fiber tips, I'd go with the AWE Resonated. Less rasp in my book is better.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by mc3456

MPE is not that loud. Just barely louder than Stock. On a 1-5 scale where 1 is stock, MPE is about a 2.5. AWE would be about a 3.5. AWE is always noticably deeper on everything. They are masterful at tuning for deep tone. I just heard one on an Audi S5 and it roared. On a 911 Carrera S, it was pretty mean. Made the 6 cyl sound like an 8 cyl. It caught everyone's attention at the track, especially the other Porsche drivers.

If I could do it again, aside from the more awesome MPE Carbon Fiber tips, I'd go with the AWE Resonated. Less rasp in my book is better.

I'm leaning towards an AWE resonated... I really like a deep, smooth sound. I don't like raspy, screamy exhausts. Pure personal preference. The stock exhaust is somewhat deep with the valves open but doesn't have a smooth character. Tough to articulate in writing what I mean. To me, the C63 (previous gen) exhaust was perfect... deep, smooth sound... although that was the large displacement V8 as much as anything. That deep, smooth sound is what I'm after and it looks like AWE is the closest to it.

Like you, however, I really like the MPE tips and also like that you can get it installed and in the price of the car. Decisions, decisions...

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by gthal

I'm leaning towards an AWE resonated... I really like a deep, smooth sound. I don't like raspy, screamy exhausts. Pure personal preference. The stock exhaust is somewhat deep with the valves open but doesn't have a smooth character. Tough to articulate in writing what I mean. To me, the C63 (previous gen) exhaust was perfect... deep, smooth sound... although that was the large displacement V8 as much as anything. That deep, smooth sound is what I'm after and it looks like AWE is the closest to it.

Like you, however, I really like the MPE tips and also like that you can get it installed and in the price of the car. Decisions, decisions...

Dude, why do you think I struggled with the F80 sound after driving it twice...especially after having 4 AMGs in a row. Trust me, you will not regret getting the AWE. Personally, I'd go resonated, because too much of a good thing can be bad in the end. I've yet to hear a bad AWE, regardless of car make.

[8600RPM]

Originally Posted by gthal

I'm leaning towards an AWE resonated... I really like a deep, smooth sound. I don't like raspy, screamy exhausts. Pure personal preference. The stock exhaust is somewhat deep with the valves open but doesn't have a smooth character. Tough to articulate in writing what I mean. To me, the C63 (previous gen) exhaust was perfect... deep, smooth sound... although that was the large displacement V8 as much as anything. That deep, smooth sound is what I'm after and it looks like AWE is the closest to it.

Like you, however, I really like the MPE tips and also like that you can get it installed and in the price of the car. Decisions, decisions...

Then you would hate the mpe. It screams in a higher pitch tone

[gthal]

Originally Posted by 8600RPM

Then you would hate the mpe. It screams in a higher pitch tone

Others have suggested the MPE is deeper than stock... maybe it's only deeper at lower RPM? I find the stock exhaust, with valves open, to have a somewhat deep tone and a little raspy only at high RPM.

What makes this tough is it is difficult to find examples to hear in person and it is so hard to know from videos and everyone's perception of sound (and how they then, in turn, describe it) varies so much... makes it tough when you live 500 miles away from the closest after market exhaust equipped M3/4

[j997tt]

Originally Posted by gthal

Would you elaborate on this? Is it deeper or higher pitched? How about raspiness?

I think most guys who have MPE and responded earlier have nailed it. The exhaust produces a much deeper growl on cold start up (unlike the rasp on the unmodified stock system) and is very loud until the car warms up. Then under normal driving it is not very loud until in Sport and Sport+ when increasing throttle tip wakes it up. It positively screams at WOT nearing redline. It does gets more 'raspy' as revs rise. But, to me, it sounds very exotic. Others on the board have said MPE sounds even better with miles on it. We will see. It is very different sounding than AWE from the audio clips I have heard.

I went MPE for several reasons in order of increasing importance to me: 1) OE fitment, 2) takes a little more weigh out of the car, 3) liked MPE on my E92, and 4) covered under the BMW warranty.

There are a lot of good exhaust choices now. Pick you poison...

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by j997tt

I think most guys who have MPE and responded earlier have nailed it. The exhaust produces a much deeper growl on cold start up (unlike the rasp on the unmodified stock system) and is very loud until the car warms up. Then under normal driving it is not very loud until in Sport and Sport+ when increasing throttle tip wakes it up. It positively screams at WOT nearing redline. It does gets more 'raspy' as revs rise. But, to me, it sounds very exotic. Others on the board have said MPE sounds even better with miles on it. We will see. It is very different sounding than AWE from the audio clips I have heard.

I went MPE for several reasons in order of increasing importance to me: 1) OE fitment, 2) takes a little more weigh out of the car, 3) liked MPE on my E92, and 4) covered under the BMW warranty.

There are a lot of good exhaust choices now. Pick you poison...

Well said! It is definitely better sounding than stock, but let's face it, the MPE only puts lipstick on a pig of a motor (speaking sound-wise only!). Short of an engine transplant, it will never sound like an AMG, but can still sound pretty darn good with a high quality exhaust system.

I seem to oscillate between loving the sound of the M3 and hating it. However, the reason is that the sound changes SO much depending on conditions (cold vs warmed up, low RPM cruising around town vs high RPM WOT hooning, etc...).

[j997tt]

Originally Posted by mc3456

Well said! It is definitely better sounding than stock, but let's face it, the MPE only puts lipstick on a pig of a motor (speaking sound-wise only!). Short of an engine transplant, it will never sound like an AMG, but can still sound pretty darn good with a high quality exhaust system.

I seem to oscillate between loving the sound of the M3 and hating it. However, the reason is that the sound changes SO much depending on conditions (cold vs warmed up, low RPM cruising around town vs high RPM WOT hooning, etc...).

Agreed. Coming from an E92 with MPE i knew the car was going to neede an exhaust to meet my expectations. The S55 is a great motor for what it is but sound wise it is not going to meet some folks expectations. Funny, I am older and I thought it sounded OK with the stock system, but it sounds much better, more refined with MPE IMHO. I do know this, the MPE turns heads when it is cranking...

[8600RPM]

If you get a chance to have someone drive your car and you follow in another car behind them, it will give you a whole new appreciation!

[j997tt]

Originally Posted by 8600RPM

If you get a chance to have someone drive your car and you follow in another car behind them, it will give you a whole new appreciation!

Yep, I need to do this! Thanks.