[Nihilation]

I can't help but wonder why enthusiasts are willing to spend so much on a simple item like a muffler and pipes. I'm not talking about exhaust manifolds or downpipes, because clearly that takes a little engineering and R&D. What I'm talking about are cat back exhausts. Paying over a grand for eight feet of piping is ludicrous for the little bonus power. Let's face it, what we really want is to make a little more noise.

After less than a week with my 328i 6MT I've found myself having trouble rev matching cleanly and as much as I'd love to blame the driver, I'm chalking it up to lack of engine and exhaust noise. I simply can't hear what the engine is doing, other than ticking at idle. The varying throttle maps between Sport, Comfort and Eco don't help either.

So my budget solution is to slap on an exhaust and perhaps an high flow intake system. Followed shortly after by a tune, no doubt.

Back on topic, there are many talented fabricators and exhaust shops nation wide. Any one of them worth their salt can cleanly bend pipes without bottlenecks and lay clean welds. The only real decision then is choosing a muffler and style of tips. The latter I find to be much more painful.

If you're wondering how much a full custom exhaust would actually cost, I'm here to tell you that you should be paying no more than $500 for a cat back made of stainless steel piping, that bolts or slips on to the existing downpipe/header and is comprised of a quality muffler such as a Magnaflow straight through and two very nice exhaust tips.

In my case, tomorrow morning I am dropping my 328i 6MT Sportline off at a local reputable exhaust shop and having a custom axle back fabricated for a few hundred bucks less and should take less than 2 hours from start to finish.

My requirements were:

1. Zero bottlenecks
2. Little to no drone
3. Perfectly centered exhaust tips

The tips, I have yet to choose. We looked at a few options this morning and I'll be deciding on a set tomorrow morning when the car is up in the air.

If you'd like to tune in to a live feed of the build with pics and maybe some video, follow me on Twitter @JoshTaylorUSA starting at 9:30 AM EST. Might upload some pics on Instagram as well, also username JoshTaylorUSA.

[Heel328]

I just bought myself a new 328i MT also, and like how it sounds in the garage when I first start it up.

I read there's a motor and a flap that closes 1 of the 2 pipes once its warmed up, and that you can wire it to stay open. I looked under the car and saw it. Looks easy to do and worth trying. Just haven't yet.

[ahero4eternity]

You're right - most catback exhausts don't do much for power. The reason most of us replace the stock exhaust is for the sound. However, if I go to a muffler shop and ask for a "custom exhaust," I really don't know what I'm going to get until I've paid for it. I'm very picky with my exhaust tone. I want it to be loud, but not too loud, inaudible during cruising speeds on the highway (no drone), etc. So I'd rather pay for an exhaust that I've researched extensively (by way of forum reviews, YouTube video clips, and car meets).

The other part is for the status. I can wear a Timex (and sometimes I do), but it's just not the same as my Submariner. They both tell time - in fact, the Timex is probably more accurate. But the Rolex...is a Rolex.

Yah, I'm superficial.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by ahero4eternity

You're right - most catback exhausts don't do much for power. The reason most of us replace the stock exhaust is for the sound. However, if I go to a muffler shop and ask for a "custom exhaust," I really don't know what I'm going to get until I've paid for it. I'm very picky with my exhaust tone. I want it to be loud, but not too loud, inaudible during cruising speeds on the highway (no drone), etc. So I'd rather pay for an exhaust that I've researched extensively (by way of forum reviews, YouTube video clips, and car meets).

The other part is for the status. I can wear a Timex (and sometimes I do), but it's just not the same as my Submariner. They both tell time - in fact, the Timex is probably more accurate. But the Rolex...is a Rolex.

Yah, I'm superficial.

i feel the same about picking an exhaust, i have to hear it before paying

[Nihilation]

It'll be using a straight through Magnaflow muffler, so probably a lot like the video below. I'm keeping the single side exhaust, but going with staggered Magnaflow tips which I might end spray in a high temp black before they get welded up.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

It'll be using a straight through Magnaflow muffler, so probably a lot like the video below. I'm keeping the single side exhaust, but going with staggered Magnaflow tips which I might end spray in a high temp black before they get welded up.

I like the exhaust tone

[Nihilation]

Update:

We agreed upon a price of $500 earlier in the week after looking at muffler and tip options. We went with Magnaflow for both with stainless steel piping. No crush bends on bottle necks and because I was after sound more than performance I opted for 2.5" piping rather than 3".





The exhaust was fabricated by Warren at Hi Flo Exhaust in Manassas, VA. It was his first attempt at an exhaust like this and had been licking at the chops for the opportunity. I think he did a great job, considering. Start to finish took about 3 hours.

Here it is!





How's it sound? The exhaust itself is smooth and isn't nearly as loud as I expected it to be for a straight through muffler. There is a mild amount of popping on deceleration which I think is cool. I've got to drive it more today but overall I'm very satisfied.

Videos will surely come.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

Update:

We agreed upon a price of $500 earlier in the week after looking at muffler and tip options. We went with Magnaflow for both with stainless steel piping. No crush bends on bottle necks and because I was after sound more than performance I opted for 2.5" piping rather than 3".


The exhaust was fabricated by Warren at Hi Flo Exhaust in Manassas, VA. It was his first attempt at an exhaust like this and had been licking at the chops for the opportunity. I think he did a great job, considering. Start to finish took about 3 hours.

Here it is!


How's it sound? The exhaust itself is smooth and isn't nearly as loud as I expected it to be for a straight through muffler. There is a mild amount of popping on deceleration which I think is cool. I've got to drive it more today but overall I'm very satisfied.

Videos will surely come.

Looking forward for the video

[scostu]

Nihilation,

Still enjoying the exhaust?

Any issues thus far?

And was it the magnaflow 15190 exhaust ?

[smithf80]

Videos... videos... videos...

[Nihilation]

Originally Posted by scostu

Nihilation,

Still enjoying the exhaust?

Any issues thus far?

And was it the magnaflow 15190 exhaust ?

I'm not sure what model muffler it is. It's a straight through 2.5" diameter Magnaflow with offset in/outs.

Still enjoying the exhaust although at time I feel it may be tad too quiet. It rumbles the garage in the mornings. At full throttle it sounds a lot like a jet rather than a car - WHOOOOOOOSSSSHHHHHH!!!

I know, I really need to make a video.

For a daily driver it's pretty much perfect. If this was more of a weekend car I would have opted for something louder, possibly just a smaller muffler for more noise.

[tboooe]

Nice work! So no drone at any RPMs?

[Nihilation]

Originally Posted by tboooe

Nice work! So no drone at any RPMs?

Zero drone.

[SeanWRT]

Not sure if I am missing something but is the stock mid pipe 3" already? How could you fit it with a 2.5" axle back?

[smithf80]

Must suck for your social media cred that this comes up when you google your Insta handle:

(yes, I know thats not you.)

[Nihilation]

Originally Posted by smithf32

(yes, I know thats not you.)

Or is it?

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by Nihilation

Or is it?

[Nihilation]

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

Not sure if I am missing something but is the stock mid pipe 3" already? How could you fit it with a 2.5" axle back?

Good question. Mid pipe may be 3" but the piping used was 2.5" and flared slightly to attach. I recall the shop showing me a bottleneck in the factory piping and that's where they cut the original pipe.

Custom Exhaust by Josh Taylor, on Flickr

[Nihilation]

[smithf80]

Oh wow such good video

[BimmerF32_430i]

And that's probably why most of us opt for an exhaust that we can hear before buying. I definitely would hate to pay $500 and then not be happy with the sound or be able to return or sell to another member. Sure I may have paid an insane amount of money for my meisterschaft but it has the exact sound that I wanted and I'll be able to sell it down the road

[eric@helix]

^This^, and you really have to hear it in person: youtube vids really don't give you a realistic feel for the sound.