Exhaust Mods

Been looking around for far too long and it seems the cheapest half decent cat-back system designed for an e36 328 will be about 600 Euro or thereabouts. Eisenmann is a 1000 Euro... It's just far too much to pay for a cat-back, it's not even a full exhaust.

Is there anything I can do to modify the 328 exhaust to get a decent sound without it becoming too loud and without breaking the bank?

The Golf Tee mod was done when it was fitted to the 323 (as there is no tube to plug into the 2nd tip).

I read about deleting the resonators but some say it's not much louder, and that it's bad news in the sense that BMW design them partially to enhance the engine note, and partially to help gas flow. I'm no exhaust expert nor mechanic so don't know how true that it is. Can anybody shed light on this? The sound of the car just bothers me now as it sounds like the exhaust is "stuffed full of cotton" for lack of a better term...

Anything else I can do? I don't really fancy decatting as I don't want to be worrying about refitting it every time the car has to be NCT'd.

Same with me for the IS. I wish i kept the scorpion backbox i had :( I will be buying a magnaflow backbox now. Really like the sound from them even with the cat still on the car.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqjJOFHh8pc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hBhh4dYj-0

on a 328:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvWid6RCcJs

Have you asked Souhans in trim how much a custom one would cost?

Straight bit of pipe and you're away.

What I did with my IS

http://i1057.photobucket.com/albums/...ps301877a9.jpg

If you do go to souhans make sure they put the tips close together have seen a few too many box's from them with a massive gap between each tip, other then that the work is supposed to be top notch

I haven't asked them for a quote directly but know of others who got quotes which were the same price as a good brand cat-back designed specifically for the car. I'd be more comfortable with that as the company will have had some R&D designing it, and there wouldn't be any issues like the space between the tips or anything else as it's just bolt on.

@Venom: Is that the resonator you deleted with a straight pipe? Results?

If you could settle for a dtm tip they are on clearance at supersprint in the uk 280 euro

there an ac schnitzer exhaust on a e36 evo mine going to braking next week all going to plan if you any interested in it will know more next wek

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peter-E36

I haven't asked them for a quote directly but know of others who got quotes which were the same price as a good brand cat-back designed specifically for the car. I'd be more comfortable with that as the company will have had some R&D designing it, and there wouldn't be any issues like the space between the tips or anything else as it's just bolt on.

@Venom: Is that the resonator you deleted with a straight pipe? Results?

---

It's a decat (removing the catalytic converter) using a proper decat. Some people use a straight bit of pipe which will be even louder as it will be even more free flowing. In terms of noise it's certainly louder but not unbearably so. Not much difference when in the car. The note is low in lower rpm and raspier up past 3000 with a standard back box.

As it's more free flowing there is a trade off as there is a certain loss of back pressure which will loose low end torque as a result. But I'm happy with it and still have a non standard back box to add to the set up.

Get your catalytic converter cut out and have a flange welded either end, then do the same to a bit of stainless pipe, worst case scenario every year get some one to swap then €10 cash job , but for 11.5 months of the year you'll have a nice sounding exhaust

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve320

Get your catalytic converter cut out and have a flange welded either end, then do the same to a bit of stainless pipe, worst case scenario every year get some one to swap then €10 cash job , but for 11.5 months of the year you'll have a nice sounding exhaust

---

Agreed. I have the cat there ready to bolt back on for the NCT :hehe!:

Let's see can we peer pressure peter into getting this done

AC Schnitzer one is very nice on the E36

Will have to think about all the above.

Don't like the dtm look at all, not a fan of the schnitzer one either, just looking for 2x76mm round exit really ideally or twin round exit in general.

If a flange can be made up to make a decat easy to swap for NCT then it's an option, would love to hear what it sounds like though. Don't want it to be abnoxiously loud or have leaks etc..

Will do more homework, any other suggestions welcome :)

Nobody does hence the clearance [emoji1]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peter-E36

I haven't asked them for a quote directly but know of others who got quotes which were the same price as a good brand cat-back designed specifically for the car. I'd be more comfortable with that as the company will have had some R&D designing it, and there wouldn't be any issues like the space between the tips or anything else as it's just bolt on.

@Venom: Is that the resonator you deleted with a straight pipe? Results?

---

Souhans use magnaflow rear silencers off the shelf(which you choose) and then make up pipes between it and the cats, not much R&D involved to be honest it's not exactly rocket surgery so the question there is do you want a magnaflow sound or otherwise.

"rocket surgery"? :p I was on the magnaflow site and only found they offered one for an e30 325. Decent brands make a different exhaust for the 316/318 as they do for the 138iS as 320/323 as 325/328 so surely they go through that trouble to make sure that at the very least performance isn't affected negatively. Don't want to spend money getting one made up that will spoil performance ;)

This

http://www.bmwhaus.ie/forum/showthread.php?tid=2049&pid=42213#pid42213

Sounds immense, maybe slightly wider pipes to cut down on the volume. Swap it out for NCT time.

It's really easy to change for nct Peter 4 bolts max

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peter-E36

"rocket surgery"? :p I was on the magnaflow site and only found they offered one for an e30 325. Decent brands make a different exhaust for the 316/318 as they do for the 138iS as 320/323 as 325/328 so surely they go through that trouble to make sure that at the very least performance isn't affected negatively. Don't want to spend money getting one made up that will spoil performance ;)

---

Ignore what's on there site, I'm talking about there universal back boxes if they have them for mustangs and S8's I can imagine they could dig up something for a 3 series. Even factory made exhausts use the same back box for a range of cars the only difference is the pipe work. There is usually only one way the pipes can be bent and welded under a car, this isn't going to differ greatly wether you have a factory made or a custom made exhaust.

I wonder if they have any techniques for achieving a particular sound or is it kind of a surprise :D

Edit: think I will call them for a chat :)

I cut the cats and middle boxes out of my 328i welded in some matching pipes and to be honest it'was not loud but way more raspy. I found it nice.