V8 exhaust modifications

[Themoog]

Has anyone on here got a 4.4 / 4.6 or 4.8 who has removed the centre resonator on the exhaust and put in two straight pipes but kept the original rear mufflers?
Not an xpipe but separate pipes for each bank.
I spoke to a guy selling a 4.6is several months ago and he had done it to his car and he swore that it sounded really good but I didn't hear it.
I want mine to have deep V8 American muscle car sort of burble at idle. I don't want it too loud nor do I want the typical BMW race car raspy sound.
Ideas anyone?

[Henn28]

Ahh, the third rail of X5 forum topics…only after 80 degree thermostats and engine oil related issues does a topic stir such emotions as muffler and exhaust mods!

Subscribed!

Edit…I should add that I’ve been wanting to do some modest mod to my x5 as well to get a bit more throaty v8 sound. Nothing cosmic. However, I am worried about the dreaded highway drone that seems to come from some combination of deletes, additions, etc. but with no common thread that I can find. I do know I want 3” dual stainless tips.

I’ve been thinking of getting a donor rear exhaust section to mod, so the switch back would be simple if it doesn’t work. I’m leaning towards deleting the rear mufflers and swapping in glass packs to provide a bit more muffling than just staring pipes from the center resonator back. They are cheap and if they don’t work I can pop the stock section back in while I think of a plan B.

[SamW]

I don’t have any experience with this either but I’d also be interested to hear any insights since I prefer the look of the original 4.6is mufflers but would like to open up the sound a bit from the stock. From the outside, the pass by sound is definitely great but could be more loud. The idle even more so. Was thinking about replacing the center resonator with x- or h-pipe, probably the latter since if I have understood correctly it should provide a deeper tone, but after reading your post I wondered that why not just replace the resonator with straight pipes. Especially since I have read varying opinions about x/h-pipe setup, some have said it doesn’t even make that big of a difference and some say it does. Some have also reported about power losses after removing the resonator, which I’m a bit worried about. If we are talking about something like 10 hp, I really don’t care, but some have mentioned even higher numbers. But again, seems like this is something that really divides opinions.

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by Themoog

Has anyone on here got a 4.4 / 4.6 or 4.8 who has removed the centre resonator on the exhaust and put in two straight pipes but kept the original rear mufflers?
Not an xpipe but separate pipes for each bank.
I spoke to a guy selling a 4.6is several months ago and he had done it to his car and he swore that it sounded really good but I didn't hear it.
I want mine to have deep V8 American muscle car sort of burble at idle. I don't want it too loud nor do I want the typical BMW race car raspy sound.
Ideas anyone?

Originally Posted by SamW

I don’t have any experience with this either but I’d also be interested to hear any insights since I prefer the look of the original 4.6is mufflers but would like to open up the sound a bit from the stock. From the outside, the pass by sound is definitely great but could be more loud. The idle even more so. Was thinking about replacing the center resonator with x- or h-pipe, probably the latter since if I have understood correctly it should provide a deeper tone, but after reading your post I wondered that why not just replace the resonator with straight pipes. Especially since I have read varying opinions about x/h-pipe setup, some have said it doesn’t even make that big of a difference and some say it does. Some have also reported about power losses after removing the resonator, which I’m a bit worried about. If we are talking about something like 10 hp, I really don’t care, but some have mentioned even higher numbers. But again, seems like this is something that really divides opinions.

My 4.6 is packing a dual pipe setup.

[Themoog]

Ok. So what does it sound like?

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by aureliusmax

My 4.6 is packing a dual pipe setup.

Details please, when you get a chance. And do you get any drone from the setup?

[aureliusmax]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Details please, when you get a chance. And do you get any drone from the setup?

No drone.

What do you mean by details please when you get a chance ?

[Themoog]

What does it sound like on idle? Is it a low burble? Do you still have the stock mufflers on the rear? I'm assuming from your replies that there is no x or h pipe.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Themoog

What does it sound like on idle? Is it a low burble? Do you still have the stock mufflers on the rear? I'm assuming from your replies that there is no x or h pipe.

Also, did you run any larger diameter pipe, or stick with the stock? Thanks!

[Nolimite39]

Generally a resonator is used to affect the resonance of the exhaust sound and a muffler to muffle or quite it down. The question is, does the engine create any unpleasant frequencies in its normal operating range. The short answer for the M62 is "not really". My 540 has hollowed out cats (they fell apart, the car is driven less than 2k miles per year so I just cleaned them out) and a muffler delete. Resonator still in place. I think it sounds great, very low rumble under partial load, snappy when revving in neutral, was a daily driver for some time in this state and never made me wish it was any different. With separate pipes for each bank you're going to introduce a lot more lumpiness to the sound since the two banks wont have a chance to balance each other before exiting into atmosphere. However again because the M62 is not offensive even with dumped headers (I've tried it for S&Gs) you should be fine. ALL THAT SAID, sound is a personal preference so what one likes another may not. . .