Need advise on exhaust

valex9499 · #1 01-20-2013, 03:58 PM

I have a 3.0 X5. I did a muffler delete a while ago, and the drone is real annoying. I want to make it sound good. I don't want to spend to much either. What can I do to get that real i6 sound? Also would something like this in place of the resonator make it sound good? or some rear mufflers?

40 Series Flow Muffler Two 2 Chamber Dual 2 1 4" in Dual 2 1 4" Out 17" Body | eBay

Thanks for any input,
Valentin

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X5SND · #2 01-20-2013, 07:55 PM

Couple things:

1) That link you posted is a knock off of a Flowmaster 40 series muffler. If you're after a quality tone, the materials you choose for an exhaust system have more impact than once may think. If you're planning on adding a muffler like this to your X (its more of a hot-rod/muscle car muffler btw) check out Jegs. They have all the major brands for this sort of thing, and of course you can be assured their units aren't knock offs.

2) I would definitely NOT recommend sticking a 40 on your X if your worried about interior noise levels. I did a 3" system with a Flowmaster Super 40 (the slightly more agressive 40 series) on the Jeep we resto'd (4.0L inline 6) and its WAY too loud for an X. Try and look for a muffler specifically tuned for euro exhaust characteristics.

3) If you're happy with the sound you have and its just the issue of resonance, consider building a branch resonator to kill it.

valex9499 · #3 01-21-2013, 01:55 AM

Thanks for your reply. I was thinking if that style muffler would sound good in place of the stock resonator? Not a flowmaster but something different. Also I might just install one of those resonator branch, it does tend to drone quite bad. Will that get rid of it?

X5SND · #4 01-21-2013, 04:05 AM

You could have 3 mufflers of the same "style" but yet gave completely different sounds; it's all about what's inside that matters... ie things like size, shape, orientation and even number of baffles. Perforated vs. non, etc.... So buying a component simply because it fits isn't really the best course of action.

Second thing to note is that resonators and mufflers have different functions. A muffler serves to control the volume of the exhaust, while a resonator is generally used to shape the sound (remove rasp, control resonance and tone). In order to get the sound you're after, you need to have a clear understanding of both the incoming sound properties and the attenuation properties of the components you choose to use; Which leads me to the branch resonator....

A branch resonator isn't something you buy, as its specifically tuned to each application. It functions by returning a pressure wave 180* out of phase to the frequency of your drone thus canceling it out. But like I said, its specifically tuned in each case, so you have to know the frequency of your drone from the get go to build it correctly.

I know this isn't the "use this and get that sound" answer you were probably looking for, but if you stray from the systems already available for the X (which take all the factors I mentioned earlier into consideration in their design), you're really just taking shots in the dark.

Tailoring a 3.0's exhaust (or any system really) to achieve a specific sound is a task that requires a lot of work to be done correctly. IMO any exhaust louder than the stock on a 3.0 is rather silly considering its performance levels....but like I said, that's only my opinion.

Hope this helps.

pnoyako85 · #5 01-21-2013, 04:41 AM

heres A thread on Exhaust options....hope this helps.....
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...5-exhaust.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ease-help.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-gitchies.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...s-youtube.html

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...r-removal.html

Dark5yde · #6 01-21-2013, 01:55 PM

All those threads are on the V8's he has the 3.0 like myself. Too the OP did you remove the center silencer or the rear cases? On my 300 The exhaust was setup the same as the X5, I removed the 2 rear cases and left the center silencer and it sounded great. That is also my plan on the X5, just removing the rear cases. But I have yet to find anybody or any video with people going that route. They all seem to remove the center silencer instead.

X5SND · #7 01-21-2013, 02:36 PM

Ask and you shall receive: Voila! Magnaflows on a 3.0i

Dark5yde · #8 01-22-2013, 05:08 PM

I've seen all of that guys vids. His setup is a X pipe in the center location and he replaced the 2 rear silencers with magnaflow mufflers. I want to remove the rear all together and just replace the center section with a highflow 2 to 2 muffler.

X5SND · #9 01-22-2013, 08:08 PM

^^ You could always give it a shot. You may have some issues with droning arranging it like that, but don't quote me on that. May I ask why you want to run a setup that way instead of mufflers at the rear?

Dark5yde · #10 01-23-2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5SND

May I ask why you want to run a setup that way instead of mufflers at the rear?

If i'm completely honest, its because I have yet to see it done. Also I had a 09 Chrysler 300 with the same style exhaust setup as the X5. I removed the rear 2 mufflers and left the center silencer and it sounded great. Same idea diff vehicle is all.

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