CUT OUT the Charcoal Filter/BETTER SOUND!
 

Dear All,
Recently I saw one X5 4.4 was cutting out the Charcoal Filter from the Exhaust Line...After we all noticed very powerful and perfect sound! Also after test drive owner and few other witnesses noticed increased power (hp)...now I'm sick to do the same!!! please advise if any negative/side effect will come out later?
Thanks to all!

PS. Regarding the enviromental pollution is very clear...will increase...but any other things?

This sounds very interesting...

How is this done ?

Aside from failing emissions testing and possible trip up on the O2 sensors..I'm not sure what else would have a problem.

I have heard another hypothesis...as far as the Temperature is high and the Charcoal Filters are some kind of barrier for heating up the silencer(located in the next section)...and after some time (cut out) the silencer will be also burned?! is it true?

This sounds very interesting...

How is this done ?

:) looks like you're also in my boat :) don't worry I'll give full explanation with pics here...but first I need to get the answer on my question...

I'm not sure how a charcoal filter would reduce heat.

I don't see how you get more power with out reprogramming the engine computer?

You don't have to reprogram an ECU to get more power.

So...

Are we going to get photos and stuff on this ?

Any opinions from anyone ?

Charcoal filter in the exhaust line? Where?

Are you guys talking about the cat?

There's no cat in my car, though I once ran over a squirrel. Oh, do you mean catalytic converter?:rofl:

Sounds to me, too, like he's talking about the catylitic converter.

I had a Jag XJS V12 once and I knocked all the stuff out of the cats to free up some horsepower. Not only was the car faster (felt like a cork had been removed from the exhaust) but the exhaust sound was a bit louder and better. And it still looked like the car had cats, so it passed the visual test. :thumbup:

Anyways, you should be able to remove the cat converters, as long as no government officials are going to be inspecting your emissions controls. Don't know what the BMW computer would think about it though. :confused:

I have a buddy that removed the cats on his ///M5. He machined some brackets so when he had to go in for emissions he could just bolt it back on in like 15 minutes.

removing cats is nothing but problems and triggers check engine lights. Removing the resonator would make your exhaust note a little more raspy...

Let's see. Cat are installed for what reason? Is there a law that requires their installation? Is there a law that prevents their removal? If there are laws which regulate cats why would someone want to disobey the law for a better sound? :dunno:

Not better sound, better flow. Open 'em up and let 'em breathe.

Uh Huh now back to the question " Cat are installed for what reason? Is there a law that requires their installation? Is there a law that prevents their removal? If there are laws which regulate cats why would someone want to disobey the law??????????

whoa interesting topic
 

So will the engine light or any other lights go on the computer if the cats are taken out.......and what about warranty boys.....

You guys are delusional in thinking that you're getting a lot of performance gain by remving the cats. It's not worth the couple hp to pollute exponentially more. I don't think any of you yappin away about removing them even know what you're talkin about.

This is the most ricer thread we've ever had. :thumbdown

Are you sure the "charcoal filter" he is refering to is not the resonator???

:iagree: - with our resident engineer.

finally done!!! see pics
 

Finally done!!! see the pics below...of course it's not really sensible to do then find out how good or bad it is...but I couldn't stop myself...this SOUND and more power/good air flow!!! makes me crazy! difference noticeable!!! i would say - REMARKABLE!!! What about the law and etc. in my country...with law defenders there...and my position - NO PROBS ;)

Do you have a picture of the part you removed, by any chance?

Cats are installed for emissions. Plain and simple. They rob quite a bit of horsepower. Removing them will add horsepower.

A few hp...that you're not going feel in a 5000lb vehicle. Cats have much more impact on force induced vehicles than most oe na ones. They're installed for emissions...which is exactly why you should leave them in. At the worst, go find a high-flow cat.

pics of cats? unfortunately no...but i can take some later...all what i saw it was few porous pieces of coal...and these screening filter elements were almost blocked and full...couldn't see even the lights through...by the way these new cats are very expensive out here...

I think it's arguable it you gain anything these days. Most of the Engine management is designed to function with the cat, removing it will cause abnormal readings from the post cat O2 sensors and change the engine dynamics. Generally a bad idea I think.

Post a video or a sound clip!

sweeet sound....
 

Will do!!! and I'm sure 100% u'll like it so much! really horrible and sweet sound! and "few" hp are not so little...admit it's really not so good from enviromental point of view...but what about the racing cars?! are they all got these filter??? not sure...

if it triggers engine light then its a no go for me

...
 

Imola! no triggers engine lights on mine...dayu slovo! zato zvuchit velikolepno i rivok uvelichilsa!

you are crazy!!! Yup those cats are very expensive.. By the way where did you get this idea from?? Was there another X5 that did that to the cats??

If anyone in North America, driving on public roads, does this, I hope you get caught and locked up. It is incredibly irresponsible IMO.

The OP may have used poor or leaded fuel, or not maintained the emission system, and that could have caused a blockage in the catalytic converters. Such a blockage would make the removal of the catalytic converters seem like a power gain. Properly functioning catalytic converters have very little restriction and will not cause a significant change in power.

wanna post the videos
 

Guys pls advise how I can post/load here Winamp media files?
Was not able to attach them...

try www.megaupload.com

As stated before HP will not be noticable in such a large vehicle. Only Forced Induction ie: Turbo, supercharger will benefit from this mod. Never mind what this will do the enviroment. Come on guys theres more to life then a few unnoticeable HP gains. I know RandomTechnologies Sells High flow cats at the very least go that route.

That should be the #1 reason not to do it,:tsk: it is so sad how some people just don`t really care about the environment .:saad: :damn:

I like Silver's idea - go with the high-flow cats...

Wow, this is a controversial thread if I have ever seen one.

:confused: ...We are all driving SUVs. That is not good for the environment either.

I knew some body was going to say that!

I agreed but that is not unlawful and maybe we should be looking on ways to make it better and not worse only because we want a bit more hp an a nicer sounding car.

Ahhh.......no. The emission of a SUV can be as clean as a compact car.....the type of vehicle has NOTHING to do with emissions...the engine and exhaust do however and removing portions of the exhaust increases emissions as well as O2 sensor failure.

can be, doesnt mean it is. The newer ones have better emissions. Old Xs are bad.

imo the whole idea is idiotic and illegal unless you live in the jungle.

Can't be too bad, they pass emissions testing. So no worse then what is allowed on the road.

Whereas, playing with the emissions equipment does produce excess emissions into the atmosphere...now will this hurt the environment? In the long run no...because that school bus in front of you pumping out diesel with ZERO emissions checks will ruin the air long before you get a chance :rofl:

The emissions is not bad, but it is not as good as newer cars. I had straight pipes on my X for a month, and the emissions was terrible. Everytime I turned on the car, I had to air out the garage, becuase it would fill in seconds. I got the resonator put back on. Not worth it to take out certain parts of the exhaust that help with emissions.:thumbup:

resonators
 

yo yo, i thought the resonators were to decrease the sound level of the exhaust.....does it effect emissions? and gas milage??? tell...

Resonators don't impact emissions. Catalytic converters do. Taking the resonators out has practically no impact on power or mileage.

yup
 

:thumbup: thanks, thats what i thought.....

ya cats as far as i know make u fail ur emissions... i know my friend wit a G35 was going to fail his emission test if he got straight cats, so he got aftermarket power cat pipes or something like that that actually makes him pass his emissions but its not as loud as no cats....

:iagree: Why mess with a complex system that BMW had engineers (smarter that you or I) design?

where is the video to this guys exhaust....Any updates on a sound clip

Why not install racing cats, you will get the sound, extra hp, and pas the emisions. It will cost you more then removing yours, but do the right thing...