Exhaust system work...

[Dave L]

The oldest portion of my exhaust system, in the middle (I believe that is the old resonator) has bitten the dust and fractured right through one of the ends. Since I need to replace some system anyway this seems like an good time to make an upgrade if I can. No craziness, just some good sound options is all I am looking for. Someone that I was speaking with, who used to work in a exhaust shop said I should just have a new pipe put in straight back to the muffler and do away with the resonator completely. What are any pro's and or con's to doing that?

Dave L

 

[abe3.0CSi]

I think it has to do with how loud you want it and what kind of sound you want. I would call Peter at COUPEKING he has different set ups specifically for your car...from stainless steel to regular. I know he has been toying to get the "right" sound. Although my pockets are a little empty right now...in the future I will purchase from him.
Good Luck
abe

 

[TodB]

stright pipe

I opted for a straight pipe in place of the front muffler for better flow. The result is its a bit on the loud side.

 

[blumax]

Modify the exhaust system

Since you are in Orange County--suggest contacting Kenny @ Angels in Costa Mesa--he does all of the exhaust work for a large Independent BMW shop-- and has taken care of my exhaust work on BLUMAX, my Bavaria and my 2002 for years. He will give you good guidance for your E-9 exhaust system--and at very friendly prices.

BTW--the authority on early BMW exhaust sytems is an Internationally noted race and hi-performance designer of engines and started his design career at BMW in the mid-1960's in time to benifit all of us owners of E-9's with the M-30 motors. A friend of mine for years he has stated to me that the original system was carefully designed to optimize both back pressures and power delivery with stock engines--so the only gain from changing that arrangement is the amount or decibel level of sound out the back--sounds like more power but not necessarily any improvement in actual power delivery.

Kenny @ Angels Exhaust 949-631-2422

Murray and BLUMAX

 

[HB Chris]

center resonator

My center resonator/muffler of the three had some holes so I replaced it with a pipe and the car sounds great, only a tad bit louder but hardly noticeable.

 

[shanon]

Ditto what the other Coupers have mentioned: depends on the sound level your seeking.

My original system was shot, my bros and I made some crazy pipes (ie dual side exhaust w/ race mufflers) and the result was real fun but WAY TOO LOUD for normal use. Lots of evil leers from pedestrians and the neighbors. I didn't want to be that obnoxious neighbor type with loud Harley...

So, went to an older muffler shop inthe area to explore a new system and he was an old timer very familiar with old BMWs. I told him what I wanted to do, he scrathed his head and went up into his attic and came down with an real NOS BMW center resonator, he said; "you can't get much better than this, take a look, about 2.5" ID with no restrictions to speak of and it fits perfect."

SOLD! We then put on a simple high flow turbo muffler for the second muffler and he a great job on the rest of the systems tubes. SOUNDS GREAT and ain't too loud at all = happy neighbors!

After I whacked it real good on a rock on the recent Snowball Rally, I took it back to him for repair and 'modification'. I wanted a track set-up (something LOUDER and more menacing), so while he was in there doing the repair (I whacked a tube, no muffler damage), I had him put a disconnect flange after the center resonator and fab a bolt-on side exhaust piece exiting just before the rear wheel, choice of either side, so it can rotate/flip 180 depending on the sound booth location of the track.

So now I have a sweet, relatively stock system (probably slightly louder with the turbo muffler, sounds awesome! Lots of compliments) that easily unbolts after the center resonator for a track side exhaust set-up. The rear second muffler/tube section just unbolts, side pipe bolt's on, takes 10-15min.

Honestly haven't tried the side pipe set-up out yet, don't want be that obnoxious neighbor.... yet! I'll defintiely have it on for a couple shows/events coming up!:twisted:

HTH
-shanon

 

[DJSimca]

I would just LOVE to get rid of the centre muffler as others here have done.

Does anyone have links to companies that make the centre tube which combines the 2 exhaust pipes coming from the exhaust manifold into one - in STAINLESS ?

 

[MMercury]

I would just LOVE to get rid of the centre muffler as others here have done.

Does anyone have links to companies that make the centre tube which combines the 2 exhaust pipes coming from the exhaust manifold into one - in STAINLESS ?

I believe you are looking for what is commonly referred to as a "Y" pipe. There are many in stainless, this being one example:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MPE-10778/ You might want to search for Borla too. Stahl makes headers specifically for E9's, but I do not know about stainless availability for y pipes. You could check with them directly.

www.stahlheaders.com

This is probably something you could search for in your area, otherwise the shipping might make even small parts prohibitively expensive. (So much so that you could probably have Georg Jensen design and build you an exhaust for the same price.)

If you still have the itch, there's plenty of places to look. For starters:
http://www.jegs.com/c/Exhaust/10245...stom+exhaust&gclid=COLK1M7Xs5sCFR0SagodlVq9Pg

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Exhaust/Section/Mufflers-Resonators/?Ns=Rank|Asc&autoview=ProductName

Good luck!

 

[DJSimca]

I believe you are looking for what is commonly referred to as a "Y" pipe. There are many in stainless, this being one example:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MPE-10778/ You might want to search for Borla too. Stahl makes headers specifically for E9's, but I do not know about stainless availability for y pipes. You could check with them directly.

www.stahlheaders.com

This is probably something you could search for in your area, otherwise the shipping might make even small parts prohibitively expensive. (So much so that you could probably have Georg Jensen design and build you an exhaust for the same price.)

If you still have the itch, there's plenty of places to look. For starters:
http://www.jegs.com/c/Exhaust/10245...stom+exhaust&gclid=COLK1M7Xs5sCFR0SagodlVq9Pg

http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Exhaust/Section/Mufflers-Resonators/?Ns=Rank|Asc&autoview=ProductName

Good luck!

FANTASTIC!! Thanks a lot MMercury