E61 M5 exhaust mod - yes or no?

[Irish_Stu]

I've seen the e92 m3 backbox mod done and heard the improvement in sound it made. It is in no way a "chav" mod that people seem to be insinuating.

I haven't heard the s85 mod in person but am very intrigued. If people would rather pay a couple of grand to achieve a very similar effect, or potentially a "too loud" effect, let them work away.

[Calza]

0836whimper said:

Khaki Suit said:

I don't know why but I kinda have an issue with this mod. It's akin to cutting your springs to lower the car imho. Bit of a half arsed cheap mod more suited to seafront racers.

Me too

Thing is though, even if it was the same. A spring is integral to the cars safety and road worthiness, a bodge on one of them can really end in tears. A wrapped pipe and some welding on the exhaust is never going to have the same safety implications is it?

[Calza]

jimmydean said:

http://youtu.be/4Mqr6JJ_Ivw this is mine with the back boxes cut off and straight pipes to the back. Love it maybe more then a human should love a noise lol

Sounds absolutely lovely.

What's it like at a steady motorway cruise, any drone or issue?

[Christy O'Rourke]

Irish_Stu said:

I've seen the e92 m3 backbox mod done and heard the improvement in sound it made. It is in no way a "chav" mod that people seem to be insinuating.

I haven't heard the s85 mod in person but am very intrigued. If people would rather pay a couple of grand to achieve a very similar effect, or potentially a "too loud" effect, let them work away.

Exactly this.
I read all kinds of topics here that I don't agree with, but that doesn't mean that I go and offer insult to the person posting a differing view than mine.
@Khaki suit, thanks for the advice, but unfortunately I don't like that kind of music, I'm more a country and western type!
What modification if any have you done to your M5 may I ask?

[Christy O'Rourke]

This is what the finished product looks like. I cut the side open rather than the top, as I wasn't concerned with hiding the weld once theSystem was re installed. You'd have to look carefully to spot it once it's fitted back onto the car.

[Khaki Suit]

Christy O'Rourke said:

Exactly this.
I read all kinds of topics here that I don't agree with, but that doesn't mean that I go and offer insult to the person posting a differing view than mine.
@Khaki suit, thanks for the advice, but unfortunately I don't like that kind of music, I'm more a country and western type!
What modification if any have you done to your M5 may I ask?

Oh, you come from Preston, not far from Blackpool, perfect.

Mine has ebay coil-overs, camber shims, red painted callipers, chrome dished dubs, sweet sound system, sunstrip and limo tint. Sick man.

[Irish_Stu]

Christy O'Rourke said:

This is what the finished product looks like. I cut the side open rather than the top, as I wasn't concerned with hiding the weld once theSystem was re installed. You'd have to look carefully to spot it once it's fitted back onto the car.

Looks tidy. Did you use tig? I haven't done anything to my M6. I do like the idea of turning the volume up a little though...

[ady702]

Irish_Stu said:

I've seen the e92 m3 backbox mod done and heard the improvement in sound it made. It is in no way a "chav" mod that people seem to be insinuating.

I haven't heard the s85 mod in person but am very intrigued. If people would rather pay a couple of grand to achieve a very similar effect, or potentially a "too loud" effect, let them work away.

This!

[davewhitt]

longintheleg said:

I think you need to read everything more carefully mate.

why's that. i've seen the welders videos. and the question still stands WHY is this any different to a muffler delete?

"The E60 M5 mod involves opening up all 4 back boxes removing the fibre glass insides and wrapping with heat rated aluminium tape, then wrapping with ceramic manifold wrap, all held in place with stainless steel cable tie

Edited by davewhitt on Monday 2nd February 19:58

[AW10]

Khaki Suit said:

I don't know why but I kinda have an issue with this mod. It's akin to cutting your springs to lower the car imho. Bit of a half arsed cheap mod more suited to seafront racers.

How would you feel if BMW offered a sports exhaust option at the time for £595 and then you later found out that this sort of mod was the only difference?

[davewhitt]

i've spoken to my local long life center £200 buys a fully removable straight pipe with dual tips, clamped on. and the original back boxes extend so they can be put back on when its warranty claim time.

[Calza]

But doesn't this option bypass having to refit the standard boxes? (Assuming it can be welded at the top where they can't see).

Plus isn't there the very real possibility that if you're making a warranty claim, the car has lost steam - so trapsing round garages to get an exhaust fitted won't be ideal?

[cosworth330]

Christy O'Rourke said:

This is what the finished product looks like. I cut the side open rather than the top, as I wasn't concerned with hiding the weld once theSystem was re installed. You'd have to look carefully to spot it once it's fitted back onto the car.

Very neat job,nice.

I'm having 2 pipes done on Sunday,

[davewhitt]

Calza said:

But doesn't this option bypass having to refit the standard boxes? (Assuming it can be welded at the top where they can't see).

Plus isn't there the very real possibility that if you're making a warranty claim, the car has lost steam - so trapsing round garages to get an exhaust fitted won't be ideal?

but won't the dealer know something been changed, just from the noise , and the idea was for me to swap them over.

[Calza]

davewhitt said:

but won't the dealer know something been changed, just from the noise , and the idea was for me to swap them over.

Of course BMW won't be revving your car high / hard enough to notice any difference, sir.

[jimmydean]

No drone unless you really are cruising at high speed and even then it's not bad!

Calza said:

Sounds absolutely lovely.

What's it like at a steady motorway cruise, any drone or issue?

[Calza]

I assume you mean a speed higher than the UK limits?

[jimmydean]

Yes I tested it on a private road of course I love the sound of it, absolutely beautiful

[Christy O'Rourke]

Irish_Stu said:

Looks tidy. Did you use tig? I haven't done anything to my M6. I do like the idea of turning the volume up a little though...

Yes I tigged it. I actually welded in a new piece of stainless plate rather than re use the piece I cut out. I had to pull a very slight bend on the plate to match the ovality of the muffler itself, but to be fair it was in total approx a €50 job for me, as all I had to buy was the wrap itself. I had the tape, and stainless cable ties, and got some of the stainless from the lads at work.

Look, I'm quite aware that it may not be to everybody's taste to go modding an M5 like this, but it's really improved the sound, without being too loud, no drone, and looks totally stock. So, really that's all that matters to me!

[ZX10R NIN]

Christy O'Rourke said:

Yes I tigged it. I actually welded in a new piece of stainless plate rather than re use the piece I cut out. I had to pull a very slight bend on the plate to match the ovality of the muffler itself, but to be fair it was in total approx a €50 job for me, as all I had to buy was the wrap itself. I had the tape, and stainless cable ties, and got some of the stainless from the lads at work.

Look, I'm quite aware that it may not be to everybody's taste to go modding an M5 like this, but it's really improved the sound, without being too loud, no drone, and looks totally stock. So, really that's all that matters to me!

Do what you want it's your car I see it as a shrewd move a bit more noise for a lot less money(Eisenmann system £1995.00) than buying an exhaust system, the money saved can go in the tank so you can go & make noise down your favourite bit of road & with the extra £1800 yo could add a Re Map put some poly bushes on it K&N Element filters & have one very fast M5 that lot should net you around an extra 45bhp 30ft/lb torque with a great induction roar to back up the exhaust mod.