E39 M5 Exhaust questions

[broster]

Hello all, new m5 owner here so excuse the stupid questions! Just looking for a new exhaust system for my e39 m5, looking into it i see there is alot of mention of x-pipes as well as the cat back system, does the x pipe sit behind the cat? if so is it part of a cat back?

i like the look and sound of the milltek cat back, any comments on these? not after anything too loud just something to give it a bit more of a throaty rumble but not be too intrusive and garish looking!

many thanks in advance!

broster

[Neil.D]

The X pipe replaces the centre silencer so there is less restriction after the CATS. It also increases the noise as the rear boxes are then solely responsible for the noise. IMO leave the centre silencers and just upgrade the back boxes. Milltek's are as good as they get and sound brilliant. With the 'X' pipe it could be a little too much in my view.

[broster]

this image of the milltek system does this retain the center silencers? themn or is the x pipe combined in with the system?

[Neil.D]

Take a look at this picture of the stock system removed. It would seem that the Milltek system does away with the centre silencers. Personally I would keep them and just have the back boxes. It would just mean cutting the X pipe off and clamping the new system further back. Any good exhaust shop would happily do this

[broster]

thats great, thanks for you help!