To exhaust or not to exhaust...
Discussion
Was the question I’d been pondering for the past several months regarding my E46 325 coupe.
Finally took the plunge last Friday when I traveled up to Blueflame performance in Skelmersdale!!
Being really happy with everything on the car in the last two years of ownership and tidying this and that up along the way, the only thing I ever felt was lacking was a bit of acoustical pleasure when pushing on.
Months of research found most of the 'off the shelf' manufacturers providing systems for the 330 only, which left the custom route (had one on a previous car - hated it), or the Blueflame product, which I eventually opted for.
My main concern was having an overly loud Fart Box exhaust that droned at motorway speeds. Despite being assured by the guys at Blueflame that this wasn't a characteristic of said product, it took a few weeks of umming and arring before I took the plunge and booked the car in.
A 3 hour trip up there (can have it shipped out and fitted at local exhaust center if required although I didn't massively fancy that idea) and a couple of hours wait while they removed the old exhaust from just after the CAT's and replaced with new item, left me with can only be described as a work of art.. Beautifully mandrel bent twin 3" s/s pipes running through 4 separate silencers (center and rear for both pipes) and exiting through two OEMish looking tail pipes. The quaility of welding deserves a special mention alone.
The end result gives a lovely burble at idle, a real sense of occasion as you climb up the rev range, a 70-80mph cruize on the motorway as though the original was never removed, and a huge grin for the 200 mile return trip home.
Since Friday, and another 100 miles or so as the system 'cokes' up the sound is even better.
Just thought I'd share the experience for those who are perhaps in a similar state of ponder and were worried that it may 'ruin' their pride and joy. Obviously everyone’s opinion is different and one man's poison etc.. But for me I'm glad I went for it. As the technician said 'your only regret will be not to have had it done sooner’.
Thanks.
Finally took the plunge last Friday when I traveled up to Blueflame performance in Skelmersdale!!
Being really happy with everything on the car in the last two years of ownership and tidying this and that up along the way, the only thing I ever felt was lacking was a bit of acoustical pleasure when pushing on.
Months of research found most of the 'off the shelf' manufacturers providing systems for the 330 only, which left the custom route (had one on a previous car - hated it), or the Blueflame product, which I eventually opted for.
My main concern was having an overly loud Fart Box exhaust that droned at motorway speeds. Despite being assured by the guys at Blueflame that this wasn't a characteristic of said product, it took a few weeks of umming and arring before I took the plunge and booked the car in.
A 3 hour trip up there (can have it shipped out and fitted at local exhaust center if required although I didn't massively fancy that idea) and a couple of hours wait while they removed the old exhaust from just after the CAT's and replaced with new item, left me with can only be described as a work of art.. Beautifully mandrel bent twin 3" s/s pipes running through 4 separate silencers (center and rear for both pipes) and exiting through two OEMish looking tail pipes. The quaility of welding deserves a special mention alone.
The end result gives a lovely burble at idle, a real sense of occasion as you climb up the rev range, a 70-80mph cruize on the motorway as though the original was never removed, and a huge grin for the 200 mile return trip home.
Since Friday, and another 100 miles or so as the system 'cokes' up the sound is even better.
Just thought I'd share the experience for those who are perhaps in a similar state of ponder and were worried that it may 'ruin' their pride and joy. Obviously everyone’s opinion is different and one man's poison etc.. But for me I'm glad I went for it. As the technician said 'your only regret will be not to have had it done sooner’.
Thanks.
I've got a Blueflame exhaust on my 330i estate and am also v happy with it.
It looks bog standard from the outside which is a definite bonus.
Mine has a slight 'boom' around 2000rpm which is only a problem when you are at 50mph in motorway roadworks in 5th gear. Dropping down to 4th solves the problem.
It looks bog standard from the outside which is a definite bonus.
Mine has a slight 'boom' around 2000rpm which is only a problem when you are at 50mph in motorway roadworks in 5th gear. Dropping down to 4th solves the problem.
Will get some pics up soon (hopeless with computers)..
It certainly does sound sporty and to be honest is a fair bit noisier than OEM (at low speeds when poodling around town) altohugh as I stated earlier with a bit of delicate accelorator pedal work you can make the car sound as loud or quiet as you like.. Most importantly though at motorway speeds at a constant it's barely noticable.
I spent hours and hours searching youtube and like for clips and to be honest none of them give a real feel for how it will sound.
If you're thinking about one then I'd defo recommend this one. The rare occasions where you might think I wish it was a tad more sedated, will be immediately forgotten when the next empty stretch of dual carriage way presents its self infront of you (or tunnel)!! :-)
It certainly does sound sporty and to be honest is a fair bit noisier than OEM (at low speeds when poodling around town) altohugh as I stated earlier with a bit of delicate accelorator pedal work you can make the car sound as loud or quiet as you like.. Most importantly though at motorway speeds at a constant it's barely noticable.
I spent hours and hours searching youtube and like for clips and to be honest none of them give a real feel for how it will sound.
If you're thinking about one then I'd defo recommend this one. The rare occasions where you might think I wish it was a tad more sedated, will be immediately forgotten when the next empty stretch of dual carriage way presents its self infront of you (or tunnel)!! :-)
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