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Better sounding exhaust
- TOMGREEN413
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2022 5:41 pm
- Location: Somewhere in deep darkest Wales
Better sounding exhaust
Good evening folks,
Just a quick question regarding any cheap and easy ways to improve the sound of the standard E89 with the 2.0 four pot. I'm sure this has been done to death.....so apologies.....but I'd like to know if my wife's Z can be made to sound just a little bit more sporty? Thanks in advance Tom
Just a quick question regarding any cheap and easy ways to improve the sound of the standard E89 with the 2.0 four pot. I'm sure this has been done to death.....so apologies.....but I'd like to know if my wife's Z can be made to sound just a little bit more sporty? Thanks in advance Tom
White e89 Red leather interior (But that's the wife's and don't I know it :/ )
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 5450
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Better sounding exhaust
Enable ‘sports mode’ on the exhaust by holding the exhaust valve vacuum line open with a golf tee..if you must….must be the cheapest option by a long long way..
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2020 7:45 pm
- Location: Tamworth
Better sounding exhaust
Supersprint make a full exhaust system for the 20i but it costs c£2k. I ran just the down pipe (decat) which adds a bit of a growl when hooning it but won’t pass an mot.
Speed Yellow Porsche Boxster S
Previous:
Melbourne red 2016 20i MSport with a few subtle mods
Titanium Silver 2004 3.0SE with run flats
Previous:
Melbourne red 2016 20i MSport with a few subtle mods
Titanium Silver 2004 3.0SE with run flats
- B21
- Lifer
- Posts: 5450
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2021 7:15 pm
- Location: In my Banana Yellow Space Shuttle...somewhere over Southern Caledonia
Better sounding exhaust
4 golf tees £1.99…Supersprint £2k…not exactly ‘cheap’ related to the OP question?biZ4rreMids wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:49 pm Supersprint make a full exhaust system for the 20i but it costs c£2k. I ran just the down pipe (decat) which adds a bit of a growl when hooning it but won’t pass an mot.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Longridge-Unis ... 3549370464
We choose to go to on with this endeavour at this time and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard…
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
A very modified Atacama Yellow 35is
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2020 7:45 pm
- Location: Tamworth
Better sounding exhaust
Ah, missed the ‘cheap’ comment, apologies OP.B21 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:53 pm4 golf tees £1.99…Supersprint £2k…not exactly ‘cheap’ related to the OP question?biZ4rreMids wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:49 pm Supersprint make a full exhaust system for the 20i but it costs c£2k. I ran just the down pipe (decat) which adds a bit of a growl when hooning it but won’t pass an mot.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Longridge-Unis ... 3549370464
Speed Yellow Porsche Boxster S
Previous:
Melbourne red 2016 20i MSport with a few subtle mods
Titanium Silver 2004 3.0SE with run flats
Previous:
Melbourne red 2016 20i MSport with a few subtle mods
Titanium Silver 2004 3.0SE with run flats
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Better sounding exhaust
I disconnected the vacuum pipe from my 20i’s rear silencer, it gives a modest but noticeable increase in exhaust sound.TOMGREEN413 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 7:47 pm Good evening folks,
Just a quick question regarding any cheap and easy ways to improve the sound of the standard E89 with the 2.0 four pot. I'm sure this has been done to death.....so apologies.....but I'd like to know if my wife's Z can be made to sound just a little bit more sporty? Thanks in advance Tom
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
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- Member
- Posts: 85
- Joined: Wed Mar 17, 2021 9:50 am
- Location: Kent
Better sounding exhaust
I started off with the golf tee mod which was good then did a res delete which is just removing the mid box on the exhaust system, cost about £120, it made a small difference, you hear the difference more when accelerating or coming down the revs where it will pop & burble a little.
Alpine White E89 28i M Sport
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- Lifer
- Posts: 8503
- Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:20 pm
- Location: Spaldingski
Better sounding exhaust
Cheapest way is to drill some holes in the rear silencer. It's not the best but is the cheapest.
If you put a better quality free-flowing air filter in the airbox, you get a much better induction/turbo noise; that's obviously on the 'in' rather than the 'out', though.
It's such a shame BMW don't do an M Performance exhaust for the Z4. It would make the N54 sound great (cos I know it makes the B58 sound like a V8 on speed in sport with the valves open). Would help the little N20 immensely too.
If you put a better quality free-flowing air filter in the airbox, you get a much better induction/turbo noise; that's obviously on the 'in' rather than the 'out', though.
It's such a shame BMW don't do an M Performance exhaust for the Z4. It would make the N54 sound great (cos I know it makes the B58 sound like a V8 on speed in sport with the valves open). Would help the little N20 immensely too.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- TOMGREEN413
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2022 5:41 pm
- Location: Somewhere in deep darkest Wales
Better sounding exhaust
Wow, epic information, thank you.
I must confess I only clean n polish the wife's e89, so not very closed up on the engine bits......could someone kindly post a pick of where I stick the golf tee or describe where this vacum pipe is located ?
I must confess I only clean n polish the wife's e89, so not very closed up on the engine bits......could someone kindly post a pick of where I stick the golf tee or describe where this vacum pipe is located ?
White e89 Red leather interior (But that's the wife's and don't I know it :/ )
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
-
- Lifer
- Posts: 4045
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
- Location: Stourbridge
Better sounding exhaust
Something i tried, cheap experiment, buy cheap radio mic.
One i bought was only £8-10.
Small transmitter and receiver.
Transmitter mic i put in boot and put the mic various positions around exhaust.
Then receiver into aux radio port.
Some interesting noises made.
I think the novelty quickly wore off.
One i bought was only £8-10.
Small transmitter and receiver.
Transmitter mic i put in boot and put the mic various positions around exhaust.
Then receiver into aux radio port.
Some interesting noises made.
I think the novelty quickly wore off.
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Better sounding exhaust
Get on the ground & look up at the rear silencer and you will see the vacuum pipe attached to the baffle actuator.TOMGREEN413 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 11:59 pm Wow, epic information, thank you.
I must confess I only clean n polish the wife's e89, so not very closed up on the engine bits......could someone kindly post a pick of where I stick the golf tee or describe where this vacum pipe is located ?
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
- TOMGREEN413
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2022 5:41 pm
- Location: Somewhere in deep darkest Wales
Better sounding exhaust
Thanks for the information, I'll give it a try.
White e89 Red leather interior (But that's the wife's and don't I know it :/ )
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
- TOMGREEN413
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2022 5:41 pm
- Location: Somewhere in deep darkest Wales
Better sounding exhaust
Thanks again for the information re exhaust system, so I successfully removed a d plugged the hose when the wife wasn't around and waited for her to make a trip in it (today).......then kinda casually asked "how the Beemer went and sounded today?"......."same as any other day "...came the reply!!!!!!........." why are you asking?"......oh..."no reason dear ?"...
Conclusion......... why did I bother
Conclusion......... why did I bother
White e89 Red leather interior (But that's the wife's and don't I know it :/ )
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
- Smartbear
- Lifer
- Posts: 13685
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 6:54 pm
- Location: a barn in Somerset
Better sounding exhaust
It’s only a subtle difference but definitely sounds better, maybe she has the radio turned up loudTOMGREEN413 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 05, 2022 6:51 pm Thanks again for the information re exhaust system, so I successfully removed a d plugged the hose when the wife wasn't around and waited for her to make a trip in it (today).......then kinda casually asked "how the Beemer went and sounded today?"......."same as any other day "...came the reply!!!!!!........." why are you asking?"......oh..."no reason dear ?"...
Conclusion......... why did I bother
Rob
e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold
- TOMGREEN413
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1023
- Joined: Fri Oct 14, 2022 5:41 pm
- Location: Somewhere in deep darkest Wales
Better sounding exhaust
White e89 Red leather interior (But that's the wife's and don't I know it :/ )
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster
Montego Blue Coupe manual si sport (Faster than the above....much faster