Better sounding exhaust

TOMGREEN413 · Post by **TOMGREEN413** » 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

B21 · Post by **B21** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:37 pm

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..

biZ4rreMids · Post by **biZ4rreMids** » 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.

B21 · Post by **B21** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:53 pm

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.

4 golf tees £1.99…Supersprint £2k…not exactly ‘cheap’ related to the OP question?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Longridge-Unis ... 3549370464

biZ4rreMids · Post by **biZ4rreMids** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:32 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:53 pm
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.
4 golf tees £1.99…Supersprint £2k…not exactly ‘cheap’ related to the OP question?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Longridge-Unis ... 3549370464

Ah, missed the ‘cheap’ comment, apologies OP.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:39 pm

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

I disconnected the vacuum pipe from my 20i’s rear silencer, it gives a modest but noticeable increase in exhaust sound.
Rob

Jay-Jay · Post by **Jay-Jay** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:45 pm

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.

Pondrew · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed Nov 30, 2022 11:02 pm

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.

TOMGREEN413 · Post by **TOMGREEN413** » 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 ?

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Thu Dec 01, 2022 7:46 am

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.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:35 am

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 ?

Get on the ground & look up at the rear silencer and you will see the vacuum pipe attached to the baffle actuator.
Rob

TOMGREEN413 · Post by **TOMGREEN413** » Thu Dec 01, 2022 9:43 am

Thanks for the information, I'll give it a try.

TOMGREEN413 · Post by **TOMGREEN413** » 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

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Dec 05, 2022 7:05 pm

TOMGREEN413 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

It’s only a subtle difference but definitely sounds better, maybe she has the radio turned up loud

Rob

TOMGREEN413 · Post by **TOMGREEN413** » Mon Dec 05, 2022 10:18 pm

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com