Intake or muffler?

H

Hotride

Active member
 Nth Qld
I've got a 3.0i and I want a bit more noise. Before you ask I have removed both pieces of foam. I have been thinking about either an induction kit k&n Apollo http://www.modyourcar.com.au/kn-apollo-cold-air-intake-system--black-p5169 or simota carbon intake http://www.360infiniteusa.com/simota-bmw-carbon-fiber-intake-p-378.html . (both around 200usd delivered) or doing a muffler delete and removing the muffler and putting in some straight through pipe.

Bit worried about the droning noise if I muffler delete tho. Has anyone any experience with either of these air intakes or doing a muffler delete on a 3.0i? Or a recommendation on which will produce the best sound? Looking for something that sounds a bit more exotic/ M sounding. Not too worried about power gains...
 
Have you considered a different exhaust rather than just a delete? Someone else can help better here than I can, but I'm pretty sure I saw someone running an aftermarket exhaust with all sorts of settings (electronic) to customise the sound & loudness.
 
OK so due to the obvious lack of knowledge, i went to see the exhaust guy today and he seems to think removing the resonators wont do anything to the noise of the car :headbang: , and he reckons the back box is by far the most restrictive part of the exhaust.

So if i want a more sound, my only option is remove the back box, and install some hot dogs, or as boogle says, pay to import something like a remus (but I ain't spending that much).

Has anyone cut the back box off their car? not sure if it will drone or how it will turn out... maybe i should just start with the intake
 
Ed Butler, Mr Whippy and DaveG are all looking at modifying the standard back box. There's a thread or two on here with some good info, just not sure how far they've got with it yet.
 
Thanks for the info pawn. Modding the back box might be a good idea, guess it ain't a reversible mod but I might risk it

Just had a look at your quad exhaust write up, and it has me very interested. I think I would pay a bit more to get the back end looking like that.
 
You know I was going to send a reply to our recent PM discussion and then I saw you'd started a thread :)

I just wanted to add that after having the cold air intake setup on my last car I'm not sure I'd do it again. When it came time to sell the car I swapped it back to the stock intake system and noticed so much crap in the piping I had been using for the cold air intake. A greasy film. Admittedly I didn't clean the pod filter as often as one should but that film had me worried about all that crap going into the engine. So because of that I'd be very hesitant to do that kind of system on my Zed.

Quad exhaust would be awesome: sound, looks and potential marginally increased power! ;)
 
Lol yer decided to see what the world thought of my ideas.

I'm liking the quad exhaust idea at the moment, I wonder if anyone here (Oz) can custom make one or if I would need to order from Europe. Otherwise I think I will continue along the path of modifying the standard back box. got a quote for $300 to remove back box, add a hotdog style muffler to each pipe and some

I have heard lots of story's about oily piping from pod filters, which turns me off them. But I noticed the afe comes with a dry filter. And I had a k&n on my previous car for at least 2 years with no problems.

Decisions decisions lol
 
I'm still debating going down the Simota carbon intake route - but I've been debating this for months/years and still not done it due to insurance implications with my current insurer :roll:

Have a search for "simota" on here/youtube: there's certainly some videos of it fitted to a 6-cyl Z4 and I LOVE the noise. Not sure how it translates to noise in the cabin (which IMO is more important) but from the outside they sound great IMO. I know it doesn't suit everyone but I like it.

Edit - found some vids:

[youtube]32T263kf6eI[/youtube]

[youtube]E--YQlfx55E[/youtube]

[youtube]oFm-TzdZYGg[/youtube]
 
Boogle said:
That sounds amazing!
Click to expand...
It's a bit CSL-esq IMO and hence my interest in getting an intake system :oops:

I know it will do sod all for performance, it's all about the noise!
 
Gives it a nice growl. :thumbsup:

I'm sure you'll be able to hear it pretty good from the inside. As for exhausts i also think that you should stay away from straight pipes as the drone and rasp will be attrocious, dont know how much the resonators (i'm guessing that's what "hot dogs" are) will bring the noise and drone down though... My RPI are basically straight pipes with a small resonator at each end, it does not rasp but the drone and sheer volume are immense. I know it doesnt really compare as mine is an M but it's an example anyway.

Perhaps remove your mufflers altogether and rev it a bit or go for a short drive round the block just to hear what's it like, it'll be that but just a tiny bit quieter and more "cultured" with a small resonator.

Is importing a foreign made system really that expensive? Doesnt have to be from Europe, there are US made systems as well for the 3.0i if import duties are any cheaper.
 
Hotride said:
I have heard lots of story's about oily piping from pod filters, which turns me off them. But I noticed the afe comes with a dry filter. And I had a k&n on my previous car for at least 2 years with no problems.
Click to expand...
Yeah mine was a K&N filter too - it had to be cleaned and oiled. I suppose a dry filter sounds better - what you want is a filter that's got as fine a weave as stock but a larger surface area?

Decisions indeed ;)
 
Ally i agree it does make a nice noise, I'm leaning towards buying one as there a pretty good price, just want to know how quality the pod filter is in it first. Don't want an oily/ misreading afm now...

Koolchris - link in the first post has price and place. Your sound gen should be fine.

Ga41 - the eisenman unit is roughly $3500 plus fitting, which is a bit over my budget ATM. Hotdogs are indeed resonators/ small mufflers, which would tune the sound down a little and cost $300 fitted, so it is quite a difference! :wink:

If I wanted to remove the back box to test your theory, I would still have to go to the exhaust shop to get it cut off yer?
 
have you considered an Arqray back box?

http://www.arqray.jp/englishweb/

They seem to be a highly regarded manufacturer of aftermarket exhausts and are closer to you than us in the UK! I contacted them a little while back and the delivery wasn't as bad as I expected but you do have to cut your old system and this slides over the pipes. It does come with all the clamps to fit.

DSC01218.jpg

A couple of vids on Youtube are what tempted me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_wMg-ef7OM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TSyX23ntPk&feature=related
 
Hotride said:
Ga41 - the eisenman unit is roughly $3500 plus fitting, which is a bit over my budget ATM. Hotdogs are indeed resonators/ small mufflers, which would tune the sound down a little and cost $300 fitted, so it is quite a difference! :wink:

If I wanted to remove the back box to test your theory, I would still have to go to the exhaust shop to get it cut off yer?
Click to expand...


Not sure to be honest! On the M the back boxes are easily replaceable with no need for cutting anything but on the 3.0i.. The only photo i can quickly find is from RealOEM.com and it's not very clear. Perhaps someone with actual hand-on experience can help??

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=18_0499&hg=18&fg=20

191.png
 
Well i guess cutting will be required then... On Arqray's website that Bobbydm linked to above it says: "Installation: Cutting" for the Z4 3.0i exhaust model.

Didnt know that, i just assumed it would be something similar to the M where it's just a sort of gasket thing... :(
 
ga41 said:
Hotride said:
Ga41 - the eisenman unit is roughly $3500 plus fitting, which is a bit over my budget ATM. Hotdogs are indeed resonators/ small mufflers, which would tune the sound down a little and cost $300 fitted, so it is quite a difference! :wink:

If I wanted to remove the back box to test your theory, I would still have to go to the exhaust shop to get it cut off yer?
Click to expand...


Not sure to be honest! On the M the back boxes are easily replaceable with no need for cutting anything but on the 3.0i.. The only photo i can quickly find is from RealOEM.com and it's not very clear. Perhaps someone with actual hand-on experience can help??

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=18_0499&hg=18&fg=20

191.png
Click to expand...

Pretty sure they cut it, this is the 2.5 with an after market jobbie...
Z4_Eisenmann_Join.jpg
 
had mine on the hoist yesterday, it's defenitely welded on.

My g/f's civic got a lot louder when her bro stabbed the muffler a few times with a screw driver late one night (while she was asleep lol) maybe I should try that :rofl: or maybe not
 
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