Incorrect!!!
The remote doesn't switch between
OPEN and
CLOSED! Guys, please stop thinking that. It is
NOT true. The remote on an Akrapovic exhaust switches between
AUTO and
OPEN.
AUTO = The normal behavior of the vehicle as BMW developed it and how the stock ECU wants the valves to open and close.
OPEN = Valves always open and the BMW behavior is being overwritten.
In Efficient mode, the switching means that you think you switch between open and close, but you are NOT! BMW developed the valve behavior that the valves stay closed in Efficient mode and it is only open when you go full on WOT on the throttle. Try it and you will hear the exhaust valves open at around 4K rpm. The remote overwrites this and opens the valves always if the remote is RED.
In Sport and Sport+ modes, the switching is nothing other than in Efficient mode!! You are either following the behavior of the BMW ECU valve program or the valves are always open. The reason you hear not much difference is that you might not have removed the interior false exhaust note called ASD or you are not paying attention, because put the valve open, go to manual shifting and give the car some beans... You will hear some decent sound coming from the back, especially around 3K rpm and above.
The automatic valve behavior of the car programmed by BMW is as follows in Sport en Sport+:
Depending on the input of your throttle in Sport or Sport+, the car closes the valves at different RPMs ranges or gears. At low input the valves close when you go into 3rd gear, if you give a bit more input it could be 4th gear. There is also an option in which it closes the valves at 4K rpm. If you go full on, it never closes the valves. If you go full on (WOT) on the throttle, then it will open the valves immediately.
You must hear this difference, but it could be if you haven't remove ASD and that you are listening to the interior sound track instead of the real exhaust!! BMW did something really smart with this... In Sport and Sport+ mode, the interior sound from the speakers (the fake exhaust noise) becomes a lot more noticeable over 4K rpm and when the valves are getting closed. They did this making sure the car is not so loud outside, while still giving you the experience inside the interior. The interior sound comes up when the sound outside goes down. Smart idea!
By swapping your exhaust, all goes wrong, because the ASD is not in tune with what you altered underneath the car, therefore remove the ASD and listen to your new exhaust instead! Because I did this as well during the development and testing, Akrapovic decided on improving the valve closing process. We fine tuned the valves closing and opening by installing a sniffer system that looks at the CAN bus inside the car. The system checks when the remote is in AUTO if the BMW valve ECU software is opening or closing the exhaust.
The moment the valve gets closed at like 3rd or 4th gear depending on your throttle input, the Akrapovic control unit alters the speed and way in which the valves closes and therefore making sure the switch between open and close is more gradual and gentle. For people without ASD this is a real benefit, and we engineered it in for you guys to have a better exhaust experience! It is not open/close or loud/silent within one millisecond, but more like cllllloooossseeeee and getting more siillllllleennntttt.... taking a bit of time, allowing the sound track to be more gentle and getting more silent over a few milliseconds.
The Akrapovic Bluetooth remote is only useful if you want to fully open the exhaust at any time or if you want to enjoy the full soundtrack in Efficient mode without all the burbles. I know a far bunch of people enjoy that here! Other than that just leave the remote aside and flick through the modes on the dashboard. If you really want close and open, get an Awron display. It offers OPEN, CLOSE and AUTO via the RES button on your steering wheel.
Any more questions please ask me!
MR