[Matt Devo]

One popped up locally on craigslist, but already off the car so can't hear it in person. Videos found on YouTube are minimal / don't tell much.

What I'm looking for is: how does it compare to stock -- at idle, cold start, under load, and cruising on the highway?

My main complaint with the stock exhaust (w/Fabspeed sport cat) is the drone/resonance when cruising on the highway or under partial throttle. The sound just isn't "clean." The seller claims the AFE didn't drone, but not really in the mood to chance it without some independent confirmation

cheers,
Matt

[wassy4]

Originally Posted by Matt Devo

One popped up locally on craigslist, but already off the car so can't hear it in person. Videos found on YouTube are minimal / don't tell much.

What I'm looking for is: how does it compare to stock -- at idle, cold start, under load, and cruising on the highway?

My main complaint with the stock exhaust (w/Fabspeed sport cat) is the drone/resonance when cruising on the highway or under partial throttle. The sound just isn't "clean." The seller claims the AFE didn't drone, but not really in the mood to chance it without some independent confirmation

cheers,
Matt

Can't speak on the AFE but the resonance/drone is only going to get worse with a louder exhaust.

Not entirely sure what you mean by not sounding "clean". Do you mean it sounds like a dump truck at low rpms? Lol

[M Fifty]

How did the exhaust sound to you with the stock cat?

[EDWYER]

From everything I have read, the AFE will drone.

[Matt Devo]

Originally Posted by M Fifty

How did the exhaust sound to you with the stock cat?

dunno, bought the car with the Fabspeed and res delete already done. I swapped the resonator back in and it helped a little, but sound still a bit muddy

[Matt Devo]

Originally Posted by wassy4

Can't speak on the AFE but the resonance/drone is only going to get worse with a louder exhaust.

that's certainly not universally true. My RS4 had a loud aftermarket exhaust, and zero drone. Another local OG M2 has a FI exhaust (IIRC) and it's quieter / has less drone with valves closed than stock.

Not entirely sure what you mean by not sounding "clean". Do you mean it sounds like a dump truck at low rpms? Lol

there's lots of resonance in the cabin.

[wassy4]

Originally Posted by Matt Devo

that's certainly not universally true. My RS4 had a loud aftermarket exhaust, and zero drone. Another local OG M2 has a FI exhaust (IIRC) and it's quieter / has less drone with valves closed than stock.

there's lots of resonance in the cabin.

A. I'm not talking universally, I'm talking specifically exhausts for this car. I had a 340i with a non-valved exhaust which also had zero drone, but this car is different.

B. From the looks of it, the AFE catback uses the stock valve which barely closes on the car without a valve controller. Even with a controller, it's not a big difference. It's 100% going to be much louder when paired with a downpipe, and will only make your issue worse. I have a Dinan exhaust that is the same way and it doesn't drone really at all but there's lots of resonance booms at certain RPMs. The FI exhaust has two valves on each side with its own controller to force shut the valves. I can almost guarantee that no aftermarket exhaust will be quieter than stock when paired with a downpipe even with valves closed. I bet it would be quieter with the stock downpipe though since the valve(s) can actually be closed in the proper scenarios. If it is actually quieter than stock when valves are closed, the exhaust isn't technically louder at that point, right?

I digress… I would recommend just taking the downpipe out and maybe just going the catback route with stock downpipe

[Matt Devo]

Originally Posted by wassy4

I digress… I would recommend just taking the downpipe out and maybe just going the catback route with stock downpipe

well, I don't have a stock cat to swap in, and ideally I'd like to not lose performance =P

[wassy4]

Originally Posted by Matt Devo

well, I don't have a stock cat to swap in, and ideally I'd like to not lose performance =P

I'm really not too sure then. I think my car sounded fantastic with downpipe and stock exhaust and had no resonance/drone at all. Maybe there's a leak?

[Matt Devo]

Originally Posted by wassy4

I'm really not too sure then. I think my car sounded fantastic with downpipe and stock exhaust and had no resonance/drone at all. Maybe there's a leak?

it's worth looking at, will check when my car is up in the air next week for an e90 slave, trans mounts, and a few other goodies

[Sundinisagod]

I hate to point out the obvious, but I will anyways. Did you delete the ASD?

[Matt Devo]

Originally Posted by Sundinisagod

I hate to point out the obvious, but I will anyways. Did you delete the ASD?

yes, ASD has been disabled via BimmerLink