New Quad Exhaust Setup for 545i/550i
#1
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
Some of you are familiar with my previous quad exhaust system along with the complain of droning between 1500-2200 rpm acceleration and deceleration.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...l=official+quad
Well, after much research, examining different exhaust theories and trying to apply it to BMW's stock setup, I came up with the following setup:
From the Cat (with all 2.25 inch size and piping trhroughout) follow:
2 OE resonators
2 Jones 3.5 resonators 9" long blanks
1 Magnaflow x-pipe
1 OE centerbox resonator
dual 2.25 inch piping out to the rear
2 Jones turbo tube mufflers 4" round 12" long with necks
2 Magnaflow 3" angle cut rolled double wall 10" long
The Sound Result:
At 500 rpm, it's stock quiet idle. At 700 rpm, it rumbles nicely (with AC compressor running). At less than 1500 rpm cruise speed, it's quiet as stock. Absolutely no sound from the exhaust (that's driving on asphalt too). From 1500 to 2200 rpm, and the engine is tugging, there is exhaust sound but I can still hear the radio at low volume. For comparison, it sound lower than my Stuffed muffler video. If stock sound is rated at 1 (quietest), the sound is about 4-5. The straight through was at about 7-8 on the drone scale. After 2200 rpm, you can't even imagine!!!! Unlike the straight through setup previously, the exhaust note quiets down with the rise in rpm, or at the least, it doesn't get louder. With the current setup, 3500-5000 rpm is rockin' rollin' to redline.
The Performance Result: (Based on my very observant and sensitive butt)
Absolutely, no loss in torque at low rpm. It's very similar if not the same as stock on acceleration. From 40 to 80 mph, it's the virtually the same as stock (yes, I filter out the aggressive exhaust note). I did notice that at 70-100+ mph, it appears that the straight-through has an edge on acceleration. Of course, all these empirical observation is based on my sensitive butt.
Questions:
1. Aren't usinig turbo tubes restrictive and therefore not as good as straight throughs?
Not quite a yes or no answer. With regards to airflow, the stock's biggest pipe size is 3". The turbo tubes have a 1.75 inch diameter in each (x2), so one would have a max. pipe flow of 3.5 inches. At some points in the stock exhaust system, the pipe size is only 2 inches. So the turbo tube design is a little better flow than the stock, but not as good as the straight through. You sacrifice the droning.
2. The Jones Exhaust is aluminized and not stainless steel. It won't last.
True, but if you use High Temp Paint, it works great. Additionally, aluminize is much cheaper than SS. Who wants sometime "shiny" under their car except for the exhaust tips?
3. Is the setup clean or are there any pipes sticking out?
Absolutely not. No pipes, resonators, mufflers, etc. of the exhaust system hangs lower than the "heatsink" thing on your rear axle. No muffler beyond the rear bumper either. The good thing with the 12" long turbo tube is that it allows for a 10" dual tips to tuck very nicely along the rear bumper (M5) line, so no more exhaust tips really hanging out there.
4. What's the price?
Cheaper than anything you can find out there. 60 (jones) +80 (x-pipe) +140 (Tips) plus installation and piping (4 hours). It equates to less than $600.00 installed.
Pictures and video (sound clips) will follow within the week (I hope).
EDIT:
Startup_and_Reving.mpg
Drive_By.mpg
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...l=official+quad
Well, after much research, examining different exhaust theories and trying to apply it to BMW's stock setup, I came up with the following setup:
From the Cat (with all 2.25 inch size and piping trhroughout) follow:
2 OE resonators
2 Jones 3.5 resonators 9" long blanks
1 Magnaflow x-pipe
1 OE centerbox resonator
dual 2.25 inch piping out to the rear
2 Jones turbo tube mufflers 4" round 12" long with necks
2 Magnaflow 3" angle cut rolled double wall 10" long
The Sound Result:
At 500 rpm, it's stock quiet idle. At 700 rpm, it rumbles nicely (with AC compressor running). At less than 1500 rpm cruise speed, it's quiet as stock. Absolutely no sound from the exhaust (that's driving on asphalt too). From 1500 to 2200 rpm, and the engine is tugging, there is exhaust sound but I can still hear the radio at low volume. For comparison, it sound lower than my Stuffed muffler video. If stock sound is rated at 1 (quietest), the sound is about 4-5. The straight through was at about 7-8 on the drone scale. After 2200 rpm, you can't even imagine!!!! Unlike the straight through setup previously, the exhaust note quiets down with the rise in rpm, or at the least, it doesn't get louder. With the current setup, 3500-5000 rpm is rockin' rollin' to redline.
The Performance Result: (Based on my very observant and sensitive butt)
Absolutely, no loss in torque at low rpm. It's very similar if not the same as stock on acceleration. From 40 to 80 mph, it's the virtually the same as stock (yes, I filter out the aggressive exhaust note). I did notice that at 70-100+ mph, it appears that the straight-through has an edge on acceleration. Of course, all these empirical observation is based on my sensitive butt.
Questions:
1. Aren't usinig turbo tubes restrictive and therefore not as good as straight throughs?
Not quite a yes or no answer. With regards to airflow, the stock's biggest pipe size is 3". The turbo tubes have a 1.75 inch diameter in each (x2), so one would have a max. pipe flow of 3.5 inches. At some points in the stock exhaust system, the pipe size is only 2 inches. So the turbo tube design is a little better flow than the stock, but not as good as the straight through. You sacrifice the droning.
2. The Jones Exhaust is aluminized and not stainless steel. It won't last.
True, but if you use High Temp Paint, it works great. Additionally, aluminize is much cheaper than SS. Who wants sometime "shiny" under their car except for the exhaust tips?
3. Is the setup clean or are there any pipes sticking out?
Absolutely not. No pipes, resonators, mufflers, etc. of the exhaust system hangs lower than the "heatsink" thing on your rear axle. No muffler beyond the rear bumper either. The good thing with the 12" long turbo tube is that it allows for a 10" dual tips to tuck very nicely along the rear bumper (M5) line, so no more exhaust tips really hanging out there.
4. What's the price?
Cheaper than anything you can find out there. 60 (jones) +80 (x-pipe) +140 (Tips) plus installation and piping (4 hours). It equates to less than $600.00 installed.
Pictures and video (sound clips) will follow within the week (I hope).
EDIT:
Startup_and_Reving.mpg
Drive_By.mpg
#2
Contributors
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: Chester County PA
My Ride: 2007 550i, Mystic Blue over Auburn, 6-Manual, Sports, Premium, Cold Weather, Logic 7, Nav, Sirius, MTec Front & Sides with M5 rear apron, VIS Penta carbon fiber vented hood, OEM M166s, (or Style 101M with winter 19 Blizzaks), BMW Blue Calipers, Custom Quad Exhaust and M5 side grills, trunk finisher and spoiler. Rogue Octane SSK/WSR and Zeckhausen CDV, BMW illuminated shift knob, Delivered 4/26/06 - Ordered 3/18/06 from Otto's (the Best) BMW Dealership.
Originally Posted by Bimmer32' post='576868' date='May 8 2008, 06:20 PM
Some of you are familiar with my previous quad exhaust system along with the complain of droning between 1500-2200 rpm acceleration and deceleration.
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...l=official+quad
Well, after much research, examining different exhaust theories and trying to apply it to BMW's stock setup, I came up with the following setup:
From the Cat (with all 2.25 inch size and piping trhroughout) follow:
2 OE resonators
2 Jones 3.5 resonators 9" long blanks
1 Magnaflow x-pipe
1 OE centerbox resonator
dual 2.25 inch piping out to the rear
2 Jones turbo tube mufflers 4" round 12" long with necks
2 Magnaflow 3" angle cut rolled double wall 10" long
The Sound Result:
At 500 rpm, it's stock quiet idle. At 700 rpm, it rumbles nicely (with AC compressor running). At less than 1500 rpm cruise speed, it's quiet as stock. Absolutely no sound from the exhaust (that's driving on asphalt too). From 1500 to 2200 rpm, and the engine is tugging, there is exhaust sound but I can still hear the radio at low volume. For comparison, it sound lower than my Stuffed muffler video. If stock sound is rated at 1 (quietest), the sound is about 4-5. The straight through was at about 7-8 on the drone scale. After 2200 rpm, you can't even imagine!!!! Unlike the straight through setup previously, the exhaust note quiets down with the rise in rpm, or at the least, it doesn't get louder. With the current setup, 3500-5000 rpm is rockin' rollin' to redline.
The Performance Result: (Based on my very observant and sensitive butt)
Absolutely, no loss in torque at low rpm. It's very similar if not the same as stock on acceleration. From 40 to 80 mph, it's the virtually the same as stock (yes, I filter out the aggressive exhaust note). I did notice that at 70-100+ mph, it appears that the straight-through has an edge on acceleration. Of course, all these empirical observation is based on my sensitive butt.
Questions:
1. Aren't usinig turbo tubes restrictive and therefore not as good as straight throughs?
Not quite a yes or no answer. With regards to airflow, the stock's biggest pipe size is 3". The turbo tubes have a 1.75 inch diameter in each (x2), so one would have a max. pipe flow of 3.5 inches. At some points in the stock exhaust system, the pipe size is only 2 inches. So the turbo tube design is a little better flow than the stock, but not as good as the straight through. You sacrifice the droning.
2. The Jones Exhaust is aluminized and not stainless steel. It won't last.
True, but if you use High Temp Paint, it works great. Additionally, aluminize is much cheaper than SS. Who wants sometime "shiny" under their car except for the exhaust tips?
3. Is the setup clean or are there any pipes sticking out?
Absolutely not. No pipes, resonators, mufflers, etc. of the exhaust system hangs lower than the "heatsink" thing on your rear axle. No muffler beyond the rear bumper either. The good thing with the 12" long turbo tube is that it allows for a 10" dual tips to tuck very nicely along the rear bumper (M5) line, so no more exhaust tips really hanging out there.
4. What's the price?
Cheaper than anything you can find out there. 60 (jones) +80 (x-pipe) +140 (Tips) plus installation and piping (4 hours). It equates to less than $600.00 installed.
Pictures and video (sound clips) will follow within the week (I hope).
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...l=official+quad
Well, after much research, examining different exhaust theories and trying to apply it to BMW's stock setup, I came up with the following setup:
From the Cat (with all 2.25 inch size and piping trhroughout) follow:
2 OE resonators
2 Jones 3.5 resonators 9" long blanks
1 Magnaflow x-pipe
1 OE centerbox resonator
dual 2.25 inch piping out to the rear
2 Jones turbo tube mufflers 4" round 12" long with necks
2 Magnaflow 3" angle cut rolled double wall 10" long
The Sound Result:
At 500 rpm, it's stock quiet idle. At 700 rpm, it rumbles nicely (with AC compressor running). At less than 1500 rpm cruise speed, it's quiet as stock. Absolutely no sound from the exhaust (that's driving on asphalt too). From 1500 to 2200 rpm, and the engine is tugging, there is exhaust sound but I can still hear the radio at low volume. For comparison, it sound lower than my Stuffed muffler video. If stock sound is rated at 1 (quietest), the sound is about 4-5. The straight through was at about 7-8 on the drone scale. After 2200 rpm, you can't even imagine!!!! Unlike the straight through setup previously, the exhaust note quiets down with the rise in rpm, or at the least, it doesn't get louder. With the current setup, 3500-5000 rpm is rockin' rollin' to redline.
The Performance Result: (Based on my very observant and sensitive butt)
Absolutely, no loss in torque at low rpm. It's very similar if not the same as stock on acceleration. From 40 to 80 mph, it's the virtually the same as stock (yes, I filter out the aggressive exhaust note). I did notice that at 70-100+ mph, it appears that the straight-through has an edge on acceleration. Of course, all these empirical observation is based on my sensitive butt.
Questions:
1. Aren't usinig turbo tubes restrictive and therefore not as good as straight throughs?
Not quite a yes or no answer. With regards to airflow, the stock's biggest pipe size is 3". The turbo tubes have a 1.75 inch diameter in each (x2), so one would have a max. pipe flow of 3.5 inches. At some points in the stock exhaust system, the pipe size is only 2 inches. So the turbo tube design is a little better flow than the stock, but not as good as the straight through. You sacrifice the droning.
2. The Jones Exhaust is aluminized and not stainless steel. It won't last.
True, but if you use High Temp Paint, it works great. Additionally, aluminize is much cheaper than SS. Who wants sometime "shiny" under their car except for the exhaust tips?
3. Is the setup clean or are there any pipes sticking out?
Absolutely not. No pipes, resonators, mufflers, etc. of the exhaust system hangs lower than the "heatsink" thing on your rear axle. No muffler beyond the rear bumper either. The good thing with the 12" long turbo tube is that it allows for a 10" dual tips to tuck very nicely along the rear bumper (M5) line, so no more exhaust tips really hanging out there.
4. What's the price?
Cheaper than anything you can find out there. 60 (jones) +80 (x-pipe) +140 (Tips) plus installation and piping (4 hours). It equates to less than $600.00 installed.
Pictures and video (sound clips) will follow within the week (I hope).
Sounds great- get pics up!
#5
Contributors
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
My Ride: 545i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
Very nice write up! I need to get picks up of my quad setup. I got it done......FINALLY two weeks ago but never had a chance to post. I too have almost no drone. The car actually sounds stock, until you get on it! I used the Magnaflow Resonated X-Pipe and removed the rear OEM Resonator with great results. I will try to get some pics up this weekend.
#8
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
Pics of Rear exhaust tips
Idle_Mild_Start_to_2.5k_rpm.mpg
Idle and mild acceleration to 2500 rpm. Others will follow later. More to come . . .
#9
Thread Starter
Contributors
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,114
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
My Ride: 2005 BMW 545i, Silver Grey, Sport Package, R. Shades, Cold Pkg, Sat. Rad., Prem. Sound.
Originally Posted by Hyper_545i' post='577098' date='May 9 2008, 06:50 AM
Very nice write up! I need to get picks up of my quad setup. I got it done......FINALLY two weeks ago but never had a chance to post. I too have almost no drone. The car actually sounds stock, until you get on it! I used the Magnaflow Resonated X-Pipe and removed the rear OEM Resonator with great results. I will try to get some pics up this weekend.
#10
Contributors
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
My Ride: 545i
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
Originally Posted by Bimmer32' post='577203' date='May 9 2008, 11:38 AM
What did you use in place of the rear mufflers?