Thoughts please about modifying my exhaust..

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Ashok
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Thoughts please about modifying my exhaust..

Post by Ashok » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:27 pm

It's been almost a year and 18,000 miles with the XD3 and I adore it. One of the only downsides is I sometimes yearn for a little more sound to match the performance. I've always considered Alpinas as part of the "don't mod it that's sacrilege" category, but I had a Miltek exhaust on my E39 M5 which sounded fabulous...

I recently came across this company in Germany which claims to add a "V8 rumble" to the beast at the push of a button:

http://schawe-cardesign.de/bmw-x3-f25-a ... otorsound/

Now I'm in two minds as to what to do... mod or not? I'd value a little feedback on this one...
Ashok
E39 M5 - much loved RIP
E60 M5 - good riddance
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Post by MCB » Thu Oct 29, 2015 10:57 pm

I am sorry but I don't understand! You are trying to make the car something that it isn't. It is a diesel and the car in that video sounded like something sat on the start line at Santa-Pod. Nasty!
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Post by ali » Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:53 pm

Bear in mind that the video the XD3 is ion a garage to amplify the noise.
Does the Xd3 have an Akrapovich one like the B3 does?
BMW straight 6s are incredibly difficult to make an exhaust that doesn't drone so in my mind its never worth going aftermarket unless its propely done by the likes of Eisenmann or Akrapovich.
Also you have a derv lump up front, one of the downsides is that it will never sound as good as a petrol no matter how hard you try
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Post by MCB » Thu Oct 29, 2015 11:57 pm

Looks like it is a popular thing to do :shock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19G8_UQj3d8
1997 E36 Alpina B3 3.2 Touring. No.66
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Post by Paulb » Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:02 am

MCB wrote:Looks like it is a popular thing to do :shock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19G8_UQj3d8
That just sounds like his exhaust is blowing - badly!
Nothing to see here.... move along in an orderly fashion please!
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Post by greenelekta » Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:58 am

I like that, best of both worlds. I would!
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Post by dodgyken » Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:52 am

One of the guys at Heidegger (the Swiss importer) said they had Alpina build B3s with the D3 exhaust system - giving a far more aggressive tone.

I oscillate back at forth with regards to exhaust notes - my old Z4 3.0 had a Basturk exhaust which was brilliant, delivering a more rounded meatier sound. Except at 1800-2000rpm when it was really boomy :(

The Alpina Roadster sounded brilliant at any revs.

One the B3 I swapped the Alpina one for a Hartge exhaust - this really opened up the lower end and add rasp to the top end. All in a very nice upgrade. (The only problem was I wanted more from the car).

The Morgan sounds simply epic - part wafter and part LeMans GT - it bellows and burbles and howls and screams - and makes me very happy indeed. It can even be quite serene on a gentle throttle with the windows up.

The B5s is remarkable - the engine can howl, and at idle with the windows down it has a nice woofely base note. Inside though it is all serene.

IMHO
For any car where the majority of the driving is spent windows up, cruising and trying to enjoy the luxury, be very careful in how you match the exhaust. If you cruise at 70mph and there is even a hint of drone it will drive you potty. If on the other hand the majority of your driving is for pleasure make it sound as magical as you want! Just be careful that the sound you create is not too exhaust biased.
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Post by MCB » Fri Oct 30, 2015 9:25 am

dodgyken wrote:IMHO
For any car where the majority of the driving is spent windows up, cruising and trying to enjoy the luxury, be very careful in how you match the exhaust. If you cruise at 70mph and there is even a hint of drone it will drive you potty. If on the other hand the majority of your driving is for pleasure make it sound as magical as you want! Just be careful that the sound you create is not too exhaust biased.
+1 :D
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Post by simon13 » Fri Oct 30, 2015 10:37 am

you know you can speed up slow down so boom goes!
Image

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Post by dodgyken » Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:03 am

simon13 wrote:you know you can speed up slow down so boom goes!
With a box delivering 30mph per 1000rpm - a 300rpm "boom"-zone relates to 10mph - which if it was to be between 70 and 80mph would be really rather annoying.
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Post by Jervint » Fri Oct 30, 2015 11:27 am

My thoughts?

If it doesn't have a petrol engine you're swimming upstream, it's difficult but not impossible to get a good sound. It has been done though.

Very popular is the OEM mod which removes the baffles in the rear box and covers up some of the perforated tubing inside the box that leaks sound into the baffles. This utilises the original equipment and is good because you can have baffles in or out and tubing covered 50% or 100% so there is a level of tunability.

Having said that, for an Alpina I think spend the money on a good brand exhaust...possibly one with a valvetronic controller. Control of the valves means you can escape the drone on long motorway rips etc.

There is also a electronically activated exhaust cutout available from the States for around £350. It fits before the rear box to give the option of bypassing it via a remote fob. Downside is that it vents gasses under the car.

If you want an Eisenmann, speak to Roy at CA Automotive.

I don't know if the XD3 is the same but the B5 has a two stage exhaust where one chamber works under light load and under heavy throttle the box loads into the second chamber as well ...ensuring perfect back pressure at all times. This was the design of my Eisenmann Race and is on the B5....its normally seen on race car exhausts. If you have this on the XD3 you'll have to be careful not to 'downgrade' when choosing a new exhaust.

Personally Ashok, I think you'll struggle to fill the hole of the sound of an E39 M5 with exhaust if you're in a diesel...
Last edited by Jervint on Fri Oct 30, 2015 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post by mac » Fri Oct 30, 2015 12:53 pm

I think what sums up the video clip is the guy in the driving seat!

Young twenty something wearing his cap back to front.......Ashok, do you really want that image?

I agree with the comments of others.....don't do it!

A diesel is a diesel, it ain't ever going to sound like a V8 petrol.

I have been in some cars that have a drone at certain speeds, it does not take long to get pissed off with it.

The video also shows that the DPF has been removed on the majority of the cars!
Do you wish to go back to the days when starting up your car and a plume of smoke comes out the rear. Everyone at the petrol station giving you evils because you are forcing them to breathe in what is becoming increasingly nasty stuff to breath in, according to research and opinions.
I remember when I had my 200 tdi Discovery....black smoke everywhere on start up....it was new not a high mileage car but no dpf.
Would it not give an issue at MOT time also....is it not the case of 'if a dpf was fitted originally then it has to be fitted when tested.
I could be wrong, I have been more than lucky enough not to worry about high mileages and mot's etc. on my diesel cars or if the dpf required replacing.
Think long and hard before you do it.
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Post by B10BRW » Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:22 pm

Surely fitting an "after market" exhaust would invalidate the warranty :?
Also you would have paid a fair amount for the Akrapovic system in the first place.
I would stick with the original :D

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Post by Ashok » Fri Oct 30, 2015 4:09 pm

Thanks everyone for the replies. I was flirting with the idea but I think sense will prevail.. going to leave things as they are :D
Ashok
E39 M5 - much loved RIP
E60 M5 - good riddance
E90 Alpina D3 #487 - drove it 117,000 miles!
F25 Alpina XD3BT #268 - it's big and white and very fast
G01 Alpina XD3.. soon! :)

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Post by Broch » Fri Oct 30, 2015 4:50 pm

Have you tried Remus as seen on an X3 forum here-

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthrea ... &t=1185311

I know that one is for the N55 engine, and they maybe don't do a 3Ltr diesel one.

Akrapovic doesn't make an exhaust system for the X3's yet, but hopefully now the X4M has been confirmed, they may develop one.

You could always try here also-
http://www.br-performance.be/en-be/chip ... stage=6625

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