AA Exhaust - any drone?

[m3f_drtwofish]

I dropped off my car today for the transmission swap (woohoo!), and the owner of the shop is looking to sell his Active exhaust because it's too quiet for him. I'm looking for something similar in tone to the first-gen Dinan (quiet with a slight rumble around town, wail when you get on it) but without the mid-RPM back-seat drone since I have kids and a drone-averse wife. Can anybody comment on the AA in this regard? Thanks! I can't wait to get my baby back...


Edit - on a related note, can anyone comment on the characteristics of Dinan v1 vs. v2 exhausts?

[m3f_tofunin]

I never had drone with it installed even with a track pipe. Never sat in the back seat of my car and heard it so I can't comment for your kids but if I can't hear any at in the cabin it should be fine.

[m3f_drtwofish]

Thanks. What's your take on the character of the exhaust? All I've heard is youtube clips, unfortunately.

[m3f_cblock]

I have an AA Gen 3 catback on my 328i and really like it. I just put a Dinan on my M3 and I would say the AA is slightly louder, although not by much. I personally prefer the AA sound and I love the looks of it.

[m3f_drtwofish]

I have an AA Gen 3 catback on my 328i and really like it. I just put a Dinan on my M3 and I would say the AA is slightly louder, although not by much. I personally prefer the AA sound and I love the looks of it.

Thanks Cblock. Would you say the youtube vids are pretty accurate to the driving experience? Ones like this:



BMW E36 M3 - Active Autowerke Gen3 Exhaust - Drive By - YouTube

[m3f_cblock]

Yeah I'd say that video is about right. As far as drone, I personally think all aftermarket exhausts have a little bit. I don't daily drive it so it doesn't bother me. If I was commuting in it everyday, I might want something quieter.

[m3f_vmbray]

That sounds good, and similar to the stromung. Any of them will be louder in the back seat but not obnoxiously so. I think all exhausts have some rpm where they tend to be louder, so that is probably where the drone comments come from. I think all the well mannered exhausts like these and probably the borla are easy to live with. It just enhances the driving experience so much it's hard to imagine going back stock.


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[m3f_drtwofish]

I love that tone so very much. If the trans swap doesn't go over budget I'll have to see what he'd take for it.

[m3f_cblock]

I think you would be pretty happy with it. The only thing that kind of bugs me about mine, and it is minor, is that the tips aren't staggered like the stock muffler. I love everything else about it though.

[m3f_fiveightandten]

Thanks Cblock. Would you say the youtube vids are pretty accurate to the driving experience? Ones like this:

BMW E36 M3 - Active Autowerke Gen3 Exhaust - Drive By - YouTube

That car sounds like it has an intake on it too, or at least the intake baffle(s) removed. I'd say that's some of the sound you're hearing.



When the car is driving away, you hear the exhaust more. When it's coming at the camera, you hear the intake more. They're about even in volume (induction noise and exhaust noise) with a mild exhaust like the AA.



There are tons of sports cars with factory exhausts that are louder than the AA. IMO, it doesn't drone anywhere near enough to be worried about. But it's an exhaust. The whole purpose of it is for it to be louder than the factory piece.