Best Exhaust Kit for a Daily Driver? Need Some Advice

[Jackaustin]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to upgrade the exhaust system on my car and could use some guidance from people who've actually done this. I mainly drive daily to work but also want a bit more growl and better flow without sacrificing fuel economy or reliability.

Cat-back setups seem popular, but after looking into a Top-rated 7.3 Powerstroke exhaust kit, I keep seeing mixed opinions on stainless steel versus aluminized options, and whether axle back kits are worth it compared to full systems. Budget is moderate, nothing crazy expensive. Has anyone installed a kit themselves or is a shop visit basically mandatory?

Also curious about noise levels for HOA neighborhoods.

Thanks in advance!

[Cubieman]

I suggest just getting a muffler and leaving it that for now, you can always add to that.

You can do about 500 different combinations of headers and sections 1/2/3 /to create different tones and fine tune it, but if you just want a bit more volume start with the muffler.

Part of the reason I say this is you asked if a shop visit is mandatory for this, which leads me to believe you maybe don't do a lot of work on your own car.

Doing a full exhaust system and having a shop do it will be expensive, save that $ for more important things down the road, unless the $ doesn't really matter then whatever.

I would look at known good options that aren't too loud.

- Dinan
- Supersprint Street
- SCZA (good muffler but stautus gruppe is a terrible company to deal with)
- Eisenmann Sport

There are cheaper options as well like Megan and Magnaflow etc.

I would 1000% do it yourself, just know the stock muffler is heavy as hell and you want to get new hardware and likely muffler hangers if yours haven't been changed out.

You'll find exhaust if one huge rabbithole, just keep it simple at first if you are just getting into this platform. Just my opinion.

[RockyMtnM3]

I would recommend the Dinan muffler with stock sec 1&2 for your use case. This has been my favorite overall setup. The only issue(s) I have with the exhaust is it single exit, which I think it just a little goofy, and black tips but overall I love it.

I went from stock to Magnaflow catback. I think the Magnaflow is a underrated exhaust and produces a great sound, I absolutely love the sound it produces under throttle. I used this for about 10 years; as I got older though, it droned a bit to much for me in highway conditions and thought it was too much, when I added little kids into the back.

I switched back to full OEM. I personally like the sounds of the stock setup, but the weight of the rear muffler just bothered me and ultimately switched to the Dinan muffler (recently).

[sasha]

I would recommend the Dinan muffler with stock sec 1&2 for your use case. This has been my favorite overall setup. The only issue(s) I have with the exhaust is it single exit, which I think it just a little goofy, and black tips but overall I love it.

I went from stock to Magnaflow catback. I think the Magnaflow is a underrated exhaust and produces a great sound, I absolutely love the sound it produces under throttle. I used this for about 10 years; as I got older though, it droned a bit to much for me in highway conditions and thought it was too much, when I added little kids into the back.

I switched back to full OEM. I personally like the sounds of the stock setup, but the weight of the rear muffler just bothered me and ultimately switched to the Dinan muffler (recently).

I’m also a fan of keeping it stock. But interesting to hear about the Dinan exhaust. How would you compare it to OEM?

[EthanolTurbo]

I would recommend the Dinan muffler with stock sec 1&2 for your use case. This has been my favorite overall setup. The only issue(s) I have with the exhaust is it single exit, which I think it just a little goofy, and black tips but overall I love it.

I went from stock to Magnaflow catback. I think the Magnaflow is a underrated exhaust and produces a great sound, I absolutely love the sound it produces under throttle. I used this for about 10 years; as I got older though, it droned a bit to much for me in highway conditions and thought it was too much, when I added little kids into the back.

I switched back to full OEM. I personally like the sounds of the stock setup, but the weight of the rear muffler just bothered me and ultimately switched to the Dinan muffler (recently).

I heard there's a titanium Dinan coming with both sides of the exhaust fully functional... 😇

[bavarian3]

I heard there's a titanium Dinan coming with both sides of the exhaust fully functional... 😇

👀

,,

[oceansize]

https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...-for-the-money

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...unding-exhaust

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...rmance-exhaust

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...d-sound-thread

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...and-csl-airbox

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...ut-dinan-parts

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...drone-and-rasp

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...haust-question

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...ers-power-loss

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...6-exhaust-rasp

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...pipe-resonated

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https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...on-supersprint

[9kracing]

I heard there's a titanium Dinan coming with both sides of the exhaust fully functional... 😇

I'm literally sponsored by Dinan, why am I always the last to find out about this kind of shit lol

[EthanolTurbo]

I'm literally sponsored by Dinan, why am I always the last to find out about this kind of shit lol

Dinan isn't making it. 😉

[RockyMtnM3]

I’m also a fan of keeping it stock. But interesting to hear about the Dinan exhaust. How would you compare it to OEM?

It's hard to explain and a lot of these conversations are very subjective. To me, the Dinan is just the perfect blend of sporty/motorsport and everyday driveablity; still has slight hints of rasp at low revs then transitions into a nice deeper tone when you're on it. If you're just cruising, you can forget it's back there. I have done a few decent backroad journeys with it and never arrived with a headache, or desperation to get out of the car.

I agree with what others have said before, the center piece of the e46 is the engine and intake noise, the Dinan muffler complements this so well and does not overwhelm the engine note. I don't have catless headers on the car, but this clip does a good job of capturing the general essence.

[siamkazi]

I would recommend the Dinan muffler with stock sec 1&2 for your use case. This has been my favorite overall setup. The only issue(s) I have with the exhaust is it single exit, which I think it just a little goofy, and black tips but overall I love it.

I went from stock to Magnaflow catback. I think the Magnaflow is a underrated exhaust and produces a great sound, I absolutely love the sound it produces under throttle. I used this for about 10 years; as I got older though, it droned a bit to much for me in highway conditions and thought it was too much, when I added little kids into the back.

I switched back to full OEM. I personally like the sounds of the stock setup, but the weight of the rear muffler just bothered me and ultimately switched to the Dinan muffler (recently).

this is exactly what happened with me, i had the magnaflow full catback, was great the first few years but eventually as i got older the drone was too much for me. I've been onthe stock muffler ever since with headers and a csl box. BUT, the weight has always bugged me about the stock muffler, is there drone with the Dinan?

[sasha]

It's hard to explain and a lot of these conversations are very subjective. To me, the Dinan is just the perfect blend of sporty/motorsport and everyday driveablity; still has slight hints of rasp at low revs then transitions into a nice deeper tone when you're on it. If you're just cruising, you can forget it's back there. I have done a few decent backroad journeys with it and never arrived with a headache, or desperation to get out of the car.

I agree with what others have said before, the center piece of the e46 is the engine and intake noise, the Dinan muffler complements this so well and does not overwhelm the engine note. I don't have catless headers on the car, but this clip does a good job of capturing the general essence.

Hopefully not a dumb question, but how is there exhaust coming out of both sides? I thought dinan had dummy tips?

[ChapterM3]

I used to daily the following set up for years and although it’s only a weekend car now I still love this set up. It’s the best sound for me and I just love it, no drone inside the car - stock, headers and cats, section 1 dual Magnaflow resonators to a Corsa catback

[RockyMtnM3]

this is exactly what happened with me, i had the magnaflow full catback, was great the first few years but eventually as i got older the drone was too much for me. I've been onthe stock muffler ever since with headers and a csl box. BUT, the weight has always bugged me about the stock muffler, is there drone with the Dinan?

I would say there is no drone inside the car, I couldn't be happier on a mostly street car. I can't say for certain but with your airbox, I think the Dinan muffler would be a great complement, plus a bit lighter (~10 ish lbs). ChapterM3 mentioned another good set-up; I just didn't want to bother with the mix and match. I'm not a Dinan fanboy, but I do like that the e46 parts have a certain "era correctness" to them.

[RockyMtnM3]

Hopefully not a dumb question, but how is there exhaust coming out of both sides? I thought dinan had dummy tips?

The first exhaust clip is the OE muffler, so I think that's what you're seeing. Second clip is the Dinan muffler and has dummy tips on the driver side, I am guessing it's just warmer out!