Best sounding exhaust

[Icecream]

...Don't drive like a dick? The e46 M3 isn't a very car when not driven like a dick

Unfortunately true. One mans dick driving is another mans pleasure.

[RoyalFlushness]

For reference:
AC Schnitzer exhaust with custom tips (aka REMUS). Stock US Spec everything else. This and the DINAN setup were the only ones I considered to keep the sound as clean as possible but I wouldn't say no to a full supersprint setup.

Excited to open it up with some hatless headers in the future

[Tones]

I'm *eventually* headed the CSL intake / quieter exhaust route but for now I've got mine to a point where it sounds absolutely incredible above 4000 rpm screaming through a tunnel and is at least tolerable at lower rpm with *almost* zero rasp and drone. Setup is Fabspeed headers, Fabspeed HJS catted section 1, SGT resonated section 2 x-pipe and Rouge El Diablo section 3.

I started with just the headers and section 1 with stock section 2 and 3 and hated it (too quiet plus rasp). I was like, I did all this work on the headers for this??? Then added the El Diablo and liked it much more but the rasp and drone were amplified. Finally added the resonated section 2 and it mellowed everything out at low rpm and gave everything a more bass like sound. Still have a slight "rasp event" right at 2500-2800 rpm but you can drive around it gear wise. It really does scream and sound amazing at high rpm.

Closest thing I've heard captured is this youtube video at around the 0.40 mark. There's some debate in the comments on what all he was running but definitely AP headers and El Diablo. This video actually led me to going with the El Diablo.

I agree these cars are a mess exhaust wise and better off going CSL and something like a SS Street.

That does sound pretty good.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[usdmej]

Euro Headers
Euro Cats
stock or SS resonated section 2
Dinan Muffler


imo the Dinan muffler in this configuration is the best "sport" setup for this platform. a great exhaust note and audible enough to be worth the money spent, but not so loud that it's obnoxious to either possibly you or definitely bystanders.

if you can live with the dummy tips

[Phoenix///M3]

I'm *eventually* headed the CSL intake / quieter exhaust route but for now I've got mine to a point where it sounds absolutely incredible above 4000 rpm screaming through a tunnel and is at least tolerable at lower rpm with *almost* zero rasp and drone. Setup is Fabspeed headers, Fabspeed HJS catted section 1, SGT resonated section 2 x-pipe and Rouge El Diablo section 3.

I started with just the headers and section 1 with stock section 2 and 3 and hated it (too quiet plus rasp). I was like, I did all this work on the headers for this??? Then added the El Diablo and liked it much more but the rasp and drone were amplified. Finally added the resonated section 2 and it mellowed everything out at low rpm and gave everything a more bass like sound. Still have a slight "rasp event" right at 2500-2800 rpm but you can drive around it gear wise. It really does scream and sound amazing at high rpm.

Closest thing I've heard captured is this youtube video at around the 0.40 mark. There's some debate in the comments on what all he was running but definitely AP headers and El Diablo. This video actually led me to going with the El Diablo.

I agree these cars are a mess exhaust wise and better off going CSL and something like a SS Street.

[Obioban]

Don't speed, floor it in traffic, or drive like a dick. It's quite easy but 90% of people on the road don't understand the last one. I just don't drive around flaunting my exhaust. There is no trade off. It's how everyone should drive and I think you should reconsider your driving habits if you think it's a tradeoff.

...Don't drive like a dick? The e46 M3 isn't a very car when not driven like a dick

[Slideways]

Don't speed, floor it in traffic, or drive like a dick. It's quite easy but 90% of people on the road don't understand the last one. I just don't drive around flaunting my exhaust. There is no trade off. It's how everyone should drive and I think you should reconsider your driving habits if you think it's a tradeoff.



Here's a lovely cold start

I definitely think it's a tradeoff when you are constantly trying to keep the volume of your exhaust under control. The S54 makes peak torque at 4900rpm and it is nice to be able to utilize the midrange without worrying about excessive exhaust volume. No dickish driving behavior required. Then, there are trackday dB limits to consider.

[simon_c]

I have Supersprint Sport section 3 and think it sounds amazing. Only exhaust that I thought sounded better was the Dixis. Tips on the SS sport look the best imo with the slant cut.

[Arith2]

How do you drive it respectfully? Trying "not to be a cop magnet" sounds like a bad tradeoff for having a loud exhaust on an M3.

Don't speed, floor it in traffic, or drive like a dick. It's quite easy but 90% of people on the road don't understand the last one. I just don't drive around flaunting my exhaust. There is no trade off. It's how everyone should drive and I think you should reconsider your driving habits if you think it's a tradeoff.



Here's a lovely cold start

[yhp2009]

I feel like any one of us would be able to identify (with certainty) the sound of an S54 exhaust from all other cars on the road. I mean how cool is that 😎

[repoman89]

S62 exhaust note sounds pretty great to me.

https://youtu.be/fHgIntXc74o

Same here, don't get me wrong, the S62 sounds badass with pretty much any muffler (including none). Point was my S54 carbon airbox and stock muffler sounds even better, at least from the drivers' seat. Outside the car may or may not be a different story.

[maw1124]

For a deeper note, look into getting another resonator in the section 1 and the Borla section 3 muffler -

It sounds pretty good without being obnoxious. And keep the stock headers unless you are getting cats in the section 1. No one wants their car to smell like a boat.

Yeah... that deeper for sure... what I cannot figure out (and will probably just have to do it to know) is whether the deeper tone is from the mufflers or midsection. I’m thinking midsection, but I may be wrong. I’ll likely do the midsection first and go from there. If I want more volume I’ll do headers (although I’m inclined against this), and if tonality is still an issue I’ll do Borla back section as well. But I’m definitely going to move in stages, which this being not my first rodeo tells me to do. I’m not really interested in catless either. All I’m after is tone, and *maybe* volume.

maw

[Obioban]

Haha, metal is a good way of putting it. I think it’s a cool sound from the drivers seat but pretty sure it sounds like crap from behind (don’t know for sure, never followed my car). That metallic zing added to the cacophony of a (much louder) carbon airbox is something else though.

I drove my M3 for the first time in a while over this weekend and the sound of the airbox + headers and stock muffler is so good. My S62 in my other car doesn’t compare at all, even when it had a muffler delete which the E39 guys love.

S62 exhaust note sounds pretty great to me.

https://youtu.be/fHgIntXc74o

[repoman89]

Man, am i the only idiot who likes the stock exhaust note? Its so damn unique you simply wont hear anything like it anywhere.
Literally sounds like a chainsaw, and coming from your back it feels like youre being chased haha. Its pretty damn metal

Haha, metal is a good way of putting it. I think it’s a cool sound from the drivers seat but pretty sure it sounds like crap from behind (don’t know for sure, never followed my car). That metallic zing added to the cacophony of a (much louder) carbon airbox is something else though.

I drove my M3 for the first time in a while over this weekend and the sound of the airbox + headers and stock muffler is so good. My S62 in my other car doesn’t compare at all, even when it had a muffler delete which the E39 guys love.

[Slideways]

Anyone here do Euro headers and a Borla Sec 2 (stock mufflers)? Thats what I’ve been thinking about. I’m not worried as much about price as the end product — if I get what I want it’s worth the money. I don’t think I’m interested in intake noise though, and I am a V8 guy by nature so deeper is better. Just not looking for loud or raspy. TIA

maw

For a deeper note, look into getting another resonator in the section 1 and the Borla section 3 muffler -

It sounds pretty good without being obnoxious. And keep the stock headers unless you are getting cats in the section 1. No one wants their car to smell like a boat.