Advice on my first car? 1996 328i alpine white.

[Slideways]

Makes sense but how expensive is debaffling the muffler and wouldn’t it drone on the highway?

BMW straight sixes like to drone in the 2-3k RPM range under load. If you want more volume, you have to do something with the muffler, whether debaffling/removing the packing material or going aftermarket. Everything other than stock drones to some extent (larger muffler with more packing material = less drone, smaller muffler with less packing material = more drone). Modifying the factory muffler would cost an exhaust shop maybe an hour or two of labor - under $200 guesstimate.

If you don't want drone, I'd leave the exhaust stock. For more engine induction noise (the good noise with no drone), I'd find a used DINAN intake - https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-5...intake-system/