[Isaiah5411]

Well...I have my flame suit laying next to me. Hopefully I won't need it.

My curiosity finally got the best of me, so...I decided to have the Vibrant 1794 Bottle Resonator I ordered 3 weeks ago installed in my Performance Exhaust. I was starting to get used to the volume of the PE in my convertible but there were times when it was simply too loud for my taste.

I know, I know "Then why did you buy the thing?". Because...everything I read about it was that it was the perfect exhaust, many stating that it was too quiet for their taste. I wanted an upgrade - in both sound and performance, to match the 3 stage manifold and Eurobox - but did want to have a car that screamed "after market exhaust". Almost everyone who reviewed the PE was driving a coupe. One of the only vert reviews I read said it was too loud for them...and they got lambasted for saying such a thing.

So...I got the PE and developed a love/not-so- much-in-love relationship with it. At times, it was just what I needed, usually when I had the need for speed. But there were other times when it was just a bit obnoxious, drawing stares like "Who does he think HE is?" And there were times when it was a bit too loud to have a comfortable conversation or listen to music...all when the top was down. If the top was up it was perfect...and perfect all of the time.

I started looking at resonators and a picture of the PE that I had downloaded and saw that a 12" resonator (total length; 9.5" resonator body) would fit perfectly in the straight midpipe area (where the stock resonator used to be). I read about Vibrant and it seemed like a good choice so I ordered one. (http://amzn.to/1FeBAu3) I showed it to my muffler guy and asked him about quality and he said it looked great. So, I took it into him this AM and had him install it. Took him 15 mins and he charged me $35.

I was hoping that the resonator would reduce the overall volume by 20-30%, cut some of the higher frequency out ("rasp", mainly at WOT) and reduce the "drone" (that low frequency sound that can be quite loud,even with the PE, when you load the engine in 5th or 6th gear going 40-60 mph) and maybe reduce the crackles and burbles slightly.

And....it did ALL of these things just as I had hoped! I am very happy with the results. I would say the volume is somewhere between 75-78% of the original PE sound, the "drone" is almost gone, the burbles are still quite noticeable (which I like!) and the crackles are 60% of what they were...kinda like you turned down the treble a good bit.

To me, the sound is perfect...a refined sound that says quality German vehicle with some power but not a JDM type sound that everyone hears and looks for a lowrider with a teenager inside.

Here's a clip I did on the way home. I have the windows down about 75% of the way and used an external microphone on my iPhone 5s. Note: I was not looking through the camera while driving. Also, the speed limit on this road was 45mph and this stretch of highway was known for its speed traps, thus the quick shut downs after reaching 60 mph.

[Dylanize]

Glad you found something that worked for you without having to get rid of the PE!

[Isaiah5411]

Thanks. At one point I was considering marketing it and going back to stock. Glad I didn't! Drove it a lot this afternoon and absolutely love the sound. Still quite aggressive sounding...just more refined.

[Dylanize]

Originally Posted by Isaiah5411

Thanks. At one point I was considering marketing it and going back to stock. Glad I didn't! Drove it a lot this afternoon and absolutely love the sound. Still quite aggressive sounding...just more refined.

Awesome, yeah the PE is a great sound! Just curious, could you link the res?

[qtvivi]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

Awesome, yeah the PE is a great sound! Just curious, could you link the res?

+1

[Isaiah5411]

Originally Posted by Dylanize

Awesome, yeah the PE is a great sound! Just curious, could you link the res?

Sure. The resonator is a Vibrant Performance 1794 Bottle Style resonator. The PE midpipe is 3" in diameter where the resonator was placed and the VP 1794 is 3" in and out.
Here it is on Vibrant's site: http://bit.ly/1zRrpZT
Here it is on Amazon, where I ordered mine: http://amzn.to/1FeBAu3

[tawfeeqh]

Originally Posted by Isaiah5411

Well...I have my flame suit laying next to me. Hopefully I won't need it.

My curiosity finally got the best of me, so...I decided to have the Vibrant 1794 Bottle Resonator I ordered 3 weeks ago installed in my Performance Exhaust. I was starting to get used to the volume of the PE in my convertible but there were times when it was simply too loud for my taste.

I know, I know "Then why did you buy the thing?". Because...everything I read about it was that it was the perfect exhaust, many stating that it was too quiet for their taste. I wanted an upgrade - in both sound and performance, to match the 3 stage manifold and Eurobox - but did want to have a car that screamed "after market exhaust". Almost everyone who reviewed the PE was driving a coupe. One of the only vert reviews I read said it was too loud for them...and they got lambasted for saying such a thing.

So...I got the PE and developed a love/not-so- much-in-love relationship with it. At times, it was just what I needed, usually when I had the need for speed. But there were other times when it was just a bit obnoxious, drawing stares like "Who does he think HE is?" And there were times when it was a bit too loud to have a comfortable conversation or listen to music...all when the top was down. If the top was up it was perfect...and perfect all of the time.

I started looking at resonators and a picture of the PE that I had downloaded and saw that a 12" resonator (total length; 9.5" resonator body) would fit perfectly in the straight midpipe area (where the stock resonator used to be). I read about Vibrant and it seemed like a good choice so I ordered one. (http://amzn.to/1FeBAu3) I showed it to my muffler guy and asked him about quality and he said it looked great. So, I took it into him this AM and had him install it. Took him 15 mins and he charged me $35.

I was hoping that the resonator would reduce the overall volume by 20-30%, cut some of the higher frequency out ("rasp", mainly at WOT) and reduce the "drone" (that low frequency sound that can be quite loud,even with the PE, when you load the engine in 5th or 6th gear going 40-60 mph) and maybe reduce the crackles and burbles slightly.

And....it did ALL of these things just as I had hoped! I am very happy with the results. I would say the volume is somewhere between 75-78% of the original PE sound, the "drone" is almost gone, the burbles are still quite noticeable (which I like!) and the crackles are 60% of what they were...kinda like you turned down the treble a good bit.

To me, the sound is perfect...a refined sound that says quality German vehicle with some power but not a JDM type sound that everyone hears and looks for a lowrider with a teenager inside.

Here's a clip I did on the way home. I have the windows down about 75% of the way and used an external microphone on my iPhone 5s. Note: I was not looking through the camera while driving. Also, the speed limit on this road was 45mph and this stretch of highway was known for its speed traps, thus the quick shut downs after reaching 60 mph.

do you think one can get similar outcomes by swapping out the PE midpipes with the stock e90 midpipes (that contain centre resinators?)

I am in a similar situation. I have an e90 335i with PE midipes + PE mufflers but think its a bit too loud and a bit too ricer

Thanks

[stashtrey]

Where do you live? Beautiful stretch of road you're driving!

[Aegean335UK]

Forgive my stupidity but where did you actually put the resonator? In the section where the X pipe normally is?

[ZeroSum]

I like it!