[JStang]

I am running the axleback Dinan Free Flow exhaust with the factory mid pipes and cats and was wondering if anyone has run a custom mid pipe setup and how it sounds? I bet that going catless and adding resonators would wake it up quite a bit.

Thoughts?

[135Pats]

You’re basically describing Berk Mids on the money. I’ve been very happy with them, though I can’t compare apple to apple since I’d imagine my muffler is a good deal louder than the Dinan. Regardless, they settled into a more exotic tone (still boomy but that’s just N54 life), throttle response sharpened a bit, more popping and all that good stuff on throttle over run etc. I may go to Meisterschaft straight pipes down the road but for the time being it’s one of my favorite mods.

[JStang]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

You’re basically describing Berk Mids on the money. I’ve been very happy with them, though I can’t compare apple to apple since I’d imagine my muffler is a good deal louder than the Dinan. Regardless, they settled into a more exotic tone (still boomy but that’s just N54 life), throttle response sharpened a bit, more popping and all that good stuff on throttle over run etc. I may go to Meisterschaft straight pipes down the road but for the time being it’s one of my favorite mods.

Thanks for chiming in. I wasn't sure if anyone made mids or if I would have them custom made. I will do some research. I was just on their site and it looks like they only make the mids for a 135i. Does anyone know of any that are for the 335 N54?

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by JStang

Thanks for chiming in. I wasn't sure if anyone made mids or if I would have them custom made. I will do some research. I was just on their site and it looks like they only make the mids for a 135i. Does anyone know of any that are for the 335 N54?

Crap...I wasn't thinking. I spend so much time on E90 sometimes I forget the car I mod is the 1 series

No I don't believe they make resonated mids for the E9x. In terms of custom you could cut out the secondary cats and swap in some vibrant resonators. Probably wouldn't be 100% as efficient as an aftermarket solution (more bends in the OE piping) but you'd be 98% of the way there and could alter the tone more to your specific liking.

[JStang]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Crap...I wasn't thinking. I spend so much time on E90 sometimes I forget the car I mod is the 1 series

No I don't believe they make resonated mids for the E9x. In terms of custom you could cut out the secondary cats and swap in some vibrant resonators. Probably wouldn't be 100% as efficient as an aftermarket solution (more bends in the OE piping) but you'd be 98% of the way there and could alter the tone more to your specific liking.

Thanks for your help. I'm on the fence about selling it and getting something different. The Cobb exhaust really has my attention based on the one video clip that was posted.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by JStang

Thanks for your help. I'm on the fence about selling it and getting something different. The Cobb exhaust really has my attention based on the one video clip that was posted.

I haven’t really been paying attention to exhausts recently; Cobb is 3” single right? That always sounds beastly (VRSF, HPF, AMS).

IDK obviously it’s your call. I just know that my attempts to make the N54 sound anything but louder and more aggressive have generally failed. My car is pretty loud and makes some sweet noises under heavy load, but if being honest the defining characteristic is just boomyness. I can’t say it has a particularly notable or exotic tone, though the Berk mids absolutely helped there. Not much we can do with twin exhaust banks off the turbos making everything sound muddled.

[JStang]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

I haven’t really been paying attention to exhausts recently; Cobb is 3” single right? That always sounds beastly (VRSF, HPF, AMS).

IDK obviously it’s your call. I just know that my attempts to make the N54 sound anything but louder and more aggressive have generally failed. My car is pretty loud and makes some sweet noises under heavy load, but if being honest the defining characteristic is just boomyness. I can’t say it has a particularly notable or exotic tone, though the Berk mids absolutely helped there. Not much we can do with twin exhaust banks off the turbos making everything sound muddled.

Yeah it's a 3" single. It looks VERY similar to the VRSF exhaust. The only thing holding me back from the VRSF is some of the fitment issues that I have read about.

[BQTuning]

Originally Posted by JStang

I am running the axleback Dinan Free Flow exhaust with the factory mid pipes and cats and was wondering if anyone has run a custom mid pipe setup and how it sounds? I bet that going catless and adding resonators would wake it up quite a bit.

Thoughts?

Yes it would, but I would recommend instead of going completely catless, upgrade your current mid cats with less cells either 100 or 200 cell mid cats

[Stucks]

Originally Posted by BuraQ

Yes it would, but I would recommend instead of going completely catless, upgrade your current mid cats with less cells either 100 or 200 cell mid cats

+1

mandrel bending solutions here in md sells a 4 inch diameter high flow 100 cell metallic race cats. I have a set in a box at home. great quality.

http://www.mandrelbendingsolutions.c...High%2C/Detail

[JStang]

Are you suggesting keeping the factory mid pipes and replacing the stock secondary cats or getting custom mid pipes made and weld the high flow cats in?

[BQTuning]

Originally Posted by JStang

Are you suggesting keeping the factory mid pipes and replacing the stock secondary cats or getting custom mid pipes made and weld the high flow cats in?

Cheaper Alternative

Keep the stock mid pipes, replace the factory mid cats with highflow cats ie 100-200 cell cats

More Expensive Alternative

If you looking to do an "overhaul" then you can do a mid X-pipe upgrade example and add high flow midcats to them

[Killerfish2012]

I'm kind of in the same boat. Have been catless DP + stock cat back for quite some time, and was finally in the hunt for an exhaust. I ended up getting a hold of AA axlebacks from the full kit, and am having them custom fitted to my stock exaust this weekend. I too was interested in the Cobb, but am scared of drone. With my set up, I shouldn't have drone. Keep in mind that the cats in the stock midpipes double as cats/silencers per BMW. They are not restrictive, and neither is our whole stock catback exhaust in general. Even with resonators, if you delete those cats, you might get a lot of unwanted noise/drone!

[olliej]

I would like to add my 2 cents, Im kind of new to the 335 scene... I purchased my car and the previous owner deleted the secondary cats and installed down pipes. The smoke at stop lights was freaking annoying. The whole experience was very unnerving. I felt for sure that the turbos seals had been blown. I took the chance and had my local muffler guy install these hi flow cats. http://performance-curve.com/435300.aspx I figured this would be the cheaper fix compared to paying to reinstall stock down pipes and lose the whatever gains from the down pipes. I got the car back today and no more smoke! By the seat of my pants Dyno the car feels the same power wise. The
muffler guy also said he could make a custom exhaust, not mandrel bent 3 in exhaust for 600 buck with new Magna Flow mufflers... Im not sure if that is a good deal or not?

[R.G.]

I made so many revisions to my exhaust. Catless+resonators+high flow mid cats+Dual 2.5" piping+Dinan cans was the perfect combo IMO
Zero drone zero rasp screamed at high RPM

[F80M]

I have dinan on e92 with ar-dp and mid cat removed. It's loud during high rpm but no drone or rasp.