"aFe exhaust + Maddad mid-pipes" Review

[My135]

I had installed the Maddad mid-pipes yesterday, and below is my brief review:

Price: Very good
Quality & Fitman: Excellent
Performance: My butt dyno tells me that there is at least 5-8 hp/tq increse, and throttle response is also noticable improved too.

Sound: It does sound 20-30% louder on the top of the already loud aFe axle back exhaust, so if you are looking for a quiet exhaust, this is not for you but I like it very much. The key improvement here is the sound quality. It sounds much more aggressive and has more rumbling tone instead of just a blur of noise. It rumbles more when you let go the gas pedal while you are in 2nd and 3rd gears. The sound itself transforms the car from a sport coupe to a sport car. I like the sound much better than just the aFe exhaust alone.

I will upload some picture and sound clips sometimes this week. So, please stay tuned. Thanks.

[ridin135]

wonder how it sounds with catless dp's

[My135]

With catless DP, it will be another 30% louder I guess; but it may be too loud for me. Also, I have no immediate plan to replace the stock DP with catless DP because of warranty.

[BMW86]

Yes!! Finally someone has done this. Please post sound clips asap!! Thanks heaps

[Eyeman]

Nice review, I look forward to hearing it in person one day.

Downpipes really don't change sound much since you aren't removing resonators, etc. I'd bet 5% or so louder with catless downpipes vs stock.

[escobar929]

any drone?

[BSM 135i]

Nice! I'm not too familiar with the maddad mids, are they a straight through design or resonated? Looking forward to pics and vids but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! make multiple vids including, start up, Rev, drive by and cabin shots so we can get a good idea of what it really sounds like instead of just the common start up and rev. I'm very interested since I too am running an aFe exhaust and want to upgrade my mids.

Originally Posted by ridin135

wonder how it sounds with catless dp's

+1!

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by BSM 135i

Nice! I'm not too familiar with the maddad mids, are they a straight through design or resonated? Looking forward to pics and vids but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! make multiple vids including, start up, Rev, drive by and cabin shots so we can get a good idea of what it really sounds like instead of just the common start up and rev. I'm very interested since I too am running an aFe exhaust and want to upgrade my mids.


+1!

+ 1 Would love a in-cabin cruising video

[thez99]

I believe the maddad mids are straight thru with race resonators to replace the cats. So basically it removes the cats giving my better flow but still has the small resonators to keep drone at a minimum if not completely free of it.

My future exhaust setup will most likely be the full maddad setup or the magnaflow axleback and maddad mids.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by thez99

I believe the maddad mids are straight thru with race resonators to replace the cats. So basically it removes the cats giving my better flow but still has the small resonators to keep drone at a minimum if not completely free of it.

My future exhaust setup will most likely be the full maddad setup or the magnaflow axleback and maddad mids.

The other distinguishing factor about the maddad midpipes is the mini-resonators look like the secondary cats which make the setup look very oem. Great design imo.

[thez99]

Indeed indeed

[GtiGyver]

I also have the maddad midpipes, they have mini resonators but are of straight-thru design.
I still have OE downpipes and exhaust.

Its loud on startup, but is very reasonable once warmed up. There is some drone on the highway if you do the "golf tee mod", which can be annoying on long trips, especially with the GF, but just connect the exhaust flapper and you can keep the drone to a minimum.
You do also get mild burble in 1500-2000rpm range when downshifting while slowing down which gives the car a nice aggressive sound.

All I can say is it is hands-down the best mod I've done to the car. My radio stays off now, even though I upgraded it!

[thez99]

Sorry but wtf is the golf tee mod??

I was under the impression that even with the maddad midpipes and axleback, the drone was at the very most, a minimum

[GtiGyver]

Originally Posted by thez99

Sorry but wtf is the golf tee mod??

I was under the impression that even with the maddad midpipes and axleback, the drone was at the very most, a minimum

The stock muffler has two pipes running through it, one which is designed to be very quiet and one which is far less muffled. The latter is only open when a (pneumatic) flap opens up. The golf tee mod essentially bypasses the pneumatic operation of the flap and allows it to remain open.

I have the stock muffler (with the flap); whereas the maddad muffler is probably even quieter than the stock muffler (with the flap open) but with better flow.

[thez99]

Originally Posted by GtiGyver

The stock muffler has two pipes running through it, one which is designed to be very quiet and one which is far less muffled. The latter is only open when a (pneumatic) flap opens up. The golf tee mod essentially bypasses the pneumatic operation of the flap and allows it to remain open.

I have the stock muffler (with the flap); whereas the maddad muffler is probably even quieter than the stock muffler (with the flap open) but with better flow.

Meh, from the vids ive seen of the axleback, looks like the maddad is a bit louder, but more especially at WOT, but obviously without the drone.

[maddad]

I don't want seem like a thread hi-jaker or take this in a different direction from where it started but let me just add some clarity on the midpipe and drone in general.

1. While our midpipe has tuned mini-resonators it will in no way eliminate all the drone in every exhaust. It will simply be less than what it would be with say a midpipe with no resonators. The amount of drone one might get is in a big way influenced by the axleback section, and the harmony of the entire system..which brings up point # 2.

2. When we did the tuning of the midpipe we tuned it with a Whisper series axleback. There have been some Whisper owners that claim it is quiter inside the car cabin than the factory exhaust. I won't argue that claim becuase the Whisper was specifically engineered to be rediculously quite inside the cabin of the car while bringing a better "sport" character to the sound of the car. While our midpipe is a great addtion to any setup its obviously going have its smoothest mate be a Whisper series axleback because the sound tuning was dialed in with that system.

3. If you look at a BMW 135i the wrong way the thing will drone - OK ,that is a joke but honestly, this car is very difficult to tune the sound to totally eliminate droning. As one just noted above even the factory axleback can drone with a performance midpipe..and one with resonators no less.

So I just want to make it clear...mainly to set expectation correctly for any prospective buyers. While I love selling parts, I love selling parts that meet the expectaions of the buyer, and I don't want anyone with a muffler-less exhaust thinking this is the magic part that might allow them to really open it up without any drone at all. I will just say it will open it up while minimizing drone over a midpipe without resonators..while giving a oem'ish type look by staggering the resonators in place of the factory cats and offering our "raw" T304SS look which is a matte grey rather than the typically mirror polish or nickel coated.

Happy Driving...

Rich

[GtiGyver]

It should be noted, that with all the talks of drone, by no means is it unbearable, yes it's there but only barely noticeable with the radio off, cruising at about 2500-3000rpm while equipped with an aftermarket exhaust or axleback.

With the stock exhaust, it is still VERY quiet.

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by GtiGyver

It should be noted, that with all the talks of drone, by no means is it unbearable, yes it's there but only barely noticeable with the radio off, cruising at about 2500-3000rpm while equipped with an aftermarket exhaust or axleback.

With the stock exhaust, it is still VERY quiet.

My AA exhaust drones under light acceleration 2000rpm-2500rpm but the stereo blocks it out too. I love it under WOT and downshifting too much though I want midpipes now

[treetirdy5]

Originally Posted by BMW86

My AA exhaust drones under light acceleration 2000rpm-2500rpm but the stereo blocks it out too. I love it under WOT and downshifting too much though I want midpipes now

How does you car sound at 65-80 mph highway action? Drone yes - no?
Does the radio take cars of any and all sound problems with the AA system?

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by treetirdy5

How does you car sound at 65-80 mph highway action? Drone yes - no?

Yes there is drone, it's not that bad though but it's worse at 80mph.

[/QUOTE]Does the radio take cars of any and all sound problems with the AA system?[/QUOTE]

I like to listen to my music fairly loud so it does block out most of the drone.

[thez99]

Not to be a prick..but wtf is the point of buying an expensive exhaust if you're just drowning out the sound (and therefore the crappy drone) with your loud music all the time???

If im gonna buy a sexy sounding exhaust, half the reason will be to hear it transform my badass car''s sound..

Just seems like an excuse people have who buy overly droning exhausts, the whole "O well I just turn my music up loud and it doesnt bother me"

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by thez99

Not to be a prick..but wtf is the point of buying an expensive exhaust if you're just drowning out the sound (and therefore the crappy drone) with your loud music all the time???

If im gonna buy a sexy sounding exhaust, half the reason will be to hear it transform my badass car''s sound..

Just seems like an excuse people have who buy overly droning exhausts, the whole "O well I just turn my music up loud and it doesnt bother me"

I never said it droned overly but it does drone. If you do some research you'll find that Maddad is the only exhaust that completely eliminates the drone altogether. All the other brands such as AFE, CPE, etc all drone. It's just how it is. It's not that bad though. I rate my AA exhaust you need to hear it in person.