135i exhaust note dilemma..

[igzekyativ]

So I bought my 135i at the end of march and soon after, put a CP-e catback exhaust on, but I am not satisfied with the sound..



I came from an '04 WRX and that sound was b-e-a-utiful...

I am wonder if what I can do to get a better sound from my 135i.. Is it just the CP-e that is causing me to want more? I know installing downpipes is the next step but I'm afraid even after that mod I will still be unsatisfied..

I've wanted the borla exhaust for the 135i, but I haven't found many sound clips of it on the car.. does anyone have experience with this exhaust? It seems to have the most rumble..

For me, sound is very important.. Even though the 135i is better in every way except sound, I find myself wanted to go back to a Subaru..

What are your thoughts?

[oman135]

I have MadDad its amazing ..

[rader1]

Im running the magnaflow axleback with AA catless downpipes and the sound is intoxicating. WAY better than any subaru ive heard... but subies sound like SH!T IMHO, but to each his own.
If you want to be DAMN sure to have enough volume go with the berk race setup with catless DPs

[bignico_05]

there's a hpf exhaust group buy check it out http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591492

[igzekyativ]

Originally Posted by bignico_05

there's a hpf exhaust group buy check it out http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591492

the specs are really nice, but the sound does't seem to cut it for me (maybe I would feel different in person)..

^this vid is of the borla, has more of a lower tone and rumble to it...

[bogart]

catless downpipes, no midpipe cats, and bmw exhaust. amazing

[MilehighM3]

Catless dps and cat back cpe. The mid pipes are the resonated ones and it sounds great. Esp under load, you need mid pipes also of some sort. Get some dps as well. 4 cata quiet down any axle back setup....

[igzekyativ]

Originally Posted by Bmw135er

Catless dps and cat back cpe. The mid pipes are the resonated ones and it sounds great. Esp under load, you need mid pipes also of some sort. Get some dps as well. 4 cata quiet down any axle back setup....

I have the CP-e exhaust; mid-pipes (resonated) and axle back (with stealth).. i guess some dp's are the next step... anyone know typical install cost of dp's?

[dcho]

Originally Posted by igzekyativ

the specs are really nice, but the sound does't seem to cut it for me (maybe I would feel different in person)..

^this vid is of the borla, has more of a lower tone and rumble to it...

berk race (muffler delete), meistershaft, eisenmann, active autowerke, bmw PE, maddad street, CPE are all good options. midpipes help with volume too and defintiley downpipes. becareful with downpipes though bc theres a chance you end up with a raspy sound.

[IZAGLO]

Have WRX and STI's parked in my driveway daily with moded exhausts, my sons friends..They sound good and VERY subbie like. You will not replicate this sound with the 135i,,it's just a different engine with a character of it's own as well a sound. I had the CP-E TBE on my MazdaSpeed3 and it was LOUD but NOT subbie like. You sure can get a nice deep growl to a very loud exhaust with the 1 but it still will not be a subbie sound as the boxer engine is unique...If the subbie sound is what you want trade your car in for one. If you want a car that is way ahead of subbie on it's build and refinement and steering with a N54 that will be just as quick in most instances than the subbie than deal! I can't have my 1 sounding like a Porsche either LOL....I test drove the subbie for the 10th time recently and just pulling on the door handle tells you it's NOT a BMW.

[Mr. Nice]

Originally Posted by igzekyativ

the specs are really nice, but the sound does't seem to cut it for me (maybe I would feel different in person)..

^this vid is of the borla, has more of a lower tone and rumble to it...

The HPF has no muffler, just resonators, you won't find anything more aggressive. Jump in the group buy you won't be disappointed. It is downpipe back eliminating the secondary cats and is a huge 3.5" pipe for maximum flow. This was designed to support big power for their upcoming single turbo n54 kits. If you were happy with your subaru exhaust, this is definitely the one for you.

[igzekyativ]

Originally Posted by Mr. Nice

The HPF has no muffler, just resonators, you won't find anything more aggressive. Jump in the group buy you won't be disappointed. It is downpipe back eliminating the secondary cats and is a huge 3.5" pipe for maximum flow. This was designed to support big power for their upcoming single turbo n54 kits. If you were happy with your subaru exhaust, this is definitely the one for you.

I'm considering it.. $1400 is still pretty steep..

[bignico_05]

Originally Posted by igzekyativ

I'm considering it.. $1400 is still pretty steep..

Then forget about the borla, it's nearly $2000. HPF is a great company that make quality stuff. I don't want to influence you in any way, as it's your decision, but I personally think you should look in to it.

[ken1137]

Go with the HPF (group buy) the sound is amazing. I'm sticking with Berk b/c I am 2/3 done with my set up...AR DPs and Berk axle back, soon Berk Mid-pipe. Go with the HPF. It's the best sounding exhaust I have heard to-date!

$1400 is not that pricey, considering I spent $750 on the Berk Axle back (ceramic coated), and will spend $700 on their mid-pipe. Not to mention my catted AR DPs were near $1000. That's why I wish this group buy would've popped up before I started modding my exhaust system.

[igzekyativ]

Originally Posted by bignico_05

Then forget about the borla, it's nearly $2000. HPF is a great company that make quality stuff. I don't want to influence you in any way, as it's your decision, but I personally think you should look in to it.

Originally Posted by ken1137

Go with the HPF (group buy) the sound is amazing. I'm sticking with Berk b/c I am 2/3 done with my set up...AR DPs and Berk axle back, soon Berk Mid-pipe. Go with the HPF. It's the best sounding exhaust I have heard to-date!

when are you all expecting your HPF exhaust once you get everyone you need for the groupbuy?

[bignico_05]

2-3 months

[dfv2]

I came from the subie world too. EJ motors with unequal length headers produce a unique, endearing exhaust note you'll never come CLOSE to with this platform. I've had to face it like you are now, the n54 is pretty low on the list of "good" exhaust notes through any mix of exhaust parts.

I agree with the trend here, if you can't beat em, join em - in this case meaning go aggressive and enjoy the raucous. On the cheap, keep the CP-e axleback and do catless DP's with OEM N55 mids. HPF is the definition of overkill unless you have plans for big power beyond stock turbos.

[bignico_05]

Originally Posted by dfv2

I came from the subie world too. EJ motors with unequal length headers produce a unique, endearing exhaust note you'll never come CLOSE to with this platform. I've had to face it like you are now, the n54 is pretty low on the list of "good" exhaust notes through any mix of exhaust parts.

I agree with the trend here, if you can't beat em, join em - in this case meaning go aggressive and enjoy the raucous. On the cheap, keep the CP-e axleback and do catless DP's with OEM N55 mids. HPF is the definition of overkill unless you have plans for big power beyond stock turbos.

Why should he get oem mids? He already has the cp-e mids which even though they have resonators are more aggressive then the oem ones.

[dfv2]

I didn't see that he had mids, technically a catback on an n54 is just an axleback. If so, yes keep them! If not, it's hard to beat the n55 piece.

[yandy]

I got the CP-E Catless downpipes, stock midpipes with gutted cats, and the berk race axle-back..

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=615375 --> these videos were before the resonators, which I just added today where the secondary cats were.. I'll update the post as soon as I get some video with them on.

[ken1137]

Did you decide to skip the Berk resonated mid-pipe? I know you were thinking about it before

Originally Posted by yandyr

I got the CP-E Catless downpipes, stock midpipes with gutted cats, and the berk race axle-back..

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=615375 --> these videos were before the resonators, which I just added today where the secondary cats were.. I'll update the post as soon as I get some video with them on.

[yandy]

Originally Posted by ken1137

Did you decide to skip the Berk resonated mid-pipe? I know you were thinking about it before

Not yet, but if this works out then won't probably get them, because they really don't add much, except they may be a bit louder... So i'll see how this does first, and I'll update accordingly

edit: this was cheap enough to do, to be able to try it first.