Berk street exhaust, midpipe and DP - drone???

[whostorm05]

Hi Everyone,

I have what I can only describe as done around 2-2.4k. According to the previous owner of the car it has a berk DP, berk midpipe and berk street exhaust. Car is a 2012 135i.

I'm getting ready to move 2300+ miles and now I'm thinking about driving the car, but there's no way I could do it with the way it sounds right now.

Is there anything I can do to try and reduce the drone?

I can take a video of the inside of the car if someone wants to hear it.

[cooler2442]

Did the original owner give you the stock mid pipe / downpipe / axleback?

You can try putting on the stock axleback and see if it fix's it and if not then go with the stock mid pipe as well.

[whostorm05]

Unfortunately I do not have any of the stock parts.

[cooler2442]

Then your only option would be to post it for local sale to ask for $ + stock N55 mids / axleback.

[Suds]

The other option is to drive in a lower gear and keep the revs up. I do this a lot on smaller twisty roads.

[whostorm05]

I'm wondering why it's droning? From everything I read the Berk street exhaust does not seem to drone for most people. Could there have been a problem with the installation?

[cooler2442]

Originally Posted by whostorm05

I'm wondering why it's droning? From everything I read the Berk street exhaust does not seem to drone for most people. Could there have been a problem with the installation?

No that is just how it is. I also had the Berk full street + down pipe. Around 2-2.3k is when it happens. I ended up switching to a down pipe, N55 mids and berk race and even though my car sounds more muscle carish but I drone less I think.

[ken1137]

I have a similar set up and I dont hear a drone on mine but I have AR DPs which shouldn't make a difference. Maybe too many concerts when I was a kid...can't hear it. Post a vid if you can from the cabin.

[JefryHorizon]

Everyone has a different level of drone tolerance. Apparently yours is low and the fact that you bought the car like that doesn't help. Ask a local muffler shop if they have a female flange that will fit your mid pipes. If they do ask them to fabricate you an exhaust, should be no more than $200. If they don't your next option would be to acquire a stock exhaust which can cost from $100-$300 depending on the condition, seller, and shipping costs. The lower gear trick only works up till 50 or so mph so unless you plan on obeying a 50 mph limit all the way I would change out the muffler. Another option however would be to request a trade + cash as I'm sure you will quickly find someone glad to jump in.

2 small tips about a stock muffler. If throw on with berk sport mids and dps it will make a slightly beefier tin can sound but drone much less, I personally can not stand dps + straight mids + stock exhaust as my wet-fart alarm goes off so with Berk mids you will be fine. Also make sure the exhaust flap solenoid hose is still functional on the driver's side behind the diffuser on top of the exhaust. Once you hook that up with a stock exhaust your DME will automatically regulate flow on your left tip so that the car roars under heavy acceleration and is quiet when throttle friendly cruising.

Originally Posted by cooler2442

No that is just how it is. I also had the Berk full street + down pipe. Around 2-2.3k is when it happens. I ended up switching to a down pipe, N55 mids and berk race and even though my car sounds more muscle carish but I drone less I think.

You drone as much as you did, It's just being covered up by the overall 100dB+ truck noise.

[whostorm05]

The crappy thing is I like the overall sound.

I'll try making a video tomorrow and see how it sounds to you guys.

[JefryHorizon]

Originally Posted by whostorm05

The crappy thing is I like the overall sound.

I'll try making a video tomorrow and see how it sounds to you guys.

Then like cooler2442 and many more of us you must learn to love the sound commit to the sound and bare with the sound because your car sounds THAT much better.

[ccdigmann]

Maybe the N55 midpipes could help. US$333 getbmwparts.com

http://www.trademotion.com/parts/ind...&siteid=214672

But first check the installation.

[1speedbike]

If you want I have my stock axleback that I'm willing to let go for relatively cheap. Only issue is the shipping to WA. I sold another axleback (Berk race) and the shipping was about $80 cross-country.

The resonators in the Berk midpipes should be keeping the drone to a more bearable level, but people do have different tolerances for drone.

[whostorm05]

Originally Posted by ccdigmann

Maybe the N55 midpipes could help. US$333 getbmwparts.com

http://www.trademotion.com/parts/ind...&siteid=214672

But first check the installation.

When people refer to N55 midpipes, is that referring to the stop midpipe which came off the car? Maybe I should try emailing the guy who had the car before me to see if by some chance he has the midpipe.

[whostorm05]

Originally Posted by 1speedbike

If you want I have my stock axleback that I'm willing to let go for relatively cheap. Only issue is the shipping to WA. I sold another axleback (Berk race) and the shipping was about $80 cross-country.

The resonators in the Berk midpipes should be keeping the drone to a more bearable level, but people do have different tolerances for drone.

I've never seen the underside of the car, if I were to jack it up and get under it would I be able to clearly see the midpipe? I wonder if maybe I have something else entirely under there. I should be able to see the resonators right?

[1speedbike]

Originally Posted by whostorm05

I've never seen the underside of the car, if I were to jack it up and get under it would I be able to clearly see the midpipe? I wonder if maybe I have something else entirely under there. I should be able to see the resonators right?

Yes you can easily see the axleback and midpipe.

Here's a pic, the resonators are circled:



The connection between the axleback and midpipes it just up and to the left of the circled area.

[whostorm05]

Thanks 1speedbike.

Anyone in the Seattle area have a lift handy?

[1speedbike]

Originally Posted by whostorm05

Thanks 1speedbike.

Anyone in the Seattle area have a lift handy?

Just for reference, that's the muffler-less race exhaust, not the sport exhaust. But the same Berk midpipes.

[whostorm05]

Hi guys, got some pics and videos. The guys at Jiffy Lube down the street hooked me up. I've reduced all the pics by 75 percent so they hopefully won't take up too much space. From the looks of it it appears the owner actually put on what he said he put on it.

I have two videos one shorter and one longer. I'll post the shorter one first.

[whostorm05]

Here's some pics....looks like a Berk street exhaust to me. I can't tell on the downpipe though.

[whostorm05]

Here's a short video. I was just holding my digital camera so it's a bit shaky.

[ken1137]

Yeah, thats about right. I really didn't notice it before between 2-3K rpms b/c i'm always playing music. THANKS All mufflers/cat-backs are going to drone to a certain degree, but as others have said I guess it depends on the user's level of acceptance. IMO it is still the 2nd best sound from a catback...HPF is #1. GL.