BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-27-2010, 01:44 PM   #1
Lloyd
Networking Geek
Lloyd's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
334
Posts

Drives: 2014 Subaru STi 5dr
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Active Autowerke 135i Signature Exhaust Videos and Review

Earlier this week I went down to Active Autowerkes. They have a great shop with all the works, on my visit they were in the middle of dynoing a supercharged Stage II M3 (Ryan correct me if I'm wrong). On this visit I received sponsorship and had their 135i exhaust installed.

My first impression of the exhaust is that it is built solidly, near perfect welds, smooth curves, and of course it has a nicely polished surface. Lifting it you can easily tell it was a very light part. Later, when the stock exhaust muffler was taken off I definitely noticed how much lighter it was and how less bulky it is compared to the huge canister that of the OE.

I had the exhaust installed by the guys at Active Autowerkes, while doing that, Mr. Hugh was taking pictures for their new install guides. Installation didn't take long at all. The included adjustable mounting brackets guarantee the perfect positioning of the tips. I'm sure Ryan @AA could shed more light on the installation, and maybe supply the pictures.

Upon completion installation and cold start, you could definitely notice a louder idle; deep, very slight throaty note. Inside the cabin isn't as quiet anymore, you can hear and feel the low roar of the exhaust. In general it isn't too loud of an axle-back exhaust.

While driving, it is louder but not obnoxious. I don't think your neighbors will complain too much. In slow speed, low RPM driving, between 1.5k and 3k, there is the low growl and rumble, with the occasional backfire. Then coming up into higher RPM the exhaust seems to be fighting with the screams of the engine. Yet if you try to tune out the engine could hear the higher rate and note of the exhaust.

As far as performance, there much of a difference for it is only an axle-back. If anyone out there installs this with an aftermarket tune, I am sure this will help make the flow of the exhaust much smoother.

This exhaust is worth buying, after just two days and speeding ticket, I enjoy every minute in my 1er, well that is after the longer starts in cold weather (HPFP fail!).

Heres a quick video I made today, this isnt exactly a cold start, I did warm it up for a few minutes, drove it around the block. Rev progression at 7k at the highest on the last rev. Only current modifications are Forge Diverter Valves. I also think Ryan@AA can also share another video of a drive-away that they made in front of their shop.

[u2b]<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-1oFlFwAkLw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-1oFlFwAkLw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>[/u2b]

Vimeo link:

Last edited by Lloyd; 02-27-2010 at 10:39 PM..
Appreciate 1
      02-27-2010, 02:05 PM   #2
mineo77
Lieutenant Colonel
mineo77's Avatar
United_States
121
Rep
1,926
Posts

Drives: 2010 135i,1989 PRO3,2001 530i
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Portland,OR

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2010 135i coupe  [7.56]
nice review and video...sounds f'n mean!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2010, 08:44 PM   #3
Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!
Captain
Addict...Nah Im A Junkie!'s Avatar
34
Rep
786
Posts

Drives: 09 135i, 98 M rdstr
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

Is the car stock other than this exhaust? I love the sound!!!
__________________
'09 135i 6MT : Space Grey/Black ette : Cold Weather Package : Sport Package : Glacier Silver Aluminum Trim : iPod and USB : Nav : HD radio : Premium hi-fi system
Appreciate 0
      02-27-2010, 10:38 PM   #4
Lloyd
Networking Geek
Lloyd's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
334
Posts

Drives: 2014 Subaru STi 5dr
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
oh yes, I forgot to mention, stock at the moment other than forge dv's.
Appreciate 0
      02-28-2010, 08:48 PM   #5
escobar929
Brigadier General
escobar929's Avatar
154
Rep
4,528
Posts

Drives: M2 CS
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Hollywood, FL

iTrader: (14)

Garage List
2020 M2 CS  [10.00]
2020 M240i  [0.00]
sounds good man, wish you could have made it to the meet today, would def love to hear it in person
Appreciate 0
      03-01-2010, 10:00 AM   #6
Lloyd
Networking Geek
Lloyd's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
334
Posts

Drives: 2014 Subaru STi 5dr
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by escobar929 View Post
sounds good man, wish you could have made it to the meet today, would def love to hear it in person
me too, unfortunately I have Sunday morning routines starting at either 9-10:30 or from 11:30-3. The last two weeks, I've been busy till 3. One of these days.
Appreciate 0
      03-01-2010, 10:52 AM   #7
Viral@ActiveAutowerke
Viral@ActiveAutowerke's Avatar
United_States
104
Rep
485
Posts

Drives: 1 of a kind ;)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Miami, Florida

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2008 135i  [10.00]
Congrats Sir Enjoy The Car Safely
Appreciate 0
      03-01-2010, 10:52 AM   #8
Omar@ActiveAutowerke
Lieutenant Colonel
177
Rep
1,783
Posts

Drives: E92 M3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Miami

iTrader: (1)

Enjoy the car in good health!
Appreciate 0
      03-02-2010, 10:25 AM   #9
ryan@ActiveAutowerke
Lieutenant
ryan@ActiveAutowerke's Avatar
39
Rep
431
Posts

Drives: M3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Miami, FL

iTrader: (0)

Active Autowerke Signature 135i Exhaust Drive Off

[u2b]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sC2TC3flPZs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sC2TC3flPZs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/u2b]
Appreciate 0
      06-01-2012, 03:14 PM   #10
loesch
Captain
loesch's Avatar
United_States
127
Rep
917
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW 135i M Sport
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: State College, PA

iTrader: (4)

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I just wanted to bring to light something about the install. It is extremely easy to screw up the threads on the cat when removing the original exhaust. I am always careful to avoid cross-threading and try to take it easy but I wasn't expecting it to be this easy to to mess up the threads. Especially during removal! Usually cross threading happens when putting the bolts back in. Not the case here. I lined everything up and carefully began bolting the new exhaust in and the bolt just stopped dead. There was nothing I could do after that. The top bolt on the cat was no problem. Now I need to go a shop to see if it can be tapped. Just a warning for everybody. Maybe best to get the dealer to put it in.

Other than that this exhaust is fantastic. Andrew from Active Autowerke hooked me up and it is worth every penny. I was thinking of going with Corsa but for almost twice the price, no way. There is no possibility of the Corsa exhaust being twice as good. The sound of the Active Autowerke is definitely deep and mean with the N55. Not too loud either. When cruising without accelerating it just barely gives you the impression that something special is there. When you roll on the throttle it wakes up nicely and sounds about twice as loud as stock with a better tone overall. It's perfect in my opinion. I didn't get high up in the RPMs yet though since I bitched up the one bolt.

Now the downside. There isn't much. The rear mounts are reused from the OEM exhaust and there are long rods that get installed into the old hanger rubber mounts. The mounting for the rear of the exhaust is just a bit clumsy overall. It moves around more than the stock unit but it's not bad and maybe I did something wrong too. I was getting jacked near the end due to the cat bolt problem.

Last edited by loesch; 06-01-2012 at 03:49 PM..
Appreciate 0
      06-01-2012, 09:13 PM   #11
jsmonet
Captain
United_States
302
Rep
913
Posts

Drives: 2020 x7 m50i
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: so cal

iTrader: (2)

working those bolts in was a pain in the ass because the hump on the bolts just a bit back from the thread kept getting stuck on the flange of the axle-back. you have to coax the exhaust up and around just a bit to get the bolt past and you're all good.
Appreciate 0
      06-01-2012, 10:13 PM   #12
loesch
Captain
loesch's Avatar
United_States
127
Rep
917
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW 135i M Sport
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: State College, PA

iTrader: (4)

Got ya but in my case it wasn't the hump. I pulled the whole thing back out and tried the bolt without the spring to make sure.
Appreciate 0
      06-02-2012, 12:15 PM   #13
TheBurro
Private First Class
TheBurro's Avatar
18
Rep
193
Posts

Drives: 2009 135i
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: San Antonio, TX

iTrader: (3)

How is it on the highway? Drone?
Appreciate 0
      06-02-2012, 05:29 PM   #14
loesch
Captain
loesch's Avatar
United_States
127
Rep
917
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW 135i M Sport
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: State College, PA

iTrader: (4)

I'm away on vacation for a week. Ill let you know when I get a chance to try it.
Appreciate 0
      06-03-2012, 01:17 PM   #15
Lloyd
Networking Geek
Lloyd's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
334
Posts

Drives: 2014 Subaru STi 5dr
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Pembroke Pines, FL

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBurro View Post
How is it on the highway? Drone?
It's bareable. I would estimate that the highest level of drone is around 2.5-2.8k rpm, unfortunately thats around cruise rpm. So to stay out of drone you would need to be going around 80mph or up.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-12-2012, 08:32 PM   #16
loesch
Captain
loesch's Avatar
United_States
127
Rep
917
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW 135i M Sport
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: State College, PA

iTrader: (4)

I disagree with imported_pinoy. Maybe it's different with the N55 but I don't experience any kind of drone that I would classify as annoying. Yes, it is audible on level ground and uphill at highway speeds but it isn't unpleasant at all to me. IMO the only situation that doesn't sound good is at around 1500 RPM under load. It seems to sound like a truck at very low RPMs. Not terrible but any means though.
Appreciate 0
      06-12-2012, 08:46 PM   #17
BMW86
Major General
Australia
395
Rep
9,156
Posts

Drives: RS3 Sedan / Macan S
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Australia

iTrader: (0)

Here's a vid of my AA when it was on my car for anyone that is interested.

Appreciate 0
      06-13-2012, 03:37 PM   #18
Everfly
Brigadier General
Everfly's Avatar
154
Rep
3,143
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Indianapolis

iTrader: (51)

Nice, I want one
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 02:19 AM   #19
135Passion
Enthusiast
135Passion's Avatar
United_States
0
Rep
26
Posts

Drives: Space Grey BMW 2009 135i
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

How would this compare to a Berk Full Street Cat-Back Exhaust? The Berk has a muffler so I'm wondering on sound. Anyone know? Thanks
Appreciate 0
      01-01-2013, 03:17 AM   #20
///Chase
Lieutenant
///Chase's Avatar
Australia
114
Rep
514
Posts

Drives: 16' m4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Brisbane

iTrader: (0)

AA is WAY louder than berk street... AA is comparable to Berk Race mate.

Ive had The berk street and race on my car. and a friend has the Active Autowerkes. AA is louder even with N54 mids than race.
Appreciate 0
      01-02-2013, 10:06 PM   #21
chrisko
Second Lieutenant
chrisko's Avatar
United_States
42
Rep
295
Posts

Drives: 2016 M3
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Rockville, MD

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
I'm really going back and forth between AA and BMW PE. Unfortunately, I haven't heard either on an N55 in person. I was hoping some of you may give me some perspective. What are your opinions?

I would like to pull the trigger this month. Thanks for your help.
__________________
2021 M2 Comp | STEK Stealth Wrapped | PSM V2 Trunk Spoiler

2022 X3 M Comp | (SOLD)

2016 M3 | AWE Switchpath Diamond Black 102mm (SOLD)
Appreciate 0
      01-03-2013, 01:59 AM   #22
M4_lgnd
Second Lieutenant
M4_lgnd's Avatar
400
Rep
270
Posts

Drives: 2022 G82 M4
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (1)

i love mine!!! sounds great with my AA down pipe.
__________________
2022 G82 Signal Green M4 Competition XDrive
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:44 PM.




1addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST