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02-14-2019, 11:48 AM | #1 |
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Installing 135i PE on a 128i
If you're looking for a 128i M Performance Exhaust now, you can pretty much give up hope. There may be one squirreled away at a dealership somewhere, but there are none left in any BMW warehouses and apparently none in Germany either. I tried for a month to get one with no luck.
Fortunately, you can use the 135i PE with a little work. The 135i PE is a little more expensive since it includes piping, but it's your only option at this point. The 128i PE comes pre-cut with about 2" of pipe out of the silencer body. You will need to cut the 135i PE in roughly the same way. BE WARNED! I was super-careful to measure away from the silencer body with calipers and I cut the pipe in the same place that I cut my stock 128i exhaust and they were still about 1cm off. I suspect the silencer body is very slightly different or maybe it's a minor tolerance issue. You have two options to attach the 135i PE. The inlet pipe on the 135i PE is a hair under 70mm. The inlet pipe on the 128i exhaust is around 66mm so it's not a perfect match. A good muffler shop should still be able to weld them even with the difference in diameter. If you weld them though, it's obviously a permanent attachment. I took a slightly different approach. I cut a small section of pipe about 1.5" wide directly below where I cut the silencer off. I mounted this over the existing stock pipe using JB Cold Weld to create two pieces with the same diameter. Time will tell if the JB weld will hold. Since it's not really structural, but just a "spacer," I think it will be okay. If not, I will have a muffler shop weld the spacer onto the pipe. The reason I did this is so I can use a sleeve over the butt joint. This way I can remove the PE easily someday if I want to sell it. The sleeve wasn't hard to find since 70mm is equal to 2.75" which is a common diameter. I used a Vibrant Performance #1176. It's extremely thick and stout. The basic ones they had at my auto parts store weren't going to cut it. All mounting points on the 135i PE are identical so installation is easy. The exhaust tips on the 135i PE are slightly larger I think, but it still fits the stock opening on the 128i just fine. I'll take a few pictures of my installation later and I'll make a sound clip when I get a chance. Last edited by Thunderguts; 02-14-2019 at 02:25 PM.. |
02-14-2019, 09:43 PM | #3 |
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Drone is not the correct word. If I cruise at 80mph, I can hear the exhaust slightly. I could not hear it with the stock exhaust. This is not the low frequency drone that plagues some exhausts, however. It’s a higher and less objectionable pitch. It’s not very noticeable and easily overcome with the stereo or just talking normally.
As far as the overall sound, I’m a little underwhelmed so far, but it has gotten better with more mileage. It’s very definitely better than the tame stock exhaust. The thing I like most about it is that it doesn’t try to make the N52 sound like a V8. It’s a higher pitched raspy tone, not a ricey fart can. It will never hold a candle to the FR500 exhaust I have on my Bullitt which sounds like heaven itself opened up and sprung forth a chorus of V8 thunderbolts, but it’s growing on me. |
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02-15-2019, 12:21 AM | #4 |
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Last edited by Thunderguts; 02-17-2019 at 08:07 PM.. |
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09-04-2019, 04:17 PM | #7 |
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Hey man thank you for this thread!
Quick question though. Are your measurements ID or OD of the pipe? 70mm is essentially 2.75” like you said but I’m wondering if there’s a reducer coupling that could be used so the stock muffler could be mated back up after without dealing with the now-larger OD stock midpipe. Edit: thinking about it a little further, you could JBWeld another sleeve to the stock “nub” and use the same 2.75” lap clamp for any future reversion to stock! Good approach IMO! Last edited by b1aze; 09-04-2019 at 04:23 PM.. |
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09-06-2019, 12:31 AM | #8 |
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https://www.bmwpartswarehouse.com/AC...-43029-acc.htm
Here is one on sale for a relatively cheap price. Grab it while you can!
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09-06-2019, 08:27 AM | #9 | |
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09-06-2019, 08:42 AM | #10 |
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Once the 128i PE exhaust dries up completely, what are the options that are the closest? I'd love to get something that isn't ricey but has a little more volume than stock. I'm bummed that the PE's are so tough to find now.
Nice write up though OP, the sound clip is great! |
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09-06-2019, 09:17 AM | #11 | |
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09-06-2019, 10:18 AM | #13 |
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The 128i PE supply has dried up completely. Somehow ECS managed to get their hands on one or two of them, but those sold out 8 months ago. I believe those were the last new ones for sale through the standard BMW supply chain. I even tried to order one from Germany but none of the BMW parts supply places I contacted had one. Get the 135i PE before the same thing happens.
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09-06-2019, 10:44 AM | #14 |
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Are there any negatives to installing the 135i PE on the 128i? Any reduction in power or anything? Anyone got a link to the 135i PE for a decent price?
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09-06-2019, 11:21 AM | #15 |
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I haven't found any negatives, other than the minor pipe diameter difference. The 135i is slightly larger diameter so if anything, it would flow slightly better than the 128i PE and give you more top end power.
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09-08-2019, 08:16 PM | #16 |
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I have had
128i PE Exhaust = first exhaust set up, loved it. Pops and burbles. Sounds amazing. 128i PE Exhaust + Secondary Cat Delete = Almost no difference to just PE exhaust 128i PE Exhaust + AA Headers = Wailing banshee above 5k rpm, orgasmic. Drone machine. Makes the interior rattle. Not good for daily driving. (video really doesn't do it justice). 135i Exhaust + AA Headers = Probably my favorite set up. No High way drone, quiet at low RPMs, still screamed at high RPMs. I think more people with AA headers should try the 135i exhaust. It's a really nice set up. Especially with the vacuum activated flap still active.
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09-11-2019, 05:56 PM | #17 | |
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09-12-2019, 07:44 PM | #18 | |
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Mods Done: AA Exhaust/Headers | 3SIM | MILVs | StageFP Dyno Tuned | Euro Box Intake Swap | LCI Blackline Tailights | OEM Euro Bi-Xenon Swap from Halogen | Rear Bumper M-Sport Swap | Rear PDC Retrofit | BMW OEM CF Diffuser/Spoiler | BMW Front Aero Kit | Supersprint Sec 1 Cat Delete Straight Pipes
To Do: Ohlins R n T Suspension | Front/Rear Sway Bars | M3 Front Control Arms/Bushings Eventually: AT -> MT Swap (!?) |
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11-19-2019, 10:15 PM | #19 | |
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11-19-2019, 11:23 PM | #20 |
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Y Pipe is not needed for the 128i, although I think another user here did find a way to install it. I have the 135i PE on my 128i, and I actually didn’t even try the clamp method. I just had the shop weld it onto the rest of the stock piping. Below is a photo of what it looks like under there. It sounds amazing and I haven’t really had any problems. I had a slight rattle at first but the shop found the heat shield was barely touching the muffler. This was easily fixed and now I have absolutely no complaints. Perfect amount of sound.
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06-17-2020, 09:58 AM | #21 | ||
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06-17-2020, 01:06 PM | #22 |
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Can anyone comment on the different in tone/volume between the PE and a muffler delete? Unfortunately YT videos don't do a great job of comparing (if there's much of a different that is). Currently running a MD but considering the PE if it will keep things a bit more civil at cruising RPMs
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