BMW Performance Exhaust... Worth it?

abirmaher · 06-16-2012, 03:39 PM

Hey guys,

Im thinking of potentially getting a BMW Performance Exhaust installed on my 135i next week and wanted some opinions. I currently have a Stage 1 BMW PPK and basically want to keep my warranty in tact (which is why I went with the PPK and am consider the BMW exhaust). Anyways does anyone have experience with the combination and how much of a difference does it make, power and sound wise? Ive been watching videos on you tube but you can't really trust those things so I'm looking for people who have actually felt the difference.

Any input is appreciated.

Huy@Vishnu · 06-16-2012, 03:45 PM

The exhaust is great as a added sound gain because it just sounds really really throaty. You can't feel the difference unless your driving in the high rpms of the vehicle. The exhaust sounds really raspy once you a catless setup on it, if you ever decide. hope that helps.

abirmaher · 06-16-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huy@Vishnu

The exhaust is great as a added sound gain because it just sounds really really throaty. You can't feel the difference unless your driving in the high rpms of the vehicle. The exhaust sounds really raspy once you a catless setup on it, if you ever decide. hope that helps.

Thanks for the input

so what do you think with it or not? btw no plans on going cat less for now if that affects the decision. I mean my real goal is sound more than anything i just want more

Pig Farmer · 06-16-2012, 07:44 PM

The car sounds so much better with the PE. It's really how the car should have come from the factory. No real performance gains but the sound alone is worth every penny. Try not to smile once the PE is installed... It's impossible.

abirmaher · 06-16-2012, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pig Farmer

The car sounds so much better with the PE. It's really how the car should have come from the factory. No real performance gains but the sound alone is worth every penny. Try not to smile once the PE is installed... It's impossible.

Thanks!

Mark16q · 06-17-2012, 12:23 AM

I've got ppk1 and pe exhaust on mine. Every time I get on the gas I get a smile on my face. Don't think it runs any better with the pe but such a beautiful sound. And when cruising with the top up in wife mode, can barely tell a difference. Worth every penny IMO.

abirmaher · 06-17-2012, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark16q

I've got ppk1 and pe exhaust on mine. Every time I get on the gas I get a smile on my face. Don't think it runs any better with the pe but such a beautiful sound. And when cruising with the top up in wife mode, can barely tell a difference. Worth every penny IMO.

Thanks

alexmtl_135i · 06-17-2012, 10:39 AM

I've had the PE for 8 months now on my N55 and I absolutely love it. Same comments as above for the sound. It's already loud enough for me, it actually makes me hold back on buying a catless downpipe because it may become too much lol.
One more thing though, I *did* notice improvement in throttle response and I did have less turbo lag. I have the DCT gearbox and had this annoying first gear lag which is gone now, and in the mid-RPMs I noticed less lag and maybe a tiny bit more torque.

abirmaher · 06-17-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexmtl_135i

I've had the PE for 8 months now on my N55 and I absolutely love it. Same comments as above for the sound. It's already loud enough for me, it actually makes me hold back on buying a catless downpipe because it may become too much lol.
One more thing though, I *did* notice improvement in throttle response and I did have less turbo lag. I have the DCT gearbox and had this annoying first gear lag which is gone now, and in the mid-RPMs I noticed less lag and maybe a tiny bit more torque.

Thanks

Pablito1702 · 06-17-2012, 11:36 AM

Great sounding exhaust, mellow and unobtrusive at cruise, but slightly aggressive sounding under hard acceleration. IMO I would not install the Y-pipe that comes with the kit. Deleting the resonator on the mid-pipe created drone on my N54. When I installed an N55 midpipe (with resonator) with the PE muffler, the drone went away, but the system sounded basically the same and still had the nice burbles on decelleration. I also hated the cutting/clamps associated with the Y-pipe install.

TheBurro · 06-17-2012, 11:44 AM

Any highway drone with this system?

Charles Kinbote · 06-17-2012, 01:53 PM

My only complaint regarding the BMW PE is that I'm constantly driving with the windows open to enjoy the sound--having chosen to upgrade to the Harmon Kardon sound system is now beside the point!

CK

avecta · 06-17-2012, 06:37 PM

LMAO "wife mode" that's gold!

Mark16q · 06-17-2012, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBurro

Any highway drone with this system?

Not heard drone yet. Drive lots of freeway up varying grades and whether lugging along or revving it out all good. May be harder to control with auto but no prob on 6mt.

cwg · 06-18-2012, 06:34 PM

I have the PE and the PPKI on the same car as the OP. I love my PE it sounds so sweet. I installed it before the car was broken in and about a year before I did the PPK - I don't think there is a lot of performance difference - not enough to overcome the placeebo effect anyway. I would buy it again without hesitation.

jkoral · 06-18-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles Kinbote

My only complaint regarding the BMW PE is that I'm constantly driving with the windows open to enjoy the sound--having chosen to upgrade to the Harmon Kardon sound system is now beside the point!

When windows go down, stereo gets turned off. It is perfect for me. Can't notice it when cruising, but even driving slowly around town sounds amazing. When windows are closed, barely noticeable (no drone for me).

I only turn my stereo on when the windows are closed.

PPK2 + BMW PE

tracer bullet · 06-18-2012, 09:29 PM

I love it. Car had it installed when I bought it so I can't say before / after. But it does sound damned good. Pretty quiet when driving "nice", throaty and aggressive if you step on it.

(And that's coming from a person that's naturally introverted and averse to loud stuff in general)

jeff2.0t · 06-19-2012, 11:16 AM

Inside the car windows up, you dont notice that much of a difference, windows down yes. However something I wish someone would drive my car and that I would just sit on a chair outside and watch.

On cold start up the car is friggin madly loud, it scream with back fire noise, I must quickly move away to prevent disturbing people

My wife was cooking outside on the BBQ, I was washing the 135i, I decided to make a run around the block (2 milles trip), she told me she could hear my car madly all around the block :-), but inside for me it was a normal ride.

crbalch · 06-19-2012, 09:06 PM

I thought long and hard about the BMW PE but couldn't justify the cost since it is a lot more than other systems. I just installed my Berk Street Axleback and absolutely love it. I got the black ceramic for 560 shipped and it was totally worth it. If you check out the last post on the exhaust clip thread you can hear a clip I took.

Just another thought you may consider. No warranty implications either since it's just an axleback and can be easily switched out if need be.

Ash83 · 06-20-2012, 10:23 AM

It sounds great

GeeRam · 06-20-2012, 01:12 PM

My car goes into BMW in a few weeks time for the BMWP exhaust to be fitted.............. can't wait

M2 Blur · 06-20-2012, 09:38 PM

I had no intention to get the PE. But my CPO had it already included. Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. The inline 6 sounds amazing at any rpm. The drone is minimal. Starting the car creates excitement, reminding me that the car is a performance coupe.

06-16-2012, 03:39 PM	#1
abirmaher Colonel 840 Rep 2,363 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW M2 & 2024 BMW X1 M35i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (14) Garage List [0.00] 2018 BMW M2 [10.00]	BMW Performance Exhaust... Worth it? Hey guys, Im thinking of potentially getting a BMW Performance Exhaust installed on my 135i next week and wanted some opinions. I currently have a Stage 1 BMW PPK and basically want to keep my warranty in tact (which is why I went with the PPK and am consider the BMW exhaust). Anyways does anyone have experience with the combination and how much of a difference does it make, power and sound wise? Ive been watching videos on you tube but you can't really trust those things so I'm looking for people who have actually felt the difference. Any input is appreciated. __________________ Follow my builds: The Racecar (2018 M2 - M0010): Build Thread \| @_m0010 The Daily (2024 X1 M35i - X001M35):Build Thread \| @_x001m35
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06-16-2012, 03:45 PM	#2
Huy@Vishnu 8 Rep 27 Posts Drives: 2011 335i / 2004 SVT Cobra Join Date: May 2011 Location: Bay Area United States iTrader: (0)	BMW Exhaust The exhaust is great as a added sound gain because it just sounds really really throaty. You can't feel the difference unless your driving in the high rpms of the vehicle. The exhaust sounds really raspy once you a catless setup on it, if you ever decide. hope that helps.
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06-16-2012, 07:44 PM	#4
Pig Farmer Major 340 Rep 1,293 Posts Drives: E92M Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	The car sounds so much better with the PE. It's really how the car should have come from the factory. No real performance gains but the sound alone is worth every penny. Try not to smile once the PE is installed... It's impossible.
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06-17-2012, 12:23 AM	#6
Mark16q Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 2010 135i convertible AW 6MT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Agoura Hills iTrader: (2)	I've got ppk1 and pe exhaust on mine. Every time I get on the gas I get a smile on my face. Don't think it runs any better with the pe but such a beautiful sound. And when cruising with the top up in wife mode, can barely tell a difference. Worth every penny IMO. __________________ '13 Miata Gt 6MT, '10 135i AW 'vert 6MT, PE and PPK1 sold. Sold '09 A4 Cabriolet, a couple of Miata's, 2005 Elise, 2004 S2000....
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06-17-2012, 10:39 AM	#8
alexmtl_135i First Lieutenant 31 Rep 371 Posts Drives: 2013 C63 Coupe P31 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada iTrader: (0)	I've had the PE for 8 months now on my N55 and I absolutely love it. Same comments as above for the sound. It's already loud enough for me, it actually makes me hold back on buying a catless downpipe because it may become too much lol. One more thing though, I did notice improvement in throttle response and I did have less turbo lag. I have the DCT gearbox and had this annoying first gear lag which is gone now, and in the mid-RPMs I noticed less lag and maybe a tiny bit more torque.
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06-17-2012, 11:36 AM	#10
Pablito1702 Pablo 39 Rep 263 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (3)	Great sounding exhaust, mellow and unobtrusive at cruise, but slightly aggressive sounding under hard acceleration. IMO I would not install the Y-pipe that comes with the kit. Deleting the resonator on the mid-pipe created drone on my N54. When I installed an N55 midpipe (with resonator) with the PE muffler, the drone went away, but the system sounded basically the same and still had the nice burbles on decelleration. I also hated the cutting/clamps associated with the Y-pipe install. __________________ BMW PPK V2, M3 26mm sway bar, M3 front control arm kit, M3 steering wheel, BMW 313 wheels w Michelin PSS Last edited by Pablito1702; 06-17-2012 at 01:59 PM..
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06-17-2012, 11:44 AM	#11
TheBurro Private First Class 18 Rep 193 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (3)	Any highway drone with this system?
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06-17-2012, 01:53 PM	#12
Charles Kinbote New Member 1 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2011 135i coupe 6MT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: a far off northern land iTrader: (0)	My only complaint regarding the BMW PE is that I'm constantly driving with the windows open to enjoy the sound--having chosen to upgrade to the Harmon Kardon sound system is now beside the point! CK
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06-17-2012, 06:37 PM	#13
avecta Private First Class 7 Rep 130 Posts Drives: landrover discovery Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Australia iTrader: (1)	LMAO "wife mode" that's gold!
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06-18-2012, 06:34 PM	#15
cwg Captain 45 Rep 723 Posts Drives: 2017 M4 ZCP. AZB on black Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kailua, HI iTrader: (0)	I have the PE and the PPKI on the same car as the OP. I love my PE it sounds so sweet. I installed it before the car was broken in and about a year before I did the PPK - I don't think there is a lot of performance difference - not enough to overcome the placeebo effect anyway. I would buy it again without hesitation.
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06-18-2012, 09:29 PM	#17
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2412 Rep 3,548 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	I love it. Car had it installed when I bought it so I can't say before / after. But it does sound damned good. Pretty quiet when driving "nice", throaty and aggressive if you step on it. (And that's coming from a person that's naturally introverted and averse to loud stuff in general)
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06-19-2012, 11:16 AM	#18
jeff2.0t Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 229 Posts Drives: 2018 X3M40i, 2019 M4 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	Inside the car windows up, you dont notice that much of a difference, windows down yes. However something I wish someone would drive my car and that I would just sit on a chair outside and watch. On cold start up the car is friggin madly loud, it scream with back fire noise, I must quickly move away to prevent disturbing people My wife was cooking outside on the BBQ, I was washing the 135i, I decided to make a run around the block (2 milles trip), she told me she could hear my car madly all around the block :-), but inside for me it was a normal ride.
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06-19-2012, 09:06 PM	#19
crbalch The Schwab 473 Rep 1,605 Posts Drives: 2020 AW M340xi Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (2) Garage List 2017 BMW X1 [0.00] 2016 BMW M235xi [0.00]	I thought long and hard about the BMW PE but couldn't justify the cost since it is a lot more than other systems. I just installed my Berk Street Axleback and absolutely love it. I got the black ceramic for 560 shipped and it was totally worth it. If you check out the last post on the exhaust clip thread you can hear a clip I took. Just another thought you may consider. No warranty implications either since it's just an axleback and can be easily switched out if need be.
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06-20-2012, 10:23 AM	#20
Ash83 Major 41 Rep 1,177 Posts Drives: 135i & RS5 (SOLD)/ 18 CTS-V Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (1)	It sounds great __________________ Alpine White, Coral RED , Glacier Silver Aluminum trim, M sport, 6MT, NAV, HiFi, USB-iPod, Bluetooth Performance: JB4\|BMW PE\|DP Cosmetics: BMW Sport Pedals\|Black Kidney Grill
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06-20-2012, 01:12 PM	#21
GeeRam Major 195 Rep 1,317 Posts Drives: X5 40d SE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Berkshire,UK iTrader: (0)	My car goes into BMW in a few weeks time for the BMWP exhaust to be fitted.............. can't wait __________________ 2017 X5 4.0dSE ~ Atlas Cedar:Ind.Amaro Brown Merino&Piano Blk, Sport Auto, DHP, Comfort seats, Cold weather pack, HK audio, Electric towbar, Sun protection glass.
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06-20-2012, 09:38 PM	#22
M2 Blur Second Lieutenant 126 Rep 236 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 6MT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00]	I had no intention to get the PE. But my CPO had it already included. Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. The inline 6 sounds amazing at any rpm. The drone is minimal. Starting the car creates excitement, reminding me that the car is a performance coupe.
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