N54 DPs and BMW PE?

[asiflicious]

Hey everyone, I'm starting to look into getting an exhaust for my 2010 135i. I currently have catless downpipes but I want my car to sound louder and better. I'm looking at the BMW performance exhaust because it's probably the best priced catback exhaust available at the moment. But being that it's OEM, I want to know if it'll be loud enough. Compared to stock exhaust +DPs, how much louder and better would the car sound with the performance exhaust +DPs? I'm not worried about it being too loud (because it's an OEM product) but I want to make sure that the sound improvements will be worth the money or if I should look into another brand or a custom quad exhaust

[Cavpilot2k]

Only you can tell if it's loud enough, but the PE produces a great quality tone.
It also gives you options at the mid-pipe.
If you are still running stock mids with secondary cat and resonator, you can take both out or just the resonator or leave both on.
I've heard it can be drone-y with no cats and no resonators.

I'm N55 with stock cat, and PE with Y pipe (res delete, N55 has no secondary cat). I don't get any drone except under predictable transient conditions and the sound is great.
However I find myself now wanting about 20% more volume, so I'm going to go with a catted DP and hope that gives me some volume.

Bottom line is that there are few exhausts that produce a nicer sound than the PE. Yes, I know that's subjective and some would disagree, but there's a reason it's one of the most popular exhausts for this car. YMMV.

[Rallim]

Downpipes + PE

Dunno how much louder they make each other, but its loud enough to be heard but not obnoxious and great for a daily.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Rallim

Downpipes + PE

Dunno how much louder they make each other, but its loud enough to be heard but not obnoxious and great for a daily.

Sounds great!

[mike@x-ph.com]

With catless downpipes, its loud

[Bodie217]

I've been running AR catless downpipes, N55 midpipe, and BMW Performance exhaust on my N54 135i for years and wouldn't change it for the world. Driving in traffic it can be somewhat civilized, but when you get on it or rev it, it gets pleasantly loud and very BMW straight-6, M-car-like. Above 5k it starts to sound like a race car, my favorite thing to do is accelerate to near redline and let off. She screams and it sounds glorious. The exhaust note has received many complements at my track days. Tunnel runs sound like a Lambo... well, half of a Lambo's engine. Do it.

[iminhell1]

I'm on catless 3", Berk resonated mids and stock rear. As far as a DD goes I think it's the perfect setup. Still have the sleeper quiet mode of stock and once you lean on it it really barks.

Right now my rear donut is cracked and leaking so I've gotten louder. I do like the WOT sound of the leak. But just driving civilized it is too loud and gets unwanted attention.


And the Berk mids don't look a whole lot more than the N55 mids, new for new. In used form it's about even.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

What's loud to someone may be quiet to someone else.

Will it be louder, yes.

[BenõrTheBMW]

I have BMW PE and DP and no mid pipe and its loud. Under boost its quiet but out of boost full throttle its very very loud. I am about to put a mid pipe in it to quiet it down.

[icegrill]

Should I cut out the resonator on the n55 midpipe and use the y pipe on the bmw pe for maximum effect?