Cat-back exhaust. Should I?

[RTV]

Good day friendZ,

My M44 is in need of a new muffler, you can see and hear that it has some holes in it. Probably the factory exhaust.

Quick look online shows that I can get some very inexpensive OEM like replacements out of ebay, which should be the easy route but the child in me tells me that if I'm replacing it, might as well put something better, get a little bit more noise out of it.

Now, the child in me has a constant battle with the 40 years young me that enjoys just cruising in 5th. I've had my hothatches back in the day with loud exhaust that would wreck your head after a few hours and that's definitely what I don't want.

Is there any cat-backs out there that would give a nicer tone without drone at 60mph/100km/h? Very difficult to judge sound out of a few youtube videos, so hopefully you can share some of your experience and recommendations here.

Thank you in advance
Rami

 

[GazHyde]

Try and find a custom exhaust shop and have a chat with them as most will be able to build you something almost OEM sounding. They should have options for you to add a bit of fruit to the basket if you want. I had several visits with my local Powerflow fitter to tune the sound to my liking and that was all done in the original quoted price.

 

[Rudyrov]

I did that and never looked back, has a lovely sound now too!

 

[RTV]

Try and find a custom exhaust shop and have a chat with them as most will be able to build you something almost OEM sounding. They should have options for you to add a bit of fruit to the basket if you want. I had several visits with my local Powerflow fitter to tune the sound to my liking and that was all done in the original quoted price.

I'll be curious to know what'll be their pricing. Surprisingly, I do have a "powerflow" shop nearby, so I'll check them out. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Powerflow dealer in Mansfield quoted me £600 for a cat back on my 6cyl. I only wanted a crack welding up on the resonator!

 

[RTV]

Powerflow dealer in Mansfield quoted me £600 for a cat back on my 6cyl. I only wanted a crack welding up on the resonator!

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm expecting to be fair and most likely won't do it and just get an OEM replacement, but worth trying.

 

[Mike Fishwick]

Remember that an enthusiast's 'Deep throaty' exhaust is just another noisy car to other people, who - like me - regard noisy exhausts as something for the immature or the deaf . . .

My front silencer was rattling badly, and I had grown tired of the noise from my Eisenmann silencer, so had a stainless cat-back system made by MJI Exhausts of Wallsall, who made a nice system for my 2.8 with minimal noise levels - I am sure that they could easily produce a system which made more noise! Of course, you could always buy an Eisenmann silencer and wear ear plugs!

On the subject of exhaust notes, I find the best is that of the 2.2 and 3 litre Z3, where the front and rear groups of cylinders are piped seperately, each with its own front silencer and half of the rear silencer. This really does sound like a six-cylinder engine, as distinct from the drone of the original 2.8 system, producing a Jaguar-type note.

 

[RTV]

Remember that an enthusiast's 'Deep throaty' exhaust is just another noisy car to other people, who - like me - regard noisy exhausts as something for the immature or the deaf . . .

But seriously, tell us how you really feel.

 

[roadvoyager1]

Powerflow dealer in Mansfield quoted me £600 for a cat back on my 6cyl. I only wanted a crack welding up on the resonator!

I had the resonator replaced with a straight-through section by my local indi garage few years ago. Very little difference to noise levels. From memory they charged about £20.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

I had the resonator replaced with a straight-through section by my local indi garage few years ago. Very little difference to noise levels. From memory they charged about £20.

I was going to go down the same same route but ended up resurrecting my mig welder and tackling it in situ. All good for now .

 

[Nodzed]

Good day friendZ,

My M44 is in need of a new muffler, you can see and hear that it has some holes in it. Probably the factory exhaust.

Quick look online shows that I can get some very inexpensive OEM like replacements out of ebay, which should be the easy route but the child in me tells me that if I'm replacing it, might as well put something better, get a little bit more noise out of it.

Now, the child in me has a constant battle with the 40 years young me that enjoys just cruising in 5th. I've had my hothatches back in the day with loud exhaust that would wreck your head after a few hours and that's definitely what I don't want.

Is there any cat-backs out there that would give a nicer tone without drone at 60mph/100km/h? Very difficult to judge sound out of a few youtube videos, so hopefully you can share some of your experience and recommendations here.

Thank you in advance
Rami

RTECSHOP.co.uk | The Alloy wheel and tyre specialists in St Albans

The Alloy wheel and tyre experts in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Shop online for all your car upgrades, styling enhancements, exhaust systems, suspension and more.

www.rtecshop.co.uk

Just had this fitted to the Z4, they do them for the Z3s too. Let the immaturity shine through I say

 

[RTV]

RTECSHOP.co.uk | The Alloy wheel and tyre specialists in St Albans

The Alloy wheel and tyre experts in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Shop online for all your car upgrades, styling enhancements, exhaust systems, suspension and more.

www.rtecshop.co.uk

Just had this fitted to the Z4, they do them for the Z3s too. Let the immaturity shine through I say

At least on the website, it doesn't seem like they do Z3s. But very familiar with Remus from the motorcycle world, they are very "immature" for sure .

They sound, awesome but at least on the bikes, a bit too loud for me.

 

[Bluethunder]

I bought one of the cheap "OEM" ones off eBay and find it too loud for motorway driving.

 

[Nodzed]

@RTV

LOOK shiny exhaust for you, who doesn't like a twin pipe

Cobra Sport Cat Back System for BMW Z3 1.9 (95-00) | RTECSHOP.co.uk

www.rtecshop.co.uk

 

[RTV]

I bought one of the cheap "OEM" ones off eBay and find it too loud for motorway driving.

That's interesting, good to know.

@RTV

LOOK shiny exhaust for you, who doesn't like a twin pipe

Cobra Sport Cat Back System for BMW Z3 1.9 (95-00) | RTECSHOP.co.uk

www.rtecshop.co.uk

Ha, that'll be pretty savage but it'll mean chopping up bumper and possibly getting rid of the spare wheel?

Not for me. Do like the single pipe from cobra but I'm afraid that it'll be too loud or bother me on motorways or long journeys.

 

[Woodsta888]

I bought one of the cheap "OEM" ones off eBay and find it too loud for motorway driving.

Bluethunder, was there no 'whisper mode'?

 

[Bluethunder]

Bluethunder, was there no 'whisper mode'?

It actually sounds quite good driving around town At least I can't hear the whine of the differential now!

 

[Bluethunder]

Drove the car on the motorway today again and I've decided that I'm going to place the exhaust!..So if anyone can recommend a quiet OEM type exhaust pls let me know. Thanks!

 

[andyglym]

Love my Supersprint on my 2.8. Andy, age 13

 

[t-tony]

Not 13 and a half then ?

Tony.