Free flowing but QUIET exhaust

[nicknick43]

Previous owner put a magnaflow on the z3 1.9 I recently purchased. The noise and drone at speed really detracts from the top down cruising experience. Is there a recommendation for a non restrictive yet quiet exhaust/ muffler?

 

[Mario]

I am not sure if you ever gonna find one, most aftermarket exhausts have a bit of a drone on the 1500 to 2000 range, you might find a similar to stock standard muffler that works but there's no silver bullet really having said that I think the difference in performance might be negligible compared with the excess noise if you don't like it. If you want to go back to standard though let me know I have an exhaust I can let go for cheap.

 

[train driver]

I am not sure if you ever gonna find one, most aftermarket exhausts have a bit of a drone on the 1500 to 2000 range, you might find a similar to stock standard muffler that works but there's no silver bullet really having said that I think the difference in performance might be negligible compared with the excess noise if you don't like it. If you want to go back to standard though let me know I have an exhaust I can let go for cheap.

 

[train driver]

Hi mario, if nick is not interested in your exhaust i have a 2002 1.9 with a ropey exhaust so am interested

 

[nicknick43]

Hi mario, if nick is not interested in your exhaust i have a 2002 1.9 with a ropey exhaust so am interested

I’m on another continent so it’s all yours

 

[t-tony]

Hi mario, if nick is not interested in your exhaust i have a 2002 1.9 with a ropey exhaust so am interested

If this exhaust is spoken for try Andy @spurs fan in a coupe he may have one.

Tony.

 

[train driver]

Hi Mario, Not sure how to send a pm, am interested in exhaust if still available, Dave

 

[Althulas]

@train driver just click on the members icon that you want to pm, a pop will appear and you will see the option to start a conversation.

 

[mrscalex]

When I had Mk 1/2 Escorts after-market exhausts were the norm. On Z3s it’s a relative rarity. The 6 cylinders inparticular have decent exhausts built to last. The 4 cylinders less so.

 

[Fraser]

I picked up an IMASAF exhaust of ebay second hand for a fiver when I first got my 1.9 as the back box had a hole in it. Its the best £5 I've ever spent.

It's still going strong now 4 years on and I've had no issues with it what so ever. They're only £50 new on ebay and I would say worth the saving over an original bmw any day. It's quiet, but probably not quite as smooth as the BMW original.

I replaced it with a Remus stainless steel back box for a couple of weeks, but even though the Remus was a "quiet" stainless exhaust, I still couldn't put up with the drone through towns etc with the hood down so I put the IMASAF one back on. I didn't notice any improvement in performance with the Remus on either.
I can't really comment on whether the IMASAF is more free flowing than the BMW original, but as a cheap quiet replacement I don't think you can go wrong.

Others may have different experiences of these cheap back boxes, but mine has been spot on.

 

[Alan Patterson]

I have a full IMASAF system fitted to my 1.9 manifold back and apart from catalyst throwing P0420 codes. Nice sound and bot too loud.

 

[2bmws]

I bought an exhaust on ebay last week brand new 45 delivered from poland for my 1.9 cheap as chips, as for the sound ive only ever heard my z3 so no comparison. But considering its standard i find it sounds like a sports car. More throaty i expected the z to be quiet like my old e46 318is