Quote:
Originally Posted by NickyC
Ugh, this is the dilemma I'm in right now. I have stock headers, but RE S/Xpipes and the Stromung exhaust. I LOVE the way the car sounds, in fact, it's the first BMW engine six cylinder I like! There's no rasp, there's pops all over the place once I take my foot of the gas, and you can even "burble" the exhaust a bit if you just stab the gas pedal for an instant, it's a hoot!
I've had my eye on headers forever, but if I go straight through I think it's going to sound really obnoxious. As well, from what I've seen on youtube, these cars just don't sound very good with straight through as the rasp seems to come back in a big way. If my car is going to be that loud, it better be fast too. Nothing is worse than a loud slow ass car, so I'd need to be supercharged before ever considering going with a straight through setup.
I'm thinking about leaving well enough alone and using the headers/tune money towards an eventual supercharger purchase. I just think at this point I'm married to this car (I love it, and what else can you get under $50k that even comes close?) so I'm thinking long term.
Good luck OP, let us know how it goes!
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Personally, I would not want a straight through system on this car for 2 reasons:
1) The S54 is a finicky exhaust to get the sound right IMHO. Our cars aren't like the E46 M3s, but I've heard a few videos that I'm just not a fan of. With full cat delete, you'll have a rasp and that annoying buzzing sound. I6's don't sound good when you go full cat delete unless you've got the right exhaust and some sort of resonator at the very minimum
2) I've got full cat delete on my E92 M3 (just the stock resonator with Eisenmann Race, sounds absolutely epic). I'd never do this on my Roadster because when you come to a light, you'll smell all the fumes. I love the smell of "race" cars as much as the next person, but I don't want to show up to work or dinner smelling like car exhaust.
if I were in your shoes and absolutely want headers, I'd just get headers and put stock S-pipes back on. You should be close to where you are now (I think)
P.S. I agree with you about the Z4M. For the money, I really struggle to think what else I'd rather have. Out of the E36 M3, E92 M3 and Z4M, it's easily the currently move driven car in the fleet. Still super happy 3 months into the ownership.