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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Engine, Transmission, Exhaust, Drivetrain, ECU Software Modifications Quick Exhaust flap "stay open" mod
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      04-05-2015, 01:29 PM   #1
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Quick Exhaust flap "stay open" mod

If you just want to keep the flaps open all the time. just do a vacuum line bypass.
The solenoid is behind the left rear tail light. You have to open the rear left inner panel to access it.

The whole thing took me less than 10 minutes. you just need a plastic panel puller and small flat screwdriver to help get the vacuum lines off the solenoid, and find a small plastic tube to join the two vacuum lines.

pic attached.
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      04-05-2015, 02:02 PM   #2
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harder than zip tie method.
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      04-05-2015, 06:08 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badblack550xi
harder than zip tie method.
Agreed. Zip tied takes 30 seconds. Pointless mod on stock exhaust though.
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      04-05-2015, 10:03 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mbbrewer View Post
Agreed. Zip tied takes 30 seconds. Pointless mod on stock exhaust though.
not stock, M5 mufflers.
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      04-05-2015, 10:18 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dadysev View Post
not stock, M5 mufflers.
zip ties work on M5 also
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      04-06-2015, 12:04 AM   #6
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Nice alternative for those that don't want to deal with zip ties.
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      04-06-2015, 05:17 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badblack550xi View Post
zip ties work on M5 also
Maybe I'm a lameass, but I couldn't get the zip ties to work on the M5 valves, there doesn't seem to be a place to tie off the zip tie to hold the valve open.
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      04-28-2015, 09:59 PM   #8
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Honestly this is fantastic since I tend to hear my valves rattle after the zip ties start to wear out. Great post thanks a lot.
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      04-28-2015, 10:01 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by e46beater
Honestly this is fantastic since I tend to hear my valves rattle after the zip ties start to wear out. Great post thanks a lot.
I did one more little mod till I customize my own remote switch.
Basically cut the negative switched wire to the solenoid ( I think it was brown with a stripe) and fed it to a switch. One side of the switch is ground so if I want normal operation I flip the switch one way. If I want fully open I flip the other way. It's under the rear trunk floor flap. Just until i do the remote switch.
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      04-29-2015, 12:13 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dadysev View Post
I did one more little mod till I customize my own remote switch.
Basically cut the negative switched wire to the solenoid ( I think it was brown with a stripe) and fed it to a switch. One side of the switch is ground so if I want normal operation I flip the switch one way. If I want fully open I flip the other way. It's under the rear trunk floor flap. Just until i do the remote switch.
Great idea as well!! I might add this now that I'm catless. Thanks man!
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      04-29-2015, 01:12 PM   #11
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So this took me literally 30 minutes lol. The switch is temporary as it's all I had laying around the garage. I plan on getting a flush toggle like your photo.

Pull 4 tabs on lower trunk latch trim and unplug 12 volt adapter. Pull the three pins holding driver's side trunk liner in. Cut the brown/white wire and connect two wires to run into the cabin. Tuck them under the liner going towards the rear of the back seat.



The rear cushion pulls straight up and has two tabs under each seat. Shine a light so you can see a place to run your wires from the trunk.






Run wires under the seat and tuck up drivers side door sill trim all the way to the front. Pull side dash panel starting front closest to you (hinges at the back).



Unscrew two torx (T25 I believe) holding in storage container and pull gently outwards.



1/4 drill bit and switch installed



Can't even tell it's there (Flat toggle will be even better)

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      05-07-2015, 10:07 AM   #12
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Just a heads up I did this mod while my car was down. After stage 2 installed I noticed it wasnt working haha. Maybe it's the power wire that needs tapped versus the brown ground wire. I'm going to switch it today.
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      05-07-2015, 10:11 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by e46beater
Just a heads up I did this mod while my car was down. After stage 2 installed I noticed it wasnt working haha. Maybe it's the power wire that needs tapped versus the brown ground wire. I'm going to switch it today.
Make sure you ground the right wire! It has to be separated. BMW runs switch B+ Power to one side and the DME grounds the other side to complete the circuit. You must split the wire and ground the solenoid. Don't just ground the wire while attached !! You could damage the transistor in the DME
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      05-07-2015, 10:24 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dadysev View Post
Make sure you ground the right wire! It has to be separated. BMW runs switch B+ Power to one side and the DME grounds the other side to complete the circuit. You must split the wire and ground the solenoid. Don't just ground the wire while attached !! You could damage the transistor in the DME
Oh sorry I misread your post! I just intercepted the ground side of the solenoid and added the switch to remove ground. So the circuit is normally open and needs ground applied to open the solenoid is what you're saying?
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      05-07-2015, 07:46 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by e46beater
Quote:
Originally Posted by dadysev View Post
Make sure you ground the right wire! It has to be separated. BMW runs switch B+ Power to one side and the DME grounds the other side to complete the circuit. You must split the wire and ground the solenoid. Don't just ground the wire while attached !! You could damage the transistor in the DME
Oh sorry I misread your post! I just intercepted the ground side of the solenoid and added the switch to remove ground. So the circuit is normally open and needs ground applied to open the solenoid is what you're saying?
Forgive my grade 1 drawing. See if you can follow it.
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      05-08-2015, 01:52 PM   #16
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Did this mod in an Advance Auto parking lot a few minutes ago, stock exhaust so no real increase in sound, but the rattle on startup is gone.

The dealership replaced the driver's side muffler under warranty to get rid of the rattle on one side, but the other flap still rattled. So, if for no other reason this was an easy enough modification that got rid of a small annoyance with the car.

Thanks for the original post, but I'll leave wiring switches to the rest of you guys.
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      05-08-2015, 04:05 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gclions View Post
Did this mod in an Advance Auto parking lot a few minutes ago, stock exhaust so no real increase in sound, but the rattle on startup is gone.

The dealership replaced the driver's side muffler under warranty to get rid of the rattle on one side, but the other flap still rattled. So, if for no other reason this was an easy enough modification that got rid of a small annoyance with the car.

Thanks for the original post, but I'll leave wiring switches to the rest of you guys.
Yeah you wont hear much with stock mufflers. Like I said I have M5 mufflers on which make a huge difference on sound. The flap really keeps them quiet when closed.
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      05-08-2015, 05:44 PM   #18
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So oddly enough mine rattle whilst open.. I think I'm gonna go back to the zip tie method as it looks like it applies more tension when they're open.
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      05-09-2015, 11:28 AM   #19
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Well, mine started to rattle after coming back to an idle. So I switched it back. Not 100% sure, but it felt like there was a noticeable loss in low end torque, so even if it didn't rattle I likely would have switched it back.

Still a very cool mod if you have the exhaust setup to really enjoy it.
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      05-18-2015, 10:50 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dadysev View Post
Yeah you wont hear much with stock mufflers. Like I said I have M5 mufflers on which make a huge difference on sound. The flap really keeps them quiet when closed.
That sucks. Ive got a M5 and it made a pretty big difference. But you're saying the 550 wont be that noticeable?
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      05-19-2015, 08:22 AM   #21
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I'm new to the 5 series world coming from my e90 where this was the first thing I did. It made an audible difference, but was wondering if this is the case for an F10 535i?

On my my e90 I ended up plugging it back in and set the JB4 G5 to have the flaps always open.
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      05-19-2015, 11:23 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ILSMKU View Post
That sucks. Ive got a M5 and it made a pretty big difference. But you're saying the 550 wont be that noticeable?
550i muffler is really restricted. If you look inside the can it has some loops to klll the sound versus the M5 which is almost straight through.
Never did test it on the OEM 550 cans though.

The left is the M5 and the right is the 550
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