[The_M6]

As I'm trying to decide which direction to go on my 550 M-Sport, I've read almost all of the exhaust threads on here, the comparisons with fit, drone, WOT sound etc but my question is this...

Has anyone gone with an exhaust setup (axle back/straight pipe, full exhaust) they absolutely didn't like? If so, what were the downsides?

[krautmeister]

I have the M5 Megan axle back (really mufflers). There's a 120hz drone at 1500rpm to 1900rpm. When under load, it sometimes sounds like an old GM v6 at certain rev ranges....thinking about customizing with a helmholtz resonator (j pipe) to combat that drone. BUT, WOT, sounds awesome... as well as all other rev ranges it sounds aggressive but somewhat refined. The turbos muffle a lot of the raw V8 tones as well as the OEM x pipe.

I think exhausts are so subjective, its going to be hard to pinpoint anything. I'll say most people, when they get whatever exhaust put on... are so enamored with the presence of sound vs. stock, that its hard to say you "hate" it. I think a few people have enough of N63/N63TU modded community around them to get a good in-person sampling of exhaust.

F10 550i Megan M5 Exhaust Rev

F10 550i Megan M5 Exhaust Start

[NV GUNS]

matter of opinion on this, I have read other users having drone with M5 comp setups and got the M5 exhaust braces and then no drone. Others have had great success with regular M5 mufflers with no drone. but if you want quality with no drone and wake the neighbors up go with the meisterschaft, I will be getting it one of these days, but for now looks like I will be taking a road trip to pick a full M5 comp system. I can't wait to get it installed.

[xxpanipuri]

i have the m5 comp exhaust (one for sale now in the classifieds)

i installed from the stock 550i resonators - back.....

i also got the exhaust meister (google it) which allows you to control the valves manually.

with the right parts (m5 specific cross member and bushings) its perfect.

its loud when i want it to be (not too loud).

since its OEM it causes no drone inside (with the proper parts listed above)

you just need to replace the rear diffuser with an m5 one (i went with OEM) and everything fits in, any good exhaust shop can weld it up for you.

[xxpanipuri]

one more thing, my wife and kids ride in the 550i alot, and my wife didn't even notice the exhaust at first. in comfort mode and valves closed you can hardly hear it (with the radio at a reasonable volume)

i paid 275 to have mine shipped from dallas to my shop in san jose, i bought mine from the downpipes back in one piece. i chose to keep my stock resonators and i'm very very happy with the way it turned out!

freight companies will ship it for you no problem (as long as the seller is willing to arrange).

[NV GUNS]

Originally Posted by xxpanipuri

i have the m5 comp exhaust (one for sale now in the classifieds)

i installed from the stock 550i resonators - back.....

i also got the exhaust meister (google it) which allows you to control the valves manually.

with the right parts (m5 specific cross member and bushings) its perfect.

its loud when i want it to be (not too loud).

since its OEM it causes no drone inside (with the proper parts listed above)

you just need to replace the rear diffuser with an m5 one (i went with OEM) and everything fits in, any good exhaust shop can weld it up for you.

That is the M5 CP I am looking at getting, it is a full system. thanks for the advice I will be doing this.

[NV GUNS]

Originally Posted by xxpanipuri

one more thing, my wife and kids ride in the 550i alot, and my wife didn't even notice the exhaust at first. in comfort mode and valves closed you can hardly hear it (with the radio at a reasonable volume)

i paid 275 to have mine shipped from dallas to my shop in san jose, i bought mine from the downpipes back in one piece. i chose to keep my stock resonators and i'm very very happy with the way it turned out!

freight companies will ship it for you no problem (as long as the seller is willing to arrange).

how did you keep your stock resonators if you when full cat back M5 CP setup?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Cooljust

As I'm trying to decide which direction to go on my 550 M-Sport, I've read almost all of the exhaust threads on here, the comparisons with fit, drone, WOT sound etc but my question is this...

Has anyone gone with an exhaust setup (axle back/straight pipe, full exhaust) they absolutely didn't like? If so, what were the downsides?

Full exhaust sounds the best but is also the most expensive

Im not a big fan of straight pipes but it is the cheapest

Axle back sounds really good for a reasonable price

[xxpanipuri]

Originally Posted by NV GUNS

how did you keep your stock resonators if you when full cat back M5 CP setup?

I bought the exhaust down pipes back my shop cut it behind the resonators and welded there

[NV GUNS]

Originally Posted by xxpanipuri

I bought the exhaust down pipes back my shop cut it behind the resonators and welded there

So the pipes just bolted in place or was there a mod?

[cresp0]

Anyone with Shteigen care to provide input?

I'm craving for some user feedback before pulling the trigger (thread-relevant).

[xxpanipuri]

Originally Posted by NV GUNS

So the pipes just bolted in place or was there a mod?

So my exhaust shop welded on clamps to both the 2.5 inch stock piping and 3 inch comp exhaust pipes. And then bolted it up. He did this to make it easier to service in the future in case I wanted to swap out the resonators. And it made fitment easier.

Now the rest of the exhaust uses the stock 550 exhaust hanger locations.

Only thing I had to swap out was the m5 cross member with the appropriate bushings that bolt into the comp package exhaust.

Hope that helps. If you want to chat more pm me your cell and I can explain better on the phone.

[lsturbointeg]

Meisterschaft's for me! Every video I've listened to sounds amazing. Probably aggressive than most exhaust when fully open but with the exhaust closed very tamed but yet present

[Pimpsy]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

Meisterschaft's for me! Every video I've listened to sounds amazing. Probably aggressive than most exhaust when fully open but with the exhaust closed very tamed but yet present

I hated the Meisterschaft. The drone was bad, and the cabin vibration was unpleasant. It did sound great when not droning, and it looks good.

[lsturbointeg]

Originally Posted by AlanM

I hated the Meisterschaft. The drone was bad, and the cabin vibration was unpleasant. It did sound great when not droning, and it looks good.

Might be different for a 535 than your 550? My Integra had the HKS Dragger and it had a lot of drone back in the days and it didn't bother as back than nobody was worried about drone lol! But when I do get those Meister's put on I'll report back on any drone issues. I've scoured the forums and never came across any drone issues on the Meister's