First off I should mention that I was very satisfied with the tonal qualities of my prior exhaust. My previous setup was Euro headers, euro cats, factory B section (section 2, X pipe, resonator, whatever), and Remus muffler. Elsewhere you can read my review of the Remus sound with the euro setup. An excellent package, my only complaints were that it was not loud enough, and the european sound swapped out for a richer version of the US sound above 4k or so. Nice deep tone in the lower revs though...

Alrighty then...


Two weeks ago I got a great deal on a brand new Eisenman Section 2 and I decided to go for it. The pipes arrived in perfect shape, and I had to take a few minutes to admire them. Absolutely stunning quality polished stainless tubing, the most perfect welds I've ever seen, and some really strong flanges completed the look.

The disassembly of the original resonator section proved to be a major PITA. There's an X brace of sorts that bolts to the rocker area on boths sides, and goes to the diff carrier. I guess it helps retain the pipes while helping to eliminate carrier twist? Anyway, I unbolted the left side and center bolts, loosened the right bolt, and swung the whole thing out of the way.

Its a hassle pulling the pipes out with a muffler in place, but I didn't feel like taking the box down, so I took advantage of the rebound in the rubber muffler hangers to push it back off the resonator pipes.

I noticed while putting the new pipes in place there doesn't seem to be a weight advantage in the slightest. I think they used a slightly heavier gauge metal than BMW used on the resonator section. Whatever. They still looked awesome in place.

Starting the car up for the first time, I was disappointed in the sound. The european tone that I had become accustomed to with the factory resonator section was completely gone. The sweet dual and triple euro sound was now an unearthly growl that I was completely unprepared for. The whoosh noise that is the unique characteristic of the ES2 pipes is actually louder than the Remus muffler. I have a perfectly good, brand new AA stainless muffler sitting in a box in my garage that will probably go on the car, and then I'll have a new report regarding the sound. That is, unless someone buys the AA off me. :D


The cold start sound rasp was nearly gone before I did this swap, yet now its back?!? Yep, the metal shredder has returned. Its gone once the car warms up though. This is an interesting contrast to the people who said exactly the opposite, that the ES2 pipes killed their rasp.

Performance... Weeeeelll, its not where it was before the Section 2 install. I now have a noticeable lag - almost a turbo lag - below 3k. This was completely unexpected. I firmly believe that by eliminating the last restrictions in my exhaust, I've now uncovered the factory intake as a weakness. I need to "balance the equation" now, by adding a CAI and some software.

The conclusion...

Would I do the install again? Sure I would. The new pipes are beautiful, and I see them as an inevitable step towards the further evolution of this car. I think putting the polished AA exhaust on will give my car a very complete look with these pipes.
If I had the US exhaust on there, I could see adding these pipes plus a nice muffler. Since I have a low restriction euro exhaust, then a CAI and software is necessary.

I may also entertain getting Tubi, RD, and SS pipes to do some experimenting.

Any questions?

hmmm... I think you lose a couple of pounds with the section 2...don't quote me though...

I don't understand your lag in power, the the restrictor being that fall back in the exhaust system, usually any effect with the lack of backpressure is associated w/ the headers and you want it to be free flowing from that point...Could it be you need some software?

I don't understand the sound either; maybe I do...perhaps your exhaust needed the help of the resonators to change the tone. I would try out a new exhaust and see what happens...

First off I should mention that I was very satisfied with the tonal qualities of my prior exhaust. My previous setup was Euro headers, euro cats, factory B section (section 2, X pipe, resonator, whatever), and Remus muffler. Elsewhere you can read my review of the Remus sound with the euro setup. An excellent package, my only complaints were that it was not loud enough, and the european sound swapped out for a richer version of the US sound above 4k or so. Nice deep tone in the lower revs though...

Alrighty then...


Two weeks ago I got a great deal on a brand new Eisenman Section 2 and I decided to go for it. The pipes arrived in perfect shape, and I had to take a few minutes to admire them. Absolutely stunning quality polished stainless tubing, the most perfect welds I've ever seen, and some really strong flanges completed the look.

The disassembly of the original resonator section proved to be a major PITA. There's an X brace of sorts that bolts to the rocker area on boths sides, and goes to the diff carrier. I guess it helps retain the pipes while helping to eliminate carrier twist? Anyway, I unbolted the left side and center bolts, loosened the right bolt, and swung the whole thing out of the way.

Its a hassle pulling the pipes out with a muffler in place, but I didn't feel like taking the box down, so I took advantage of the rebound in the rubber muffler hangers to push it back off the resonator pipes.

I noticed while putting the new pipes in place there doesn't seem to be a weight advantage in the slightest. I think they used a slightly heavier gauge metal than BMW used on the resonator section. Whatever. They still looked awesome in place.

Starting the car up for the first time, I was disappointed in the sound. The european tone that I had become accustomed to with the factory resonator section was completely gone. The sweet dual and triple euro sound was now an unearthly growl that I was completely unprepared for. The whoosh noise that is the unique characteristic of the ES2 pipes is actually louder than the Remus muffler. I have a perfectly good, brand new AA stainless muffler sitting in a box in my garage that will probably go on the car, and then I'll have a new report regarding the sound. That is, unless someone buys the AA off me. :D


The cold start sound rasp was nearly gone before I did this swap, yet now its back?!? Yep, the metal shredder has returned. Its gone once the car warms up though. This is an interesting contrast to the people who said exactly the opposite, that the ES2 pipes killed their rasp.

Performance... Weeeeelll, its not where it was before the Section 2 install. I now have a noticeable lag - almost a turbo lag - below 3k. This was completely unexpected. I firmly believe that by eliminating the last restrictions in my exhaust, I've now uncovered the factory intake as a weakness. I need to "balance the equation" now, by adding a CAI and some software.

The conclusion...

Would I do the install again? Sure I would. The new pipes are beautiful, and I see them as an inevitable step towards the further evolution of this car. I think putting the polished AA exhaust on will give my car a very complete look with these pipes.
If I had the US exhaust on there, I could see adding these pipes plus a nice muffler. Since I have a low restriction euro exhaust, then a CAI and software is necessary.

I may also entertain getting Tubi, RD, and SS pipes to do some experimenting.

Any questions?

I don't understand your lag in power, the the restrictor being that fall back in the exhaust system, usually any effect with the lack of backpressure is associated w/ the headers and you want it to be free flowing from that point...Could it be you need some software?

Thats exactly my point. I feel that the intake side needs to be helped, and that means CAI + software.

Options: Powerchips, Superchips, TMS Euro Shark, AA custom, Kelleners, etc. Time to do my research.


I don't understand the sound either; maybe I do...perhaps your exhaust needed the help of the resonators to change the tone. I would try out a new exhaust and see what happens...

Hmm. The AA exhaust is tempting, but I got such a good deal on it I'm tempted to turn it for the profit and put the cash on the motor, or even better, the UUC flywheel+clutch.

Performance... Weeeeelll, its not where it was before the Section 2 install. I now have a noticeable lag - almost a turbo lag - below 3k. This was completely unexpected. I firmly believe that by eliminating the last restrictions in my exhaust, I've now uncovered the factory intake as a weakness. I need to "balance the equation" now, by adding a CAI and some software.



Chuck, thanks for the detail review!

I think the reason you felt the lag is mostly due to the lack of back-pressure.

you do need certain amount of back-pressure for the low-end torque.

but soon you will learn to drive "around it".

now, go get that CAI and give us the review.. :D

Chuck, thanks for the detail review!

I think the reason you felt the lag is mostly due to the lack of back-pressure.

you do need certain amount of back-pressure for the low-end torque.

but soon you will learn to drive "around it".

now, go get that CAI and give us the review.. :D

I think it's a sw thing....

I think the reason you felt the lag is mostly due to the lack of back-pressure.

you do need certain amount of back-pressure for the low-end torque.

Well, that goes out the window when I tell you that I forgot to mention the lag only exists in first gear. No lag in any other gear. To me that means the factory airbox is bad at low speeds. Too much restriction and/or turbulence, which evens out after I get over whatever speed 3000 rpm works out to in first gear. At higher speed more air is forced into the box fixing the problem.

Well, that goes out the window when I tell you that I forgot to mention the lag only exists in first gear. No lag in any other gear. To me that means the factory airbox is bad at low speeds. Too much restriction and/or turbulence, which evens out after I get over whatever speed 3000 rpm works out to in first gear. At higher speed more air is forced into the box fixing the problem.

I hear what you are saying.

Can you try w/ 2nd gear in low rpm, is there any lag that wasn't there prior to the install?

thanks

This is what I've experienced guys, and take this with a grain of salt. I do not have the euro setup; but, the SS setup. SS headers, s-pipe, x-pipe, and eisenmann 83 mm race exhaust. I do believe you lose some torque because there is almost no backpressure with this setup.

The BMW dealership tested my backpressure and came up with 0.1 psi (don't ask me how, that's what I was told). They suggested I increase backpressure with race cats, e.g., powercats, SS race cats, BHS race cats, etc. They said it would run like a scalded dog. The service director said, unlike f-bodies and mustang's, having a straight through exhaust is not ideal. The ///M engine is designed to have "some" backpressure. Again, what I was told.

Chuck -- this is what I am doing to solve the problems, if you want to wait. I am going to install powercats. I just purchased the K&N 69 intake. I am also going with superchips (eurobahn s/w). It seems superchips and powerchips are equal. I was going to go with the JC race shark injector; but, had a slight disagreement which made the deal turn a bit sour.

So, you could try out the JC race shark injector as some here have done. Even with the CAI, I do not think your problem would be totally solved -- I think this is more to do with software and backpressure. We'll see if I am right. :)

The ///M engine is designed to have "some" backpressure. Again, what I was told.

The person who told you that is correct - to an extent. The M3 is designed for backpressure that equals the restrictions in the intake. Arvin Meritor designed the exhaust to balance the intake flow numbers provided to them.


Chuck -- this is what I am doing to solve the problems, if you want to wait. I am going to install powercats. I just purchased the K&N 69 intake. I am also going with superchips (eurobahn s/w). It seems superchips and powerchips are equal. I was going to go with the JC race shark injector; but, had a slight disagreement which made the deal turn a bit sour.

Well, I'm having a hard time sitting around, so I'm going to get a Racing Dynamics x pipe and do a little of my own testing.

BTW: I remember the bit about the JC injector. Did you ever get that worked out with TMS?

Can you try w/ 2nd gear in low rpm, is there any lag that wasn't there prior to the install?

No lag that I notice.