My 540i Resonator & Silencer Removal...videos, thoughts inside

[00BMW540i6]

There's been a lot of talk on this board about exhausts lately (maybe always), and rather than dropping $1,000 on aftermarket exhausts that I didn't think sounded very good (or at least worth the money), I went the "delete" route.

First, I had a local exhaust shop cut off the "Y" resonator and put a pipe in its place. More tone, no drone, and very easy to live with for a daily driver that really sounds good at high RPMs.

Vids for JUST "Y" resonator removed:

0-60 - [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jsJMehMrow[/ame]
Dyno - [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69YWhNEbWQg[/ame]
Flyby - [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDYuPfh7yo[/ame]

I wasn't satisfied with how loud it was, so I decided to have the rear silencer (first can) removed. **Note: When the guy cut the silencer off, he called me out into the shop and held it in two hands, shaking it back in forth...it was full of almost a QUART of water!! Has anyone ever seen this before???

We laughed about it, and it welded up the exhaust and let me start it. First impression: Wow. That's more like it! Nice grunt at startup.

Vids AFTER the rear silencer removed:

Revving, short drive - [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Omt64u061M[/ame]
First, second gear - [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBJJvmWFAyA[/ame]
Inside car (2nd then 5th) - [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4XySekKK9k[/ame]

Remember, the stock muffler and stock cats are STILL on the car.

To each their own, but here are my personal final impressions:

-Drive the car everyday? Want some more tone for cheap? "Y" resonator delete is a safe bet. Quiet unless you get on it, tad more sound at start up.

-Want a good growl? Are you ok with some interior noise? No, it's not loud, but you definitely hear the exhaust under load in every gear. But at 60 MPH or 80 MPH, 6th gear cruise is silent.

It's EXACTLY what I wanted: growls, turns heads at WOT, and cruises quiet. Best $115 I've spent on this car.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

[konarider98]

Sounds great, money well spent, i have the same thing but spent a bit more for magnaflow muffler and cats, sounds a lil different. Next step is a pre cat dump

[Duckman540i]

I like it, sounds really good.

[00BMW540i6]

An aftermarket muffler will probably come somewhere in the semi-distant future after lots of research, but first I want to get some routine maintenance finished. Thanks for the comments and keep em comin!

[Nero530i]

Affordable option if your only goal is better sound. Also agree that a good aftermarket exhaust is expensive. However, the attributes of aftermarket (assuming well made good design) are lighter weight, improved performance and better sound. In other words you are paying for more than just bling.

[00BMW540i6]

Affordable option if your only goal is better sound. Also agree that a good aftermarket exhaust is expensive. However, the attributes of aftermarket (assuming well made good design) are lighter weight, improved performance and better sound. In other words you are paying for more than just bling.

I agree with that statement to a point...BUT I removed two of the heaviest pieces of the exhaust for much lighter weight aluminum and have put straight pipes in place of restriction. I think I have done sound and performance for a great price, with the only exception being being the stock muffler. That can be replaced for as reasonable as $150.

[Nero530i]

I agree with that statement to a point...BUT I removed two of the heaviest pieces of the exhaust for much lighter weight aluminum and have put straight pipes in place of restriction. I think I have done sound and performance for a great price, with the only exception being being the stock muffler. That can be replaced for as reasonable as $150.

Good good, but stock muffler is a heavy weight champ.

[00BMW540i6]

Affordable option if your only goal is better sound. Also agree that a good aftermarket exhaust is expensive. However, the attributes of aftermarket (assuming well made good design) are lighter weight, improved performance and better sound. In other words you are paying for more than just bling.

Good good, but stock muffler is a heavy weight champ.

Not as heavy as you might think. I held the silencer in my hands and it's the same thing without a hole in one side.

[BMW1023i]

great mod .. i wish i had a 540 not 525..

[Busta]

Thanks for the detailed write-up. I think I might just go with the Y resonator delete.

[00BMW540i6]

Thanks for the detailed write-up. I think I might just go with the Y resonator delete.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've seen so many questions about these mods and it made me want to write it up as a detailed explanation of how these mods effect/sound on a 540.

[dinan e39]

i have dinan exhaust and have been pondering the resonator delete for some time. i wonder if it will be too loud with aftermarket exhaust? i suppose only one way to find out.

[00BMW540i6]

i have dinan exhaust and have been pondering the resonator delete for some time. i wonder if it will be too loud with aftermarket exhaust? i suppose only one way to find out.

I think you'll be very pleased with the tone it gives you.

[dinan e39]

damn, i think i'm gonna do it. it can't be that expensive and i can always put it back in, right?

[GTMAN]

The sound is awesome. Good job!

dinan_e39, do it and let me know. I too have the dinan muffler, and am wondering the same.

[sunnywala]

i'm debating this, but will put it off until my warranty is out... I have already deleted the Y-resonator, and am very happy with it...

[00BMW540i6]

damn, i think i'm gonna do it. it can't be that expensive and i can always put it back in, right?

You could put it back in, I suppose, but you won't want to. I Promise.

[Groover]

I love it. I was thinking about doing the Y delete after seeing your video (you had those up before this post, right), but now I really like the low rumble of the silencer delete.

The one thing I'm not sure I like is the popping on decel. I wonder if doing the silencer delete and leaving the Y in place may be a good compromise (deep rumble, maintain smooth deceleration)...?

Also, did you notice ANY torque loss? I know its hard to tell because when you drive something that makes more noise, it seems faster, but in your best opinion, did you notice any loss? I know most people would ask if you noticed any gains, but I really don't want to lose any torque...

Thanks for posting the clips. It really helps others make up our minds

[00BMW540i6]

I'm sure I lost some low-end torque. That's just the nature of the beast when you reduce back pressure in any exhaust system. Is it noticeable? No.

These motors make enough torque (look at my dyno numbers) that it a few here and there won't matter. Overall, the engine is happier now.

Aas far as the popping, that really only happens from full-throttle to full-off throttle at higher RPMs, and I never noticed it until I watched the vids, it's not loud.

[BKphoto]

i had a SuperSprint exhaust on a past Bimmer...well worth the money, extremely high quality...

[00BMW540i6]

i had a SuperSprint exhaust on a past Bimmer...well worth the money, extremely high quality...

Those exhaust systems are stainless pipe and a muffler, it's crazy what they charge...there's plenty of different and more productive ways I can spend the money I saved here. Plus I keep the stock look and get all but identical sound/performance, as the stock muffler is all but straight through.

I wanted to show once and for all that people didn't have to spend that kind of money to achieve a great sounding exhaust system. I think I have.

But like I said in my OP, to each their own, and I can respect the fact that people will spend the money on aftermarket exhaust.

[BlackSapphire]

This is a loud MFr.... nice job though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vleqd-9s9Yo

This one is my fav (sound-wise):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7xOEBHsCOw

[00BMW540i6]

This is a loud MFr.... nice job though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vleqd-9s9Yo

This one is my fav (sound-wise):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7xOEBHsCOw

Love that M5 sound!!!

[BlackSapphire]

Love that M5 sound!!!

No joke.... whew! Says H&S exhaust - do they have a website? I can't locate it.

[BlackSapphire]

Come to think of it, your exhaust doesn't sound 'much' different for a lot less money!