[mjr24]

I heard there is a fuse you can pull that controls opening/closing the exhaust valves......if so, which is it?

[BMWDriverX]

It's not a fuse, you have to drive in sport+ with the valves open and shut off the car, check with a light in the tips that the valves are open and then disconnect the valve controllers while the valves are open and they will stay open. You can see the black boxes that control the valves from the back of the car and you remove a couple of screws underneath to access the plugs, then wrap with electric tape and zip tie aside.

[DannyA]

Originally Posted by BMWDriverX

It's not a fuse, you have to drive in sport+ with the valves open and shut off the car, check with a light in the tips that the valves are open and then disconnect the valve controllers while the valves are open and they will stay open. You can see the black boxes that control the valves from the back of the car and you remove a couple of screws underneath to access the plugs, then wrap with electric tape and zip tie aside.

Out of interest, have you done this? Does it throw a CEL?

[BMWDriverX]

It does not throw any CEL

[DannyA]

Spot on ! I will unplug mine tomorrow

[shellbmb]

Ditto. Had it this way for a year and no issues or CEL's.

[brava09]

Don't they stay always open while the exhaust button is active?

[DannyA]

Just gave this a go, for some reason I am struggling to get the right-hand valve to open, the left-hand one is open but the right hand one is just staying closed. Do you think it may be faulty?

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by DannyA

Just gave this a go, for some reason I am struggling to get the right-hand valve to open, the left-hand one is open but the right hand one is just staying closed. Do you think it may be faulty?

That sounds odd......I wouldn't think one should stay open.

I just unhooked mine tonight....they do not automatically stay open just because the exhaust button is pressed. I actually made sure mine were open and then put the car in neutral and parking brake on to be sure they didn't close.....then unhooked them real quick. You are going to have to remove 2 screws from the splash guard on both sides to get good access to the plugs.

[DannyA]

Originally Posted by mjr24

That sounds odd......I wouldn't think one should stay open.

I just unhooked mine tonight....they do not automatically stay open just because the exhaust button is pressed. I actually made sure mine were open and then put the car in neutral and parking brake on to be sure they didn't close.....then unhooked them real quick. You are going to have to remove 2 screws from the splash guard on both sides to get good access to the plugs.

Looking at my exausts I dont think the right pipe has opened in a long time so it's booked in to dealers

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by mjr24

That sounds odd......I wouldn't think one should stay open.

I just unhooked mine tonight....they do not automatically stay open just because the exhaust button is pressed. I actually made sure mine were open and then put the car in neutral and parking brake on to be sure they didn't close.....then unhooked them real quick. You are going to have to remove 2 screws from the splash guard on both sides to get good access to the plugs.

Any chance you have a photo showing where exactly to do this?

Thank you!

[STi from DSM]

There is a video on YouTube of how these constantly open and close even with the "valves open". These are controlled by fuses, except I cannot seem to find any diagram online, and the owners manual says it is in a leaflet. My X3M I unplugged the fuse with the car in Sport + when turning the vehicle off. When I turned it back on it was always open. Granted these are two different engines, these have to be tied to a fuse. What equipment is all on that fuse is up for debate, but they are definitely tied to something. I have also done this on my RS5 and it provides a little more noise, but it isn't any where close to loud. The only option for me is to buy aftermarket AWE Track exhaust that does not utilize the damn valves. Valved exhaust is trash, I hate it. Every car manufacturer and their mother have gone to this and it seems ridiculous when I see a regular Camry going down the road with one exhaust pipe closed and the other open.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by STi from DSM

Every car manufacturer and their mother have gone to this and it seems ridiculous when I see a regular Camry going down the road with one exhaust pipe closed and the other open.

This is not because of "valved" exhaust. They are simply fake exhaust pipes.

With that said. Valved exhaust is great when it actually controls the volume of sound. ie. not trying to piss my wife off every morning when i go to work and shes still sleeping. or if i come home late at night. nothing wrong with having options. Of course the bmw exhaust button is pretty useless in this regard. My dad's Jaguar f-type has a very good functioning exhaust and corresponding mute button.

[omgmike]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

This is not because of "valved" exhaust. They are simply fake exhaust pipes.

With that said. Valved exhaust is great when it actually controls the volume of sound. ie. not trying to piss my wife off every morning when i go to work and shes still sleeping. or if i come home late at night. nothing wrong with having options. Of course the bmw exhaust button is pretty useless in this regard. My dad's Jaguar f-type has a very good functioning exhaust and corresponding mute button.

I have my driver profile set to have the exhaust valves open (green light on) whenever I drive, but sometimes in the mornings or late evenings I press the exhaust button before starting the engine and it makes a noticeable difference in the volume level upon startup. My wife and kids notice the difference as well and have said as much to me. Makes me pause on swapping out for a full Akra and secondary downpipes...

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by omgmike

I have my driver profile set to have the exhaust valves open (green light on) whenever I drive, but sometimes in the mornings or late evenings I press the exhaust button before starting the engine and it makes a noticeable difference in the volume level upon startup. My wife and kids notice the difference as well and have said as much to me. Makes me pause on swapping out for a full Akra and secondary downpipes...

Haha yup. Our guest room is right over our garage so depending on whose staying over (cough cough in-laws cough cough) determines what kind of start. And if I'm feeling extra dickish I'll even start her in Sport+.

[smbsocal]

I opened up the valves on my M5 and disconnected the plugs shortly after I got it.

It has been a year and no codes or issues so far.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by STi from DSM

There is a video on YouTube of how these constantly open and close even with the "valves open". These are controlled by fuses, except I cannot seem to find any diagram online, and the owners manual says it is in a leaflet. My X3M I unplugged the fuse with the car in Sport + when turning the vehicle off. When I turned it back on it was always open. Granted these are two different engines, these have to be tied to a fuse. What equipment is all on that fuse is up for debate, but they are definitely tied to something. I have also done this on my RS5 and it provides a little more noise, but it isn't any where close to loud. The only option for me is to buy aftermarket AWE Track exhaust that does not utilize the damn valves. Valved exhaust is trash, I hate it. Every car manufacturer and their mother have gone to this and it seems ridiculous when I see a regular Camry going down the road with one exhaust pipe closed and the other open.

Thank you for the input!

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by smbsocal

I opened up the valves on my M5 and disconnected the plugs shortly after I got it.

It has been a year and no codes or issues so far.

Thanks for the response! Any chance you have anything that shows where you did this?

[DavidXJ]

Originally Posted by brava09

Don't they stay always open while the exhaust button is active?

Not unless you start in Sport or Sport +. On the days when I have to leave at 5.45am for work, I just fire up in the default mode (engine: efficient) and it's noticeably more restrained on a cold start, even without actually switching off the exhaust button (which of course always defaults to 'on/green'). I could switch that exhaust button off too; but hey, that would be a step too far, just for a minimal and momentary quelling of the lusty V8..!

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by ResIpsaLoquitur

Any chance you have a photo showing where exactly to do this?

Thank you!

Sorry, got rid of the car almost a year ago.

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by mjr24

Sorry, got rid of the car almost a year ago.

Thanks anyways!