exhausts with no/low drone?

[drwankel]

I've been looking at an exhaust for my car. I've been extremely picky with exhausts for my previous cars, and was always able to find an exhaust that sounded good that produced no drone.

To the best of my knowledge and searching, these exhausts contain no drone, due to having a some implementation of a helmholtz chamber which seems to be the secret sauce in eliminating drone in these cars.

1. M Performance Exhaust.
OEM, sounds good, looks good. Expensive.

2. Dinan exhaust.
Sounds good, don't like the tips, and two of the exhaust tips are fake. Still expensive, but cheaper than the m performance exhaust.

3. OEM Mod? Unclear at which point drone is introduced. 2 pipe, 4 pipe? Possibly not introduced at all? Helmholtz chamber still works? Seems cheap, and the stock tips look fine honestly.

Is there some other option I am not considering? When I read reviews of most other exhausts, drone is mentioned.

[Helmsman]

Wankel, I would start with trying out a 2-pipe OEM mod. Low cost, easy to move forward from. Had it for 3 years and loved it. Moved to Borla Atak some time ago to step up a tad in volume. Very nice sound, no drone worth mentioning, but yes loud.

[Pig Farmer]

Your other option...

Stock unmodified exhaust + Evolve or Challenge Sport X-pipe. Zero drone. Real HP gains. Sounds almost stock under 4K RMPs, maybe 10% louder. Really opens up above 4K RPMs and produces a exotic exhaust note. Can be a bit pricey and requires a tune to eliminate the check engine light and maximize output. Looks completely stock which is both good and bad.

YouTube videos don't really do this setup justice. I don't think a typical mic can pick up the unique harmonics produced by this set up under WOT.

I also noticed recently someone selling their Challenge Sport X-pipe on this forum. They were asking $1,500 which is a deal.

[Montaver]

I have an MPE, it has an addictive tone. Noticeably louder than stock with a more aggressive note and higher pitched howl over the top. I think its perfect. No drone, sounds like stock cruising around.

If I hadn't gone MPE I would of got the Corsa, which sounds equally awesome in it's own way. I believe this also has zero drone.

Final option would of been Evolve HFC X-pipe as Pig Farmer suggested, but I didn't want to mess around for emissions and really wanted to try and MPE first.

[rcracin]

Dinan all the way. I sold mine and missed it so bought another one a few years after.

[serranot]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Wankel, I would start with trying out a 2-pipe OEM mod. Low cost, easy to move forward from. Had it for 3 years and loved it. Moved to Borla Atak some time ago to step up a tad in volume. Very nice sound, no drone worth mentioning, but yes loud.

+1. No drone at all, very cheap if you decide you want to go another direction.

[Elite47]

anyone have experience with the 2 pipe method and having test pipes? Would you recommend it?

[M43S7RO]

Deja vu...

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by Pig Farmer

Your other option...

Stock unmodified exhaust + Evolve or Challenge Sport X-pipe. Zero drone. Real HP gains. Sounds almost stock under 4K RMPs, maybe 10% louder. Really opens up above 4K RPMs and produces a exotic exhaust note. Can be a bit pricey and requires a tune to eliminate the check engine light and maximize output. Looks completely stock which is both good and bad.

YouTube videos don't really do this setup justice. I don't think a typical mic can pick up the unique harmonics produced by this set up under WOT.

I also noticed recently someone selling their Challenge Sport X-pipe on this forum. They were asking $1,500 which is a deal.

I agree on the xpipe swap and stock exhaust. it sounds really good because the stock exhaust has the Helmholtz chamber. without one you will have drone. the few that i know that sound good /better than stock exhaust are the dinan cans and the active auto which both have the Helmholtz chamber design.

I will have a dinan exhaust for sale in a couple of weeks.

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by Patrón

I agree on the xpipe swap and stock exhaust. it sounds really good because the stock exhaust has the Helmholtz chamber. without one you will have drone. the few that i know that sound good /better than stock exhaust are the dinan cans and the active auto which both have the Helmholtz chamber design.

I will have a dinan exhaust for sale in a couple of weeks.

How does the Dinan exhaust compare to the Megan you used to have?

[C-los]

Ess Resonated X pipe and Corsa Axle Back, No Drone, low and smooth while driving, loud when ya punch it. Love it.

[kyippee]

OEM system with 2-pipe mod was no drone, just a little bit too quiet for my taste.

Then I tried CNT racing exhaust, curious about the low price point and comments on m3post. Big mistake. Tons of drone, lots of cabin vibrations. Took it off my car in 2 days.

Bimmerworld street exhaust is what I have now. There is noticeable but not horrendous drone. Volume is just a little bit over what I want during long highway drives, but very fun at the track. Barely passing sound at Laguna. (90 dB, 50 ft)

I've been contemplating Dinan exhaust or MPE but fear the overall volume being too low, so I've stuck with the (discontinued) Bimmerworld street muffler.

[BayE30]

I love my Dinan exhaust, the black tips do it for me. The sound with an X-pipe is great, very quiet when you want to be, and screams when you get on it.

[whats77inaname]

The Corsa is specifically designed to have no drone. I had one, have posted videos of it mated to a 100 CEL x-pipe.

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

How does the Dinan exhaust compare to the Megan you used to have?

the sound on the outside of the megan, to me, was amazing and one of the best i've ever heard. my friend has one now with the exact xpipe and also an ess 625 kit. it is incredible. but his wife won't ride in the car on short road trips so he may purchase my dinan.

my dinan sounds really good on the inside of the car, on the outside I say it sounds pretty good but the megan sounds fantastic, like an exotic v10 or v12 on steroids. it's that good.

the dinan got rid of 99% of the drone on the inside which the megan was obnoxious between 2-3k rpms.

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by Patrón

the sound on the outside of the megan, to me, was amazing and one of the best i've ever heard. my friend has one now with the exact xpipe and also an ess 625 kit. it is incredible. but his wife won't ride in the car on short road trips so he may purchase my dinan.

my dinan sounds really good on the inside of the car, on the outside I say it sounds pretty good but the megan sounds fantastic, like an exotic v10 or v12 on steroids. it's that good.

the dinan got rid of 99% of the drone on the inside which the megan was obnoxious between 2-3k rpms.

You just about have me sold on the Megan with that description... I plan on running it with resonated TPs so hopefully 4 resonators and 2 secondary cats will be enough to tame the drone.

If your friend decides to sell his Megan, please let me know!

[Patrón]

Originally Posted by Iyzmi

You just about have me sold on the Megan with that description... I plan on running it with resonated TPs so hopefully 4 resonators and 2 secondary cats will be enough to tame the drone.

If your friend decides to sell his Megan, please let me know!

They are cheap enough that if you don't like it, just sell it, they sell pretty quick on the used market.

[Iyzmi]

Originally Posted by Patrón

They are cheap enough that if you don't like it, just sell it, they sell pretty quick on the used market.

My thoughts exactly! But I would prefer to get it right the first time rather than get sucked into the wormhole of various exhaust setups.

[azndrunk74]

Originally Posted by Pig Farmer

Your other option...

Stock unmodified exhaust + Evolve or Challenge Sport X-pipe. Zero drone. Real HP gains. Sounds almost stock under 4K RMPs, maybe 10% louder. Really opens up above 4K RPMs and produces a exotic exhaust note. Can be a bit pricey and requires a tune to eliminate the check engine light and maximize output. Looks completely stock which is both good and bad.

YouTube videos don't really do this setup justice. I don't think a typical mic can pick up the unique harmonics produced by this set up under WOT.

I also noticed recently someone selling their Challenge Sport X-pipe on this forum. They were asking $1,500 which is a deal.

Originally Posted by Patrón

I agree on the xpipe swap and stock exhaust. it sounds really good because the stock exhaust has the Helmholtz chamber. without one you will have drone. the few that i know that sound good /better than stock exhaust are the dinan cans and the active auto which both have the Helmholtz chamber design.

I will have a dinan exhaust for sale in a couple of weeks.

I'll be going this route soon. I currently have the BW resonated x-pipe and ACM exhaust mod and although more mellow and less obnoxious than the test pipe + ACM mod it's still a bit loud and unrefined. Hoping the stock unmodified muffler will dial the noise back significantly.

[G80indy]

After years of "research" I went with Corsa, (over MPE, Borla, SS, Akra', Remus, & Megan)
Significantly more lively than OEM, but not too crazy either.
Straight through design, no restriction - (follows principles of Dinan's published white paper on optimal exhaust design)
Doesn't overwhelm the induction noise. ..... Complements it nicely, windows up or down.
Unique tone and absolutely no drone

[shimmy23]

Sub’d as I am too looking. Corsa seems promising but I can’t seem to get over those bulbous canisters and ugly tips.

[GORDON.M3]

OEM mod 2-pipe method. 0 drone, amplifies OEM exhaust tone by *I think* 30%.
It sounds amazing. I wish there was a way to record the true tone... Most videos on youtube sound distorted and don't really do it justice.