[BearsFan52]

I heard about unplugging something in my trunk to keep my exhaust flap open on my e90 328i but can’t find any info online of how to get to it or where it’s at exactly. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Bimmer_Engineer]

I don’t think the n52 has a flap...

[BearsFan52]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

I don’t think the n52 has a flap...

I see the 330s had it but idk man I’m probably just gonna cut the damn muffler off

I PAID FOR AN IN-LINE 6 I WANNA HEAR MY INLINE 6

[colorado.e9x]

Yep 330s have them. You can disconnect the vacuum pump behind the drivers (US) taillight. Open the trunk, open the taillight cover, and look down and to the right a little bit. You should see a small connection and that's the one you want to pull.

[BearsFan52]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Yep 330s have them. You can disconnect the vacuum pump behind the drivers (US) taillight. Open the trunk, open the taillight cover, and look down and to the right a little bit. You should see a small connection and that's the one you want to pull.

I don’t see a second connector unless it’s really far in there. Just seeing the tail light/plug ins for that but not anything else just metal lol

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by BearsFan52

I don’t see a second connector unless it’s really far in there. Just seeing the tail light/plug ins for that but not anything else just metal lol

In that case go under the muffler and if you see a valve with a vacuum line hooked up to it you can unplug the line from there and put a golf tee in the line and call it a day

If you don't see a valve (which if yours is a 328 I doubt you have one) then you're out of luck for that mod

[freakystyly]

Unless you put on a 330i muffler you don't have one. These cars are quiet in stock form, with or without the valve.

Hunt down an actual performance exhaust or search performance exhaust mod DIY to mimic the sound. It's probably the best sound on these N52s. That's my opinion anyways.

[solo118]

Originally Posted by BearsFan52

I see the 330s had it but idk man I’m probably just gonna cut the damn muffler off

I PAID FOR AN IN-LINE 6 I WANNA HEAR MY INLINE 6

IMHO muffler deletes are pretty annoying to hear from the outside. Maybe you could do a resonator delete, if not purchasing a performance muffler to enhance the sound. It does not need to be anything fancy, just something to open it up a bit.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Unless you put on a 330i muffler you don't have one. These cars are quiet in stock form, with or without the valve.

Hunt down an actual performance exhaust or search performance exhaust mod DIY to mimic the sound. It's probably the best sound on these N52s. That's my opinion anyways.

Even if you put a 330 muffler on you'd still need the vacuum pump in the trunk and the connections that control it

I can't remember the reason why BMW didn't use engine vacuum like any other car

[BearsFan52]

Originally Posted by solo118

IMHO muffler deletes are pretty annoying to hear from the outside. Maybe you could do a resonator delete, if not purchasing a performance muffler to enhance the sound. It does not need to be anything fancy, just something to open it up a bit.

Okay well I’ve been thinking about a magnaflow muffler for awhile too. I might go that route as instead

What do you think about this one?


MagnaFlow 12148 Exhaust Muffler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CCDNU0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XR3bFbZSEZEA5

[solo118]

Originally Posted by BearsFan52

Okay well I’ve been thinking about a magnaflow muffler for awhile too. I might go that route as instead

What do you think about this one?


MagnaFlow 12148 Exhaust Muffler https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CCDNU0..._XR3bFbZSEZEA5

No idea how it would sound. You can check on Youtube in case somebody out there has done it. If not, why not try a resonator delete first, and see how you like that.

[colorado.e9x]

Read the reviews and most of them seem to be people with N52s. They all seem to like it.

[hassmaschine]

Keep in mind, it might be louder - but the inlet is smaller than the stock exhaust. Don't expect equal or better performance.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Yep 330s have them. You can disconnect the vacuum pump behind the drivers (US) taillight. Open the trunk, open the taillight cover, and look down and to the right a little bit. You should see a small connection and that's the one you want to pull.

But why? It's only closed below 20kph (12mph). It's going to make almost zero difference in sound except when you are stopped - and probably, it improves torque from a dead stop, so forcing it open is likely slower. Unless you want to be annoying and obnoxious, which I guess the muffler delete crowd is going for anyway..

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

But why? It's only closed below 20kph (12mph). It's going to make almost zero difference in sound except when you are stopped - and probably, it improves torque from a dead stop, so forcing it open is likely slower. Unless you want to be annoying and obnoxious, which I guess the muffler delete crowd is going for anyway..

I was simply answering his question. I personally don't like a completely quiet exhaust on a sports car and I highly doubt the valve effects performance. I think it's called the golf tee mod, it doesn't make a huge difference but for things like cold starts and cruising at low rpms I can see it feeling a bit more sporty

[neilvan]

My brother has a E90 328 (no exhaust valve) but with his job(having clients in his car) a real exhaust is out of the question. We are on the OEM+ route; so wee found a 330 resonator back(a bit louder and slightly bigger dia res to muffler) plus it has the valve. We will be doing a secondary delete as well which this exhaust set up is technically oe in some euro countries.

I'm sure we will just be doing the golf tee mod but the idea of the valve for a quieter idle and cruising speed is intriguing. I grabbed an exhaust solienoid+hose and I have a few 330i parts cars I can pull from.

I can run the vacuum line to the engine bay no problem; Just have to trace it and find out where it goes to. Also the wiring I can pull from the car but does any have any idea where they go to(which module?) or if the 328 ecus can actuate the valve?

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by neilvan

My brother has a E90 328 (no exhaust valve) but with his job(having clients in his car) a real exhaust is out of the question. We are on the OEM+ route; so wee found a 330 resonator back(a bit louder and slightly bigger dia res to muffler) plus it has the valve. We will be doing a secondary delete as well which this exhaust set up is technically oe in some euro countries.

I'm sure we will just be doing the golf tee mod but the idea of the valve for a quieter idle and cruising speed is intriguing. I grabbed an exhaust solienoid+hose and I have a few 330i parts cars I can pull from.

I can run the vacuum line to the engine bay no problem; Just have to trace it and find out where it goes to. Also the wiring I can pull from the car but does any have any idea where they go to(which module?) or if the 328 ecus can actuate the valve?

Funny enough the 330s don't make enough vacuum to use a vacuum line to the engine. That vacuum line is plugged into a pump located in the trunk. Remove the drivers side trunk liner for easier access. I'm not sure if the 328s are prewired for the pump or not so that's something to consider

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

Funny enough the 330s don't make enough vacuum to use a vacuum line to the engine. That vacuum line is plugged into a pump located in the trunk. Remove the drivers side trunk liner for easier access. I'm not sure if the 328s are prewired for the pump or not so that's something to consider

I had a look at a 330 that I pulled the exhaust from; There was no pump in the trunk. Just a hose that ran along the outside of the floor and underneath the dashboard was where I lost it.

The wiring also seems to follow it, traced that to the back seat area but I expect it to follow the same route. I wonder if both go to a vacuum pump that is in the engine bay somewhere, maybe close by the booster?

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by neilvan

I had a look at a 330 that I pulled the exhaust from; There was no pump in the trunk. Just a hose that ran along the outside of the floor and underneath the dashboard was where I lost it.

The wiring also seems to follow it, traced that to the back seat area but I expect it to follow the same route. I wonder if both go to a vacuum pump that is in the engine bay somewhere, maybe close by the booster?

I may have confused this with something else.

It could just be a control unit located in the trunk if I remember correctly.. It's been awhile since I've messed with it.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=18_0612

[neilvan]

Originally Posted by colorado.e9x

I may have confused this with something else.

It could just be a control unit located in the trunk if I remember correctly.. It's been awhile since I've messed with it.


https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...12#18307604055

Yep that is under the tail light(I grabbed that) but the rubber hose has a barb/barb connection into a nylon hose that runs all the way to the front.

The wiring also (which isn't there on the 325/328 cars) runs that way but I haven't fully traced that yet.

[colorado.e9x]

Originally Posted by neilvan

Yep that is under the tail light(I grabbed that) but the rubber hose has a barb/barb connection into a nylon hose that runs all the way to the front.

The wiring also (which isn't there on the 325/328 cars) runs that way but I haven't fully traced that yet.

This sounds like quite the retrofit then.. It'd make sense that the line would be near the booster like you said. The wiring is a whole other story, sheesh. You might need to spend some time gutting one of those 330s