[fl335i]

After a few weeks of having it sit in the living room, finally got er done today. Took about 3hrs. I also did the mid pipes. Love the sound. I have one question though, I have a sedan, and had to take off this tunnel brace plate deal. The instructions did not mention this thing. I believe the instructions were written for a coupe. Do I need to run that plate? I believe it's structural, but it won't fit with the new exhaust. I'm debating getting some spacers/washers for it and re-installing it on my next oil change. If someone could shine some light on this, it would be great.


Also, the system overall fits "OK". Not great IMO. I'm betting this system is really meant for a coupe. the mid exhaust hangers didn't hit quite correct,...they work, but it's not a perfect fit on them. Overall a 8/10 system. But I was expecting fitment to be better... guess the clue should have been if you have one part #, how does it fit both the coupe and sedan? I found out... Don't get me wrong, nice kit. Love the sound and quality of the product itself. I massaged it and got it to fit the best it's going to fit. I'm ok with it.


Weight! I weighed the complete stock exhaust system including frot cat pipes. Then weighed the Borla complet kit w/mid pipes. 36.5# lighter. NOT including the tunnel plate brace in this reduction. So if you leave it off, figure 3#'s more off. But I'm pretty sure I'm going to figure out a way to re-install it.

[Infamous]

I'm not running that middle plate at the moment

[NiVeDh]

Some aftermarket exhausts hang down a lot and will vibrate against that plate. A few washers / shims will take care of it.

[fl335i]

^washers it is. I want that plate back on.

[cwn23]

I installed a Hotchkis suspension brace because I couldn't get the plate on with my exhaust...IMO its built better than the OEM support brace and its much lighter also!

[fl335i]

was just on their website. Didn't see anything listed like that for my car. ??

[NiVeDh]

Originally Posted by fl335i

was just on their website. Didn't see anything listed like that for my car. ??

They don't make it anymore.

[fl335i]

Damn. Oh well I can make the OEM plate work easily.


Update. Drove around all day with my Borla. Damn is it LOUD. Sounds great, nice and DEEP. No rice rocket sounding. However, it drones a lot in the interior. Cruising makes your brain hurt. It really takes away from the car IMO. You can't drive this car on a 12hr road trip now. Really sucks. I'm torn now. It kicks but, but it's too drone-ish. You almost have to have the windows down. I'm debating pulling it off and justing doing the stinkin HKS. So much for trying to save a few hundred bucks. F'K.

[Crazylegs]

if you decide to sell let me know im in weston florida on a good price ill pick it up off your hands

[Turkeybaster115]

Originally Posted by fl335i

Update. Drove around all day with my Borla. Damn is it LOUD. Sounds great, nice and DEEP. No rice rocket sounding. However, it drones a lot in the interior. Cruising makes your brain hurt. It really takes away from the car IMO. You can't drive this car on a 12hr road trip now. Really sucks. I'm torn now. It kicks but, but it's too drone-ish. You almost have to have the windows down. I'm debating pulling it off and justing doing the stinkin HKS. So much for trying to save a few hundred bucks. F'K.

That's why I didn't upgrade my OEM exhaust. I've been scared of the drone. I had greddy evos on my '03 accord, and they were real quiet at first, but after they broke in, boy, it got louder, and louder. The drone felt like a cannon ball from the inside of the cabin.

You can try the autobahn exotics exhaust. I hear that's got no drone. Do the golf tee mod on OEM's, or add the AR design down pipes to OEMs. Not sure about the drone with the down pipes though.

Thanks for reporting back about the drone. A lot of times people don't share this type of info, and you end up buying bad products.

[tibra1]

I checked a few setups prior to commiting to an exhaust.. AE was really the one I found to have no drone..fitment was great and the flanged setup really helps to minimize leaks over time.

[fl335i]

LOL, like I did. Drone is out of control. Off-road use only basically. But it does sound awsome!

[Dr_Dirt]

How does the BMW performance exhaust stack up against the Borla?

[joyride]

Give it a little bit, i've got the same exhaust, borla aggressive (no midpipe though), and at first i felt the same way. it seemed way to loud, but it will settle down after a little while and you'll learn to drive it, stay out of the drone zone, 1800-2600 rpm.

If/when i go with DP's, i'm going to look into adding some j-pipes to cancel out the more of the drone, my buddy added some to his G8 and they work really like a charm.

Good luck!

[fl335i]

How does the AE & HKS Compare? The HKS has larger mufflers and some small mufflers on the mid section.

[tscdennab]

That plate it's structural, and by using washers and spacers the asembly will flex and it will not serve it's purpose of stiffening the chassis.

OP, I would recommend the BMW Performance Exhaust if you don't want to mess up again. Sounds really loud especially with no secondary cats, and there is no drone at all.

[fl335i]

^ do you have any pics of it? I can't find much on the net. What does it replace? I'm looking to go from the factory down pipes back.

What is everyone else doing about the structural plate when they have a sedan?

[D335NUTZ]

Are you AT or MT? You can kind of tune the drone. Just drive at a certain rpm without the drone. 6th gear drone will suck though.

[tscdennab]

Originally Posted by fl335i

^ do you have any pics of it? I can't find much on the net. What does it replace? I'm looking to go from the factory down pipes back.

What is everyone else doing about the structural plate when they have a sedan?

I don't have a picture but it looks identical to the stock exhaust except for the tips which are chromed and single walled. On the sedan, it replaces part of the midpipes (immediately after the structural plate towards the front of the car, the stock exhaust is cut and the Performance Exhaust is clamped), the X-resonator and the mufflers. On the coupe, it's just the mufflers.

[cwn23]

That's strange. I didnt know they stop making the Hotchkis suspension brace for the E9x frame. Strange

[fl335i]

^ Sign of the time my friend lol. After running in circles I'm just gonna get the HKS with non blue flame tips and modify the factory brace to work. We have a custom fab shop at work. I'll have them cut and weld it up for me. Now that I'm aware of this damn plate, i see everyone on youtube not running it! What is wrong with people? I bought my BMW for attention to detail. If I wanted to hack it up I would of bought a Camaro.