[gdgraph]

Need help deciding between buying a used MPE axleback or keeping the stock muffler and just installing a Dinan Midpipe on my 2016 340i.

I need something a little louder than stock, but still want it to be quiet and comfortable when driving on long road trips. The MPE for the B58 does not have the valves for going quiet in comfort mode, and would probably run around $800-900 used, and the Dinan mid pipe would retain the stock muffler and valves and runs $500 brand new shipped to my front door.

I've watched countless videos of both on youtube, but never heard either in person. Is one option significantly louder than the other? If I just do a mid pipe will I even notice a difference with the stock muffler? Curious to hear different people's opinions/perspectives.

[Ahanix]

Stuck in the same boat as you - I want a bit more exhaust noise but I can't seem to convince myself to go with a downpipe just yet, even though I know that would accomplish the more noise without excessive noise situation. (I have 1.5 years left on CPO, and even though I'm running BM3, I just feel like installing a DP is going to put me further out of warranty than I'm comfortable with)

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on the mid-pipe instead of MPE given that it I'll still have a valve and can get just a bit more noise, I'll be following here to see what other people say to help drive one way or another.

[gdgraph]

Yeah, I know what you mean about the warranty. I know different people have different schools of thought, I've always felt comfortable with cat backs and axle backs as long as the cats and nothing north of the cats were touched. For the tune, do these cars have key stroke logs or would they have no way of knowing that you tuned it if you reverted it back to stock?

I'm leaning towards the mid pipe with stock muffler mainly because of the cost and being able to retain the valves. My only hesitation is not knowing if it makes a noticeable difference in volume/sound. If it's just as loud as the MPE, than it's a no brainier for me to do mid pipes if there's no drone.

Originally Posted by Ahanix

Stuck in the same boat as you - I want a bit more exhaust noise but I can't seem to convince myself to go with a downpipe just yet, even though I know that would accomplish the more noise without excessive noise situation. (I have 1.5 years left on CPO, and even though I'm running BM3, I just feel like installing a DP is going to put me further out of warranty than I'm comfortable with)

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on the mid-pipe instead of MPE given that it I'll still have a valve and can get just a bit more noise, I'll be following here to see what other people say to help drive one way or another.

[B58]

I would get the mid pipe. MPE alone with stock down pipe and mid pipe only gives you like a 15% increase in noise. I have one, but I installed it at the same time when I did my DP so its loud and poppy now.

[Ahanix]

Originally Posted by gdgraph

Yeah, I know what you mean about the warranty. I know different people have different schools of thought, I've always felt comfortable with cat backs and axle backs as long as the cats and nothing north of the cats were touched. For the tune, do these cars have key stroke logs or would they have no way of knowing that you tuned it if you reverted it back to stock?

I'm leaning towards the mid pipe with stock muffler mainly because of the cost and being able to retain the valves. My only hesitation is not knowing if it makes a noticeable difference in volume/sound. If it's just as loud as the MPE, than it's a no brainier for me to do mid pipes if there's no drone.

If they look deep enough it’s easy to see that your car is over boosting compared to stock and if they can pin the failure to the tune you’re kind of hosed either way. I would just rather not have to ever swap the downpipe out for potential warranty work while I can to avoid one other potential hassle

[gdgraph]

Thanks for that insight. Would you say that the mid pipe would give me more sound than the MPE or about the same so you're saying go with the cheaper option?

Originally Posted by B58

I would get the mid pipe. MPE alone with stock down pipe and mid pipe only gives you like a 15% increase in noise. I have one, but I installed it at the same time when I did my DP so its loud and poppy now.

[sewhelan9]

I have the DINAN mid-pipe with stock (for now) downpipe and muffler. I like the sound with only the mid-pipe. A few extra burbles, a little louder when I get on the gas, but otherwise it is as quite as stock. For me it is just enough. I'm adding a high flow cat to support my MHD Stage 2 flash tune.

[B58]

Originally Posted by gdgraph

Thanks for that insight. Would you say that the mid pipe would give me more sound than the MPE or about the same so you're saying go with the cheaper option?

Hard to say, but the dinan mid pipe should give you a good increase in sound based on some
YouTube videos I've watch. If you plan on going with the MPE you can always delete 1 resonator or both to make it sound more aggressive if you plan on keeping the stock down-pipe.

[Savageenterprise]

Originally Posted by gdgraph

Need help deciding between buying a used MPE axleback or keeping the stock muffler and just installing a Dinan Midpipe on my 2016 340i.

I need something a little louder than stock, but still want it to be quiet and comfortable when driving on long road trips. The MPE for the B58 does not have the valves for going quiet in comfort mode, and would probably run around $800-900 used, and the Dinan mid pipe would retain the stock muffler and valves and runs $500 brand new shipped to my front door.

I've watched countless videos of both on youtube, but never heard either in person. Is one option significantly louder than the other? If I just do a mid pipe will I even notice a difference with the stock muffler? Curious to hear different people's opinions/perspectives.

I had the same exact debate and I wound up doing the dinan midpipe. Def some more burble and throatiness. Still very subdued inside the cabin but enough to hear what's going on with the revs. Sounds much more significant from outside the car compared to stock but I would say it was worth it. If you want a big difference inside the cabin then go full exhaust.

IMO, all the exhaust setups we're like 1k+ and I couldn't justify spending that just for some sound improvement. If you plan to go FBO with downpipe, tune and everything it may be worth it to spend the extra $$ and get a full exhaust. Hope this helps

[mike@x-ph.com]

REMUS axle back would be the best option in my opinion for a sound upgrade thats still mild and no drone.

But between the 2 options you listed, i would go with Dinan midpipe

[gdgraph]

Thanks for all replies everyone, this is really helpful.

For this car I don't have any big plans to mod, not looking to get more power or tune it. I just want a little more sound but I don't want it to be obnoxiously loud from inside the cabin (it needs to be quiet when I'm casually driving at highway speeds). Sounds like an axle back would get me something similar but would just be double the price so a mid-pipe would be the better route. My only hesitation was that I wasn't sure if it was a noticeable sound difference to make it worth the $500, but it sounds like it is.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by gdgraph

Thanks for all replies everyone, this is really helpful.

For this car I don't have any big plans to mod, not looking to get more power or tune it. I just want a little more sound but I don't want it to be obnoxiously loud from inside the cabin (it needs to be quiet when I'm casually driving at highway speeds). Sounds like an axle back would get me something similar but would just be double the price so a mid-pipe would be the better route. My only hesitation was that I wasn't sure if it was a noticeable sound difference to make it worth the $500, but it sounds like it is.

You can get an Active Autowerke axle back for a price very close to your budget, it will make a noticeably bigger difference than a midpipe

[FirstBMWLA]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

You can get an Active Autowerke axle back for a price very close to your budget, it will make a noticeably bigger difference than a midpipe

PM me a price on the AA axelback system if you don't mind.

[gdgraph]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

You can get an Active Autowerke axle back for a price very close to your budget, it will make a noticeably bigger difference than a midpipe

Really, AA axle-backs are usually $750, the mid-pipe cost me $425 shipped?

Not familiar with the AA, and don't see too many posts here about them. What type of exhaust note are these similar to? Is it more similar to the MPE (crackle pop, higher pitched) or more like the Remus (deeper tone)? I assume no issues with drone and these are valved?

I already ordered the mid pipes, can are these two parts compatible to each other without custom work/welding?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by gdgraph

Really, AA axle-backs are usually $750, the mid-pipe cost me $425 shipped?

Not familiar with the AA, and don't see too many posts here about them. What type of exhaust note are these similar to? Is it more similar to the MPE (crackle pop, higher pitched) or more like the Remus (deeper tone)? I assume no issues with drone and these are valved?

I already ordered the mid pipes, can are these two parts compatible to each other without custom work/welding?

$750 is retail, im sure you can do better

And yes i said close not the same price. they should fit together using the clamp provided but im not too sure. You might need to wield

[track.n.trail]

Dinan midpipe, otherwise stock exhaust:

Zero drone whether the valves are open or closed and a good amount more volume/tone than the stock exhaust.

[gdgraph]

Originally Posted by dotfiles

Dinan midpipe, otherwise stock exhaust:


Zero drone whether the valves are open or closed and a good amount more volume/tone than the stock exhaust.

Great video! Just installed mine a few weekends ago, and I'm happy with it also. No drone, and sounds way louder from the outside of the car. On the inside you can barely hear it under a normal acceleration or just cruising around town, but with WOT you can hear it (like in this video).

[Mkswoosh]

I dont know how to explain this question. But with the mid pipe. Can you feel the sound? Not literally feel it but figuratively. Wondering if you can "feel" you have power especially while normal cruising without it actually being obnoxious from the outside.

After reading what I wrote it sounds stupid to understand ahah

[gdgraph]

Originally Posted by Mkswoosh

I dont know how to explain this question. But with the mid pipe. Can you feel the sound? Not literally feel it but figuratively. Wondering if you can "feel" you have power especially while normal cruising without it actually being obnoxious from the outside.

After reading what I wrote it sounds stupid to understand ahah

I think I know what your asking. It's most noticeable (both hear and feel the exhaust) when you are driving it hard. When just casually driving its better than stock but it's not as significant. Definitely not obnoxious when you drive it normal, it's pretty tame.

[kasturbo]

To that point of feel, is there any power increase with just adding a mid pipe or do you need a full cat back system to see any power increases?

[gdgraph]

Originally Posted by kasturbo

To that point of feel, is there any power increase with just adding a mid pipe or do you need a full cat back system to see any power increases?

No noticeable power gains with a mid pipe. I doubt you can feel any difference with a cat back either, at least I've never have on any other car I've ever had. You may if you pair it with a tune though, but most power gains for an exhaust come from upgrading a down-pipe on a turbo engine or headers on a naturally aspirated/supercharged engine, but if you are doing that, you should be getting a tune anyways because it's a much larger back pressure difference.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by gdgraph

No noticeable power gains with a mid pipe. I doubt you can feel any difference with a cat back either, at least I've never have on any other car I've ever had. You may if you pair it with a tune though, but most power gains for an exhaust come from upgrading a down-pipe on a turbo engine or headers on a naturally aspirated/supercharged engine, but if you are doing that, you should be getting a tune anyways because it's a much larger back pressure difference.

No noticeable power gains with exhaust, tune is the way to go