[jocamero]

Hi, I've gone down the rabbit hole and have read what seems like every post related to the G80 exhaust but I still have an unanswered question that I'm hoping someone can please help me with.

What is the difference paying an exhaust shop ~$300 (including parts!), to cut out the 2 resonators and replace with 2 stainless steel pipes plus an X pipe section... versus buying an aftermarket G80 specific mid pipe (from say Dinan, linked here), that start at $750, and go up to thousands of dollars, for just a mid pipe. ffs, the midpipe alone from Akrapovic is $2,500.

The mid pipe from Active Autowerke is $1,700.

Is this just a cash grab or is there a huge difference on the prefab exhaust parts?

Thanks in advance for any insight! Appreciate it. =)

[BIGW0RM]

Not much. But some designs sound better than others. Some are built nicer. It all really depends on how you value these things. The high cost and having to cut my OEM exhaust was too much for me. I ended up leaving mine alone and opening my exhaust vales 100% instead. Im happy enough to leave it how it is now.

[GTS Daddy]

Quality of assembly/components, looks, sound, design. It's a new M3 for crying out loud. I would suggest against putting any basic stainless parts on that thing and at least spring for some decent shit.

[Allerum]

Originally Posted by GTS Daddy

Quality of assembly/components, looks, sound, design. It's a new M3 for crying out loud. I would suggest against putting any basic stainless parts on that thing and at least spring for some decent shit.

What do you think the other midpipes are made out of? It's stainless steel with a little badge maybe. These companies just source the steel and prefab it vs fabbing it on site. If the grade of steel is the same the pipe is equal quality. Its just round metal tubes.

[Nate.G82]

I believe a big part of the cost is simply the R&D that goes into aftermarket exhausts. AWE for example made a 50-state emissions compliant exhaust system. With the switchpath at least, they made the exhaust drone free, louder, deeper, more refined. Besides being drone free, the other three are obviously subjective on your preferences. The equal length stuff from Valvetronic and AA were both R&D to create a version of their system where the piping and sound travel is in fact equal... and of course to make it sound good to their own sound design teams. IIRC, Remus uses a big sound treated studio to do a lot of their exhaust sound design.

I get the concern though, especially for a mid pipe. Most of these companies build an entire exhaust system, and you're buying a part of it instead of the whole set. So they just give you a price based off the whole set. The price:steel ratio is of course going to favor a muffler shop custom fab. Mid pipe alone, if the sound is good enough for you then there's nothing more to be stated. Prefab aftermarket or custom shop, as long as you like what you got with your money, that's all you can ask for.

[meechy6ix0]

Originally Posted by Nate.G82

I believe a big part of the cost is simply the R&D that goes into aftermarket exhausts. AWE for example made a 50-state emissions compliant exhaust system. With the switchpath at least, they made the exhaust drone free, louder, deeper, more refined. Besides being drone free, the other three are obviously subjective on your preferences. The equal length stuff from Valvetronic and AA were both R&D to create a version of their system where the piping and sound travel is in fact equal... and of course to make it sound good to their own sound design teams. IIRC, Remus uses a big sound treated studio to do a lot of their exhaust sound design.

I get the concern though, especially for a mid pipe. Most of these companies build an entire exhaust system, and you're buying a part of it instead of the whole set. So they just give you a price based off the whole set. The price:steel ratio is of course going to favor a muffler shop custom fab. Mid pipe alone, if the sound is good enough for you then there's nothing more to be stated. Prefab aftermarket or custom shop, as long as you like what you got with your money, that's all you can ask for.

The 50 states compliant literally just means they stop before the secondary cats. For what OP is asking for(res deletes), it’s literally just a stainless steel pipe. If you have a good local shop, there won’t be a difference.

[Nate.G82]

Originally Posted by meechy6ix0

The 50 states compliant literally just means they stop before the secondary cats. For what OP is asking for(res deletes), it’s literally just a stainless steel pipe. If you have a good local shop, there won’t be a difference.

You are correct, which is why two sentences of my entire comment was on that. The second half is also in agreement to what you're talking about for midpipes.

[meechy6ix0]

Originally Posted by Nate.G82

You are correct, which is why two sentences of my entire comment was on that. The second half is also in agreement to what you're talking about for midpipes.

🤦‍♂️

please ignore me lol. i completely missed that paragraph

[jocamero]

Are you simply suggesting titanium over stainless steel? If so, why? Sound properties? Weight savings? It's my understanding the stock exhaust is stainless steel. It seems almost all but Akrapovic use stainless steel (hence my original question).

Except for the exhaust tips (which I'm happy with the stock BMW ones), the rest of the system is out of sight, out of mind, unlike say a motorcycle exhaust. If I bought the Akrapovic or any titanium exhaust likely only my mechanic would see the gorgeous welds that are only visible while under the car.

Or is there another benefit I'm missing?

Originally Posted by GTS Daddy

Quality of assembly/components, looks, sound, design. It's a new M3 for crying out loud. I would suggest against putting any basic stainless parts on that thing and at least spring for some decent shit.

[Nate.G82]

Originally Posted by jocamero

Are you simply suggesting titanium over stainless steel? If so, why? Sound properties? Weight savings? It's my understanding the stock exhaust is stainless steel. It seems almost all but Akrapovic use stainless steel (hence my original question).

Except for the exhaust tips (which I'm happy with the stock BMW ones), the rest of the system is out of sight, out of mind, unlike say a motorcycle exhaust. If I bought the Akrapovic or any titanium exhaust likely only my mechanic would see the gorgeous welds that are only visible while under the car.

Or is there another benefit I'm missing?

IIRC, titanium systems offer better weight savings over steel. Already with aftermarket steel exhausts, there's some weight savings compared to stock. Titanium takes it further. And yes, they look cool but you only ever see it when you're underneath. Like most mods, it's all about how far you want to take it.

Per Valvetronics Exhaust description:
57.8 lbs Lighter than the factory exhaust (Titanium)
24.7 lbs lighter than the factory exhaust (Stainless)

[GTS Daddy]

Originally Posted by jocamero

Are you simply suggesting titanium over stainless steel? If so, why? Sound properties? Weight savings? It's my understanding the stock exhaust is stainless steel. It seems almost all but Akrapovic use stainless steel (hence my original question).

Except for the exhaust tips (which I'm happy with the stock BMW ones), the rest of the system is out of sight, out of mind, unlike say a motorcycle exhaust. If I bought the Akrapovic or any titanium exhaust likely only my mechanic would see the gorgeous welds that are only visible while under the car.

Or is there another benefit I'm missing?

I believe you are referring to my "looks" comment which was only one out of a handful. Why do you dress the way you do? Why do you wear the underwear you do? I wear Calvin Klein trunks in various colors. I know that I am wearing purple underwear when I am in an important meeting because I want to. Nobody sees it but myself and my wife when I am changing and that is ok. I do it because I want it.

The sound is another variable as is the weight savings. The tips, the lack of the big silver can in back vs some smaller mufflers.

For me, it's all in the sound. I will be picking up the AA equal length mid-pipe because I like the way it sounds. Is it worth the $2K for me to have an different sound than what it came with from the factory, YES. It may not be worth it for you and that is also ok.

Some people go for a specific look while others have brand loyalty. Some exhaust systems claim to add more power when compared to stock.

Sure, you could get a muffler shop to add some pipes, but unless they are experts in their craft including air-flow dynamics while factoring in some acute form of sound design along with precision welds, that is mostly what you are paying for when purchasing an aftermarket exhaust and what many of us value here on car forums.

[vetteflier]

304 SS is 304 SS. A badge, higher polish level, maybe fancier couplers and that is the only difference on a simple item like res delete. I went with AWE Track because keeping the front res helps with drone, and getting rid of that monstrosity that BMW calls a muffler--even if only one pipe went through it, was important. Plus, full 3" forward of the front res. The sound was far better than stock with the valves wired fully open. But major improvement--and just keeps getting better as it seasons, now. Worth it to me. Plus, have the oem exhaust--including flap actuators, that can easily be reattached if I want to take off the AWE, assuming it can be reused on my next car.

[CSH1959]

Originally Posted by BIGW0RM

Not much. But some designs sound better than others. Some are built nicer. It all really depends on how you value these things. The high cost and having to cut my OEM exhaust was too much for me. I ended up leaving mine alone and opening my exhaust vales 100% instead. Im happy enough to leave it how it is now.

The mid pipes are pieces of pipe. Period. Pay as much as makes you feel good.