Another m52 2.8 exhaust question.

[JGTI]

So i am in the process of fitting a m52 to my 318i touring. I have access to a few budget options in the exhaust department.

Stock m52 manifolds and:

1- Very nicely priced and good condition Bosal E30 M3 exhaust from the X to the bumper, i believe its the "regular" diameter;

2- Scorpion S14 full stainless exhaust, in good condition but without the X, larger diameter pipes and ugly as F DTM style pan;

3- 320is supersprint rear muffler, with custom twin pipes to the back, not so budget.

4- Hunt for 328 e36 exhaust parts.

As noted, my first choice would be the M3 stock exhaust due to price, OEM-ness and ease of installation but, will it handle the m52 with "bolt-ons" or will it be restrictive? Will it sound crap?

I wanted stock noise, no attention-grabbing exhaust notes.

Any guesses?

[motormanmick]

Quick spec check says the e30 m3 puts out 215 hp @ 6750rpm, m52 2.8 puts out 192 hp @ 5500rpm, engines are basically air pumps, the m3 engine moves more air than the m52 2.8, ie - m3, 2.3 x 6.750 = 15.525, m52, 2.8 x 5.5 = 15.4, BUT and its a big but "bolt-ons"?, bolt-ons, what ever they are will make the m52 more efficient and there for move more air, ie OBD1, free flow exhaust, maybe cams, you could be looking at 210/220+ hp @ say 5900, this may be pushing the m3 exhaust, just my thought, someone out there may have practical experience in this, as for sound, couldn't say, cheers.

[JGTI]

Well thank you for your reply, by bolt ons i mean m50 manifold, maybe US S50 cams and a remap! 220,230 bhp maybe?

[E30BeemerLad]

I ran a M50 inlet on my M52 swap with the scorpion M3 system (I hacked off the end of the DTM council tail pipes to make them into a slash cut)

You will have to modify the stock M52 exhaust manifolds. If you want an off the shelf solution for the manifold speak to DanThe

[JGTI]

E30BeemerLad, good thing you cut those awful pipes, but was you car loud then? It did not have the X after the manifold, right? I know about the manifold mod, my car is LHD so its easy, and I already have the flanges.