Standard or aftermarket 325i full system for less than £350

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StavFC
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Post Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:00 am

As title really, is there one?

My E30 came with some god awful 'custom' exhaust with just a rear silencer, no centre box at all. It sounds like shit to be fair, noisy, but not in a good way either, farty and horrible.

I'd have no issue at all with even a standard system, in fact a quiet exhaust would be a good thing, but my local motorfactors priced that up at £350, which is a lot for a pattern part.

Had a look on eBay and a Scorpion full system, as lovely as it looks, is upwards of 600quid!

Even a decent backbox on the current system wouldn't fix the issue i doubt as no centre boxes has gotta be a big reason why its so loud.

Have I any hope, or is 350 for a stock system actually the best bet?

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jslot
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Post Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:54 am

You can get really cheap parts on eBay, I mean really cheap in both senses of the word. I got a 2 peice system, was about £40 for the rear section and £100 for the front section. Can't comment on longevity, sounds tinny compared to OEM but not loud. Probably also negatively affects engine power.

Decent second hand one may be an option?
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bosers
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Post Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:36 am

I got a custom, manifold back twin pipe stainless system with centre box and twin back box from Longlife a few years back for £400, it's nicely made and guaranteed but is a bit loud for my taste.
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StavFC
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Post Tue Jun 02, 2015 11:28 am

Yeah, I get the feeling I'll need all 3 pieces, front pipes, centre, and rear, as looks like its all been welded together.

IIRC the front pipes were cheap anyhow, about 50quid, it was the centre and rear sections which bumped up the cost, 150 a pop each.

My exhaust sounds like shit, raspy/farty awful thing, wouldn't even know it's a straight 6 unless at high revs where it really howls.

Car isn't fast enough to warrant a loud exhaust in my eyes, making that much noise (it's not bad at idle, but anything above is noisy) just to keep up with modern traffic is borderline embarrassing lol.
daimlerman
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Post Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:03 pm

£350 is quite a good price,ask your local friendly dealer for a quote to compare....but be sat down first!

Bear in mind that proper engined E30 came with two systems,two piece and three piece.A further fitting issue could be your cast manifold,some have three studs,some have four,so check carefully that what you buy will fit.

Unless you must have OE,I would be inclined to seek out a firm local to yourself who will make up a decent s/s system.Impress upon the fitter that you require a 'grown up's' exhaust,not something that Kos would buy!

:D
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powelly
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Post Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:35 pm

The downpipes are NLA for the 3 piece as far as I know, was certain the case a couple of years ago, I opted for a full genuine 2 piece in the end, with my discount it was £700 or more, I doubt it's got cheaper!!
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satan16v
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Post Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:02 am

I paid £750 for a full stainless system from the tubular manifold back... They aren't cheap you know
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StavFC
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Post Fri Jun 05, 2015 2:57 pm

So far got it down to £262 inc all new gaskets and mounts and so on (about 200 without all them!).

Not OEM, but a Klarius pattern part, which is good quality, not some shitty Walker one etc.

I had a look on YouTube and not found a single N/A M20 exhaust I liked the sound of, most just too loud for the acceleration, so while it seems wrong going back to standard (as the car sure isnt), it might be the way I go...