by "Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
Published 12/07/2017 at 18:45
by "Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
Published 12/07/2017 at 18:45
Tags: E90
; 3
STARS: 4
Mostly cosmetic, but most importantly a rework to the OEM exhaust. I am seriously falling in love with this car, even though I know it’s going to be swapped by an N55 powered car the moment I can. Either way, enjoy.
Exhaust
As I have said earlier, this is the first car I have with a decent sounding engine. The classic BMW straight six just sings to redline and I can’t get enough of it. So much so that I had to do something regarding the exhaust. You can buy a myriad of systems for the E90 N52. Active Autowerke, Dinan, Rogue Engineering but the most loved system is the M Performance exhaust which sadly is also the most expensive at close to 1K USD. Now I realize that it costs that much due to the development and the attention to detail, but I was not going to spend anything close to that to get a nice exhaust note or even the $500 that a used one fetches in the forums. My quest began to do an OEM Performance Exhaust mod.
A lot of rumors have been roaming around that the Performance Exhaust is basically a straight pipe with a nice pack of sound deadening material inside an OEM muffler box. I found a reputable exhaust shop and cut open the OEM exhaust to basically take all the excess piping away whilst keeping the sound insulation. As you probably have seen before I straight piped my previous car and whilst I enjoyed it I certainly wouldn’t do it again. I wanted to keep as much of the refinement as I could whilst giving the car the voice it deserved.
After cutting some piping from inside the exhaust I went ahead and kindly asked to have the secondary cats and resonator removed. The resonator removal is already part of the BMW Performance exhaust, so it would be following its design by the book. The secondary cat delete though was to get the added rasp that you can notice in the video, as well as increasing flow without messing with the primary cats or the O2 sensors.
The results were a massive success. I feel like I’m in the perfect balance of outer noise with interior comfort. I roll down the windows and car hear actually pops and crackles as I downshift and a melodious 6 cylinder when caning it. People in the BMW club are raving about it all the time and there have even been a couple pedestrians giving me thumbs up. Total cost? $200 US.
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Exterior
The exterior of the car got a much deserved detail and paint correction. It was seriously in need, and now the paint not only looks the part but feels like it too.
Another thing in serious need of reconditioning where the wheels. I am in love with both the tone and the design of the 18s in this car, but the previous owner had them wrecked. A restoration and repaint in the same tone came out at $85 US which I think is the best visual mod to date.
I also bought a side marker light since a common issue on E90s is the fogging from the sunlight.
Interior
To my eyes, details make or break a car and the interior needed a whole lot of them. I bought an interior LED kit for close to $35, which is both gave me 0 error codes and a bright OEM like white light. Also there was a starter button from an X1 which cost me $50 and a center air vent without a broken tab for $45. Altogether the changes made this car from a decent looker to pristine in my book.
Performance
Bought 2 front Kuhmo tires from a member of the BMW club for cheap, had them aligned and balanced. Recently though I have noticed a vibration whilst braking from higher speed which according to the forums and a trusty mechanic is due to suspension arms. This will be the next thing I’ll buy the car for sure and will likely be my last as it is now pretty close to perfection.
Future
There are still a couple details I need to buy to make this showroom fresh.
-Glovebox interior cover (On order, arriving in the next couple of days)
-OBD2 Port plastic cover (On order, arriving in the next couple of days)
-Suspension Components (Arms and Bushings)
-M Performance floor mats
As I evolve with this car I’m falling in love with the brand massively. Repair costs haven’t been outrageous and I have a great community backing me up. When I look at the excel I have of every component I’ve had to change I can’t help but think I’d do it all over again.
"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
12/07/2017 at 18:58, STARS: 1
This is the NA 3 liter, yes?
Let me know when you are ready to move on, I would like to shoot you an offer at that point.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
12/07/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 2
Beautiful car.
Now prepare to be executed for treason due to the fake ///M badge.
"CompactLuxuryFan" (compactluxury)
12/07/2017 at 19:12, STARS: 1
Your car looks so good! And then I catch myself thinking mine looks just like it! Your wheels seem darker, however.
You’re welcome to come fix mine up any time
Did you do a ‘before’ sound video at all?
"Jonathan Harper" (jbh)
12/07/2017 at 19:19, STARS: 1
Not sure how to bring this up as a guy who drives a non-M with an M badge on it, albeit from the factory. This is awkward.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
12/07/2017 at 19:46, STARS: 1
I am also a fan of creative exhaust solutions that sound just as good as aftermarket. Instead of going with one of the catback solutions available for my TL I just removed the oem resonator and third muffler and replaced both with a more aggressive aero resonator. Quiet when I want it to be but screams under throttle.
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"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 20:30, STARS: 1
NA 2.5 Liter. My goal is to make it literally the best non-manual NA E90 you can buy.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 20:33, STARS: 2
Thing is I don’t know if it is actually fake. This was an M Final Edition for the Mexican market, and the badge looks to be legit.
Trust me I’d be the first to take it off if it was non-original but I have seen one other M Final Edition with the badge in the same spot on the road.
This is something I fight with internally.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 20:34, STARS: 1
It certainly is, also since the badge appears to have come from the factory. Also I saw your photos with M3Murray, they are wicked.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 20:36, STARS: 0
I didn’t do a before video, I can sum it up as muffled and quiet.
Fixing up all these small details felt great, would do it again for sure.
Yeah these wheels seem to be darker than other BMWs I’ve seen online with even the same wheels but I love them.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 20:38, STARS: 1
Aftermarket exhausts, more-so with higher end brands are astronomically expensive for being pipes. This solution was a massive success.
Also, the TL sounds NICE.
"Jonathan Harper" (jbh)
12/07/2017 at 21:31, STARS: 0
Shit. Wait till I get my new plates ;)
“FAKE M”
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
12/07/2017 at 21:55, STARS: 1
Yeah I think you got amazing results. Showcases the wailing straight 6 without being obnoxious during daily driving. A competent exhaust shop can piece together a great custom setup for a lot of cars that will rival expensive aftermarket solutions.
Thank you! As a former 2jz owner I was biased toward the sound of a straight six but the j series v6 sounds great for what it is.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 0
NICE
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/07/2017 at 22:25, STARS: 1
It does sound great, and it makes me never want a 4 cylinder again.
"Whip Ain't Got No Gas Tank But it Still Got Woodgrain" (whatsallthisthen)
12/08/2017 at 01:32, STARS: 1
Those OEM wheels? I’d love to know what style they are been looking for something for my f30.
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/08/2017 at 10:18, STARS: 2
They are BMW Style 193 Wheels in the OEM Dark Grey finish.
There’s also silver finish, but I really prefer the darker tone.
Here are a couple F30's with them
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
12/17/2017 at 22:17, STARS: 0
HEMI 5.7>>>>> BMW i6
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
12/17/2017 at 22:21, STARS: 0
It’s a tough choice.
"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
12/17/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 0
Not for me it aint!
If you think streets up in NL are bad, CDMX streets are fucking horrid!
I’m refering to the fact that its a jeep