Oppo, I need your advice.

"Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin" (ulteriormotors)
11/25/2013 at 18:48 • Filed to: Exhaust, BMWTF

The day finally came. My muffler is now more rust than muffler, and chunks are falling out well beyond what soda cans covered in RTV will hold. So I need a new muffler.

I'm no stranger to doing exhaust work. I can fab pipes all day. But I don't know where to begin when it comes to mufflers. So I need your help.

I have a 1987 E28 BMW 535i with the M30B34 and two 1 7/8" exhaust pipes. I would like to keep it as a dual exhaust, but I'm open to upgrading pipe size. I'm also a student half the year and an intern the other half, so I don't really want to spend a small fortune.

So Oppo, what do you think? What should I hang under my car?

ADDITION: One thing I forgot. I do drive ~50k miles/year, and so not being deafening would be nice. Sorry for being picky.

DISCUSSION (12)

Takuro Spirit > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 18:51

Glasspack.

Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin > Takuro Spirit
11/25/2013 at 18:52

Can you be specific? Manufacturer, part number, etc. I really do have no idea about mufflers. Why glasspack?

For Sweden > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 18:55

Glass packs.

Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin > For Sweden
11/25/2013 at 18:57

Can you be specific? Manufacturer, part number, etc. I really do have no idea about mufflers. Why glasspack?

For Sweden > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 18:59

Glass Pack is a brand. I've never put an exhaust on a E28, so I don't know anything more than that.

desertdog5051 > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 19:00

Pipe size can be important. Too small or too big can make a significant loss of power.

Check the forums. You can probably get some advice on mufflers.

desertdog5051 > Takuro Spirit
11/25/2013 at 19:03

Oh, you are cruel Takuro. Unless they are almost to the back, they will drone after a few thousand miles.

Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin > desertdog5051
11/25/2013 at 19:05

I don't really give a fuck about pipe size. My engine has more than 350k on it. It's already lost ~40HP from when it was new. And besides, pipe is cheap and I can make whatever I want out of it. Not an issue. All I care about right now is mufflers.

The reason I'm open is that it might be easier to find a muffler in a slightly different size. I don't want to lock myself out of something potentially fantastic.

davedave1111 > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 20:19

As far as I know with silencers, basically it's a case of the bigger the better, so you have as little restriction as possible. But big ones are expensive. If you can get one from a scrapyard, I don't think it matters much what it comes from as long as it's bigger than what you had. (That's what she said?)

I'm not really sure, though. You could probably get a good idea of how it correlates by looking up what's stock on a load of different cars (and the same car with different engines).

Takuro Spirit > desertdog5051
11/25/2013 at 20:23

When the muffler rotted off my '95 Neon I hung a glasspack back there. I don't remember it being that annoying, but I was young and dumb.

Takuro Spirit > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 20:26

Thrush. Measure what size you need to match your pipe diameter, and length of the muffler for where you'll be placing it.

They're the cheapest option, IF they are legal in your state, and they don't sound too bad either. Had one on my winter beater many many years ago:

Nibbles > Jeremy Bloyd-Peshkin
11/25/2013 at 20:57

Glasspacks are made primarily by Thrush and can be found at your local Advance/O'Reilly/AutoZone for about 20 bucks. They generally have, like a billion in stock, so finding one that fits shouldn't be an issue. They are pretty loud though and can drone a lot. Thrush also makes the Turbo Muffler which is quieter, shaped like a regular muffler, and just as prevalent in your local auto parts shop.