[Dackz]

Originally Posted by jyeah

I'm not tuned. The thing about waiting and hoping the exhaust drone goes away after time is that I actually drive friends from time to time and they can also hear the drone. ~_~" Only have PPK Stage 2 installed.

I guess my main concern is:
1) Whether or not the problem is normal, because if it is, I guess I've made up my mind to go back to the stock exhaust.
2) If the problem is not normal, what is the best course of action to get it resolved.

A) Have the PE properly resealed and have the clamps re-tightened
B) If it's a faulty PE exhaust that has problems, have it replaced by BMW.
C) If it's un-fixable, have the stock exhaust reinstalled and sell the PE part.

As others suggested, try going for a drive with someone else locally, that has a AT and see if theirs does it. And if you have the stage 2 ppk, you are tuned to a degree. It probably has the wastegates adjusted just enough to change the sound.

[E92xiSS]

to op~

i've just installed mine today. sounds like what you are hearing is normal. the sound is lot louder than stock on partial throttle at lower speed.
now if you are cruising around 2 to 3k rpm on the highway and you get vibration with noise, thats what drone is.

[scooby9]

I've had my PE for a few months now and it still drones. Apparently the North American version has no flap which contributes to the drone in the cabin. The Euro version has the flap on the driver side which reduces this issue. I have actually just learned to get used to it. Admittedly it is slightly annoying during a long highway cruise compared to driving my wife's SUV.

[805beemer]

you could always sell it and buy the 335is exhaust that does have the exhaust flap

[tmo24]

I hope you figure it out. There is a lot of conflicting info in this thread. Right or wrong, I don't know. But it seems that people are saying its normal and people are saying it not be. Then it may be other issues etc. it has to be frustrating and the worst part is that none of us really actually know without personally seeing the undercarriage or driving in it. Drone sucks. But even my stock exhaust with golf tee mod can kinda drone a little bit. It depends on my rpm. On the highway, if I feel the exhaust has a little drone, I cruise in 5th instead of 6th to switch up the rpm. I'm 6AT also. Either that or just turn up the radio! Haha but seriously, I think the only way you will really find out is to ride in someone else's car with the same setup. Then troubleshoot to see what is different about yours, if his/her car does not drone.

[jyeah]

Yeah, I've been really busy recently. So I'm going to try and squeeze some time out. Someone on the forums offered to ride and compare, so hopefully I'll be able to schedule that soon.

In all seriousness though,　I think tmo24 you sum up pretty much the frustration really well. Anyways, I'll report back on when I have it all sorted out.

Thanks for all your feedbacks!

[jyeah]

Quick update:

The droning on an AT is normal for the BMW OEM Performance Exhaust for the 335i.

The exhaust clamps are tight and there's no exhaust leak, also nothing on the exhaust is touching the undercarriage of the car where it shouldn't.

So just a heads up for future BMW OEM Performance Exhaust buyers, if you have an AT, do note that there would be some audible droning sound. The sound isn't too loud, but it is definitely audible.

Thanks for everyone's input, at least now I can rest assured that there isn't any installation problems.

[Lulz_M3]

For those that arent quite sure what "drone" is, Drone is when the exhaust frequency matches the resonance of certain parts of the interior of your car (think of a tuning fork). Hope that helps.

[jyeah]

And note that the BMW OEM PE is the US Edition for the E90.

[TxBeem]

To all who are confused what drone is or isn't. If you make a "ohmmmm" noise with your mouth closed at the Lowest tone you can with your fingers plugging in your ears that's what drone sounds like to me. It's annoying. It makes your coin holder rattle. You can't have decent conversations with people in the car unless you change gears or speak loudly. It is the worse in automatics. You cant even hear your exhaust cause of the drone. Resonators only helps a teeny bit. My $.02

[mooser]

I had the OEM performance exhaust on my 07 335i, and there was very minor drone at highway speeds.

[GearRex]

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but there is so much conflicting information here, i had to do it.

Drone on the OEM Performance Exhaust is normal for E90 335i models with the N54 engine.

The reason for the drone is that in addition to the mufflers, the E90 Performance exhaust includes an X-Pipe (or middle pipes as some people are calling them - albeit inaccurately) that replaces the resonators on the stock exhaust system. So, this performance exhaust is not just an "axle back" system, as is the case with the E92, E93 335i models, as well as the E90 335i models with the N55 engine.

All the folks replying in this thread saying that they have no drone what so ever, are E92 drivers, or late model E90 N55 drivers. "is" exhaust system is a completely different animal.

In summary, E90 N54 OEM Performance Exhaust is louder that the other versions, and do exhibit some drone between 2-3K RPM.

I wrote this final post in the hopes of helping other forum members that may run across this thread during their searches.

No. 3 in the diagram below:

[NTXE92]

Well never mind

[jyeah]

Originally Posted by E93_Rzr

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but there is so much conflicting information here, i had to do it.

Drone on the OEM Performance Exhaust is normal for E90 335i models with the N54 engine.

The reason for the drone is that in addition to the mufflers, the E90 Performance exhaust includes an X-Pipe (or middle pipes as some people are calling them - albeit inaccurately) that replaces the resonators on the stock exhaust system. So, this performance exhaust is not just an "axle back" system, as is the case with the E92, E93 335i models, as well as the E90 335i models with the N55 engine.

All the folks replying in this thread saying that they have no drone what so ever, are E92 drivers, or late model E90 N55 drivers. "is" exhaust system is a completely different animal.

In summary, E90 N54 OEM Performance Exhaust is louder that the other versions, and do exhibit some drone between 2-3K RPM.

I wrote this final post in the hopes of helping other forum members that may run across this thread during their searches.

No. 3 in the diagram below:

That's really helpful to know, albeit a little late (sold my PE and perfectly happy with stock). :P

Thanks!

[Dr. G]

E92's already have the x-pipe that's why. In the end the e92 and e90 performance exhausts are the same.

[kiggy74]

Resurrecting this thread just one more time. I just ordered the PE for my '11 335xi 6mt but these threads have me a little nervous. I know what drone is. I put a cat back system on a Dodge Ram once and the drone during freeway diving was really annoying.

So my question is if there's a difference in the drone for 6mt vs 6at?

[xtrackdog]

There is VERY slight droning on mine (6AT e90) as OP described, on a long drag up a slight incline in 6th. That said, I had the radio off and was listening for it. Not unacceptable to me.

I had an aftermarket XPipe replace my resonators first, then couple of months after had the PE coupe version installed. Only 100 miles on it.

I'm sure the sound will keep changing until it "settles". Any input on how long?

[badass335]

Just curious for all the E90 guys with PE exhausts, have you considered running the stock secondary cats with resonators and not using the X-PIPE supplied with the PE exhausts?

I'm having to buy a new set of exhausts as I got rear ended. I have catless dp's but ran the factory catback on my E90. I was happy with the sound in the cabin. (No Drone). Now that I have to buy another exhaust, I am thinking of going with the BMW Performance Exhaust but thinking I may keep the factory resonator as well to see if it helps.

[xtrackdog]

The E90 version of the PE comes with the x-pipe section. The E92 version does not. That's why the E90 version is a little more expensive.

If you want to keep your resonator, then buy the E92 version and save some money and not have a spare part to store.

[badass335]

Originally Posted by xtrackdog

The E90 version of the PE comes with the x-pipe section. The E92 version does not. That's why the E90 version is a little more expensive.

If you want to keep your resonator, then buy the E92 version and save some money and not have a spare part to store.

Good to know!! I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the info

[pocoyo_3]

Does anyone experience drone with the stock exhaust in the 1800-2300 rpm range when under load? I have that issue with my stock exhaust. I had the PE for 2 days and that was awful, so I went back to the stock exhaust but that still drones in the 1800-2300 rpm range.

[jyeah]

Originally Posted by my325i

Does anyone experience drone with the stock exhaust in the 1800-2300 rpm range when under load? I have that issue with my stock exhaust. I had the PE for 2 days and that was awful, so I went back to the stock exhaust but that still drones in the 1800-2300 rpm range.

I went back to the stock exhaust and also added a catted DP and my AT does not drone at 1800-2300 rpm range. It did when I had the PE.