[Snoozey_Monkee]

I have always read about the OEM BMW Performance Exhaust as having little or no drone but some of the guys over in the US seem to be indicating that there is some drone between 2-3k RPM on the E90 335i.

Just looking to get feedback from fellow UK owners of E90 335i with the PE exhaust on this as I believe the US PE exhausts do not have the flap that we have here in Europe. My wife will kill me if I end up having a droning exhaust after having spent a good amount of money so looking to hear your experiences please!

[phil200tdi]

Most guys in the US rave about the BMW performance exhaust on a car with no other exhaust mods. You are correct though that the US spec PE doesnt have the flap.

BUT

With Catless Downpipes it drones and apparently sounds crap.


The e92 version sounded great on Boz335is car, but the saloon version has different mid pipes iirc and hence may sound different. I think its also more expensive.

[Phil325i]

I'm not sure about the 335i, but the PE for the 325i and 330i is quite different on the two sides of the Atlantic. The US version replaces not only the rear box, but most of the straight pipework as well. For Europe, the PE is back box only, because the mid section of the exhaust includes an additional gas emissions sensor...

[jyeah]

It depends on your car's transmission. My PE was droning hard on my AT, but I sold it to a guy with MT and he loves it and has no drone.

[PR3CI5N]

I have the BMW PE with catless downpipes on my 2010 E90 335i and there's no drone. When you first step on the gas from idle, yeah you hear a deep rumble for maybe a second but I wouldn't call that drone. I describe drone as a deep annoying bass sound at low RPM's. The BMW PE is one of my favorite mods and it really wakes up the car and makes it much more fun to drive.
As long as your wife doesn't mind being able to hear an exhaust system you won't have any problems with her liking it. I think she'll love it and say money well spent
I have a YouTube video of me revving if you'd like to hear it. I don't have any while driving though.

[mjr]

I have an N55 with a PE - no drone at all. It does drone if you do the golf tee mod though because it keeps the flap open. I've had mine for 3 weeks now, have done 1k and absolutely love it!

The exhaust makes a nicely tuned sound that sounds a bit like an E46 M3. It's not that much louder but it's characterful and makes a few crackles and pops

[Snoozey_Monkee]

Originally Posted by jyeah

It depends on your car's transmission. My PE was droning hard on my AT, but I sold it to a guy with MT and he loves it and has no drone.

Have you done any other mods on your car that would cause the drone and have you got an E90 335i with the N54 engine? Mine is AT as well.

[Snoozey_Monkee]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Does anyone live in London (or near enough)? It will be fab if I can have a listen for myself as I read youtube videos don't really do the PE justice.

Originally Posted by mjr

I have an N55 with a PE - no drone at all. It does drone if you do the golf tee mod though because it keeps the flap open. I've had mine for 3 weeks now, have done 1k and absolutely love it!

The exhaust makes a nicely tuned sound that sounds a bit like an E46 M3. It's not that much louder but it's characterful and makes a few crackles and pops

Wonder if it makes any difference given that mine has the N54 engine? I do love the raspy E46 M3 exhaust but I don't think it sounds quite as raspy as that?

[jyeah]

Originally Posted by Snoozey_Monkee

Have you done any other mods on your car that would cause the drone and have you got an E90 335i with the N54 engine? Mine is AT as well.

When I got the PE, I only had the PPK flash from BMW.

I have a N54 E90 335i.

I would recommend against the PE if you're not a big fan of drone. It was most noticeable under load going uphill around ~3K RPM.

Freeway cruising, you can still hear it, but not as bad as when you're going up hill.

I have a catted DP right now with stock exhaust and it sounds a lot better with no drone and much more performance gain.

[Bee Pee]

I have PE on my N54 touring. Based in Twickenham if you want to hear one in the flesh.

Originally Posted by Snoozey_Monkee

Thanks for the feedback guys. Does anyone live in London (or near enough)? It will be fab if I can have a listen for myself as I read youtube videos don't really do the PE justice.


Wonder if it makes any difference given that mine has the N54 engine? I do love the raspy E46 M3 exhaust but I don't think it sounds quite as raspy as that?

[PR3CI5N]

I drive an AT as well and I don't get why members are saying the PE drones...Some exhaust note isn't my definition of drone. If you want to hear drone then install some Magnaflow mufflers on your car and then compare. I honestly can't hear my exhaust even with DP's when I'm "cruising" around. WOT is another story. I always have my window cracked so that I can hear the exhaust because it's much louder outside than on the inside.

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

I'm not sure about the 335i, but the PE for the 325i and 330i is quite different on the two sides of the Atlantic. .

+1

The 335i E90/91 PE includes backboxes AND separate mid section Xpipe/resonator all the way up to the back of the secondary CATS.

The N54 has no lambda sensors after the post-primary CAT ones up front.

This is why the E90/91 PE costs about £400 more than the E92/93.

I've been tempted with it, but with DeCAT DPs it already sounds brilliant, that crisp metallic rasp of the thin walled DPs is better than a loud rear end IMO.