BMW X5 E70 4.8 M Sport

[Andy Collings]

Hi, this is my first query using this site, so any suggestions, info would be greatly appreciated. I have an X5 E70 4.8 M Sport, looking at modifying the exhaust for a better sound. Don't want it too loud or have a drone. I have read about muffler deletes and fitting resonators, also about replacing the muffler with a variety of options. Went to a Longlife centre today and the suggestion given was to remove the two front boxes and have straight pipes to replace them. This would give improved sound at a cost of around £200. Any feed back on this idea? or any other relatively cheap options? Thanks.

Andy

[Greydog]

Morning Andrew

My exhaust (E53 4.6is) is still as fitted when new, 16 years on it's still OK. Dinan in the USA were one of the first to explore upgrades Cams, Super charging and Exhausts. The first I read about were "X" pipe front silencer removal. They say it gives a little power hike and "better" sound (being Yanks I read better as LOUDER). Personally I don't want a shouty car (New RR SC 5.0 New M3/M4 for example) my 4.6 has a nice burble and my neighbours certainly don't think I have come home in a taxi plus I don't wake them up if I leave early.

But that's me and my 4.6 my wife's car is a Subaru 3.0 Outback with a Perrin twin turbo engine (450 whp) the exhaust is a 3" stainless system Longlife and it doesn't get shouty until 3k+ 

Longlife are a respected system producers and as the old saying  goes you don't know until you try?  Plus these days £200 is not wallet busting when second hand part systems are selling for that much on ebay. 

Let us know the results if you try it maybe before and after recordings ?

Dave

 

[Andy Collings]

Hi Dave!

   Thanks for the quick reply and info! Once I get some more feedback I will make a decision! You are right though for the money it’s worth a try! Sounds like a wet lettuce at the moment unless a lot of revs added, my old E46 330i sounded much better. Long life guy did seem to know his stuff! 

Thanks

 

Andy

[Greydog]

It was 2006 when I took the Subaru to them in Southend they built the whole system headers back and to any casual observer the tail pipes even look OEM just a little bigger. So from outside it looks and sounds stock (with a bit more base) off the line it scares super cars and mid range is epic, even more fun as we are both in our seventies and that really shakes up the Porsche brigade. 

There have been many debates on the US websites regarding straight pipes H pipes or X pipes let us know what you end up with 

Dave

[Andy Collings]

Hi Dave, great to hear you still love your cars at a good age. I'm 58 and feel the same, you've inspired me to keep going for the noise ( even though I won't go too noisy ). Think to start I will delete just the front boxes, some forums have members that have done this to the larger engine size diesels with good results. Get it done within the next few weeks and will post back results. Thanks again, not had any other feed back on this post yet.

Andy

[Greydog]

They are all scared of meaty V8's 😈

[Andy Collings]

Hi Dave, car booked in with Longlife for Wednesday for the twin resonator delete and fitment of straight pipes. Didn't realise but there is already an H pipe at rear of resonators too, that will be staying. As for the before and after sound check, I typed in on the search bar : BMW X5 E70 4.8 Resonator delete and it came up with a fantastic youtube video of it done to the very car. It gives the noise of stock system and resonator delete, car is in a garage for the stood still noise and sounds really good.Then it shows the 2 acceleration video's, awesome noise, looking forward to Weds. I replaced my Parking brake switch yesterday and it didn't have the auto hold function from standard, the new one had it on, fitted it and now I have the autohold function, good old forums eh! Just ordered off ebay a replacement window control panel, mine hasn't got the auto retract wing mirror function on but this one has. May get lucky and this will work too, did some research on the forums for this too. Will post how things go on Weds and thanks for your replies again, not had any others. 

Best regards

 

Andy

[Andy Collings]

Hi Dave, exhaust done sounds much better! Got a rasp to it which I think sounds good. Longlife guy said to get rid of rasp to change the rear muffler for 2 smaller longlife ones. I think leave as is for now.  Cost etc.

 

Andy

[Greydog]

Great to know it was a good step forward particularly if it sounds like the Vid, once they know where your wallet is ehh!!

Good move with the auto hold function, you may have a bit more faffing with the mirrors when I got mine it had the standard switch. I had to change the nearside mirror cover and discovered there were motors in there so got a window control switch nothing so did a bit of reading (well a lot ) and discovered the micro switches suffer or to be more accurate the spring arm that opens and closes them. Spent a Sunday playing and found the drivers side micro switch in bits I guess a previous owner didnt want to investigate so for some mad reason changed the switch. I managed to get a new micro switch from Maplins and got them working then decided to see if I could get them to close on lock and open on unlock. A bit of head scratching and a small circuit with 3 relays and my mirrors close on lock and open on unlock. I have a BMW specialist who services it and it drives him nuts as it's not supposed to happen on the E53

Let us know how it goes

Dave

If you want the wiring diagram I can dig it up

[Andy Collings]

Fitted the replacement mirror control panel but no joy. Will have a look into it and see whether the mirrors are in fact capable of auto folding, the drivers one from the outside looks like it may have been interfered with previously. Hopefully might just need some jiggling. Done some reading on forums and may not happen without changing the mirrors but I do have the memory function on the seats which helps. Let you know how it goes. Thanks for info.

Andy

[Greydog]

Remember you can buy motors through the well known auction site at not a lot of money the difficult thing now is finding micro switches. While your checking I will look in BMW 1.4.0 to see if they need activating through the software it may save you some time if thats it

Dave

[Andy Collings]

Thank you very much !

Andy

[Greydog]

Morning Andy

From what I can see mine was factory order with folding mirrors plus being older (simpler) to fiddle with. So you may require the check box activating plus a software update. Someone with INPA/NCS/DIS who can help is needed I think.

Dave

[Andy Collings]

Thanks! 

I had a quick look and sure mine are only manual fold! This will mean I have to buy folding mirrors at some stage! They are roughly £200 a pair on buying site! Can off set the cost by selling the manual ones! No Black sapphire pairs on at moment! Will keep an eye out!

Andy