1st impressions: SS exhaust + x-pipe vs. B&Bs (long) - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Teutonaddict · 3rd May 2002, 17:26

Just got my SuperSprint exhaust + x-pipe installed to replace the factory “center silencer” and my former B&B TriFlo exhaust cans. The TriFlo’s were damaged in a rear-end collision three months ago, and the replacement x-pipe was on back-order, thanks to the significant interest generated by this board.

I’ll give my first impressions of the SS combo compared to the B&B’s with the caveat that this exhaust has not been “seasoned,” and therefore may change with use. I will update these observations in a couple months.

I had read here that the SS exhaust + x-pipe was most comparable from outside the car to the B&B’s in terms of tone and loudness. My first impressions are that it is a bit more muted. I’ll have to check with my neighbors, but my sense is that my low-speed, low-rev entrance and exit to/from the neighborhood is now more subdued. Hopefully, it will open up! (I should note that I have Samson Rolled Thunder pipes on my Road King Classic, so I have certain tendencies…)

From inside the car, it’s considerably quieter. I miss my B&B rumble! Some call it in-cabin resonance, but I’d come to consider it essential machine-to-man feedback. It’s much more quiet from 0-2500 RPM, but does sound a little more authoritative in the 3000-5000 RPM range. There’s less communication during heel-and-toe downshifts, and my stoplight throttle-blipping habit now is less rewarding. Some had mentioned minor backfiring during rapid deceleration, but frankly I noticed this more with the B&B’s than I do now.

To be fair, I have not stood or followed behind the car whilst someone else drove (right!), and I need to do so to get a complete impression. The aforementioned sound observations are minor nits, really, as the two systems are more comparable than they are different. Now for the really good news...

The fit and finish of this system is impeccable! The cat-back tubes are constant-radius stainless, and the cans are non-polished stainless. They are not cylindrical in shape (rather, capsule-shaped), so there’s not a vertical stainless surface to shine back at those in your wake, a la TubiStyle or B&B, which I miss. What I LOVE are the big-bore tips that are double-walled stainless with a chrome-plated finish. These seem to be larger diameter (again, constant radius back to the can) than other SS exhausts I’ve seen. They are engraved with “MAGNUM” and “SuperSprint” below that. Other owners have reported that they are easy to keep shiny clean.

My issue with the B&B’s was that the thin, single-walled (but rolled) tips were prone to discoloration. They looked more brown-to-black than even silver-to-bronze. And since their stock oval dual tips were touching, there was NO way to get a good polish (even wadding) between the tips. The SS Magnums have 3/8” between the tips. The B&B tips also were choked back to a smaller diameter pipe before connecting to the cans.

Bottom-line: I dig my new toys! The parts were $665/ea for L and R cans, $375 for x-pipe, plus $200 labor, for a total of $2032.91 with tax. By the way, this was all covered and direct-billed to my insurance company. I will gladly post pics once there’s another good photo-hosting site, although after PhotoPoint and HobbyStage crapping out, I’m not sure!!

-Dave

atomic80 · 3rd May 2002, 18:02

Send those pictures to me..I'll host them on my own personal server and the post them here for you.

Email me, jgtang@mindspring.com.

BTW, very nice write-up!

atomic80 · 3rd May 2002, 18:42

Here are the pictures of Teutonaddict's beast!

High rear quads

Rear view quads

Two tips close

Single tip close

Engrave close-up

Teutonaddict · 3rd May 2002, 18:46

I was feeling a bit nekked without HobbyStage. Thanks for your (rapid) support!

And sorry, guys, for the photo quality. It's been raining in Atlanta since I got the pipes, and my Beast needs a day of beauty!! I musta had the jitters when I shot that engraving pic!

-Dave

Richard in NC · 4th May 2002, 03:04

Teutonadict;
How would the sound level compare to stock? I like the quietness of the M5 when cruising but want to hear the sweet sound of 400 horses when I open it up.

BTW, I like the look alot but is that grainyness in the chrome natural or have they just not been shined up.

Teutonaddict · 4th May 2002, 05:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Richard in NC
How would the sound level compare to stock?

...is that grainyness in the chrome natural or have they just not been shined up?

Richard-

I'd say they're definitely not as quiet as stock, but most have observed that the Supersprints are on the more sedate end of the continuum (vs: Dinan, Kelleners, B&B, G-Power, etc). It does seem that they're more 'authoritative' at Wide Open Throttle than even the B&B's were. And they are more subdued at lower RPMs.

I'd strongly suggest sampling some of the video clips referenced on this board for some decent (limited as they are) comparisons. There were meets in South FL, Boston, and Atlanta that shot video and posted the results. Try searching for those.

And yes, the graininess in the photos is merely because I haven't washed my poor Beast since the new pipes came. It's road spray, and nothing more. I expect these tips to maintain their factory look for quite a while!!

-Dave

400hpJunkie · 4th May 2002, 06:54

Does the car feel any different with the Xpipe added? Do you think there was a HP/TRQ gain?

BostonRocket · 4th May 2002, 08:11

Hey guys, here are some video clips you may want to check out:

M5 Exhaust test videos

'Rocket

CM5GO · 4th May 2002, 16:53

Wow, those tips really stick out far compared to the B&B.

Can this be manipulated at installation?

I like the way the B&B's tuck in nice and neat under the rear valance.

Bonte · 5th May 2002, 14:37

he boston rocket, that G-Power exhaust is really cruel !!!!
don't think th eold people in th eneighboorhood would like it

I like the kelleners most, hard, but not too hard, just cool.

But i'd love to see the faces of the people when u accelarate real hard in the city with the G-Power, haha