OUR CARS - ca-int.co.uk · out of production at BMW. That alone, means this generation of M3 has a...
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The E9x M3 models are very special indeed – the S65 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet is not only derived from the legendary V10 found in the E60 M5, but it’s also the only V8 ever fitted to an M3 and it’s the last naturally aspirated engine to go out of production at BMW. That alone, means this generation of M3 has a good possibility of becoming a highly desired classic. Despite the fact refuelling is a constant occurrence, the V8 in itself is reason enough for any true BMW fan to buy an E92 M3. It revs up to 8250rpm and the throttle response is instantaneous. But there’s just one drawback. In my opinion it is way too quiet for a V8 – go through a tunnel, windows down and throttle pinned, and it is a bit disappointing. There was only one solution to that: upgrade the exhaust. There’s always the worry that it’s going to be too loud – like the system that ex-PBMW editor Iain Curry fitted to his E30 320iS. It used to set off car alarms and that is not cool. So, I did a lot of research to see all the options available to me before making my decision. I whiled away hours checking out various compilation videos on YouTube from the likes of Quicksilver, Remus, Eisenmann, Milltek and Akrapovic, and scouring forums to see what fellow M3 owners were recommending. As it’s used for the daily commute and at weekends, I wanted it to be fairly civilised, and eventually decided on Eisenmann, which is responsible for designing the OEM systems on Porsche and AMG cars, and builds its exhausts by hand. Via Eisenmann’s UK agent CA Technologies, I ordered its back box and connecting pipes, which allow you to install an aftermarket system without the need to cut the OEM piping. All I had to do was decide on what tips and sound level I wanted. MD Roy Carvalho said that around 80% of M3 owners opt for Race over Sport, and although it’s 20db louder when the car is on the move I decided to take the chance, together with 83mm round perforated tips. I was intrigued as to whether fitting an aftermarket exhaust would improve performance so before I handed the car over to BMSport to install the system I put it on a rolling road. The end result showed 300lb ft of torque, which is five more than the book figure, but sadly it was over 37hp under what BMW quotes, at 382.7hp. However, when you take into account that grade of fuel, tyre pressures and atmospheric conditions can influence test accuracy, a loss of around 9% isn’t actually that bad. Tune in next month to see if it made more power and what I think of the new exhaust note. LOU’S E92 M3 OUR CARS PBMW’s FLEET Sam’s E46 M3 P101 P100 P98 98 PERFORMANCE BMW P101 Hack Engineering’s E30 316i Touring Darren’s E82 118d Paul’s E38 728i James’ E36 328i Thorney’s E82 M4 Lou’s E92 M3 Piers’ E46 330i Touring Elizabeth’s E39 540i Steven’s E31 850i Ben’s E36 323i Rob’s E30 318i Adam’s E36 Compact BEFORE AND AFTER: OEM connecting pipes and back box: Eisenmann connecting pipes and back box: 098-102 PBMW 1216 19/10/2016 12:07 Page 98
Transcript of OUR CARS - ca-int.co.uk · out of production at BMW. That alone, means this generation of M3 has a...
The E9x M3 models are very special indeed –the S65 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet is not onlyderived from the legendary V10 found in the E60M5, but it’s also the only V8 ever fitted to an M3and it’s the last naturally aspirated engine to goout of production at BMW. That alone, means thisgeneration of M3 has a good possibility ofbecoming a highly desired classic.
Despite the fact refuelling is a constantoccurrence, the V8 in itself is reason enough forany true BMW fan to buy an E92 M3. It revs upto 8250rpm and the throttle response isinstantaneous. But there’s just one drawback. Inmy opinion it is way too quiet for a V8 – gothrough a tunnel, windows down and throttlepinned, and it is a bit disappointing. There wasonly one solution to that: upgrade the exhaust.There’s always the worry that it’s going to be tooloud – like the system that ex-PBMW editor IainCurry fitted to his E30 320iS. It used to set offcar alarms and that is not cool. So, I did a lot ofresearch to see all the options available to mebefore making my decision.
I whiled away hours checking out variouscompilation videos on YouTube from the likes ofQuicksilver, Remus, Eisenmann, Milltek andAkrapovic, and scouring forums to see whatfellow M3 owners were recommending. As it’s
used for the daily commute and at weekends, Iwanted it to be fairly civilised, and eventuallydecided on Eisenmann, which is responsible fordesigning the OEM systems on Porsche and AMGcars, and builds its exhausts by hand.
Via Eisenmann’s UK agent CA Technologies, Iordered its back box and connecting pipes,which allow you to install an aftermarket systemwithout the need to cut the OEM piping. All I hadto do was decide on what tips and sound level Iwanted. MD Roy Carvalho said that around 80%of M3 owners opt for Race over Sport, andalthough it’s 20db louder when the car is on themove I decided to take the chance, together with83mm round perforated tips.
I was intrigued as to whether fitting anaftermarket exhaust would improve performanceso before I handed the car over to BMSport toinstall the system I put it on a rolling road. Theend result showed 300lb ft of torque, which isfive more than the book figure, but sadly it wasover 37hp under what BMW quotes, at 382.7hp.However, when you take into account that gradeof fuel, tyre pressures and atmosphericconditions can influence test accuracy, a loss ofaround 9% isn’t actually that bad. Tune in nextmonth to see if it made more power and what Ithink of the new exhaust note.
LOU’S E92 M3
OUR CARS
PBMW’s FLEET
Sam’sE46 M3
P101
P100
P98
98 PERFORMANCE BMW
P101
HackEngineering’s
E30 316iTouring
Darren’s
E82 118d
Paul’sE38 728i
James’E36 328i
Thorney’sE82 M4
Lou’sE92 M3
Piers’E46 330iTouring
Elizabeth’sE39 540i
Steven’sE31 850i
Ben’sE36 323i
Rob’s
E30 318i
Adam’s
E36Compact
BEFORE AND AFTER:OEM connecting pipes and back box:
Eisenmann connecting pipes and back box:
098-102 PBMW 1216 19/10/2016 12:07 Page 98
