Exhaust Vacuum Tube? - United Bimmer Community

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 04:49 PM

So My friend has a 96 328i convertable. He says there's a tube, a vacuum tube I'd assume? that is on the muffler that opens or closes one side of the exhaust until you're at a cetain RPM band.

By either tying it shut or "stuffing a golf tee in it" (LOL) I guess this leaves both sides of the exhaust free flowing, making the exhaust louder and increasing power.

Any truth to this? I've heard his exhaust and it sounds MUCH different than mine. Does this damage the car in an way?

Anyone done this?

**celsdogg** · 07-13-2006, 05:04 PM

i have heard that on newer E46's there is a baffle in one of the exhaust tips. . . i dont know about a E36. . .

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 05:07 PM

Well, you can see a little "flap" in the right side tail pipe and I've seen this "tube" that I referenced earlier... but i wonder of the functionality and safety aspects.

**xsperf** · 07-13-2006, 06:11 PM

yea some 328s have it, i thought it was a canadian thing but i guess not, and to be honest i have no idea if it will harm the car

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 06:26 PM

Thanks XSperf.

Anyone tried this? Or seen it done?

**Dudesky** · 07-13-2006, 07:33 PM

He he, every once in a while this comes up. I couldn't find the original thread when Komodo asked about it, but here it is again . .

And no, you won't feel any difference in power if you leave the flap open all the time, not even at low rpm's. Won't damage anything either if you disconnect or "golf tee" it. This is to say that it makes absolutely no difference what you do with it, except for sound . . unless you're a ricer who believes a louder car is a faster one

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 08:21 PM

Dudesky... you're the man.

So I can just disconnect it? I dont have to "clog" it or tie it in a know (as I've heard before) ????

I just like the sound difference. Makes it sound more "///M-ish" lol

That's my new word... "///M-ish" HAHAHA

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 08:22 PM

Oh, and can I just get a "clamp" so I dont have to disconnect it? Thanks!!

**Chris** · 07-13-2006, 08:27 PM

Now if you're getting an M3 soon, this seems to be pretty pointless. Especially if you're going to be selling the car. Msost buyers don't want a loud exhaust. And if its a kid, they'll want it to be nice and soft until the title is in their name so their parents don't make the (wrong) assumption that its more powerful than it is.

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 09:06 PM

chrisdoesntknow:

One of my options is to keep the 328 as my daily driver and get the E36 or E46 M as a "fun car" so, if I'm keeping it, I want it to sound how I want, know what I mean?

Plus, per my previous question to Dudesky is, "Oh, and can I just get a "clamp" so I dont have to disconnect it? Thanks!!" so I dont have to disconnect it. This way, if I sell it, I can simply remove the clamp.

Make sense?

**Dudesky** · 07-13-2006, 09:11 PM

Either way . . you can also simply put the hose back on when you sell it

**Alpine328i** · 07-13-2006, 09:20 PM

I literally just went outiside to try it (like a kid in a candy store) and I cant pull it out. And I pulled HARD!

You think clamp it? It'll work, right?

**Rooz** · 07-14-2006, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine328i

Thanks XSperf.

Anyone tried this? Or seen it done?

I did it in mine and yes, you can hear a difference and even feel it a "slight" bit

**Alpine328i** · 07-15-2006, 09:14 PM

Rooz, didi you just disconntect it? Or clamp it? How did you do it?

**billycuth** · 07-16-2006, 01:12 PM

check my DIY on the stromung exhaust. Right now, I have a golf tee in mine and I pinched it up in the rear bumper. I dont know if it will hold the factory exhaust open, but the stromung doesnt use it. It doesnt set of any cels or anything though...