Exhaust system question & recommendation needed

[HANDBLT]

You will never see an idiot light because your car does not have OBD, it was exempt when imported. It's one of the most underrated features of these cars actually.

As you mentioned, you definitely want to keep something in the center. If you don't the exhaust will be quite loud, and in my opinion too raspy with high pitched overtones.

A common center section is the VSR dual cat. On a stock motor I doubt you could notice a power difference between a resonator vs high flow cats. The resonator will be louder though, as it's designed to change the tone but not really dampen. I just don't think they cut enough of that inherent high pich raspy sound these cars can have when the exhaust is open.

For my street car I was going for something similar to what I think you want. A nicer sound without being too loud. I've had a lot of different combinations on my car and settled on the VSR center section with an Eisenmann muffler. The tone is great, it's just loud enough without being "look at me" loud, and it doesn't have the low pitched drone that some combinations can develop.

Before the Eisenmann I had a Strongum muffler and while the tone was nice it was way too loud. Especially when cruising where the low pitched drone was tiring.

That's just what works for me. You'll get a lot of varying options on exhaust because it's so subjective.

I totally have this low freq drone and it is so damn annoying. VSR catted center and Stromung backbox that internal damping is dead. I am on the lookout for a SS street muffler.

T

[discountpirate]

Unless you plan to drive the car alot IMO if your car is 100% stock then I would keep it that way, or at the minimum wait until something needs replacement before doing the work. That's what I plan to do with my street M3, but in my case the oem muffler is rusted out so gonna throw on supersprint mid pipe and stromung exhaust for now, but I have a new in box oem muffler just in case.

[CamayroZ]

Unless you plan to drive the car alot IMO if your car is 100% stock then I would keep it that way, or at the minimum wait until something needs replacement before doing the work. That's what I plan to do with my street M3, but in my case the oem muffler is rusted out so gonna throw on supersprint mid pipe and stromung exhaust for now, but I have a new in box oem muffler just in case.

My car has 9,800mi and nearly 100% stock, other than 17” wheels and lowered springs/shocks. After 35 years of ownership, I wanted to get a little more “excitement”. I also wonder if that stock cat is clogged or not? Anyhow, I am still trying to decide. Whatever I remove, I will save for the next care taker.

[Daniel]

I have run the following setups over the past 10 years:

1. Supersprint straight pipe center section with Supersprint Race muffler. I loved it in my 20's, but it was way too loud, setting off car alarms everywhere I went, and droned very bad. But worst of all it was stinky in the car with that setup. Was impressively light system, but one of the hangers snapped on the center section on the track so it is hard to recommend.

2. Supersprint resonated center section with Supersprint street / performance muffler. Seemed reasonably quiet compared to the first setup, but was still stinky and droned just as bad.

3. Stock system: Quiet and relaxed, but couldn't stop thinking about how much weight I added back to the car and after 30 years it was getting tired.

4. Now I am on VSR Catted mid-section with Supersprint street / performance muffler. Great sound, very little to no drone (just for a second around 3050 rpm), and doesn't stink up the car. I am very happy with this setup and won't be changing it anymore. Can recommend if you want more noise then stock but still want the car to be civil on the street. I don't know exactly how much lighter it is than the OEM system, but I would guess ~20-30 lbs.