M3 Guy's 2012 Monte Carlo Blue X5M Journal

[m5 guy]

Da808dad found me earlier lol...

[windtendo]

Nice! I didn't realize both of you lived near each other

[JackieChiles]

Are you still running stock exhaust?

[StatenEye]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Da808dad found me earlier lol...

Man you guys have the perfect wheels for this truck. i'm thinking of going gunmeatal like Da808dad as I have Silverstone MII also. Color looks insane in person.

[m5 guy]

Originally Posted by windtendo

Nice! I didn't realize both of you lived near each other

Thanks! Yeah he is about 20-30 minutes away with traffic.

Originally Posted by JackieChiles

Are you still running stock exhaust?

Unfortunately yes. Just have some dimisa tips on it for the look right now. Should hopefully be taking care of this 'problem' this summer though.

Originally Posted by StatenEye 535i

Man you guys have the perfect wheels for this truck. i'm thinking of going gunmeatal like Da808dad as I have Silverstone MII also. Color looks insane in person.

Thanks! The wheels are . When his came back from Morr I told him I might have to keep them lol...

[JackieChiles]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Unfortunately yes. Just have some dimisa tips on it for the look right now. Should hopefully be taking care of this 'problem' this summer though.
...

cool. I actually think the stock exhaust sounds pretty good in M mode. it has a nice throaty tone to it, could stand to be a little louder

im interested in the OEM exhaust mod possibly, and the tips you had (welded?) in look great

I am also intrigued by the supersprint exhaust which, with tips, is less than 2000 dollars and might have good resale? have found zero reviews on it though.

http://www.gtbperformance.com/supers...m-e70-e71.html

what exhaust are you considering?

[m5 guy]

Originally Posted by JackieChiles

cool. I actually think the stock exhaust sounds pretty good in M mode. it has a nice throaty tone to it, could stand to be a little louder

im interested in the OEM exhaust mod possibly, and the tips you had (welded?) in look great

I am also intrigued by the supersprint exhaust which, with tips, is less than 2000 dollars and might have good resale? have found zero reviews on it though.

http://www.gtbperformance.com/supers...m-e70-e71.html" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.gtbperfor...0-e71.html</a>" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://<a href="http...1.html</a></a>

what exhaust are you considering?

Exhaust decision is exhausting to say the least. My number one priority is heat management. I want to get those cats out of the engine bay. I'm also going to make sure the downpipes are ceramic coated as well. Tune is easy, will do the improved Velos stage 2+ that accounts for catless. A couple guys here are running it and they have said the gas smell is drastically reduced with the new version.

I have finally narrowed it down to three options though:

1. AR Design catless with Dinan exhaust - A great free flow setup with no drone. Dinan mufflers are one of the few that are free flow and drone free. The sound level should be medium loud, but not LOUD. Plus keeping the stock midpipes ensures a nice fitting system. AR design is one of the only ones to makes downpipes for the revised oem midpipes. Would weld in some cats behind the stock resonators if the smell was too much. My reservations with this is the mutilation of the stock pipes. Retail is about 5.5k ish.

2. Full Supersprint - Would get their oversized system with resonators and race muffler as this combo will be the best sounding Supersprint setup. If the smell was too much would weld in cats behind the resonators. My reservations with this is price at full retail and loudness. They currently have 20% off which makes this a very tempting option, but that expires the end of May. Retail with the 20% is at 6.5k ish.

3. AR Design catless with Akrapovic system. - The baller lightweight setup with valves for sound control. Reservations with this is super price and if the smell is too much I would have to get catted downpipes, which is not ideal for heat management. Retail is 9k ish.

[m5 guy]

Look what I found:



Engine specific turbo blanket that covers the cats as well. I impulsed the purchase since it was 15% off. I'll let you guys know how it goes. The only thing is I might wait until I get some downpipes to install it, which will be next month if everything goes according to plan. Sometimes you just have to be the guinea pig and take the leap lol. Here is a link to their site if curious:

http://ptpturboblankets.com/BMW-S63-Turbo-Blanket.html

[JeST]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Look what I found:



Engine specific turbo blanket that covers the cats as well. I impulsed the purchase since it was 15% off. I'll let you guys know how it goes. The only thing is I might wait until I get some downpipes to install it, which will be next month if everything goes according to plan. Sometimes you just have to be the guinea pig and take the leap lol. Here is a link to their site if curious:

http://ptpturboblankets.com/BMW-S63-Turbo-Blanket.html

Thats a baller turbo blanket! Definitely top notch but the price reflects it also. I would say if you get high flow/catless downpipes and ceramic coat them you'll be fine but the turbo blanket will definitely make engine heat a moot point.

[theaudir8fan]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Exhaust decision is exhausting to say the least. My number one priority is heat management. I want to get those cats out of the engine bay. I'm also going to make sure the downpipes are ceramic coated as well. Tune is easy, will do the improved Velos stage 2+ that accounts for catless. A couple guys here are running it and they have said the gas smell is drastically reduced with the new version.

I have finally narrowed it down to three options though:

1. AR Design catless with Dinan exhaust - A great free flow setup with no drone. Dinan mufflers are one of the few that are free flow and drone free. The sound level should be medium loud, but not LOUD. Plus keeping the stock midpipes ensures a nice fitting system. AR design is one of the only ones to makes downpipes for the revised oem midpipes. Would weld in some cats behind the stock resonators if the smell was too much. My reservations with this is the mutilation of the stock pipes. Retail is about 5.5k ish.

2. Full Supersprint - Would get their oversized system with resonators and race muffler as this combo will be the best sounding Supersprint setup. If the smell was too much would weld in cats behind the resonators. My reservations with this is price at full retail and loudness. They currently have 20% off which makes this a very tempting option, but that expires the end of May. Retail with the 20% is at 6.5k ish.

3. AR Design catless with Akrapovic system. - The baller lightweight setup with valves for sound control. Reservations with this is super price and if the smell is too much I would have to get catted downpipes, which is not ideal for heat management. Retail is 9k ish.

Go for the full Akrapovic and don't look back, with anything else you will always have the feeling that there is something better out there. Also the most amazing part of the Akrapovic is how quite and normal it is when driving around normally even paired with a catless downpipe, but in the press of the M button it turns amazing. I love the duality of the setup which is perfect for different moods

[UnicornM]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Thanks! You can order this one directly from their site, www.usmillworks.com.

It begins. Shout out to Omar @ Velos for the next day air of this bad boy. The whole transaction took less than 10 minutes from inquiry to order and it was shipped the following day. Doesn't get better than that!

Couldn't help myself I've got one on the way too. What's the installation like?

[m5 guy]

Originally Posted by JeST

Thats a baller turbo blanket! Definitely top notch but the price reflects it also. I would say if you get high flow/catless downpipes and ceramic coat them you'll be fine but the turbo blanket will definitely make engine heat a moot point.

Agreed. It showed up the other day and looks serious. Will be ordering downpipes soon so I will update everyone on the fitment then.

Originally Posted by theaudir8fan

Go for the full Akrapovic and don't look back, with anything else you will always have the feeling that there is something better out there. Also the most amazing part of the Akrapovic is how quite and normal it is when driving around normally even paired with a catless downpipe, but in the press of the M button it turns amazing. I love the duality of the setup which is perfect for different moods

I must say I really like how your beast sounds with your g/a setup. Problem for me is the smell. I do not want cats in the engine bay and I don't know if Akrapovic would put cats in place of their resonators. So I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on it.

Originally Posted by X5_MSPORT

Couldn't help myself I've got one on the way too. What's the installation like?

Nice! Installation was typical Vorsteiner. It had to be modified to sit flush, even, and straight. There is a little lip at the top that had to be sanded down as it did not fit right with it. Holes also had to be drilled out on the bottom so the screws would sit flush with the fiber that was actually touching the bumper. Also had to use betalink so it would stay flush with the bumper as the bend in the part did not line up with the bend of the bumper.

[windtendo]

So what exhaust/downpipe setup are you leaning towards? Excited to see how it turns out!

[UnicornM]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Nice! Installation was typical Vorsteiner. It had to be modified to sit flush, even, and straight. There is a little lip at the top that had to be sanded down as it did not fit right with it. Holes also had to be drilled out on the bottom so the screws would sit flush with the fiber that was actually touching the bumper. Also had to use betalink so it would stay flush with the bumper as the bend in the part did not line up with the bend of the bumper.

Not sure what I was expecting but I guess we need to give up ever thinking that composite pieces fit like a glove from the outset. Thanks for the heads-up hopefully with your shared experience i'll be able to make it fit with lil more know how

[theaudir8fan]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

I must say I really like how your beast sounds with your g/a setup. Problem for me is the smell. I do not want cats in the engine bay and I don't know if Akrapovic would put cats in place of their resonators. So I'm hesitant to pull the trigger on it.

I was concerned about the smell too, but the truth is, I just learned to live with it. Yes it's not pleasant when you actually smell it, but than again it doesn't happen often unless you like to leave your car on and wonder around it. The only other time is cold starts and the smell in the garage. But i learned to let the car cold start for the initial 15 second, than throw the car in reverse for a brief second and than neutral to roll the car out of the garage so it can do the rest of the warm up outside. This way by the time the car complete it's warm up cycle and you are ready to go, the smell in the garage is pretty much aired out too. Plus the joy of hearing the turbos spin and the amazing sound when you want is worth it

[Da808dad]

I'm finally legal! Lol.

[gixxerboy63]

Have you got your downpipes yet?
I finally pulled the trigger and ordered Active Autowerkes downpipes for mine on Tuesday.


Got a good pic of the Vorsteiner diffuser on your X5M?

[m5 guy]

Originally Posted by windtendo

So what exhaust/downpipe setup are you leaning towards? Excited to see how it turns out!

The only part I have really decided on is some AR Design downpipes. The rest I'm still figuring it out. Soon though.

Originally Posted by X5_MSPORT

Not sure what I was expecting but I guess we need to give up ever thinking that composite pieces fit like a glove from the outset. Thanks for the heads-up hopefully with your shared experience i'll be able to make it fit with lil more know how

Yeah hell will freeze for me the day I install an aftermarket composite part flawlessly straight out of the box lol...

Originally Posted by theaudir8fan

I was concerned about the smell too, but the truth is, I just learned to live with it. Yes it's not pleasant when you actually smell it, but than again it doesn't happen often unless you like to leave your car on and wonder around it. The only other time is cold starts and the smell in the garage. But i learned to let the car cold start for the initial 15 second, than throw the car in reverse for a brief second and than neutral to roll the car out of the garage so it can do the rest of the warm up outside. This way by the time the car complete it's warm up cycle and you are ready to go, the smell in the garage is pretty much aired out too. Plus the joy of hearing the turbos spin and the amazing sound when you want is worth it

Thanks for the feedback!

Originally Posted by Da808dad

I'm finally legal! Lol.

Congrats!

Originally Posted by gixxerboy63

Have you got your downpipes yet?
I finally pulled the trigger and ordered Active Autowerkes downpipes for mine on Tuesday.


Got a good pic of the Vorsteiner diffuser on your X5M?

Congrats on the dps. I'm leaning towards next week actually. Here is a pic of the diffuser:

[gixxerboy63]

Nice! What tips are those? I know you posted this information earlier, but I didn't want to dig through pages and pages of posts.

[m5 guy]

Originally Posted by gixxerboy63

Nice! What tips are those? I know you posted this information earlier, but I didn't want to dig through pages and pages of posts.

Thanks, they are the Dimisa tips. The 3.5 inch ones.

[gixxerboy63]

Originally Posted by m3 guy

Thanks, they are the . The 3.5 inch ones.

Nice!!
Do you have a tune and downpipes yet?

...now, how about a closeup of the front spoiler so I can a little more?

[Cattivo]

That diffuser looks so nice on MCB! I might make this my next mod