New Eisenmann muffler & Eberspaecher resonator

[Gayle]

Santa Claus brought me a stainless steel muffler for Christmas. I wanted it for the sound. No salt on the roads in San Diego, so that wasn't an issue. Not trying to get a couple of more horsepower out of a mod. I just wanted it to purr. The 90 525 we used to have had a loud deep rumble like a Harley. We I got this 535 last summer, its thin whiney voice was the only dissappointment. The indies tried to talk me out of getting a "growler" but I had my heart set on one.


I picked the Eisenmann on the basis of the Supersprint would not be loud enough, the BB Tri-flow would be too loud, and the Eisenman would be just right. You guys helped me decide to get a new resonator and not go the straight pipe method. Made that decision on the basis of the noise in the passenger compartment would be too loud without the resonator.


My indy put in the order for me around the first of the year. There are about a zillion distributors listed on the Eisenhaus website (http://www.eisenhaus.com/ehdetails.php?selMake=2&selModel=2150&selSub=103&Submit.x=23&Submit.y=14)but it took him about 10 days to find someone willing to accept the order. He finally had to go through the national rep for the US and was told it would take at least 8 weeks for delivery as each one is made when the order is received. Mine got here about 2 weeks ago.

La Jolla Independent (http://www.bimmerdoc.com/) did the install for me.

My car came from Pennsylvannia so the old exhaust was pretty nasty even though she has be a garage princess most of her life.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/1BeforeSmall.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/2BeforeSmall.jpg

Here is Chris cutting the old one off. (Chris has the screen name SDlongboarder. He has an e34 Touring. Even though he doesn't post much, he is one of us).

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/3CutoutoldSmall.jpg

[Gayle]

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/4newSmall.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/5beautySmall.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/6Small.jpg

[Gayle]

Chris put it on and worked with the placement so it didn't melt the plastic on the bumper. He sort of did a light weld between the resonator and the muffler and then took it back off.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/7WeldupSmall.jpg

He had to melt the muffler and the resonator together because there was a tiny gap. He would heat up the metal on the muffler and stretch it to the resonator. He said the ss was hard to melt.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/8blendingSmall.jpg

Here is what the united system looked like.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/9joinedSmall.jpg

Chris and Carl put it back up and do the final installation.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/10placeSmall.jpg

[califblue]

Gayle, we are waiting on the sound video;)

[rob101]

gayle, where did you buy the Eisenmann from? did you deal direct?

[Gayle]

You will be waiting a long time. I just go back from the video editor and it it going to be cost prohibitive.

When I was selecting mine, it was difficult to decide because for me it was all about the sound and how do you know what it will sound like?

I found these clips but I wanted before and after.

http://members.aol.com/agspeed/exhaust.htm

I wanted to solve that problem for others so I was going to video my car before and after the eisenmann.

I borrowed a video camera from a friend. Got out at 7 am and had hubby video the sound of the car before the install. It was not a high point of marital harmony. I am giving him the look that wifes give their husbands because he is photographing the ground and his shoes rather than my exhaust. He felt like his male pride was on the line and he threw down the camera and walked off. And the hispanic construction workers arriving for the job next door were giving him the look that said "just slap the b**ch".

The after photo shot went a little better but hubby was much more interested in photographing my legs than the muffler. And then we got a really nice clip of the sound on the interior.

Went to the video editor today for the purpose of editing the swearing and the ground shots out. I was prepared to spring for the money for the editing but when he told me that it would require compression and that could take 3-4 hours of computer time at $95 an hour, I said nahhh. :(

[Gayle]

gayle, where did you buy the Eisenmann from? did you deal direct?


The indy ordered it for me and with great difficulty. I report that for those contemplating getting one. It is not for those intent on instant gratification. Carl, the owner of La Jolla Independents comment was "its nice but I don't know if it was worth the wait."

[califblue]

Gayle, is it on 8mm tape...if so yo can do your own editing by first copying it on to VHS tape...edit out what you dont want while playin it on your TV and then just video the TV..it works well. I do all the time for Motorcycle Videos

[Gayle]

So given there there is not going to be a video clip unless someone here can do the compression for me, I will just have to describe the sound results.

The resonator was a total surprise. Pre- new resonator, I could hear the valve noise and just didn't like the sound of the engine. After the new resonator, the engine sounds much much better. For all those who are less than satisfied with the lack of luxury class quietness of the e34 (Jay and Pundit--I am speaking to you), I say get a new resonator. I would say it was a 50% drop in sound.

In fact, the resonator is so effective, I initially thought the eisenmann was not loud enough. The first few hours of driving it, I thought it was less loud than the old muffler. I expected it to scream a little at 3500-4000 rpms, but nada. The only place I heard it was when I was slowing down and the rpms were dropping from about 1500-1000. I was thinking I don't know if this was worth about $1400 (I am looking for the receipt and will give exact price details later when I locate it).

I stayed at a hotel in Orange County that night and as the valet parker drove it off, I heard the eisenmann sing for the first time. My reaction was "holy ___! That's my car. Who knew it sounded like that?"

I would say it is about 25% louder but the sound quality is so much better. I have a professional job so I wasn't going for the boy racer sound. I just wanted it to sound like you would expect a 535 to sound. When I was looking for information online trying to make my decision, someone described the eisemann as sounding like "pure sex". I don't know that I would go that far, but it is definitely a pleasing sound.

At bimmerfest, I heard an e34 M5 with an eisenmann that was straight-piped. It sounded really good but loud. I don't know how much was the M5 engine and how much was the eisenmann.

I know this was throwing stupid money at my car, but I don't care. I am really happy.:p

[Gayle]

Gayle, is it on 8mm tape...if so yo can do your own editing by first copying it on to VHS tape...edit out what you dont want while playin it on your TV and then just video the TV..it works well. I do all the time for Motorcycle Videos

We can add that to the project list for May when we detail my engine. I don't do vcrs. That is hubby's department and this video is sort of a sore subject.

[rob101]

The indy ordered it for me and with great difficulty. I report that for those contemplating getting one. It is not for those intent on instant gratification. Carl, the owner of La Jolla Independents comment was "its nice but I don't know if it was worth the wait."
damn, might think about a remus if i do that, i've got an exhaust leak but its nice to be able to hear the engine for once, it helps for double clutching and shifting.

anyone know the best place to get remus from (not bavauto), i don't bother with vendors in australia IMO they are all clowns.

[Gayle]

So I found the bill. The exact damages were:

Eisenmann $825
Resonator $278
Install $135

[MBXB]

Nice job, Gayle.
Doesn't your digital camera have a 15 second video capability?

[Gayle]

Nice job, Gayle.
Doesn't your digital camera have a 15 second video capability?

I think I stumbled across that feature once. :) My understanding is the problem for sharing is the file size on video is too large and has to be compressed. Are you saying that a 15 second clip from my digital camera wouldn't have that problem?

[MBXB]

Dont think so. Those clips are pretty small.

[Russell]

FYI, my Sony digital camera video mode is limited by memory stick size, I can do several minutes on a 256 stick.

[genphreak]

I think I stumbled across that feature once. :) My understanding is the problem for sharing is the file size on video is too large and has to be compressed. Are you saying that a 15 second clip from my digital camera wouldn't have that problem?It sure will. Most write 5-15Mb per minute at worst, just don't start to early or record for too long. We only need a few seconds to share in the ecstasy!

Easiest way to edit is not to have to in the first place... :)

Gayle great write-up btw, very interesting. I love the Eisenmann too. Square and boxy but it is not easy to make a replacement banana muffler out of stainless as smartly as they have.

I had trouble getting an OE resonator when doing mine, ie I couldnt find a stainless one, and since the e34 is stainless from engine to cat, I didn't want to have a steel resonator. Problem is, noone makes a stainless muffler (except SuperSprint AFAIK and I couldn;t fine one at the time (Aussie suppliers are hopeless and still have not heard of the Internet).

Susbsequent wisdom has taught me that the OE resonators last better than the rear mufflers so this is not such a concern- especially as you so clearly pointed out, the OE one does such a superb job.

Love the work, I was wondering what had happened after you were asking so long ago about mufflers. Can't wait to hear it. I'll do the same on mine so you can hear it too. :) Nick