This entry can be interesting for many. Because many BMW users are interested in the “correct” exhaust – “straight pipe” and a lot of “popcorn” when releasing the accelerator. True sports cars have such an exhaust – no “unnecessary” catalytic converters, flame suppressors, and mufflers.
When installing the Performance and Sound kit, you will get precisely such exhaust. The flame suppressor has disappeared from the middle part of the exhaust. In Sport/Sport+ modes, the muffler is bypassed. As a result – loud, truly sporty exhaust. And, when releasing the accelerator – a lot of popcorn.
Yes, such an upgrade is not cheap, and the question is – is it worth overpaying? Overpayin because the chip tuners offer enormous power increase and give such popcorn sound for 5 .. 10 times cheaper!
I have already declared my belief regarding the impressive increase in power (for example, here and here). You will oppose – but if the sporty exhaust is the main priority?
In the forums, I read the following entry (posted by a well-known chip tuner in our region; he referred to authorities’ experience): if the “popcorn” mode is activated for B58, assume that you will not pass the TI next year. The CO catalytic converter will be destroyed “with warranty”. So you have to do the following – use the “sport” exhaust daily, but install “stock” exhaust with saved CO catalytic converter for the TI.
I have no reason to doubt this. If the chip tuners would write – everything is perfect after our “work”, I would have certain doubts. But, if the chip tuners themselves admit: there will be problems – I doubt they would be interested in “burying” their own work.
I installed a Performance and Sound kit on my car with a mileage of 160.000 km. Now, the odometer shows 215.000 km. So, I have driven 55.000 km. The distance is what the average user drives in 3 years.
Just now, I passed TI. Of course, the exhaust gas measurements were taken:
In addition, these measurements were taken on the day when I received the car with defective AC, and it had idle problems (read here). Before taking the measurements, I had to wait in line for at least 30 minutes – the catalytic converter for sure was not at the temperature of its best performance.
As we see:
a. CO is 0.01% (allowed limit: 0.30%);
b. HC is 0ppm (allowed limit: 200ppm).
As we see, the measuring equipment did not measure any HC or CO. There is no doubt that the CO catalytic converter is in perfect technical condition!
To avoid any speculations that I cheat with results – in our country, TI is not performed in private car workshops. TI is performed by the company, which is chosen via tender, and this company does not offer any other services. Accordingly – they are not interested in “improvement” of the results. In everyday life, a regular person (the car sales companies are a different story) has no communication with the employees of this company. The possibility of meeting a friend (who can help pass TI with reliefs) in a city with a million inhabitants – is practically unreal.
Here, that data of TI protocol.
Note: 99% of the time, I drive in Sport/Sport+ mode. The 1% left (Comfort) is used when driving in inhabited places during the silent time of the day (late evenings, nights). I drive aggressively enough – I love to enjoy the torque of 500Nm.
What are my conclusions?
The solution of BMW AG does not damage the CO catalytic converter. It is obvious.
CO catalytic converter for this car is not cheap:
Even if I would struggle with two exhausts, it won’t be cheap. Custom-made exhaust for everyday use – it would cost in 4 digits. In addition, a quite serious rebuilding should be performed once a year – the second exhaust should be installed, and DME should be reprogrammed. And after TI – repeat vice versa!
In addition, there is one nuance the chiptuners forgot to mention.
What is located in the exhaust before the CO catalytic converter? Yes, the turbo aggregate! How do you think – if the CO catalytic converter is destroyed – how does the turbocharger feel? I think – “perfect”! The price of the turbocharger for this vehicle is even higher:
Here, “tiny” expenses of an additional EUR 3000 are expected for you after using the services of such chip tuners.
Is it worth it to “overpay”? Well, I don’t see that the ones who install the Performance and Sound kit are the ones who overpay. The ones who choose cheaper chip tuning solutions are actually the ones. At the moment, when you have to struggle with two exhausts, reprogramming of DME, and replacement of turbocharger – it turns out that the solution of BMW AG is cheaper! In addition – no extra work and unexpected expenses!
And finally.
During these 55.000 km, I have driven in different conditions. At least 5 times, I was in the mountain region – Carpathians, in the conditions of thin air. Three times, the air temperature was around +30oC, and air humidity – insignificant.
Such conditions (hot, dry air; reduced air density) are the worst for the turbo engine. Hot, dry air is terrible for cooling; the reduced air density requires the turbocharger to increase RPM to reach the necessary pressure in the intake manifold.
Not even once did I feel the loss of power! Not even once I saw EML (Check engine) in the KOMBI! Not even once time any error messages appear in the error message memory! The car did not shiver even once!
When returning from the Carpathians, every time I heard the stories from acquaintances regarding “chipped” engines – regular “drivetrain error” messages, power loss, EML in KOMBI. And the most interesting part – typically, no error messages are recorded in the DME/DDE error message memory! They need help in the diagnostics… Restoring the stock software? No, no – they have paid a lot of money for the chip tuning. And the “chipper” says that everything should be fine!
