[spmd11]

Guys, I can report, disappointingly, that BMW has gone way conservative on the 2009 335s with exhaust tuning. As I reported in an earlier post, the 2009 335ix that I recently picked up on a leas assumption has lost its aggressive exhaust tune when compared to my 2007 335i sedan sport auto. The 2007 had an awesome raspy snarl under acceleration and an aggressive burble coming off the throttle.

The 2009 335 has lost all of that. It sounds like a standard 328. I test drove a new 2009 sport 6 speed today at my dealer and its exhaust is the same lame one in my ix.

This is incredibly disappointing. Why would BMW do this?

I feel like I'm driving a soccer mom car. Our 2008 135 now blows away our 3er in performance feel due to it's much more aggressive exhaust.

I tried pulling out the electrical connection in the trunk to the vacuum for the exhaust and I tried the golf tee mod and it does NOT work at all on the new cars.

For those of you who have never driven a 2007-2008 and now have brand new 2009s you will never know what you missed.



Steve

[grieverr]

Funny, I just picked up a 2009 and one of the first things I was going to do was the tee mod. There goes that....
The '09 certainly has a more aggressive note than the '06 330 I had previously (although that had a nice subtle deep note), but I think it's too quiet to be considered a "sporty" exhaust.

I guess aftermarket is the way to go.

[PeteM6]

I'm sorry but my 2009 335 coupe sounds like a beast next to my wife's 2007 328i. I haven't tryed any golf tee mods or vacuum line disconnect because it sounds pretty good to me.

[Year's_End]

Open your trunk. Look behind the left-hand taillight. Pull off the cover directly behind it. Look for a black chunky plug around the lower end of the cavity. Yoink it. Voila.

Golf-T mod minus the golf-T.

[Darth335]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

Open your trunk. Look behind the left-hand taillight. Pull off the cover directly behind it. Look for a black chunky plug around the lower end of the cavity. Yoink it. Voila.

Golf-T mod minus the golf-T.

I did that is sounded so much better, just deeper overall. I then picked up a borla aftermarket and I am all smiles!

[chrisdridley]

I hear you on the soccer mom thing.
I like a nice deep exhaust note....my Porsche has a very agressive exhaust and I have a cat-back exhaust with no mufflers on my Hemi Charger.....both can be pretty loud at WOT and have a deep rumble at idle. I am afraid to do much exhaust tinkering to my 335d. I don't want to be driving around in a car that sounds like a John Deere.

[ohaywood]

The vacuum line pull works really well.. try it out.

[ragingclue]

Hmm my '09 loaner was just as loud as my '08 (when it still had mufflers).

[DrGP]

Originally Posted by Police328i

I'm sorry but my 2009 335 coupe sounds like a beast next to my wife's 2007 328i. I haven't tryed any golf tee mods or vacuum line disconnect because it sounds pretty good to me.

And my apple is sweeter than your orange. The comparison of a 335i to a 328i has no bearing to this discusion. No offense intended.

[vadim]

Originally Posted by spmd11

...
The 2009 335 has lost all of that. It sounds like a standard 328. I test drove a new 2009 sport 6 speed today at my dealer and its exhaust is the same lame one in my ix.
...

A new exhaust needs some time to fully develop its tone. It could be just that - need to drive it around for a while.

It could also be due to a differently tuned engine - many reported an audible change in the exhaust sound after a DME reflash.