New member - 1990 E31 850i

[[email protected] 0]

Hey guys,

I've recently bought a mint 1990 E31 850i, with only 50,000 kms on the clock. It's my 4th BMW. I'm looking to update the stereo system, and change the mufflers. At the moment it sounds like a family sedan, and I want it to sound like a V12. I realise the 850i is extremely rare, but I'm guessing the 750i has a similar exhaust system. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

[qube 3570]

Very nice car!! Plate to match as well....

[jeffbebe 1559]

Beautiful car. Very jealous. Not a huge fan of the wheels though but hey, I wouldn't care if I owned and 850!

[_Matt_ 42]

was this the one off trade me that was de-registered?

[Michael. 2313]

Very nice score if it has done a genuine 50,000ks!

Ill be interested to hear what you do with the exhaust, the key will be to get the v12 sound out of it, rather than getting V6 or Inline 6 kind of sound I've heard some V12s ending up with when fitted with louder exhausts.

Perhaps it comes down to the header design and the balancing pipe(s) used between the exhaust banks? Hmmm.

This example sounds rather good, has quite a distinctive tone:

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

750iL exhaust is quite different. most obvious is that it only exits on one side rather than two like the 850Ci. front half is very similar if not the same.

Very nice score if it has done a genuine 50,000ks!

Ill be interested to hear what you do with the exhaust, the key will be to get the v12 sound out of it, rather than getting V6 or Inline 6 kind of sound I've heard some V12s ending up with when fitted with louder exhausts.

Perhaps it comes down to the header design and the balancing pipe(s) used between the exhaust banks? Hmmm.

This example sounds rather good, has quite a distinctive tone:

ohhhhhhh

Edited January 11, 2013 by _Ethrty-Andy_

[[email protected] 0]

was this the one off trade me that was de-registered?

I bought it off trade me, but it wasn't de-registered.

[[email protected] 0]

Very nice score if it has done a genuine 50,000ks!

I'm pretty sure the k's are accurate. It's New Zealand new and in near new condition. The previous owner had it in a private car collection and kept it mint.

[ssbmw 220]

Congrats Peter, welcome to the e31 club. It is hard to get a nice one these days and yours would have to be one of the lowest k 8's in the southern hemisphere.

Not sure what type of exhaust system is best for enhancing the soundtrack - mine is factory original.

Calypso red was a popular colour with the E31 and yours looks immaculate.

All the best,

SS

[[email protected] 0]

I'm thinking of going with a pair of XForce Varex mufflers. Does anyone have any experience with them? Seems like they are very good quality and a great idea. Quiet when you need it, and full volume when you want it at the push of a button! Need to check the legality first.

Edited March 15, 2013 by pkgb

[Tristan 338]

Just so you know exhausts that can be changed like that are illegal. The car won't pass a warrant with it. (As far as I'm aware) EDIT: Noticed you mentioned checking.

Nonetheless, nice car!

Edited March 15, 2013 by Tristan

[Michael. 2313]

Correction, adjustable mufflers are ok ONLY if the dB rating stays within limits even on the loudest setting.

Those varex mufflers are a gimmick, I have a friend in Australia who had some experience with them, fairly generic quality and the mechanism is bound to fail with such a design after a few years max - they should have used reliable vacuum actuators.

They aren't cheap either.

[Tristan 338]

Correction, adjustable mufflers are ok ONLY if the dB rating stays within limits even on the loudest setting.

Thanks for that.

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

There must a legal solution for those variable mufflers? 96dB which i think is the legal limit is still reasonably loud. I think the only time you can go over that is if its louder that from the factory, but how many wif officers would know how loud a v12 is. But mine is swapped so that doesnt apply probably

[deeveus 81]

Dunno about them being illegal as previously mentioned, my GTS Commodore had it factory (bi-modal)

[Michael. 2313]

Dunno about them being illegal as previously mentioned, my GTS Commodore had it factory (bi-modal)

They are completely legal as long as the loudest setting stays under the dB limit for the engine specification.

[KwS 2425]

Has the rule changed? i was under the impression they were illegal if they could be adjusted on the fly from the cabin. Couple of mates got around it by having it ECU controlled when they went to Link ECUs.

[Murray 0]

Beautiful car. Very jealous. Not a huge fan of the wheels though but hey, I wouldn't care if I owned and 850!

Agree, beautiful car but please change those wheels !!