What's the main criteria for most of you when selecting exhausts - sound or performance?
Just curious. Flowmasters have a very distinct sound - very metallic, almost "snappy," at least for the non-Deltaflow mufflers.
I have a 40 or 50 series Deltaflow on my 318is, in addition to the OEM resonator and cat (the muffler that was on the car - original, I believe - was rotting out, had the Deltaflow lying around, etc). It is quiet, sounds decent, I guess, but it does not have the "classic" Flowmaster sound - the tincan snap is there, but damped a fair amount.
I guess the reason I ask is because Flowmasters and Magnaflows are SO completely different muffler technologies, it seems like sound is the #1 criteria.
A Magnaflow (or Dynomax Ultraflow - those are very good, they tend to be quieter than Magnaflows, for some reason, all else equal), but they're a more traditional perforated tube with packing around it.
A Flowmaster uses chambers and natural pulses to create low pressure within the exhaust, helping (allegedly) scavenge exhaust gases, thereby increasing efficiency.
Does it work? Dunno. On paper, absolutely. I've never dynotested a Magnaflow (or Brand X) back to back with the Flowmaster, should do that, hmmm. I like the concept - reversion is real, and a Flowmaster does seem to combat reversion.
I also think they sound cool on 4 cylinder cars. Absolutely not for everyone - they sound different. Shrug, I like them.
So, just curious - is it all about sound, or performance, too?
Iain(no wrong answer, I suspect a Magnaflow and Flowmaster are going to dyno within tenths of one another)
