Skip to main content

How exhausting.

As it turns out, the state of Texas doesn't care for rusted out, 21-yr old exhaust systems. The factory original exhaust on my '88 M3 was in just such a state, with some additional outlets that came about through the miracle of oxidation. When I took it to get a state inspection, surprise surprise, it didn't pass. I didn't realize how bad the damage was until we took the old muffler off to replace it.

There are only a few off-the-shelf aftermarket back sections available, and being on a budget, I did some research and found out that I could have a "custom" system installed for a good bit less.  Using a Magnaflow universal muffler (Part # 12468) and with the skilled welding of Joe's Muffler in Addison, TX, I was back in business.  Now the Magnaflow piece is a little smaller than the factory piece, and where the original muffler was a 2" core, this one is a 2.5".  So the new system was bound to be a little more vocal...  and indeed it is.  There is definitely some more resonance (some would say drone) in the car at certain rpm's, but the overall sound of the exhaust is lower in tone and higher in volume.  In other words, I love it.  I've had a lot of cars over the last 20 years, and always wanted one that announced its presence like this one does now.  The installation was pretty quick, and it was obvious Joe's been doing this for over 40 years.  I'm happy with the cost and with the finished product.

The neighbors may not like it, but they'll always hear me coming.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

One That Got Away, One To Take Its Place?

My friend Rick and I met when we worked together at Tesla.  We found a number of common interests, including cars, music, and a love of writing.  While I whittle away at this blogging thing Rick has taken a bigger leap and is working full-time on his writing now, but while his take on the great American novel is in progress he also has a blog for his extraneous writings.  One of his recent posts about the one (car) that got away brought back memories of my "one."  ( click here for Rick's post ) I've written about my '87 M3 on these virtual pages before, and neither my passion for that car nor the regret I have from selling it have subsided.  Now that the market for the E30 M3 is approaching air-cooled Porsche levels of crazy prices, my chances of picking up another one any time soon are slim-to-none.  So it shall remain on my most-wanted list until such time as I can afford one again.  In the meantime, I've added it to my automotive bucket list. ...
1 comment
Read more

Happy Belated Anniversary. To Me.

I took a few minutes this evening and scrolled back in time to read some of my earlier posts on this here blog.  Only after this trip down memory lane did I notice that that the fifth anniversary of my writing endeavor was on January 1st of this year. I can't believe I've been plugging away at this for five years now.  And by plugging away, I mean occasionally remembering that I have this blog and adding a little something to it. Thanks to all my readers.  I think I'm up to 10 now!  Happy Anniversary and Happy New Year!
Post a Comment
Read more

Who is this guy, anyway?

The best car I've ever had.  I miss this one the most. 1988 BMW M3 As a component of my attempts at personal growth and self-promotion, I took it upon myself to establish a personal mission statement.  This required a little retrospection, and turned into this biographical statement about how I got here and how that has shaped my goals as a writer.  So here it is: A future automotive idealist, taken home from a New Orleans hospital in a silver Volkswagen 411 sedan, my automotive obsession was but a glimmer in my tiny newborn eyes.  A few years later, per my mother’s frequent re-telling of the story, from my car seat in the back of that VW, I was recognizing far off in the distance a car that I knew to be a Mercedes Benz.  Precious, but she pointed out that I couldn’t possibly recognize even the three-pointed star from that distance.  Oh, but I could.  And I had, and it was.  The first treasured moment in the life of a true car geek. My ...
Post a Comment
Read more