[Major25]

I’m looking for opinions on which exhaust would give me a deep rumble at idle, some great sound on acceleration, but without any pops or bangs. I’ve tried searching through forums here and elsewhere and I’ve listened to a number of videos on youtube, but I'm still unsure which exhaust will give me what I'm looking for.

It seems like pops and bangs are pretty popular, but I’m coming from a 2012 WRX with the SPT exhaust (Subaru’s equivalent of BMW’s MPE) and that exhaust had no pops or bangs, just a deep rumble you could hear from a ways away. I’m looking to replicate that experience.

Here are some youtube clips of what my WRX's SPT exhaust sounded like:
Great example of how it sounded on startup (30 second video)
Great example of how it sounded at idle (listen from :10 seconds to :31 seconds)
Good example of how it sounded revving (start at :48 seconds)

The ones I’ve been looking at the most are:

• MPE - I like the tone on this one, doesn’t seem to have many pops/bangs, but worried it may not be deep/loud enough
• AWE Touring Resonated - Probably the one I’m leaning towards the most, but I haven’t been able to find any audio clips of the resonated version with stock downpipe. Even though I’d keep my downpipe stock, I’m thinking the resonated version may be deeper/louder than the MPE without being over the top
• AWE Touring Non-Resonated - Plenty of people have been happy going this route, so I think I would be too. Just worried it may be louder than what I’m going for
• Dinan - worried this one may pop/bang too much, and be too loud
• Active Autowerke or Remus - Unsure about these ones, any opinions?

Questions:

1. In your enthusiast opinions, which exhaust will give me a deep rumble, great sound on acceleration, but without any pops/bangs?
2. I've heard catback exhausts have the deepest sound, is this true?

I am planning to keep the downpipe and intake stock. I want quad tips but it looks like I can get those for any of these exhausts

[m240nj]

While the exhaust definitely amplifies the existing sound, the pops and bangs are a function of the tune, not exhaust. If you're 2021 or later and keeping stock downpipe/tune you won't have many pops/bangs unless you bring the RPMs up to 5K and let off the gas. I had a 2021 with MPE and it barely popped. I now have a 2021 with AA downpipe and stock exhaust and same deal, barely pops. Both options sound great.

[Major25]

Thank you for your reply. I know most people are upset about the lack of pops in 2021+ models but I'm glad to hear it.

Would you say the MPE had a low rumble to it? Would people comment on how they could hear you coming even if you were approaching slowly or idling outside their house?

[MoeTE87]

I just purchased the MPE and will have it installed tomorrow. I have a 2021 M340i RWD. I plan on getting the AA catted downpipe to pair up with it next summer. I want to enjoy the MPE for now then the next stage of my build, to get the AA downpipe. Plus my warranty is up July 2025.

I heard the AA catted dp and the MPE paired together is pure symphony! I know a lot of the members here have done it and swear by it. Look into that combo. I know videos don't really do exhausts justice, so see if there is anyone local to you that has the specific setups that you can hear in person as well.

Good luck!

[peelerec]

The MPE is one of the most tame exhaust options for the M340i. It did slightly deepen the tone and does not have many pop/burbles when cruising at street speeds ie. 0-40mph and 2k below rpm, driving in comfort or sport. On occasion when I let off at 2k rpm a very slight burble for a millisecond is audible.
Cold start is loud on MPE, FYI, but once it’s warm, it’s a quiet idle.
As others mentioned 2021+ do not have many pops/burbles, only at a high enough rpm and in sport +. Even if I’m in sport mode picking up speed on an on-ramp for highway and hit 3-3.5k rpm, under load, no pops. This is with the AA catted dp + MPE.
As far as tone, it’s hard without hearing exhaust in person, but I believe the MPE tone is great.
The only issue with the AWE is lack of a valve to quiet the exhaust, if that’s an important feature for you.
Found this video, may help get a sense of the tone change from stock -> MPE.
https://youtube.com/shorts/hmmXKm1qD...UzHcDNJfRFGeKy

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by peelerec

The MPE is one of the most tame exhaust options for the M340i. It did slightly deepen the tone and does not have many pop/burbles when cruising at street speeds ie. 0-40mph and 2k below rpm, driving in comfort or sport. On occasion when I let off at 2k rpm a very slight burble for a millisecond is audible.
Cold start is loud on MPE, FYI, but once it’s warm, it’s a quiet idle.
As others mentioned 2021+ do not have many pops/burbles, only at a high enough rpm and in sport +. Even if I’m in sport mode picking up speed on an on-ramp for highway and hit 3-3.5k rpm, under load, no pops. This is with the AA catted dp + MPE.
As far as tone, it’s hard without hearing exhaust in person, but I believe the MPE tone is great.
The only issue with the AWE is lack of a valve to quiet the exhaust, if that’s an important feature for you.
Found this video, may help get a sense of the tone change from stock -> MPE.
https://youtube.com/shorts/hmmXKm1qD...UzHcDNJfRFGeKy

MPE sounds so clean! Can't wait to get mine installed tomorrow!

Here is another clip I found with the AA catted DP and MPE. Enjoy:

This video is what sold me on the above combo!


Note..this isn't my car.

[mike@x-ph.com]

without a tune that amplifies the burble or an aftermarket downpipe, none of the exhausts will amplify the pops or bangs by much but if you want to be extra safe, the AWE touring is a safe bet

[Major25]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I really appreciate the opinions, info, and video links. I feel better knowing that without an aftermarket downpipe and/or tune it won't be creating more pops than stock

I'm going to find some more videos and spend some time listening, I'm looking for something close to that WRX SPT exhaust note. They all sound like great options though

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Major25

Thanks for the replies everyone, I really appreciate the opinions, info, and video links. I feel better knowing that without an aftermarket downpipe and/or tune it won't be creating more pops than stock

I'm going to find some more videos and spend some time listening, I'm looking for something close to that WRX SPT exhaust note. They all sound like great options though

isnt the WRX high pitched?

[Major25]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

isnt the WRX high pitched?

I don't know what the more recent WRX's sound like, but the generation my 2012 was in (2008-2014) with the SPT catback exhaust had what I perceived to be a low rumble, especially on startup and idle

I don't have the privilege of getting to hear many aftermarket exhausts in person though so it's entirely possible that a lot of aftermarket exhausts are deeper than the 2012 SPT was

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Major25

I don't know what the more recent WRX's sound like, but the generation my 2012 was in (2008-2014) with the SPT catback exhaust had what I perceived to be a low rumble, especially on startup and idle

I don't have the privilege of getting to hear many aftermarket exhausts in person though so it's entirely possible that a lot of aftermarket exhausts are deeper than the 2012 SPT was

im not familiar with Subaru so you are probably correct.

Low rumble meaning a deep midrange tone?

[XxSullyxX123]

Your M340 wont sound like the WRX. its like the guys that want their v6 to sound like a v8, its just not going to happen. I had a 2014 WRX. it sounded the way it did bc it had unequal length headers paired to the 4 cylinder boxer motor. it did sound great, but this motor is completely different (and also sounds great). i have the MPE and love it. I had multiple iterations of AWE touring and track with and without resonated DPs on my Audi S4 and they were all loud. They also are not valved, so they are loud all the time. The MPE retains the valves from stock and can be tamer and louder. The low rumble you are looking is probably just keeping the stock exhaust frankly. you can hear it coming, and its deep and not intrusive.

[peelerec]

Agreed with the others, the MPE or AWE Touring is probably going to be the best options based on the tone you’re going for. Definitely will not sound the same as your previous WRX. Let’s not forget we don’t have that unequal header rumble! Lol

[MoeTE87]

I just had the MPE installed yesterday and I am blown away at how great it sounds. Honestly, listening to the videos on youtube does not sound like how it sounds in person...at all! Its a lot more pure and crisp in person and it sounds beautiful!

Best part is, it still retains the OEM valve. Which was a deal breaker for me when I was between the AWE and MPE.

[XxSullyxX123]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

I just had the MPE installed yesterday and I am blown away at how great it sounds. Honestly, listening to the videos on youtube does not sound like how it sounds in person...at all! Its a lot more pure and crisp in person and it sounds beautiful!

Best part is, it still retains the OEM valve. Which was a deal breaker for me when I was between the AWE and MPE.

I hope the dealer did right by you (judging by your other thread). Also, the instructions says no coding in ISTA, so what did you read to suggest otherwise regarding that? (I only ask since I did mine at home and obviously cant code lol)

[MoeTE87]

Originally Posted by XxSullyxX123

I hope the dealer did right by you (judging by your other thread). Also, the instructions says no coding in ISTA, so what did you read to suggest otherwise regarding that? (I only ask since I did mine at home and obviously cant code lol)

They did! I will be updating the other thread here in a min after I type this.

As far as coding. I will share a screen shot of the install instructions showing it in my other thread.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

They did! I will be updating the other thread here in a min after I type this.

As far as coding. I will share a screen shot of the install instructions showing it in my other thread.

[Major25]

Originally Posted by XxSullyxX123

Your M340 wont sound like the WRX. its like the guys that want their v6 to sound like a v8, its just not going to happen. I had a 2014 WRX. it sounded the way it did bc it had unequal length headers paired to the 4 cylinder boxer motor. it did sound great, but this motor is completely different (and also sounds great). i have the MPE and love it. I had multiple iterations of AWE touring and track with and without resonated DPs on my Audi S4 and they were all loud. They also are not valved, so they are loud all the time. The MPE retains the valves from stock and can be tamer and louder. The low rumble you are looking is probably just keeping the stock exhaust frankly. you can hear it coming, and its deep and not intrusive.

It's awesome you had a WRX too, and the same generation as mine! Unrelated to my original question, but how would you compare your 2024 M340i to the WRX you had? I LOVED my WRX, had it for 11 years, put 245k miles on it. I'm driving a Crosstrek now, but I can't wait to get into an M340i and have some performance again

Originally Posted by peelerec

Agreed with the others, the MPE or AWE Touring is probably going to be the best options based on the tone you’re going for. Definitely will not sound the same as your previous WRX. Let’s not forget we don’t have that unequal header rumble! Lol

Thank you and Sully both for the insights on the motor. What the two of you said about the unequal headers makes sense, that must be the source of the "Subaru boxer sound" that people talk about

Originally Posted by MoeTE87

I just had the MPE installed yesterday and I am blown away at how great it sounds. Honestly, listening to the videos on youtube does not sound like how it sounds in person...at all! Its a lot more pure and crisp in person and it sounds beautiful!

Best part is, it still retains the OEM valve. Which was a deal breaker for me when I was between the AWE and MPE.

I'm thrilled to hear that you love it! Can you link me over to your other thread that you and Sully mentioned? I'm not sure what coding/ISTA means.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker to me to lose the OEM valve, but that might be my deciding factor if I can't make up my mind between some of these options. If I go with the MPE I'd order it from the dealer at the same time I order the car, so the convenience of that is a bonus too. The dealer that I talked to recently said I should be able to order a 2025 MY in August, so that's what I'm shooting for (I originally planned on waiting until the very end of this year, but it's getting harder and harder to wait!)

[XxSullyxX123]

Originally Posted by Major25

It's awesome you had a WRX too, and the same generation as mine! Unrelated to my original question, but how would you compare your 2024 M340i to the WRX you had? I LOVED my WRX, had it for 11 years, put 245k miles on it. I'm driving a Crosstrek now, but I can't wait to get into an M340i and have some performance again

I always wanted one back to when I could only afford a 2.5RS in college when the bugeye came out. I got the 2014 and tuned it with downpipe and exhaust but only kept it like 14 months. it was fun, but I felt I had aged out of it before ever getting it so I traded it in for a 2015 Audi S4 in 6 speed. I dont keep things long, but that was quicker than usual. The S4 was a huge upgrade from the WRX and the M340 is even better than the S4 was. MUCH quicker bone stock and sounds way better too.