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      12-25-2014, 11:23 PM   #1
Dash52
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Exhaust uneven

So, not sure if I've just never noticed this on other cars I've had with dual pipes, if this is normal to the X5, or if there is actually something wrong, but I noticed last week, when the weather turned cold, that I was only seeing steam out of my driver's side exhaust. When I felt the flow from each, the flow from the driver's side was much stronger than the passenger side. I can barely feel anything out of the passenger side at idle.
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      12-25-2014, 11:48 PM   #2
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This is normal with the factory exhaust on the x5. There is a valve on the passenger side that is only open when the engine reaches higher rpm (~4k).
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      12-26-2014, 12:29 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JDoc View Post
This is normal with the factory exhaust on the x5. There is a valve on the passenger side that is only open when the engine reaches higher rpm (~4k).
Does this also apply to 50i? Kind of weird I guess, don't have that on our current X5 V8.
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      12-26-2014, 12:33 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrob
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDoc View Post
This is normal with the factory exhaust on the x5. There is a valve on the passenger side that is only open when the engine reaches higher rpm (~4k).
Does this also apply to 50i? Kind of weird I guess, don't have that on our current X5 V8.
I don't think the 50i or the 35d has that valve. It is only on the 35i afaik.
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      12-26-2014, 12:34 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by patrob
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDoc View Post
This is normal with the factory exhaust on the x5. There is a valve on the passenger side that is only open when the engine reaches higher rpm (~4k).
Does this also apply to 50i? Kind of weird I guess, don't have that on our current X5 V8.
No valves in the 5.0 I believe.
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      12-26-2014, 09:02 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r33
Quote:
Originally Posted by patrob
Quote:
Originally Posted by JDoc View Post
This is normal with the factory exhaust on the x5. There is a valve on the passenger side that is only open when the engine reaches higher rpm (~4k).
Does this also apply to 50i? Kind of weird I guess, don't have that on our current X5 V8.
No valves in the 5.0 I believe.
Google "golf tee mod". What you're seeing is a feature, not a bug, of the N55 set up.
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      12-26-2014, 10:02 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cSurf View Post
Google "golf tee mod". What you're seeing is a feature, not a bug, of the N55 set up.
That was an interesting thread, thanks. Has anyone done this simple modification on an F15? Any downside? It bothers me on cool mornings that the right side exhaust looks fake.
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      12-26-2014, 10:14 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dash52
Quote:
Originally Posted by cSurf View Post
Google "golf tee mod". What you're seeing is a feature, not a bug, of the N55 set up.
That was an interesting thread, thanks. Has anyone done this simple modification on an F15? Any downside? It bothers me on cool mornings that the right side exhaust looks fake.
I did remove the spring on mine and leave the flap open.
Not much improvement though.
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      12-26-2014, 03:36 PM   #9
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2015 is not vacuum actuated. The golf tee mod is not applicable. The flapper is electronically controlled.
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      02-02-2015, 12:36 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by r33 View Post
I did remove the spring on mine and leave the flap open.
Not much improvement though.
r33:
How difficult was it to remove the spring? And now that the valve is open do you get even exhaust out of both sides? Thanks
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      02-02-2015, 10:15 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dash52
Quote:
Originally Posted by r33 View Post
I did remove the spring on mine and leave the flap open.
Not much improvement though.
r33:
How difficult was it to remove the spring? And now that the valve is open do you get even exhaust out of both sides? Thanks
I will take the picture tomorrow. I got fellow member dropped by for some mods today.
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      02-02-2015, 10:44 PM   #12
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Thanks...all this cold weather vapor makes it so obvious only one side is open. It looks silly.
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      02-02-2015, 10:56 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dash52 View Post
Thanks...all this cold weather vapor makes it so obvious only one side is open. It looks silly.
Be honest to you. Most of ppl have not yet discovered this uneven thing. It is easier for those outsiders to catch their eyes.
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      02-03-2015, 07:03 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by retx View Post
Be honest to you. Most of ppl have not yet discovered this uneven thing. It is easier for those outsiders to catch their eyes.
I agree, but if you live where it's been really cold, you can see the one sided vapor even in the rear view camera when backing up. It makes the other side look fake.
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      02-03-2015, 09:26 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dash52 View Post
I agree, but if you live where it's been really cold, you can see the one sided vapor even in the rear view camera when backing up. It makes the other side look fake.
Agreed, this is a very silly design. My V6 FX35 with 285hp has a dual exhaust (and an amazing exhaust sound). Why can't BMW implement the same? The only thing I can think of is to save gas .
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      02-03-2015, 09:38 AM   #16
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Agreed, this is a very silly design. My V6 FX35 with 285hp has a dual exhaust (and an amazing exhaust sound). Why can't BMW implement the same? The only thing I can think of is to save gas .
From the research I have done the flap in the passenger side pipe is called the Active Exhaust System Actuator (AESA). The consensus is that it is mostly for noise control and opens above 4000 rpm and/or at elevated exhaust temps.
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      02-03-2015, 09:39 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dash52 View Post
From the research I have done the flap in the passenger side pipe is called the Active Exhaust System Actuator (AESA). The consensus is that it is mostly for noise control and opens above 4000 rpm and/or at elevated exhaust temps.
Thanks for the info, bud. I honestly think "noise control" is pointless considering that the F15 cabin is so insulated/sound proof. If the 35d and 50i don't have issues with noise, what excuse is there for the 35i? Makes no sense to me.
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      02-03-2015, 07:38 PM   #18
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@r33 Were you able to take the pictures yet? I am also interested in this. Thanks.

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I will take the picture tomorrow. I got fellow member dropped by for some mods today.
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      02-03-2015, 08:38 PM   #19
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This could be like the EXUP exhaust system on Yamaha bikes. Opening up this valve, if this is what it is (EXUP), could actually hurt performance. The principle is to close up or reduce the exhaust size to alter the exhaust pulses (from each cylinder) to make the engine more efficient at idle, off-idle, low and mid power acceleration - yep, increase back-pressure. I owned the FJ1000 Yamaha and quickly removed the system. I also quickly lost low and mid range power in favor of top end. Buying the header was a waste of money because I actually lost drivability and on the track, I lost low-end torque coming out of corners. My first real-world lesson that bigger wasn't better.

You might want to reconsider altering the functionality of this feature, if this is what is designed for. Google (Yamaha) EXUP exhausts for more technical info.
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      02-03-2015, 09:47 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ydchoe View Post
@r33 Were you able to take the pictures yet? I am also interested in this. Thanks.
I'm terribly sorry. I am short 1 guy at the office. Been swamped with work.
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      02-04-2015, 12:36 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 42pilot View Post
This could be like the EXUP exhaust system on Yamaha bikes. Opening up this valve, if this is what it is (EXUP), could actually hurt performance. The principle is to close up or reduce the exhaust size to alter the exhaust pulses (from each cylinder) to make the engine more efficient at idle, off-idle, low and mid power acceleration - yep, increase back-pressure. I owned the FJ1000 Yamaha and quickly removed the system. I also quickly lost low and mid range power in favor of top end. Buying the header was a waste of money because I actually lost drivability and on the track, I lost low-end torque coming out of corners. My first real-world lesson that bigger wasn't better.

You might want to reconsider altering the functionality of this feature, if this is what is designed for. Google (Yamaha) EXUP exhausts for more technical info.


as 42pilot said, if you open up the other one, it will reduce back pressure on the exhaust system. this may cause it to feel more sluggish and less powerful in the lower rev range. this is particularly applicable to turbo'd cars.

its for the same reason that ricers, when they modify their hondas to have louder exhausts by replacing the exhaust system with pipes of wider diametre, lose power and torque despite improved flow.

im not sure how restrictive the stock exhaust is on the 35i and how much of a difference opening that valve would make on the performanec of the 35i, but i dont think its worth it. could also risk having exhaust drone since the resonance at the lower revs will change from what the stock mufflers were designed to be compatible with.
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      02-04-2015, 02:28 AM   #22
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I would guess it is for back pressure and sound control, but a lot of manufacturers like Porsche do this too.
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