G05
BMW X5
43.3KVIEWS
186REPLIES
99APPRECIATES
47ACTIVE PEOPLE
04-22-2026LAST POST
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04-19-2026
paint94979 wrote
It doesn't though... Everyone has different tastes, my 24 X5 M with secondary catless downpipes and a valve controller sound sad, this is why I'm swapping in catless primaries. To each their own. The valve controller is really handy, factory mode, closed, or fully open. Lots of flexibility.
I'm with you here. Just installed secondary downpipes, valve controller, and a full FI exhaust. The sound is definitely improved but still very mild even with valves fully open. I'm thinking I may need to go with GESI catted primaries. Our X5M is a family car and my wife is fairly sensitive to loud exhausts, and she didnt even notice the change.

Coming from an F80 with intake, equal length midpipe, and Remus exhaust, I'm hoping to get a little closer to that set-up volume wise with the valves open.
04-19-2026
paint94979 wrote
It doesn't though... Everyone has different tastes, my 24 X5 M with secondary catless downpipes and a valve controller sound sad, this is why I'm swapping in catless primaries. To each their own. The valve controller is really handy, factory mode, closed, or fully open. Lots of flexibility.
Looking into 400cell gesi myself, but want to first hear them in real life on s63/s68 engine

Definitely with you on primaries, just be careful, lately in the LA/OC area, 3 of my friends got tix for exhaust mods, and they are pretty unpleasant around 900-1k. I drove yesterday catless gle63s around Van Nuys and cops are everywhere, and half of them were eyeing me down due to gas smell and pops...
04-20-2026
yodabro wrote
Looking into 400cell gesi myself, but want to first hear them in real life on s63/s68 engine

Definitely with you on primaries, just be careful, lately in the LA/OC area, 3 of my friends got tix for exhaust mods, and they are pretty unpleasant around 900-1k. I drove yesterday catless gle63s around Van Nuys and cops are everywhere, and half of them were eyeing me down due to gas smell and pops...
I'm up in Northern California, cops don't really seem to be too concerned with such stuff... Now if you're running all around town and especially get caught racing that's a different story.
04-20-2026
paint94979 wrote
It doesn't though... Everyone has different tastes
You're contradicting, confusing yourself lol.

It would be nice to learn exactly what the factory programming does with the valves in the various modes. I'm personally done with any exhaust mods to my X5M. 100% happy.
04-20-2026
THEROK wrote
You're contradicting, confusing yourself lol.

It would be nice to learn exactly what the factory programming does with the valves in the various modes. I'm personally done with any exhaust mods to my X5M. 100% happy.
You're completely wrong :D. I really think these cars are just too quiet. Again everyone has different tastes, here ill expand further... You are happy with yours I am not see... ha.
04-20-2026
paint94979 wrote
You're completely wrong :D. I really think these cars are just too quiet. Again everyone has different tastes, here ill expand further... You are happy with yours I am not see... ha.
Enjoy your soccerdadmobile chasing after the dragon into the aftermarket Frankenstein exhaust abyss. :happyanim:
04-20-2026
THEROK wrote
Enjoy your soccerdadmobile chasing after the dragon into the aftermarket Frankenstein exhaust abyss. :happyanim:
Definitely personal preference on this one. I'm in the camp of wanting a bit more sound but not too much. I feel like it just doesn't make sense for this vehicle to be crazy loud like a Hellcat, it doesn't suit it, but again, that's just for me.
04-20-2026
Yupstate wrote
Definitely personal preference on this one. I'm in the camp of wanting a bit more sound but not too much. I feel like it just doesn't make sense for this vehicle to be crazy loud like a Hellcat, it doesn't suit it, but again, that's just for me.
It'd be awesome if all of us M obsessed knuckleheads could meet up and hear each others' setup. Even in the heart of LA metro, I rarely see X5Ms.
04-21-2026
THEROK wrote
It'd be awesome if all of us M obsessed knuckleheads could meet up and hear each others' setup. Even in the heart of LA metro, I rarely see X5Ms.
Come on up to Marin County, I see X5 M's and X3 M's all over the place... oddly enough. Mostly driven by women, ha.
04-21-2026
paint94979 wrote
Come on up to Marin County, I see X5 M's and X3 M's all over the place... oddly enough. Mostly driven by women, ha.
This might be sexist but it is genuine curiosity so it is what it is. But that info above makes me wonder are they really performance enthusiasts? Or is it just going to the salesperson and saying "I want the most expensive X5 (or X3) you got!"
04-22-2026
Yupstate wrote
This might be sexist but it is genuine curiosity so it is what it is. But that info above makes me wonder are they really performance enthusiasts? Or is it just going to the salesperson and saying "I want the most expensive X5 (or X3) you got!"
Originally I bought my X5 M for my wife as the family car... I quickly realized she was much better suited for something else so I bought her an X3 ha.