[Ninefourteener]

(edit: Video is post #13 below)

Soooo.... I expected a 2-3 hour job...... and it actually took me 10 hours...... But It's done.

A few questions I know will be asked:

Yes, the X5M flapper valves are compatible, and work correctly with the G05

Front of axle hangers are identical. Rear (behind muffler) hangers are different. I had to re-use the G05 hangers, and I had to cut the alignment pins off, and shorten the rubber hanger.

Most of the under trunk heat shield had to be removed.

Much of the plastic surroundings from the old exhaust bezels had to be removed.

All underside panels required removal, as did the chassis braces, to get the exhaust in/out. (a lot more work that initially expected)

It sounds INCREDIBLE. I'll post a cold start video once it's daylight, and the neighbors don't start yelling at me in French.

The day the exhaust arrived on a sloppily built pallet:

[Ninefourteener]

up in the air..... old exhaust out.

I kept the double-H pipe I made 2 years ago.... in the car. Resonator is long-since gone.

[Ninefourteener]

These f-ing things...... never do I want to remove them again. What a PITA.

[Ninefourteener]

F95 X5M and G05 X5-M50i flapper valves connections are identical.

[Ninefourteener]

I lined the muffler hangers up exa tly in the same place..... by the tile line on the floor.

X5M exhaust tips obviously protrude out further..... which is perfect.

Then figured put how much I needed to cut from the X5M exhaust to mate it with my H-pipe.

[Ninefourteener]

First (rough) test-fit...... the moment of truth. Will the pipes from an X5M go through the exhaust holes of a G05???

Yes.

But you have to remove a lot of the plastic on the inboard side.

[Ninefourteener]

And...... it's in..... after 10 hours
.... it's in.

[Ninefourteener]

As much as I love the X5...... Sorry....

The Alfa 4C takes precedence..... back in the garage.

I'll post a sound clip tomorrow..... it's 11pm now. It sounds INCREDIBLE.

[PNWM50I]

Thanks for documentation! Great job! Can’t wait

[bmwsone02]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

These f-ing things...... never do I want to remove them again. What a PITA.

That’s why I left them on and painted. You did a great job!

[mmm50i]

Amazing job. I can’t wait to hear how it sounds.

On a side note, there’s a X5M exhaust for sale locally. But too bad I don’t trust anyone to install it but you lol

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by bmwsone02

That’s why I left them on and painted. You did a great job!

Thanks.

There's no way those X5M tailpipes are fitting through those X5 tailpipe shrouds.

They had to come out.... no way around it.

And I hope I never have to pull another set out again.

[Ninefourteener]

As promised....... sound check:

[Bottom16]

Well done good sir…well done indeed! I’ve always thought that was a plausible option, and you nailed it. Bravo!

Cheers mate!

Jeff

[PNWM50I]

Thanks for the sound check! Definitely an upgrade over the stock system. Good deep tone and a bit of rasp on the high revs.

[yoandry]

Great sound indeed. Still not centered in the opening but overall good. I did cut and weld mine myselft and wasn't that hard.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by yoandry

Great sound indeed. Still not centered in the opening but overall good. I did cut and weld mine myselft and wasn't that hard.

Yea, pipes are "a little" more inboard than M50 pipes.... but they still fit through the holes, and don't touch/burn the bumper.

I thought about cutting them off and replacing them with aftermarket pipes... but I'll lose the flapper valves if I do that.

I welded the flapper valves open full-time on the M50i.... but with the X5M exhaust, I'm now using them again. It's quite a bit louder with all 4 pipes open (Sport plus)... but for daily driving, I like having the ability to quiet it down a little.

I will say, that when in Sport+ and all 4 pipes open??? The burbles on decel and downshift and absolutely vicious. Love it.

[Alan l.]

wow good job and it does sound awesome!

[SeattleLSB]

I’m getting pretty close to cutting up a dinan for my my M50I to make it work.

[SeattleLSB]

Did it bolt up perfect my up front?

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by SeattleLSB

Did it bolt up perfect my up front?

I used the section from the middle of the car - back.

But the dimensions of the M50i engine are the same as the X5M engine. Intake, turbo placement, etc... all the same. I feel strongly that an entire X5M exhaust would mount directly, including the downpipes.

The only "modifications" required.... were to the plastic parts on the rear bumper, to allow the tailpipes to poke through.

[RayoVac]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

I used the section from the middle of the car - back.

But the dimensions of the M50i engine are the same as the X5M engine. Intake, turbo placement, etc... all the same. I feel strongly that an entire X5M exhaust would mount directly, including the downpipes.

The only "modifications" required.... were to the plastic parts on the rear bumper, to allow the tailpipes to poke through.

You mentioned that you had to remove heat shields. Was that just to get it all up there (clearance issues)? Where you able to put all the heat shields back in or did some have to stay out? Unless I missed it, sounds like the only permanent removal of "stuff" you had to do was the plastic crap surrounding the tips in the area where they exit.