[sparrky]

Just my 2-cents on the flap mod.

New to the forum. Picked up a '23 X5 40i m-sport, traded in my 535ix after many enjoyable miles. Had an X5 back in 2013 when the engine had the tendency to foul plugs regularly.

Was reading through the forums for some mods, enhancements. So I picked up an OBD devices, downloaded bimmercode and bimmerlink.

I'm not interested in replacing the exhaust, pipes, remove cats, etc. So I thought I would try out the exhaust flap mod to give the X5 a little more sound. Connected the OBD, opened the flap with bimmerlink and pulled the fuse.

My feedback on the bimmerlink app/OBD for the exhaust mod:
---If the exhaust mod is all you're going to do and you want it open all the time, don't waste $90 on an OBD device and $35 on the app, there's not much else you can do, unless you want to fiddle with reading and resetting error codes. Save your money, on a cold start up (at least with my X5), I find that the flap opens and stays open for at least a couple of minutes. If you open the floor hatch, and the fuse door. You should have ample time to pull the fuse before your flap closes.
---If you want to be able to control when it's open or closed, then go ahead and make the app and OBD purchases.
---I will probably use bimmercode to make some "adjustments" to other features.

My feedback on the flap vs no flap:
---It's gives a bit more sound idling and driving around town/in traffic with varying RPMs. You'll get more sound at lower RPMs.
---On the highway, with cruise control set between 70-80, it becomes a dull annoying drone, at the RPM level. On a couple hour road trip, after the first hour, I had to pull over at a rest stop and put the fuse back in to close the flap.

Again, just my 2-cents.

Hope to make more posts, share ideas, etc.

[brian12]

You pulled the actual fuse? Or plugged out that little hardness thing on the exhaust itself I see people doing on YouTube ? And check engine lights?

[sparrky]

Pulled the fuse. I'm not the type to crawl under a vehicle.

[brian12]

Oh okay thanks and which fuse is it? Going to try it myself today!! Anyway you can send a picture?

[weinerbarn]

Originally Posted by brian12

Oh okay thanks and which fuse is it? Going to try it myself today!! Anyway you can send a picture?

Fuse 203

[brian12]

Thanks!!! And would I get and CEL’s? Or any issues? Or it wouldn’t cause that?

[sparrky]

I didn't

Originally Posted by brian12

Thanks!!! And would I get and CEL’s? Or any issues? Or it wouldn’t cause that?

[atlas]

Originally Posted by sparrky

Just my 2-cents on the flap mod.
Save your money, on a cold start up (at least with my X5), I find that the flap opens and stays open for at least a couple of minutes. If you open the floor hatch, and the fuse door. You should have ample time to pull the fuse before your flap closes.

Did you actually try doing this with a cold start?

I thought on a cold start the wastegate opens - not the exhaust valve.

But otherwise agree with your other points - the drone on highway is annoying.

[sparrky]

Yes, I did this over the past weekend to give it one more try, the car had been sitting for a full day. I did not have the OBD connected. Opened the fuse cover, used the remote starter to start the car and pulled the fuse. It still have the open flap sound today.

So I'm not sure about the technical aspects of what is/isn't opening on my X5 vs someone else's and the conditions. However, it appears to work that way for me.

Thanks for chiming in!

Originally Posted by atlas

Did you actually try doing this with a cold start?

I thought on a cold start the wastegate opens - not the exhaust valve.

But otherwise agree with your other points - the drone on highway is annoying.

[slicky]

My exhaust flap doesn't open under a cold start in any driving mode. Short of buying a obd adapter and the bimmer link app, I dont know how to open the damn thing.

[saadG05]

Originally Posted by slicky

My exhaust flap doesn't open under a cold start in any driving mode. Short of buying a obd adapter and the bimmer link app, I dont know how to open the damn thing.

well, i will tell you what i did. i put the car on launch mode and asked my friend in the truck to pull the fuse out, and it actually worked

[slicky]

Originally Posted by saadG05

well, i will tell you what i did. i put the car on launch mode and asked my friend in the truck to pull the fuse out, and it actually worked

Thanks, that was actually my plan next time my family is driving somewhere. Wife's vehicle.

[Installsplus]

Did this yesterday. Bought the BimmerLink app opened the flap and pulled the fuse. Love it. Sounds so much better!