Easy way of opening exhaust valve on a 550i

When you turn on your car, are both sides of the exhaust working? Or one side?

I have seen a Picture of a 550i exhaust without the valve. After seeing the pic I assumed that mine did not have a valve and disided on a new exhaust for my car to get that "V8" sound. only when the car was on the hoist did I see the valve. If I had checked I would not have bothered to try the exhaust and would have only opened the valve and let it like that!

So the 08+ with the Sport "M" package.. does have the valve?

DO WANT this MOD

Originally Posted by Arctic-Rodz

So the 08+ with the Sport "M" package.. does have the valve?

DO WANT this MOD

Haven't found it yet on my car. Take a look at yours and let us all know.....

I can't speak for a 2008 Sport, but my 2007 Sport has the valve. There are no vacuum lines under the car, they (and the soleniod) are in the left side compartment in the trunk. Remove the two fasteners and you'll see the lines connected to the soleniod which is just near the left turn/brake light. The valve itself can be found in the right-side exhaust pipe. It's deep inside on the curved part, use a flashlight and shine into the right pipe, you'll see it. The car sounds great on idle like a V8 should!

I think I have confirmed that my car (thus, likely any 2008 or newer 550 with the Sport Package) does not have this valve. I am guessing that the valve is removed as part of the special exhaust tuning that BMW claims is included with the Sport Package. So, this mod is already part of our car model.

Anybody else with a 08 or newer 550, please chime in.....

Keith

Originally Posted by Campfamily

I think I have confirmed that my car (thus, likely any 2008 or newer 550 with the Sport Package) does not have this valve. I am guessing that the valve is removed as part of the special exhaust tuning that BMW claims is included with the Sport Package. So, this mod is already part of our car model.

Anybody else with a 08 or newer 550, please chime in.....

Keith

I looked at an '09 this morning, in service (CPO fun...)- It actually had the valve. My theory is that the PO had it removed; Quite a few folks have the pipe cut off, the flap removed and then welded back on. Ahhh... Who knows...

I actually reconnected my hoses to the relay. While I loved the idle / startup sound, I ended up going back because of the uneven variations you get in sound when the car comes back down to idle (either from a rev or slow downshifting as you roll up to a light). I noticed that the car will hit 800RPM, float a bit, and then settle at the stock 500/600 (depending on whether your AC is on). That little pause was enough to annoy me, so I went back to the stock set-up- now I can't hear the idle adjusting itself. To each his or her own...

Originally Posted by Campfamily

I think I have confirmed that my car (thus, likely any 2008 or newer 550 with the Sport Package) does not have this valve. I am guessing that the valve is removed as part of the special exhaust tuning that BMW claims is included with the Sport Package. So, this mod is already part of our car model.

Anybody else with a 08 or newer 550, please chime in.....

Keith

Ya, unfortunately we do not have this valve on newer 550's. i also checked.

Hmmm. Maybe there's a model year split. Either way, I know the '09 sounds the same as my '06 at idle- Maybe they tuned the exhaust properly to avoid boominess but also eliminate the silly moving parts...

I cannot find it on my 08 550 sport and some say it is yet some say it is not. Is the valve in the drivers or passenger muffler(referring to the two mufflers on the drivers side)? Is the mechanism for the valve located on the top or the side. I cannot see or feel anything on my car

ne one have a video or audio of this trick?
i am very disappointed on the way my 550 sounds

Has anyone had any "bad" feedback for us. I'll like to try this mod on my 545, I found the solenoid in the boot. It is on the Passenger side for LHD and driver side for RHD.

Why mess around with the vacuum tubes, etc when you can just put a simple 2.25" hose clamp on it. Wouldn't use a zip tie as these pipes get HOT..!

I tried the hose clamps and did not work for me for some reason. The zip ties seem cheesy, however it has worked for me. Ive had the ties on for 2 months now and no issues. If interested I can send pics of how I did it. Heat does not affect the ties, unless u wrap it on the exhaust itself.

Originally Posted by jlukens1

Why mess around with the vacuum tubes, etc when you can just put a simple 2.25" hose clamp on it. Wouldn't use a zip tie as these pipes get HOT..!

i doute that there will be any damage done at all by joining the tubes. the valve just opens when the car is started and closes when switched off. As long as the tubes are joined properly, there will be no vacume leeks. this is a very simple mod, but a good one!

Originally Posted by Kalil147

I tried the hose clamps and did not work for me for some reason. The zip ties seem cheesy, however it has worked for me. Ive had the ties on for 2 months now and no issues. If interested I can send pics of how I did it. Heat does not affect the ties, unless u wrap it on the exhaust itself.

Please do post them. I'm intrigued.

I put my valve back in. The exhaust was too droning at low speeds when I wanted to hear music.

Originally Posted by mfumbesi

Please do post them. I'm intrigued.

Here u go. I would start from left to right. Attack the first zip tie around the metal hinge thing.(If you look right between the two exhaust pipes you will see it)

Tie the second zip tie around the bell just like I did in the picture.

Tie the third one around the lever of the exhaust valve.

First leave them loose so you can play with them, then tighten them one by one and make sure the last zip tie around the lever does not slip off. Once the zip ties are tight, you must push the lever inward as far as you can and you will hear the valve open. Once you push the lever all the way in tighten the zip tie as much as you can.

Goodluck

Kalil, good shots. You know what I ended up doing, though? I plugged the relay output and paid a muffler guy $50 to slice off the pipe with the flap, remove it and weld it back on with a small connector to keep the length right. No mechanical worries, now. Car sounds great.

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

I put my valve back in. The exhaust was too droning at low speeds when I wanted to hear music.

thanks to op for the great mod, just did mine, was way too easy, removed the left side cover in the trunk, found the 2 hoses, pulled them out from that black connector, and crazy glued them together. Turned the car on, the valve opened and now it sounds perfect. No tools were needed, except the crazy glue.

Originally Posted by GOR777

thanks to op for the great mod, just did mine, was way too easy, removed the left side cover in the trunk, found the 2 hoses, pulled them out from that black connector, and crazy glued them together. Turned the car on, the valve opened and now it sounds perfect. No tools were needed, except the crazy glue.

I would rather find a straight push on connector to join those pipes.... as good as super glue can be, it will become brittle and brake.. Try a pet shop for the connector.

Originally Posted by Gerry550

I would rather find a straight push on connector to join those pipes.... as good as super glue can be, it will become brittle and brake.. Try a pet shop for the connector.

I will let you know when it breaks

Originally Posted by GOR777

I will let you know when it breaks

Originally Posted by Kalil147

Here u go. I would start from left to right. .......

Goodluck

Thanks. I'll give it a spin over the weekend.