With everyone focused on the Coupes, you can still snag one for great prices too. As much as I love the look of the Coupe, I love the top down driving experience more.
Hadn't done rod bearings at this point, so I as scared to spend too much time near red-line LOL. I was right to be scared too, some were down to copper when I had them done.
Congrats! Great project I also have a z4M in Brazil, and I’m wondering about upgrade the exhaust system to a catless. Do you notice power gains/lose with those changes? Did you keep the muffler? Do you have any advice? Thanks!
First of all, you make fantastic high quality videos... you are VERY underrated. My question is, do you ever hear any sort of clunking/chatter when clutching in between 1st and 2nd? Have you heard anything funny at all coming from the transmission? A lot of people seem to have this same issue but I haven't come across a solution. Lmk if you've heard it and how you resolved it. Thanks!
Thank you, Ben! Never have had any chatter or clunking of any kind on the Z4M. The only thing I’ve experienced is a missed shift or lockout from 1st to 2nd if I’m really trying to shift quickly. However, even that happens extremely seldom at this point. If you’re hearing distinct chatter or clunking consistently then there must be a problem somewhere, be it the 2nd gear synchros, a trans mount, or even clutch perhaps. Have you had anyone look at it?
th-cam.com/video/N6Rl7muRwTw/w-d-xo.html This video shows exactly the issue Im having. There are certain ways about minimizing the rattle/chatter/clunk when shifting but its definitely consistently there shifting from 1st and sometimes 2nd gear. I took it to a shop and all they could tell me is they heard it straight from the transmission, not the drivetrain. I changed the transmission fluid (which made the gearbox a lot smoother and less notchy) but had no effect on the problem. From what I've seen and been told, people shrug this off because it has no effect on shifting except a nasty sound audible from outside the car (which I plan to remedy with a nice exhaust lol). Anyway, thanks for your consideration and any help would be appreciated.
Just make sure to grab a catted or “rasp eliminator” section 1 with the headers on your E46. That will eliminate the “hoard of bees” rasp those cars get when made loud.
Thank you! And yes, I need to research additional audio solutions for the Hero 7, as it stands I actually use the GoPros for video only, I use a Tascam dedicated audio recorder w/ a wind sleeve for capturing exhaust/intake audio. At times I’ll use my old Hero 3’s mic for rear exhaust on extremely loud cars as it’s very resistant to peaking.
Thank you! Yep, factory section 1. Mine is extremely loud too, but I think I’m spoiled as my hood vents allow a lot more induction noise to come out haha! Considering a “rasp eliminator” or catted section 1 to clean up the sound a bit though.
Is the Evolve Carbon Airbox really worth the 4000$ though? The audio picks up some of it but it just sounds like a flat very loud noise Also just out of curiosity, do you ever wonder if a standard intake like the AFE or Eventuri would have achieved a similair result in sound and performance for a fraction of the cost?
It’s undoubtedly a personal choice. Objectively, $3500 is simply too much money to rationalize for the performance gains. However, if you’re interested in getting the most out of a naturally aspirated S54, and doing it as BMW did with the M3 CSL, it’s the best option. Intakes like the Eventuri likely get you 65% of the experience. The sound of the car approaching in the flybys is the best representation of how it sounds.
@@BuzzytheBlue i would not have said it any better.... Its a personal choice ..simple and straight forward. BMW spends billion of dollars on research to give their cars the very edge.if they could do it with the M3 CSL , i, personally would follow the approach regardless of cost
Do you still have secondary cats? I've been thinking of getting catless headers with a catback exhaust, but I don't know if that would completely defeat the point of having a convertible. Interested to know what you might think.
Within the last year I replaced the secondary cats with a resonated section for a cleaner sound. As far as the convertible is concerned, it depends on your tolerance. If you catch a whiff of it at a stop (rare) and that alone bothers you, you may not like it. It’s very seldom that I smell it for more than a couple seconds at a time, and I always have the top down. I’ve never had passengers complain either. I’m also sitting right near the exhaust in a Z, other cars it matters even less.
Does running a catless system on the roadster make top down driving smelly? With the top down are the fumes annoying or can you not smell it from inside the car?
I’ve never smelled it at all with the top down in the roadster. It also still has the secondary cats, so it doesn’t actually smell awful overall, even if you walk around it from the outside.
Simply the best sounding bmw with those mods. The s54 sounds glorious with the right set up!
Agreed! Going to be tweaking this setup over the winter with a different section 1 and J-pipes on the RPI to fine tune the sound.
Hi, can you give more detail on the “J Pipe” for the RPI, I am running with these and keen to hear more on this
S54 in a roadster, yes please! So under rated, a hidden gem IMHO
With everyone focused on the Coupes, you can still snag one for great prices too. As much as I love the look of the Coupe, I love the top down driving experience more.
@@BuzzytheBlue i just picked up a 2006 roadster 1 owner with 120kmiles for cheap last month. so fun to drive and in great shape.
This car is gonna be rising in value... It is like s2000s !
Excellent sound straight six engine . Symphony.
Awesome video, great sound quality!! Thanks :)
just love your video whenever it comes up
When you let off the gas completely instead of downshifting before a turn... That really grinds my gears. Great sound though.
Hadn't done rod bearings at this point, so I as scared to spend too much time near red-line LOL. I was right to be scared too, some were down to copper when I had them done.
Congrats! Great project
I also have a z4M in Brazil, and I’m wondering about upgrade the exhaust system to a catless.
Do you notice power gains/lose with those changes? Did you keep the muffler?
Do you have any advice?
Thanks!
First of all, you make fantastic high quality videos... you are VERY underrated. My question is, do you ever hear any sort of clunking/chatter when clutching in between 1st and 2nd? Have you heard anything funny at all coming from the transmission? A lot of people seem to have this same issue but I haven't come across a solution. Lmk if you've heard it and how you resolved it. Thanks!
Thank you, Ben! Never have had any chatter or clunking of any kind on the Z4M. The only thing I’ve experienced is a missed shift or lockout from 1st to 2nd if I’m really trying to shift quickly. However, even that happens extremely seldom at this point. If you’re hearing distinct chatter or clunking consistently then there must be a problem somewhere, be it the 2nd gear synchros, a trans mount, or even clutch perhaps. Have you had anyone look at it?
th-cam.com/video/N6Rl7muRwTw/w-d-xo.html
This video shows exactly the issue Im having. There are certain ways about minimizing the rattle/chatter/clunk when shifting but its definitely consistently there shifting from 1st and sometimes 2nd gear. I took it to a shop and all they could tell me is they heard it straight from the transmission, not the drivetrain. I changed the transmission fluid (which made the gearbox a lot smoother and less notchy) but had no effect on the problem. From what I've seen and been told, people shrug this off because it has no effect on shifting except a nasty sound audible from outside the car (which I plan to remedy with a nice exhaust lol). Anyway, thanks for your consideration and any help would be appreciated.
Bravo bro
great video
Wish mine was nav delete. Great vid.
Gosh I really need an exhaust on my e46 m3. Your set up is killer man!
Just make sure to grab a catted or “rasp eliminator” section 1 with the headers on your E46. That will eliminate the “hoard of bees” rasp those cars get when made loud.
Mega!
First class video. I love it. Is it possible to connect a bluetooth micro with the go pro 7 ? Just to get the sound of the exhaust.
Thank you! And yes, I need to research additional audio solutions for the Hero 7, as it stands I actually use the GoPros for video only, I use a Tascam dedicated audio recorder w/ a wind sleeve for capturing exhaust/intake audio. At times I’ll use my old Hero 3’s mic for rear exhaust on extremely loud cars as it’s very resistant to peaking.
Doing this to my Z4M
Awesome car Buzzy! Are you running the factory center section? I feel mines a little loud and I can’t hear my evolve airbox 🤣
Thank you! Yep, factory section 1. Mine is extremely loud too, but I think I’m spoiled as my hood vents allow a lot more induction noise to come out haha! Considering a “rasp eliminator” or catted section 1 to clean up the sound a bit though.
Is the Evolve Carbon Airbox really worth the 4000$ though?
The audio picks up some of it but it just sounds like a flat very loud noise
Also just out of curiosity, do you ever wonder if a standard intake like the AFE or Eventuri would have achieved a similair result in sound and performance for a fraction of the cost?
It’s undoubtedly a personal choice. Objectively, $3500 is simply too much money to rationalize for the performance gains. However, if you’re interested in getting the most out of a naturally aspirated S54, and doing it as BMW did with the M3 CSL, it’s the best option. Intakes like the Eventuri likely get you 65% of the experience. The sound of the car approaching in the flybys is the best representation of how it sounds.
@@BuzzytheBlue i would not have said it any better.... Its a personal choice ..simple and straight forward. BMW spends billion of dollars on research to give their cars the very edge.if they could do it with the M3 CSL , i, personally would follow the approach regardless of cost
Do you still have secondary cats? I've been thinking of getting catless headers with a catback exhaust, but I don't know if that would completely defeat the point of having a convertible. Interested to know what you might think.
Within the last year I replaced the secondary cats with a resonated section for a cleaner sound. As far as the convertible is concerned, it depends on your tolerance. If you catch a whiff of it at a stop (rare) and that alone bothers you, you may not like it. It’s very seldom that I smell it for more than a couple seconds at a time, and I always have the top down. I’ve never had passengers complain either. I’m also sitting right near the exhaust in a Z, other cars it matters even less.
Are you also running straight pipe? Or stock section 1/xpipe. Sounds great
Stock section 1. The car just has the headers and RPI mufflers. Planning on making a change somewhere in the system soon to tame it slightly.
E85 +1 is the greatest
Does running a catless system on the roadster make top down driving smelly? With the top down are the fumes annoying or can you not smell it from inside the car?
I’ve never smelled it at all with the top down in the roadster. It also still has the secondary cats, so it doesn’t actually smell awful overall, even if you walk around it from the outside.
Do you still have the E46 M3? or was that just a car you were reviewing at the time?
Just reviewed it at the time. The M3 on the channel is a family member’s car. The Z4M and Mustang GT are my personal cars.
look someone is driving a car?