DO NOT install the ZCP Sports Exhaust on your standard M3/M4

[Super Spartan]

When I ordered my ZCP M4 LCI, I ordered it with the MPE so they installed the MPE at the dealership the moment they received the car. So I had the sports exhaust brand new still with them.

I have a friend who has a 2016 F80 M3 so I gifted the sports exhaust to him.

Long story short, he had the dealership install it and what do you know, the exhaust sound was much worse. He showed me 2 videos of the same revs in the same location and the stock exhaust was much louder than the Sports exhaust.

Just wanted to share this for anyone who is thinking of doing this to not waste your time as the sports exhaust would only sound good with the competition package and gives worse sound than the stock exhaust on a non ZCP M3/M4.

[franken116710]

maybe he hasn't broken in the ZCP exhaust not sure though.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by franken116710

maybe he hasn't broken in the ZCP exhaust not sure though.

I told him that but it sounded so bad that he didn't want to wait to try to break it in as he didn't expect it to improve drastically over what it was.

I'm still surprised by this to be honest.... I expected it to be a nice little upgrade for my friend......I knew he wouldn't get the extra burbles from the ZCP tune but definitely didn't expect it to sound that much quieter.

[dmboone25]

Perhaps the coding is just as important as the hardware swap?

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Perhaps the coding is just as important as the hardware swap?

I guess, BMW Dubai would not do any coding and if he does it himself his 5 year warranty is gone so that's out of the question

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Snappy Phoenix

I guess, BMW Dubai would not do any coding and if he does it himself his 5 year warranty is gone so that's out of the question

Well that makes sense on the aftermarket side - my guess is that beyond the ZCP "tune" there must be other changes (like the burbles and start-up roar) that can affect how the standard ZCP exhaust sounds.

I wonder if there are other hardware differences (besides the mufflers) that we aren't aware of?

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Well that makes sense on the aftermarket side - my guess is that beyond the ZCP "tune" there must be other changes (like the burbles and start-up roar) that can affect how the standard ZCP exhaust sounds.

I wonder if there are other hardware differences (besides the mufflers) that we aren't aware of?

When I asked here if I am able to sell my ZCP Sports Exhaust to others, as if, would be an honest sell and a real upgrade to the new owner, what I was told is that it would be an improvement but not the same as the actual ZCP car, what we saw is totally different after this experiment. Thank GOD I gifted it to the guy and not sold it as he would have been really mad since he had to pay for installation charges at the dealership which were very high.

See: Can I sell the Competition Package Sports Exhaust?

[BoxKing]

You also have to realize that every F8X stock car, ZCP or not, could have slightly different exhaust notes- regardless to them being exact builds. With regards to what I just wrote, and with this being what appears to be an isolated incident; I'm gonna have to call this thread a FAIL, bc you have no supporting evidence that the ZCP exhaust on a non ZCP would yield the same results as the next guy, or with all the others that have done the same.

The above reply with regards to "break in" could be the sole issue... but I guess we will never know what your friends true expectations were by swapping. +1 for gifting it to him. That was a true solid.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by BoxKing

You also have to realize that every F8X stock car, ZCP or not, could have slightly different exhaust notes- regardless to them being exact builds. With regards to what I just wrote, and with this being what appears to be an isolated incident; I'm gonna have to call this thread a FAIL, bc you have no supporting evidence that the ZCP exhaust on a non ZCP would yield the same results as the next guy, or with all the others that have done the same.

The above reply with regards to "break in" could be the sole issue... but I guess we will never know what your friends true expectations were by swapping. +1 for gifting it to him. That was a true solid.

you have a point there and it may or not be a different and hopefully positive experience for someone else. Just wanted to share our experience.

[Super Spartan]

I will ask my friend tomorrow if he can share the before and after exhaust clips to share with y'all

[Justin.AutoTalent]

Was the exhaust cut and clamped on? Chances are it's just the result of an exhaust leak. I've heard a zcp muffler on none zcp and you can tell it's deeper

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by Justin.AutoTalent

Was the exhaust cut and clamped on? Chances are it's just the result of an exhaust leak. I've heard a zcp muffler on none zcp and you can tell it's deeper

yes it was. He told me he did notice the sound is deeper but not louder, I don't know if it makes any sense but it sounded more like a deep exhaust of a sports car but not anywhere near as loud as the stock exhaust.

[Justin.AutoTalent]

Originally Posted by Snappy Phoenix

yes it was. He told me he did notice the sound is deeper but not louder, I don't know if it makes any sense but it sounded more like a deep exhaust of a sports car but not anywhere near as loud as the stock exhaust.

Maybe check the clamps. The sound levels are roughly the same

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by Justin.AutoTalent

Maybe check the clamps. The sound levels are roughly the same

well too late now, he already reverted back to his old exhaust and is happy now his car sounds like it did before

[PayamFSU]

Needs to be broken in, sounds amazing, I did it on my non ZCP

[BoxKing]

Here's the thing... I bet your MPE sounds great and I wish I built my build with it as well.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by BoxKing

Here's the thing... I bet your MPE sounds great and I wish I built my build with it as well.

Well this is an honest review from a person who owned the 2017 non ZCP M4 and now the 2018 ZCP M4 + the M Performance Exhaust.

As fast as the 2017 M4 was and how I loved the interior, the power, the handling, there was something always lacking which kept me always wanting more, and that was the sound, it was too silent for me unless I had the convertible top down and was at WOT. I always regretted not getting the MPE but I couldn't for the life of me digest the price. Over here in Dubai it costs around 15,000 USD in total for the MPE + 4 carbon fiber exhaust tips

Fast forward to a few months back, when I ordered the 2018 M4 Convertible Competition, I knew the competition package had better exhaust note with more burbles and crackles but from what I've heard it didn't excite me enough so this time, I ordered the M4 with the MPE from the get go and kept telling myself that's what the car costs in total vs getting it and then upgrading and man am I blown away. Every acceleration is a new aural pleasure of excitement. In all honesty, when BMW went down from a V8 to an inline 6 engine again, they should have kept the MPE as standard for all M3s/M4s, it completes the car now and don't waste your time listening/watching any YouTube videos, hear on in person in Sports or Sports+ mode and you will be blown away by the roar which sounds like angry thunder.

It's never too late though, you can always install it so have no regrets my friend.

This video shows you how the MPE sound much deeper / louder even than the sports exhaust but in real life, that sound which you hear is like 4 times louder and is enough to scare all the birds in your neighbourhood away

[hanafimahmoud]

Originally Posted by Snappy Phoenix

I guess, BMW Dubai would not do any coding and if he does it himself his 5 year warranty is gone so that's out of the question

Coding voids the warranty?

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by hanafimahmoud

Coding voids warranty?

Yes any coding done to the car for anything will void the car's warranty (at least for us here in Dubai). I was wanting to code the seatbelt chimes off and a few other things I saw on a site that does remote coding, but then I checked with AGMC, and they told me any coding will void the warranty. And they also said that they can easily detect it when the car goes for service.

[jackkk]

The main changes are in the flash.

I got the ZCP exhaust flash and I drove the M4 competiton. I can not mention any changes in the sound except that my exhaust is louder as I got catless downpipes.

[Brasko]

I went from a 2016 M3 Non-ZCP with dealer installed MPE to a 2016 M3 ZCP and had the dealer swap the exhaust system. The Non-ZCP vehicle received the ZCP Sports Exhaust and had not issues with sound. The MPE was installed on the ZCP with no issues either.

Both vehicles were identical builds with the exception of the Competition Pack.

Has anyone assessed the install? I understand the dealer did the work, but I'd take a look and verify that there aren't any exhaust leaks, cracks, missing/loose bolts, etc. Worse things have been known to happen during dealer services.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by Brasko

I went from a 2016 M3 Non-ZCP with dealer installed MPE to a 2016 M3 ZCP and had the dealer swap the exhaust system. The Non-ZCP vehicle received the ZCP Sports Exhaust and had not issues with sound. The MPE was installed on the ZCP with no issues either.

Both vehicles were identical builds with the exception of the Competition Pack.

Has anyone assessed the install? I understand the dealer did the work, but I'd take a look and verify that there aren't any exhaust leaks, cracks, missing/loose bolts, etc. Worse things have been known to happen during dealer services.

do you have any comparison of before and after the dealership installed the Sports exhaust from the ZCP to your old non ZCP M4?

If You don't have any video which I'm guessing you don't, would you say that the ZCP exhaust improved the exhaust note on the non-ZCP M4?