[JABCAT]

Installed the Dinan x-pipe & MAD axle-back exhaust today. Ordered from Xtreme Powerhouse along with BMS intake for my wife's X3MC. Great prices, service, and fast shipping.

Both the Dinan x-pipe & MAD exhaust are excellent quality. Neither comes with installation instructions, but Dinan has some on their website. MAD does not have any that I could find.

I removed the entire stock exhaust to make the cuts necessary for the Dinan pipe. Seems like an easier option than cutting it on the car. Removal of the oem exhaust is super simple and takes about 10 min with an impact once the car is up.

Total install time was 3 hours with my son & I working in a 115-degree garage. A decent chunk of that was figuring out we had the rear pipes on the wrong side (they're not labeled). After we got that remedied, the rear muffler section went into place nicely. I also had a very dull blade on my sawzall so the cuts took longer than they should have. Now I could do the swap in an hour pretty easily.

That said, the exhaust note is definitely smoother, and maybe a bit deeper.
I don't feel it's much louder than oem with the valves open. To be fair, I pulled the valve fuse a long time ago and only drive with the valves open. Went for a quick drive with the windows down and the sound of the MAD intake easily drowns out the exhaust. If I were to consider it again, I probably would't spend $2,200 for it.

*I noticed a tinny rattle when I got back in the garage. I made sure everything was tight & that there were't any clearance issues. I'll have to wait until next weekend to get back under there and check it out.

Here's some pics & a video (valves open).

[JABCAT]

Think I found the rattle - the exhaust flaps are not opening but are rattling. Thoughts?

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Think I found the rattle - the exhaust flaps are not opening but are rattling. Thoughts?

On your MAD axle-back, the valves aren’t opening? And you have a valve controller? In that picture they look open…

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

On your MAD axle-back, the valves aren’t opening? And you have a valve controller? In that picture they look open…

They were open when I started the car after install, however they apparently closed when I went for a drive. When I checked for the rattle I noticed them closed & it appears that's where the rattle is coming from. My understanding is they're supposed to work the same as oem, open in sport+, and they're not. I do not have a valve controller.

Got on tollway last night & it's definitely louder in the cabin at 75-80 mph & maybe some drone(?). I have a 3.5 hour drive this morning, will see if I like it or not.

[BroDoze]

That’s not good if there’s drone. I literally had FedEx drop the MAD axle-back off 2 days ago.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

That’s not good if there’s drone. I literally had FedEx drop the MAD axle-back off 2 days ago.

Just drove 4 hours straight freeway. I don't know if it's drone but in 7th/8th gear at about 2k rpms it does "hum". You can definitely tell the difference if you let off the gas because the car goes basically silent. Was a little better in efficient mode vs sport mode. I'd like to get those valves open to see if that makes a difference.

I did have to turn the music up a little louder than usual & maybe I got used to it later on in the trip because I didn't seem to notice it as much as in the beginning.

[Ehloo]

you hear the rattling all the time or only on start up:cold start?

i installed my tfl exhaust last weekend and getting a little rattling with cold starts. it’s definitely from the valves but once the rpm drop it stops

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Think I found the rattle - the exhaust flaps are not opening but are rattling. Thoughts?

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Ehloo

you hear the rattling all the time or only on start up:cold start?

i installed my tfl exhaust last weekend and getting a little rattling with cold starts. it’s definitely from the valves but once the rpm drop it stops

Any time it revs. Definitely coming from the valve flap area.

[mike@x-ph.com]

the valves are either not installed correctly or defective. i recommend you double check the install and make sure its done correctly, if so send the proof to MAD and see what they say

[Ehloo]

wow it must be that loud to hear it in the cabin.

from all the exhaust videos i have heard in YT it appears all exhaust have some type of valve rattle at startup. maybe its not really the valves

i would check the valve install as Mike mentioned. did you reconnect the fuse and valves operate as they should?

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Any time it revs. Definitely coming from the valve flap area.

[Southtown]

Getting the Mad muffler eliminated the rattle I had with stock muffler/valves paired with a AA equal length midpipe. (And that rattle was loud).

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

the valves are either not installed correctly or defective. i recommend you double check the install and make sure its done correctly, if so send the proof to MAD and see what they say

Thanks Mike, can't really mess up installing the valve controllers. I made sure driver went on driver/passenger on passenger. Checked the connection of the extended wire harness supplied as well, all connected correctly.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Ehloo

wow it must be that loud to hear it in the cabin.

from all the exhaust videos i have heard in YT it appears all exhaust have some type of valve rattle at startup. maybe its not really the valves

i would check the valve install as Mike mentioned. did you reconnect the fuse and valves operate as they should?

I can only hear it with the window down or standing outside the car.

[Info@mad-us.com]

Hey,

Can you describe in detail what's going on so I can attempt to help.

From what I gather you have a rattle when the valves are closed but the valves are locked open with the fuse pulled?

[MASHCT]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

They were open when I started the car after install, however they apparently closed when I went for a drive. When I checked for the rattle I noticed them closed & it appears that's where the rattle is coming from. My understanding is they're supposed to work the same as oem, open in sport+, and they're not. I do not have a valve controller.

Got on tollway last night & it's definitely louder in the cabin at 75-80 mph & maybe some drone(?). I have a 3.5 hour drive this morning, will see if I like it or not.

Howdy Jabcat!

I don't have any drone or rattle in mine. Zip, zero, nada. I didn't do my install, though - had a local exhaust specialty shop do it.

I have the SST exhaust controller, even with 100% open, there is no drone. Odd as we have the same set up. With that controller at 100% open, it is louder than OEM. I wouldn't say it's leaps & bounds louder, and like you, I noticed MUCH deeper tone, which I prefer vs increased volume.

I can flip the SST back to OEM & even 100% closed. That does quiet it down quite a bit!

One thing I definitely like vs OEM is no HUGE, unsightly udder visible from the back.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Info@mad-us.com

Hey,

Can you describe in detail what's going on so I can attempt to help.

From what I gather you have a rattle when the valves are closed but the valves are locked open with the fuse pulled?

Thanks for hopping in here. The valves were open when I initially started the car after install (as shown in my initial post). Went for a drive and the valves closed. Pulled back onto my garage and could hear a slight "tinny" rattle coming from underneath the rear. Had my wife rev it a little and determined the rattle was most likely coming from the valve flap. The flaps are locked closed, and do not open in M2/sport + mode as the oems do.

I made sure the oem valve controller from the driver's side was installed on the driver's side & same with the passenger side. Connected the wire harness extensions & ensured they're plugged in correctly.

I mentioned that I had pulled the fuse to keep the oem flaps open, however I replaced the fuse when I installed the new exhaust.

Suggestions?

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by MASHCT

Howdy Jabcat!

I don't have any drone or rattle in mine. Zip, zero, nada. I didn't do my install, though - had a local exhaust specialty shop do it.

I have the SST exhaust controller, even with 100% open, there is no drone. Odd as we have the same set up. With that controller at 100% open, it is louder than OEM. I wouldn't say it's leaps & bounds louder, and like you, I noticed MUCH deeper tone, which I prefer vs increased volume.

I can flip the SST back to OEM & even 100% closed. That does quiet it down quite a bit!

One thing I definitely like vs OEM is no HUGE, unsightly udder visible from the back.

I will say, I may be more susceptible to what people refer to as drone with exhausts. There is a definite hum at 2k rpm, not below & not above.

[Ehloo]

valves automatically revert backs to closed when you trim the car off? that’s what i thought. if they are locked closed are you sure the valves are even opening? maybe the wrong fuse

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Thanks for hopping in here. The valves were open when I initially started the car after install (as shown in my initial post). Went for a drive and the valves closed. Pulled back onto my garage and could hear a slight "tinny" rattle coming from underneath the rear. Had my wife rev it a little and determined the rattle was most likely coming from the valve flap. The flaps are locked closed, and do not open in M2/sport + mode as the oems do.

I made sure the oem valve controller from the driver's side was installed on the driver's side & same with the passenger side. Connected the wire harness extensions & ensured they're plugged in correctly.

I mentioned that I had pulled the fuse to keep the oem flaps open, however I replaced the fuse when I installed the new exhaust.

Suggestions?

[MASHCT]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

I will say, I may be more susceptible to what people refer to as drone with exhausts. There is a definite hum at 2k rpm, not below & not above.

Hmmm... I do hate drone too. I have permanent tinnitus from years of metal/prog concerts & guitar playing. LOL. Drone absolutely bugs the hell outta me!

Maybe do a check that the rubber hangars/ bushings are mounted correctly & no part of the pipe is touching any part of the car, creating a vibration?

I know for the Dinan midpipe, those rubber hangars for the exhaust mounts are required to slant forwards toward the front of the car. Doubt that is causing any vibration or resonance but might be worth a double check to be sure nothing is touching the underbody/exhaust cavity.

[Info@mad-us.com]

Originally Posted by MASHCT

Hmmm... I do hate drone too. I have permanent tinnitus from years of metal/prog concerts & guitar playing. LOL. Drone absolutely bugs the hell outta me!

Maybe do a check that the rubber hangars/ bushings are mounted correctly & no part of the pipe is touching any part of the car, creating a vibration?

I know for the Dinan midpipe, those rubber hangars for the exhaust mounts are required to slant forwards toward the front of the car. Doubt that is causing any vibration or resonance but might be worth a double check to be sure nothing is touching the underbody/exhaust cavity.

That pipe looks pretty close in the photo I would definitely check that it has a gap..

[Info@mad-us.com]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Thanks for hopping in here. The valves were open when I initially started the car after install (as shown in my initial post). Went for a drive and the valves closed. Pulled back onto my garage and could hear a slight "tinny" rattle coming from underneath the rear. Had my wife rev it a little and determined the rattle was most likely coming from the valve flap. The flaps are locked closed, and do not open in M2/sport + mode as the oems do.

I made sure the oem valve controller from the driver's side was installed on the driver's side & same with the passenger side. Connected the wire harness extensions & ensured they're plugged in correctly.

I mentioned that I had pulled the fuse to keep the oem flaps open, however I replaced the fuse when I installed the new exhaust.

Suggestions?


Honestly I've never encountered this issue before. Typically if there was an issue with the wiring or the fuse you messed with they wouldn't move at all.

With installation of our exhaust the valves should work as they did with the stock exhaust.

[MASHCT]

Originally Posted by Info@mad-us.com

That pipe looks pretty close in the photo I would definitely check that it has a gap..

Oh that's a pic from Dinan's instructions. Wanted to show 2 specific points Dinan makes about the install. Maybe they could help Jabcat diagnose.