I Accidentally Made My BMW E46 M3 Sound Like a Ricer Civic - Catless Headers Install

After installing an aftermarket exhaust to my cheap BMW E46 M3, It was time to install catless headers in hopes of getting an even better sound out of the car. This was risky because I had no idea what the final result would sound like. There is one thing I did know, the exhaust note will get raspier. Some people like the raspiness of the E46 M3 and others don't. I'm somewhere in the middle. I like it and I don't. Only time will tell if I end up liking the end result after installing the catless headers. Let me know what you guys think in the comment section below.
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[@aa7h911]

The rasp was iconic to the E46 M3. Every time you heard it, you just knew what car it was. For its time and for the E46 M3 it was a good match

[@SuperHbkforever]

Completely agree with you. Every video you see of these cars driving around any track they sound like this! Iconic

[@lotusjp]

rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass!

[@manillamilkm2816]

Once you get the car all together, you should do a track day or autocross, it would make great content!

[@VehicleVirals]

Absolutely planning on it! I got the right set of wheels and coilovers for the track! 😉

[@hanleymajalang4629]

Yes,looking forward for it...it will be awesome vids...

[@trulyboosted1264]

I Dont like raspy sounding cars, but the e46 m3 gets a pass form me, love that thing

[@onlytrades3941]

As someone whose done his own headers on jack stands, most bolts can be reached from the top side, so it really isnt that difficult provided you have the proper swivel joints etc. Congrats on the headers :)

[@ServiceProcess]

Massive fan of the rasp, so when you put the headers back, and that brought the rasp back. I think you have an amazing sounding M3 there.

[@Jerem3iah]

When you are going to do the subframe, use power flex bushings and the reinforcement kit from bimmerworld

[@ChuBQBurgers]

I'm not sure why he didn't first reinforce the subframe and replace the bushings before all these mods, but to each their own

[@ServiceProcess]

Very good advice. I am going to be there about this time next year, going to do the subframe myself. I have the clunking on gear change. Currently though, the rod bearings are the priority.

[@jace5190]

Use the CMP Auto Engineering kit + their solid aluminium mounts & oem diff bushings. I have all of the above. Rear end will never come apart. And zero diff whine due to oem diff bushings. Powerflex bushings are rubbish. Solid mount the subframe to the racp.

[@korsion]

The rasp is iconic to the E46 M3, if you don't like the rasp it may not be the car for you.

[@lilgooey169]

Now you need a section 1 rasp pipe. I have the same headers with full Status Gruppe exhaust.

[@VehicleVirals]

Are you a fan of the E46 M3's rasp or not? I'm somewhere in the middle. Kinda like it, kind of don't.

[@nikossimoulidis]

Man stock e46 sound like shit,you made it amazing !

[@aznerol0770]

You mentioned the rasp later in the video, so I grabbed some headphones instead of just using my phone speaker. Honestly, the rasp is negligible compared to the sound of the engine and the new headers. It sounds waaay better than stock.

[@AzaanPD]

I don’t really like that rasp. I prefer a smooth sound like the new B58

[@kristofvadnai7468]

I think it was better after the exhaust upgrade Cars that sound like this are usually cheap shitboxes, I dont think the rasp fits the car

[@alexakossak4656]

Nahh

[@mmdeuro]

Not a fan of rasp. I have a 03 E46 M3 with a single Aero AR-20 anti-rasp resonator. Check them out

[@temio.463]

New subscriber here. Came upon your kid’s BMW toy video and I’ve been loving your content man! super hyped to see your projects go on, because you’re just really chill and you do your own thing. I appreciate that!

[@VehicleVirals]

Truly means a lot. Welcome to the channel man 👊🏼

[@simondubstep3253]

*It already sounded like a river Civic* 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@eddydevillelowks9499]

River 😂

[@NicoTheFriko]

So what do you drive

[@user-zb6ez4jl3u]

NicoTheFriko most e46s sound bad lol. Even my f82 sounds bad

[@NicoTheFriko]

M it is a love it or hate it sound. I’m a fan of the F80 m3 sound

[@esadkorkutovic3372]

M they sound better In person than on video. A single turbo f80 f82 has a very nice sound

[@jodykannemeyer2480]

Sounds amazing, much deeper than most E46 M3's I've heard. Shout out from South Africa your videos are awesome. 👌

[@migz_e46]

Great to see a fellow south African here😁🇿🇦

[@JohnStax98]

When the car is driving under load it sounds good, when its revved in Neutral it sounds bad. That being said I wouldn’t change anything about it.

[@michaelhall9138]

Fart-can, raspy sound? 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

[@brodiehaward]

I think it will sound perfect with some resonators, with that rasp, id be expecting a 90s civic, not an m3

[@andyfreeman6865]

Fun fact, Megan Racing headers ($250) are the same exact headers. It was confirmed they are made in the same Chinese plant. Megan Racing has better customer service too. To address the rasp, add a second resonator to section 1 of the exhaust. It's a very common and that deals with it.

[@floridaheat305]

I installed the Megan Racing headers they are perfect!

[@waspylol7471]

You should do some changes to the interior too! Nice car collection btw,I really want to see how the e30 will come out!

[@nickdavila8466]

The takeoff clip in the begging was sick shits spun in every gear sounded fast

[@jamppa4693]

The rasp just suits the car in my opinion

[@FFM0594]

As a Honda and BMW driver I disagree that it sounds like a Japanese car. So now what, internet? ;)

[@lotusjp]

You need to get your ears checked out as the first statement I'm going to make! Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass!

[@user-rd7lz1kn8j]

it reminds me of a 911

[@mikepgh09]

I have a similar setup but with HJS high flow cats in section 1 (no resonator) and a resonated x-pipe section 2 flowing back to the El Diablo. THIS is the sound you want. Deep with very little rasp or drone and absolutely screams at high revs. The section 2 makes all the difference.

[@lotusjp]

Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass! jon Sud Not for $1,400 for rear section and then on top of that installation charge maybe you like to give money away for nothing that's fine but most guys are not going to do that!

[@goldenhide]

Oh man. Rogue just came out with a pimpin', reliable, strong, and easy/cheap to replace/repair (and shim for fitment if you need the tips lower) replacement exhaust mount. They are pretty tight, can't wait to put 'em in with my El Diablo and RE X-Pipe.

[@Najman1910]

Sounds pretty good

[@lotusjp]

Frosty the Snowman I tend to disagree with you on that one! You have freezer burns on your inner ear! You need to get your ears checked out as the first statement I'm going to make! Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass! jon Sud Not for $1,400 for rear section and then on top of that installation charge maybe you like to give money away for nothing that's fine but most guys are not going to do that!

[@2be1withU]

CAlifornia car. Dinan exhaust with Supersprint section 2. Stock headers (CA of course). Sound deep at low RPM, then at 4K , there is a rasp but it sounds really good with engine underload all the way to 8K.

[@USM3C]

Yeah, I'm with you - I like it sometimes, sometimes I hate it. I'm currently shopping around for catless headers and exhaust for my E46 M3. One of the best-sounding combos I've come across is: Status Gruppe catless headers and the Megan Racing exhaust. OEM mid pipes stay as-is. Great sound. Have a listen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnepf2WIeNZol8U

[@seanpaul3050]

Sounds horrible, like something is loose or vibrating. Maybe would sound better if you had just modified the original stock muffler. Cut it open, wrap 75% of the perforations inside and then weld the muffler shut again.

[@dinkasaurus8243]

I'm not a fan of the rasp but I won't disparage people who love it since... well... that's how the car was produced from factory! I put an aftermarket setup that I really like bc it changed it to a deeper tone. Not as deep as the Rogue.

[@kristianfierro8644]

I want to get the BMW 335i but seeing every thing I need to do I don’t know anymore Cayuse don’t know jack sh*t about cars and I’m barely going into highs school

[@RoyalpriesthoodG12]

I don't know about you guys but I actually was expecting that type of results. I am running castles headers (agency power racing wrapped in insulation to eliminate some rattle) with mid pipe diablo rogue and magan muffler. I am not happy with the sound at all. It rattles just like in the video but not as much . It seems to me that every after market header is just a total waste of money. Did any one had a luck with opening stock headers and removing cats? What kind of difference would that make?

[@ziadmamdouh7987]

I love bmw inline 6 engines I HAVE THIER EXHAUST RASP! but your M3 rasp sounds good to be honest

[@startingtech3900]

You have their exhaust rasp? Lol

[@stopspin]

The "rasp" sound is more race focused performance,I have been so use to that sound from various types of race cars. Sound tuning on your exhaust is more for the street scene preference as diehard road course race drivers don't care about the sound, its all about what gives the best performance and usaully that rasp sound is known in regards to modified na cars, thats a common sound on the race track and I'm not referring to the drag strip guys but road course racers.

[@yhp99]

The rasp has gone from ugly to iconic. Sort of the way the 18inch oem wheels have become. Anything that maks it stand out becomes a trademark over time. And for that you gotta love it

[@zfloz9895]

I hate the raspy sound of the BMW exhaust. :( And I have an e46 330i, it has it a little bit, but I wish I could make it sound lower in tone. Congrats for your mods !

[@user-rd7lz1kn8j]

I LOVE IT

[@noobasdfjkl]

S54 without a crossover at section one with 2 3-1 exhausts will always rasp. You need a crossover pipe to get them to sound good.

[@ZacharyCastro]

Dual AR20 resonators on the section 1 will help eliminate the rasp. You can get them fairly cheap on amazon and have someone weld them on

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

not a fan of the metallic rasp. It did let through more of the 6 cylinder sound, but at the same time it sounds like a loose piece of metal vibrating all the time. If you can add mufflers after the headers to eliminate the rasp while keeping that gorgeous 6 cylinder sound, id go for it.

[@Heartical-Priest]

What about the smell of unburn fuel? How do you get rid of that?

[@lordgibbness]

Your vanos is very noisy. I'd get that rebuilt with the besian kit if I was you, before it breaks up...

[@bostonaudi]

Suggest getting all maintenance done before bolting toys into these cars, especially rear subframe.

[@PPJl]

Yo voy a poner los headers bekcker, yespero un mejor sonido y performsnce, cambié hace varios años el silenciador por un Megan

[@Riley1524]

Not a fan of that sound at all....There's a buzzing to it. Love your content otherwise

[@TheBigboySid]

It sounds bloody awesome. Don't change anything bout the sound now 😂

[@donttreadonusdotgov2086]

Change the Diablo shit bro... Those headers are nice but its the Catback that does not sound good...

[@jlongshort4045]

Rasp = honda for me.. which i dont see it as a bad thing. To much of it sounds too cheap and broken to me.

[@BiocasmGaming]

You made the mistake of getting short tube headers. Long tube headers make it sound like a baby gtr

[@sportcarluxury1924]

4:55 sneak peak of how the exhaust sounds😂😂😂, great video

[@VehicleVirals]

🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisanderson2204]

Lol, don't you know ricers have fart can as it adds 200+hp

[@chadriddle3517]

Also you have a cool mechanic. Ali seems legit an down to earth ! Like you .

[@mariolu2368]

Why are they no bubble sounds? Can someone explain when you get the bubble sounds

[@NicolaasPhotography]

Depends on the car.. some cars sound good with, some absolutely don't!

[@remifilasto6640]

Sad to say, but every E46 M3 already sound like a ricer 6 cyl civic

[@widoweditz]

Any updates on the 335?

[@VehicleVirals]

Yeap very soon.

[@luisrosales9349]

I’m not a fan of raspy exhaust notes but I love the note on the e46 m3

[@sh4l1s]

terrible sound of your exhaust, and you paid money to get it, lol

[@alexio3776]

Holy shit anyone see the m3 evo 2 when the man was pressure washing a fan

[@typedrew]

Put a stock airbox in this thing. But it sounds great. E46 us suppose to have rasp

[@lotusjp]

You need to get your ears checked out as the first statement I'm going to make! Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass! jon Sud Not for $1,400 for rear section and then on top of that installation charge maybe you like to give money away for nothing that's fine but most guys are not going to do that!

[@buzz1629]

Not sure what your hearing...... but that sounds awful!

[@popchopper3385]

I think u should make it loud it's gonna be sick I can't wait

[@kouroshtashvishi5031]

Tell Ali I love the style 32 wheels. Very similar to my style 73 wheels

[@Jheysoos]

Can I ask how much did you pay for it?

[@Scottie_70]

you need a section 1 with dual resonators to get rid of the rasp

[@MrLaloman18]

You expected it to sound more like a sheetty honda ricer!

[@kukuboat]

sounds better than the burble bs everyone is doing these days.

[@adamsargeson520]

I have owned both hondas and BMW’s ...there’s nothing wrong with hondas ...the only people who don’t like hondas are people who’ve never driven them

[@VehicleVirals]

Not sure why you're making that comment. No one talked bad about Hondas.

[@_anonico]

How is the car running now??? Update vid?

[@8MWm3e4b]

When Putin drives M3 you get Rasputin

[@SavageBunny1]

Get the 6-1 headers bro, I would try the ebay ones for $800, or if you have the cash, get the real American Racing ones.

[@VehicleVirals]

These are staying on the car. I'll modify the mid section of anything.

[@ismetgurman7407]

Hey can you pass emissions with those headers?

[@hyslopboys9600]

Sorry, that sounds awful imo.

[@quintonrb25]

carbon airbox makes it sound incredible

[@RIVIMAX]

Bro you have Adam lz’s shop next door

[@paulpateman3968]

Doesn’t sound to bad you really need a CSL intake to make it awesome 😎

[@lotusjp]

You need to get your ears checked out as the first statement I'm going to make! Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass! jon Sud Not for $1,400 for rear section and then on top of that installation charge maybe you like to give money away for nothing that's fine but most guys are not going to do that!

[@Jerem3iah]

That expansion tank is a common problem among all e46 m3’s. Luckily, mine hasn’t broken yet.

[@SavageBunny1]

I ran mine broken for about 30k miles, it would only leak if I abused it, cost me about $100 in coolant 😂

[@calebroy8957]

i reckon stock headers sounded so much better.

[@eddydevillelowks9499]

We here and watching all vids on point !

[@deathisfreedom1442]

Id personally try to get a deep sound with a slight rasp. Keep some of the legendary e46 m3 rasp but tone it down, more like a slight touch, so you know what it is but it isnt overwhelming. But please, Chris, we all love new, shiny things, but take care of the subframe and rod bearings FIRST. do that asap. as cool as new wheels, intake, cams and whatnot are, all if that doesnt do you any good if the engine blows up or your rear axle says goodbye at 80 mp/h

[@VehicleVirals]

Taking care of all the maintenance stuff next :)

[@deathisfreedom1442]

@@VehicleVirals Awesome man! Im looking forward to it!

[@UlisesNQ]

Definetly does not sound like a civic! Deep toned and sounds like a bimmer

[@lotusjp]

Why we putting Civic in the conversation its economy crap car my 328i GT will beat it or stay with it in any version that Honda puts out so please don't mention Honda unless you talkin about a NSX and then we'll talk about different ball game altogether!!

[@warzone6882]

check out me set up ,about to tune it just now

[@JrIza_914]

should've got the ceramic coated, and headers on jackstands is not that bad, I did mine

[@VehicleVirals]

That's awesome man!

[@ritamo68]

What brand of headers did you use?

[@Streetmodz-Joe]

LOVED the rasp on ma M3.

[@lotusjp]

You need to get your ears checked out as the first statement I'm going to make! Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass!

[@Streetmodz-Joe]

@@lotusjp each to there own 👏🏿

[@filipwennergren2712]

Rasp!!!

[@lotusjp]

Rasp is crap and München blew it !! section 2 resonator from status gruppe or MagnaFlow will correct the problem as well as scorpion and Scorpion offers a full exhaust for $1,300 plus installation and it sounds awesome better than your Rogue without the headers on the other hand the status group at with headers sounds awesome and they have the resonator delete midsection to! The best exhaust on the market 4 E46 M3 the wrestler just noisemakers too high-pitched and annoying It's okay if you want to go on the track with it but on the road it's annoying and a pain in the ass! jon Sud Not for $1,400 for rear section and then on top of that installation charge maybe you like to give money away for nothing that's fine but most guys are not going to do that!

[@Nunyabznis]

Can explain what you mean by “ricer civic”? It’s new to me.

[@VehicleVirals]

Google it.

[@RaphaelRac]

That exhaust sounded better before

[@Latinblood59]

I must be a ricer because I like the sound lol

[@VehicleVirals]

I think I might be one too lol.

[@edwardfo44]

where tf did u find m3 for 3k?????

[@kenbias3523]

Still better than the stock system

[@thatbimmerguy2747]

How can u not like the rasp?

[@spussego]

i think you need to sort out oil leak first.... the grime on that under plate that was pressure washed indicates an oil leak and that's a more fundamental fix for the M3 than tires with aftermarket rims....

[@VehicleVirals]

That is SMG fluid residue from the manual conversion.

[@spussego]

@@VehicleVirals oh okay.... good luck with your build.... I just put on an K&N filter into my stock air box, MST Inlet pipe, & Evolution Raceworks Anodized Charge pipe in my 2015 f30 335xi M Performance Edition.... the boost is now soooo smooth... the engine literally runs 15 C cooler on highway driving... and the induction noise is off the walls....

[@stevenbondx]

Haha 😂 funny title

[@stockings3333]

The only reason the 46 is my favourite is due to the rasp... Especially light throttling through half rev range It's just the best. Headers actually influence more rasp but will confirm closer to the end of your video

[@robertb105]

Rule #1 never wear clean clothe/shoes when working on cars....

[@VehicleVirals]

Well. I was working on a car.

[@scottChapman25]

E46 have the best engine noises

[@CarCounsel]

Your title make me grin a bit... When I watched your Rogue vid I had the same thought about that, at least on video. But I have yet to hear one in person. I’ve never swapped an exhaust on a BMW M car we own; I just wait for the internals to wear out a bit.

[@friguy4444]

I just did this job on mine. All the bolts can come out from the top. As well go in from the top. There's no use in having the secondary air pump still in the car when you've taken the cats out. The only purpose for it is to heat up the cats when you do a cold start.

[@laltluangkimatluanga1763]

6in to 1 will be better than that

[@andrewdoubek8196]

I have a similar setup (AP catless headers, stock sect 1&2, Diablo axle back,) and was also surprised by the increase in rasp. I find that the rasp is only significant below 4k rpm under load, but at the top end of the rev range the sound cleans up and it screams beautifully. I am searching for something to tone down the rasp because I dont like sounding like a ricer when tooling around town.