[Spectremotorsports]

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I’m in the process of narrowing down my hunt for a new car and have zeroed in on either an M8 comp convertible or an M850i convertible. I recently drove both back to back and while the M8 felt a bit sharper the thing I was most surprised by is the exhaust? The M8 felt very restrained and muted (even in the sportiest settings) and the m850i straight bellowed and popped like a muscle car and sounded like it had significantly more bass to it’s tone.

It there a minor modification that can be done to bring the M8 a deeper/bassier tone like the m850? Or alternatively, has anyone else considered both and went with the m850i instead?

[Wavy]

I've heard that the 850 is the loudest out of all the trims. You'd think the M would be loudest. You could always change the muffler.

[Tenac]

Is the M8 and M850i new? If not what years, there was a software update that neutered all of them but if you found a used one it might not have been updated... But yeah replace the res with an X pipe for starters and secondary cats remove those and you will see a huge difference with the M8. Those are affordable and have no impact on the overall car other than sounds and breaths a bit better due to removing two of the four cats.

[Spectremotorsports]

Originally Posted by Tenac

Is the M8 and M850i new? If not what years, there was a software update that neutered all of them but if you found a used one it might not have been updated... But yeah replace the res with an X pipe for starters and secondary cats remove those and you will see a huge difference with the M8. Those are affordable and have no impact on the overall car other than sounds and breaths a bit better due to removing two of the four cats.

The M8 I drove was a '22 and the 850i was a '23.

Good to know about the x pipe and the cats. Thanks!

[Tenac]

Yeah they should both be updated I believe with those years. I remember a M8 2019 I took for a test spin and that thing was loud when compared to my 22.

[chancellorbeem]

Every time I let go of the gas pedal on sport mode there are pop and bangs. A nuisance on local roads but it’s the life I chose. On a 2019 build m850i

[Spectremotorsports]

Originally Posted by chancellorbeem

Every time I let go of the gas pedal on sport mode there are pop and bangs. A nuisance on local roads but it’s the life I chose. On a 2019 build m850i

The pops and bangs always bring a smile to my face, so much so that it’s got me considering the “lesser” of the two models just for the sound.

[ksa]

Yea I've got a 2019 M850 and in Sport Plus with transmission to sport, and all I gotta do is tap the gas for it pop and crackle. And this is all stock. I am contemplating a tune and downpipes but don't want to make it obnoxious. My F Type R's exhaust is still miles better, but the pop and crackle that m850 pulls was definitely a pleasant surprise.

[Moopai]

I've updated my car to the latest software which 03/2023.67 and I still have the loud pops and bangs...

Originally Posted by Tenac

Is the M8 and M850i new? If not what years, there was a software update that neutered all of them but if you found a used one it might not have been updated... But yeah replace the res with an X pipe for starters and secondary cats remove those and you will see a huge difference with the M8. Those are affordable and have no impact on the overall car other than sounds and breaths a bit better due to removing two of the four cats.

[mjr24]

I can honestly say my M8 GC has the shittiest and quietest exhaust of any M car I’ve ever owned (and I thought my 22 X5M was crappy).

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by Moopai

I've updated my car to the latest software which 03/2023.67 and I still have the loud pops and bangs...

Yup still there just not as pronounced after I believe it was a mid 2020 year update to all BMW's. I stopped my service team from updating my X3M40i and it has more noise than my M8 when it was stock.... lol If you search this forum you will see a lot of discussion before we found the release notes from BMW calling it out.

[TupperBMW]

The M850i is a nice sounding car, for a stock car.

Has anybody heard it at load from the outside at higher than parking lot speeds?

I never get the chance to hear it from the outside as I’m always driving it. I would love to hear a drive by of my car at higher revs, but alas I’d have to make my wife do that and I don’t think she’d be too into it. I love the burbles and pops but, again, I never get to hear them from the outside.

[mbutter104]

I appreciate this post as I am looking at the same challenge in what year and if a M8 or 850i. I was looking at then upgrading the exhaust to an API or AC Schnitzer. SO at a standstill until there is a bit more input into this thread. Nice job to all explaining the issues and what is needed. I looked at also Dahler flap control that looked very interesting on get the both of best worlds with quite and loud modes.

[Spectremotorsports]

Originally Posted by mbutter104

I appreciate this post as I am looking at the same challenge in what year and if a M8 or 850i. I was looking at then upgrading the exhaust to an API or AC Schnitzer. SO at a standstill until there is a bit more input into this thread. Nice job to all explaining the issues and what is needed. I looked at also Dahler flap control that looked very interesting on get the both of best worlds with quite and loud modes.

It’s really really tough trying to decide between the two cars. The M8 obviously performs a bit better at the limit, but the 850i just sounds so much meaner. All the aftermarket exhaust options for the M seem to be crazy expensive aside from the suggestions to delete the secondary and put in an x pipe.

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by Tenac

Yup still there just not as pronounced after I believe it was a mid 2020 year update to all BMW's. I stopped my service team from updating my X3M40i and it has more noise than my M8 when it was stock.... lol If you search this forum you will see a lot of discussion before we found the release notes from BMW calling it out.

The BMW exhaust gate campaign kicked off with 03/2020 iD7 and to my chagrin they snuck it into 11/2019.80 released in June 2020. The chagrin being I though I was being smart by not upgrading to 03/2020.xx but they got me anyway. 😜

[bloozemanAZ]

Originally Posted by Tenac

Yeah they should both be updated I believe with those years. I remember a M8 2019 I took for a test spin and that thing was loud when compared to my 22.

Must have been a 2020 but with an early 2019 build date similar to my 2020 M850i with a 10/2019 build date. Until the exhaust gate hit the M850i was aggressive but still delivers in Sport Individual with the transmission on Sport and engine on Sport Plus.

[bloozemanAZ]

There's some 2019 M850i brethren still driving around with 11/2019.60 which is untouched by exhaust gate. That's a gurgle in Comfort and pop/bang show in Sport or Sport Plus. 👍

[mbutter104]

Thank you! getting to look at the 850i as adding one of the aftermarket exhaust costs to an M8 is about $5-6K

[mbutter104]

I will start looking at the 2019's with low miles. The problem is getting one to drive. Most seam to be on the East Coast and I am on the West Coast