stock exhaust noises

[jladdm3]

alright, i have a stock exhaust on my 95 automatic 318ti. when ever i take off or step on the gas the it sounds like it has a tin can straped to it. its been like that for a while. took it to the mechanic and they said the exhaust was fine. my dad seems to think its because of it being an automatic. do automatics sound different from standards? anyone have the same problem? lol kind of a dumb post but whatever.

[Anth2006]

I would like info on this aswell i have a 1997 318ti (manual) and my stock exhaust sounds awfull there is no holes and its in good condition but its really noisy and rattly

[davep-uk]

i'm starting to get that on mine but ive got a Magnex system, its been re-fitted twice now and i'm beginning to think its a faulty back box.

[mohaughn]

I have a manual and mine has a tinny puttering sound at low RPMs. Just the way the muffler sounds.

I would imagine that the internals are rusting and vibrating. Once the car is up at higher RPMs the louder exhaust masks the noise so you don't hear it. I've never driven or heard a brand new Ti or a new stock muffler so I'm not sure what the muffler sounds like brand new.

The same thing could happen to aftermarket mufflers. Probably more likely to happen if you live near salt water, or somewhere where they de-ice the roads in the winter. The outer muffler shell is most often coated in some kind of rust protection. So if it is never scratched to bare metal, it may not ever rust on the outside. That is why full stainless internal and external cost more money.

If the sound really bothers you replace it with a good aftermarket muffler. The mechanic is probably correct though that the muffler is working exactly as designed. They just sound puttery at low RPM's.