Active vs Akro Pros / Cons

[Wes Howell]

I have been researching this....and here are my initial conclusions.

I have heard the AA on the E60 M5 and love the sound of it far more than anything else that I have heard.

However, HP is my biggest concern on my M3.

It seems the Akro with ESS tune is putting 35 hp to the rear wheels
It appears that the AA full system with high flow cats is closer to 20 with tune?

They're both complete systems and expensive exhausts... The akro is a bit lighter, but not a ton more. I can save money with the AA but I lose some HP? And the akro may look a bit prettier from behind while the AA may have a slightly better exhaust note?


Feel free to disagree and chime in with your opinions. I'd appreciate it.

Looking to get into an exhaust ASAP. I'll let ya know which direction I choose.

[DOUT]

you will make about the same power with each, as one muffler is not much more restrictive than the other.
however, an AA muffler paired with a catless x pipe will make more power than just the Akra with the stock x pipe, and the same the other way around.
full catless akra will yield about the same power gains as full catless AA
high flow catted akra will yield about the same power gains as high flow catted AA

[UNNATRAL]

akra ftw

[Wes Howell]

Originally Posted by UNNATRAL

akra ftw

Why? More deets.


Would love to hear from those that have experience with both...and the related tuning (ESS / AA)

[WCM3]

If your biggest concern is power, look at Gintani..

[Jaypod]

Both are great systems and are going to yield similar gains with similar set ups. I have the the full AA set up with HFC's and just love the sound. I know people with the Akra Evo and they love the sound. My advice to you is to go with the system that you like the sound as on a 400+ Hp car you are not going to feel few hp either way.
If hp is your real concern you better start looking at superchargers........

[Wes Howell]

Thanks for the feedback.

While SC is probably gonna happen down the road, I just wanted to keep this thing NA and get it tuned a little more. I have an E60 M5 and I just wanted a little more umph to put the 3 on a more level playing field I figure if I can squeeze about 35-40 RWHP with all the bolt ons and a tune...the M5 won't be faster unless we're rolling at 120...

lol

I have the AA on my M5 and I love it.

[J08M3]

AA full system is pretty loud. It sounds awesome though, the tone is far better than the Akra tone. But if you don't want really loud then Akra is for you.

[1MORELAP]

If your biggest concern is power look at a super charger.

[Rshane]

Ha ha, I love this site.

Op: Need opinions on pros and cons of two exhaust systems, which do you feel is best and why?
Peanut Gallery: Supercharger

I've been going through a similar dilema, and have decided on the Akra, simply for weight savings, looks, and performance gains. However, the main reason was drone. I want a system that does not drone when I am driving, and from all the searching I've done, it seems the Akra system does not drone...well no more than the stock system anyways.

I had an A5 3.2 which I put in a AWE cat-back system...sounded awesome...just like a V8, I loved the sound, but the drone on the highway gave me a headache and I ended up taking it off, so I want to make sure I don't get something I won't have to take off later on.

[1cleanm6]

if i was going to spend 6k+ for a full exhaust and tune, i would go for the ESS 535 supercharger for 8k.

[BMRLVR]

If the system must be quiet, out of these choices the Akrapovic is the one to buy!!! They are pretty equal as far as power is concerned.

[Omerta]

Originally Posted by e60cs5

I have been researching this....and here are my initial conclusions.

I have heard the AA on the E60 M5 and love the sound of it far more than anything else that I have heard.

The motor in the M5 produces a completely different exhaust note, so don't go by that to make your decision. Not saying the AA sounds bad at all, just saying you can not tell what it is going to sound like on your M3 from that reference.

[baarii]

My observations made with both the systems paired with a catless xpipe
1. AA drones, the Akra verrrryy little.
2. At idle they they are about the same.
3. Up top AA screams.. and its pretty nice
4. On a long drive Akra is def more confortable.
5. You can easily have conversations in the car with the AA, Akra is even better in that sense.
6. I dont have dynos to back my word, but to me AA def made more power (Switched from Meisterschaft GTS to AA to Akra. (Yes to me it was noticeable)
7. Quality wise i think they are both at the same level just diff materials. If AA made a titanium exhaust i am sure it would look just as good. AA is def a great solid looking system with a great finish.
8. Sometimes i felt like there is too much going on with the Akra tips. AA tips are nice and perfect size IMO.

[baarii]

Originally Posted by J08M3

A It sounds awesome though, the tone is far better than the Akra tone.

+1

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by e60cs5

I have been researching this....and here are my initial conclusions.

I have heard the AA on the E60 M5 and love the sound of it far more than anything else that I have heard.

However, HP is my biggest concern on my M3.

It seems the Akro with ESS tune is putting 35 hp to the rear wheels
It appears that the AA full system with high flow cats is closer to 20 with tune?

They're both complete systems and expensive exhausts... The akro is a bit lighter, but not a ton more. I can save money with the AA but I lose some HP? And the akro may look a bit prettier from behind while the AA may have a slightly better exhaust note?


Feel free to disagree and chime in with your opinions. I'd appreciate it.

Looking to get into an exhaust ASAP. I'll let ya know which direction I choose.

Omerta's correct. You cannot compare exhaust sound from an M5 to M3, the exhaust note between the engines are much different.

You can't go wrong with the Akrapovic system. The fitment, materials and sound are second to none in quality.

[UNNATRAL]

apparently AA uses a material that rusts very easily...Akra will never rust since its titanium

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by UNNATRAL

apparently AA uses a material that rusts very easily...Akra will never rust since its titanium

Do you just pull this sh*t out of your a$$? You have made some pretty flippant comments about various things that you seem to have no clue about.

Yes 304 Stainless Steel is known to rust very easily......

I have had mine for a couple of years through winters and salt, no rust.....

Please elaborate if you are going to make comments, a lot of people of this forum suffer from the same diarrhea of the mouth about products they don't own or know anything about.

[UNNATRAL]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

Do you just pull this sh*t out of your a$$? You have made some pretty flippant comments about various things that you seem to have no clue about.

Yes 304 Stainless Steel is known to rust very easily......

I have had mine for a couple of years through winters and salt, no rust.....

Please elaborate if you are going to make comments, a lot of people of this forum suffer from the same diarrhea of the mouth about products they don't own or know anything about.

before you start pmsing, I said "apparently" meaning ive heard...i never said i have first hand experience and I've said this many times before. I would've picked AA because i like their sound but when I was told by multiple people who have had AA on their cars that it started to rust, I decided to get Akra. I donno y ur freaking out. a forum is a place for people to discuss, its not a kiss ass session where ppl have to suck up to other people and their parts so no one gets offended. I will say it again, I said "apparently AA uses a material that rusts very easily...Akra will never rust since its titanium". what part of that did I say that AA makes crap exhausts or that AA is the worst company? all i said was apparently meaning Ive heard. you really need to relax man.

[UNNATRAL]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

Do you just pull this sh*t out of your a$$? You have made some pretty flippant comments about various things that you seem to have no clue about.

Yes 304 Stainless Steel is known to rust very easily......

I have had mine for a couple of years through winters and salt, no rust.....

Please elaborate if you are going to make comments, a lot of people of this forum suffer from the same diarrhea of the mouth about products they don't own or know anything about.

"You can't go wrong with the Akrapovic system. The fitment, materials and sound are second to none in quality." <-- this was said by Tom @ EAS. he is saying the exact same thing as me but he used different words. I said Akra's quality seems to be better than AA's. AA's was cheaper than Akra so y wouldnt i want to save 2g or even 3g by getting AA over Akra? based on reviews of AA owners, and becuase my good friend silver ghost has Akra on his car, I was able to deduce that akra was for me.

[baarii]

Originally Posted by UNNATRAL

apparently AA uses a material that rusts very easily...Akra will never rust since its titanium

I have used the AA for a year + and there is absolutely no sign of rust.

[UNNATRAL]

Originally Posted by baarii

I have used the AA for a year + and there is absolutely no sign of rust.

Look its fine if it doesnt rust! all i said was that Ive heard! AA has been making bmw parts for so long i never said it was crap! all i said was ppl told me it rusts after a while!