Akrapovic fixes the BMW M5’s subdued exhaust sound with a new titanium system. Boosts power & saves weight. Simple plug-and-play upgrade.
The new BMW M5 and how a well-known company has fixed one of its biggest shortcomings. The new BMW M5 is an extremely powerful vehicle, with a powerful engine of 717 hp. That’s a lot for a super sedan or wagon. But, due to sound and emissions regulations, its stock exhaust sounds a bit thin.
Most of the sound you hear inside the car is generated, and when you turn it off, the natural sound of the exhaust will definitely leave you wanting more. That’s where Akrapovic comes in.
Fortunately, Slovenian company Akrapovic, whose exhausts are factory-fitted in many high-end cars, such as the Koenigsegg Regera, has developed an aftermarket titanium exhaust system for the new M5. It can fit both the sedan and the M5 Touring wagon. It replaces the rear portion of the stock exhaust system.
This Akrapovic exhaust improves both sound and performance. It has larger diameter pipes that improve flow, as well as valves that allow the driver to adjust the sound level. It also has acoustic reflectors, which are designed to reflect a portion of the sound back into the cabin.
According to the company, dyno testing of an M5 with the Akrapovic exhaust yielded an additional 7 hp and 18 lb-ft of torque at 2,050 rpm compared to the stock M5. Akrapovic also has a full exhaust system that does not have valves and is designed for cars that do not have gasoline particulate filters; this setup increases performance by 11.4 hp at 6,150 rpm and 11.5 lb-ft at 2,550 rpm.
The lightness of the titanium construction also helps save weight compared to the steel of the standard exhaust. That’s about 13.5 pounds saved compared to the stock exhaust. The full exhaust system saves 34 pounds. Though the standard M5 sedan weighs 5,390 pounds, so the savings might not feel like much, any kind of weight savings is good, right? Akrapovic said installation for both systems is a simple plug-and-play, and no engine remapping is required.
Buyers can choose from round or hexagonal shaped tips, which can be finished in carbon fiber. Akrapovic also offers its own carbon-fiber diffuser and lip spoiler (sedan only) to complement the exhaust system.
Sources: Akrapovic via BMW Blog
Sophiya’s passion for cars ignited before she was three, and she would identify every vehicle on her street. That enthusiasm fueled her pursuit of a mechanical engineering technology degree and a career covering the auto industry. A four-time Canadian Automotive Journalism Awards winner, Sophiya now serves as president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
