The E36 is one of the best-balanced cars BMW ever built, and the straight-six under the hood deserves to be heard. The factory rear mufflers were tuned to keep the cabin quiet, and after 25-plus years many of them are rusted, heavy and tired. You want the car to sound like the car you remember falling for, without droning your way down the freeway.
The Dinan Free Flow Axle-Back Exhaust replaces the factory rear mufflers on the BMW E36 3 Series 325i, 328i and M3 with a 100% 304 stainless steel system finished with dual 2.5 in. polished, laser-engraved Dinan tips. It weighs 17 lbs against 28 lbs for the stock mufflers, so you take 11 lbs off the back of the car on day one.
Why the Dinan E36 Axle-Back Exhaust Sounds Right
Dinan designed this exhaust to complement the E36 rather than overpower the people inside it. You get a deeper, more purposeful note when you open it up and a civil cabin when you cruise. It is not a straight pipe and it is not a race system. It is the sound a well-sorted E36 should have made from the factory.
The 304 stainless construction resists the corrosion that kills stock E36 mufflers, and the brushed body with polished tips looks right on a clean restoration or a driven daily. No tune is required. It works on a stock car and fits into a larger Dinan build.
E36 Axle-Back Install and Legal Status
This is an axle-back system. It replaces only the rear mufflers and sits behind the catalytic converters, so your emissions equipment stays untouched. Dinan lists it as legal for sale and use on emissions-controlled vehicles. It uses the factory brackets and hangers, and Dinan rates the job at about 1 hour of labor. Dinan part number D660-0360. Sold by AutoTecknic, an authorized Dinan dealer.
What's Included
- Dinan 304 stainless steel axle-back muffler assembly
- Dual 2.5 in. polished, laser-engraved exhaust tips
- Clamps and hangers
Key Features
- 100% 304 stainless steel construction
- Dual 2.5 in. polished tips with laser-engraved Dinan logo
- 17 lbs vs 28 lbs stock, an 11 lb weight saving
- Tuned to complement the E36 without harsh tones or highway drone
- Uses factory brackets and hangers
- Sits behind the catalytic converters, no tune required
- About 1 hour of labor
Vehicle Fitment
Fits the following BMW E36 3 Series models:
- BMW 325i / E36 (1992-1995): 325i Sedan, 325is Coupe, 325ic Convertible
- BMW 328i / E36 (1996-1999): 328i Sedan, 328is Coupe, 328ic Convertible
- BMW M3 / E36 (1995-1999): M3 Coupe, M3 Sedan, M3 Convertible
Not listed for the 4-cylinder 318i, 318is, 318ic or the 318ti Compact.
Installation Notes
A DIYer with jack stands and basic hand tools can handle this at home. Old E36 exhaust hardware is often seized, so soak the clamps and hanger bolts with penetrating oil the night before.
- Raise the car safely on jack stands or a lift and let the exhaust cool completely.
- Loosen the clamp ahead of the rear mufflers and release the factory hangers.
- Remove the stock rear muffler assembly.
- Hang the Dinan axle-back on the factory brackets and hangers and fit the supplied clamp loosely.
- Align the tips in the rear valance, tighten all clamps, then start the car and check for leaks.
