The F90 M5 is one of the great modern sleepers — 600-plus horsepower, all-wheel drive, and a stock exhaust note that sounds like BMW's legal department got the final say. The S63 twin-turbo V8 is doing genuinely violent things under the hood and almost none of it reaches your ears. That's the whole reason this is one of the first mods almost every F90 owner does.
Here's the honest breakdown of the AWE options we stock, and what each one is actually for.
The three decisions you're making
Exhaust shopping on an F90 comes down to three separate questions that get muddled together:
- How far back are you replacing? Axle-back (tips and rear mufflers only), cat-back (everything from the cats rearward), or mid-pipes (the resonated section between).
- Do you want a valve you control? AWE's SwitchPath system gives you a genuinely quiet mode and a genuinely loud mode. Track Edition is one setting: loud.
- How much drone can you live with? This is the question people skip and then regret on I-95.
AWE Track Edition Cat-Back — the committed choice
Track Edition is AWE's no-valve, no-apologies setup. Full cat-back replacement, and the S63 finally sounds like the engine it is — hard-edged on throttle, crackling on the overrun. AWE tunes their Track Edition systems with 180-degree resonator technology specifically to fight interior drone, which is why this system is livable in a way that a lot of straight-through cat-backs are not. "Livable" is still relative: this is the loud option and it's meant to be.
AWE also backs their systems with a No Check Engine Light Guarantee when installed correctly — worth something on a car with the F90's sensor count.
SwitchPath Cat-Back — quiet when you need it
Same cat-back coverage, but with AWE's valve system: closed for the 6am departure and the neighbors, open for everything else. If the M5 is your actual daily — and on these cars it usually is — SwitchPath is the setup that doesn't make you resent your own car in traffic. It carries a meaningful price premium over Track Edition, and that premium is entirely the valve hardware and control. Stock is limited on this one; check availability before you plan the install date.
Non-Resonated Mid-Pipes — volume without a full system
Deleting the resonators in the mid-section is the cheapest meaningful volume increase on the F90, and it's the piece most owners underestimate. Running these with the stock rear section gets you noticeably more of the V8; running them with a Track Edition cat-back is the loudest combination AWE offers on this platform. If you already have a cat-back and want more, this is your next step. If you're starting from stock and mostly want sound, this is the value play.
Note that this is a non-resonated part — expect more drone at highway cruise than a resonated mid-pipe would give you. That's the trade.
Symptoms/specs quick reference
- Fitment on all three: F90 M5 Base and Competition — verify your exact model year against the fitment table on each product page before ordering
- Want quiet-and-loud: SwitchPath
- Want one setting, loud: Track Edition
- Want the cheapest volume gain: non-resonated mid-pipes
- Loudest combination: Track Edition cat-back + non-resonated mid-pipes
- Drone risk ranking (highest first): mid-pipes non-res → Track Edition → SwitchPath (valve closed)
- These are sound and weight products first. Treat any power claim as marginal on a stock-turbo car; the real gains on an F90 come from tuning, and exhaust supports that later.
FAQ
Will an AWE exhaust throw a check engine light on my F90?
AWE's No CEL Guarantee covers correctly installed systems. The cat-back and mid-pipe products here sit behind the catalytic converters, so they're not touching the cat monitors that usually cause trouble.
Is the SwitchPath worth the extra money over Track Edition?
If the car is your daily driver, most owners say yes. If it's a weekend car that lives in a garage, the money is better spent elsewhere. The valve is the entire difference — the sound in "open" is broadly comparable.
Can I add the mid-pipes later?
Yes. They're a separate section and stack with either cat-back. Plenty of owners do the cat-back first, live with it a few months, then decide whether they want more.
Does this fit an M5 Competition?
The fitment tags on these systems cover both Base and Competition across the F90 run, but model year matters — confirm against your exact year and trim before you order.
Do I need a tune to run this?
No. Exhaust is a bolt-on here. A tune is a separate decision with separate implications for your warranty.
Shop the parts: BMW collection · Exhaust
In Miami? We'll install it. Cat-back and mid-pipes in a day on the lift, tips aligned properly, no rattles — book service or call (305) 847-9935.
Verify fitment to your exact model year and trim before purchase. Local sound-ordinance rules apply to non-resonated systems — know what you're signing up for before you order.