BMW X4 M40i F26: the N55 in full voice, the exhaust system guide
The X4 M40i F26 is the sharpest version of BMW's coupé SUV, with the N55, a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six delivering 360 hp and 465 Nm. Yet beneath that dynamic silhouette, the factory exhaust reduces the engine's voice to very little. Option by option, this guide shows you how to configure the ROG exhaust so that what you hear finally lives up to the spec sheet.
Written by ROG Motorsport · Updated
Your ROG exhaust for the BMW X4 M40i F26
From €2,490 in stainless steel, €2,990 in titanium
Configure my exhaust- Vehicles
- BMW X4 M40i F26 3.0T (2016-2018)
- Engine
- N55 · 360 hp · 465 Nm
- Exhaust
- Valved cat-back, built for your VIN
- Material
- 304 stainless steel or titanium
- Front section
- Optional: catted downpipe with 200 or 100 cells, or decat
- Valves
- ROG remote, or factory control if your vehicle has it
- Lead time
- 20 working days from order confirmation to delivery
- Warranty
- 3 years, parts and workmanship
Closely related versions have their own guide: BMW X4 F26 3.0T, BMW X3 M40i G01 3.0T, BMW X4 G02 2.0T.
The N55: the turbocharged inline-six at the top of the X4 F26 range
The N55 is a 3.0-litre inline-six boosted by a single twin-scroll turbo, with direct injection and Valvetronic valve control. In the X4 M40i it reaches 360 hp and 465 Nm, sent to all four wheels through the xDrive system. The straight-six brings what BMWs do best: linear thrust, great smoothness and a real eagerness to climb through the revs.
On this engine, the exhaust makes the difference between a six-cylinder that is merely effective and one you enjoy listening to. The X4 M40i's factory exhaust favours neutrality. The ROG valved exhaust lets the N55 express its natural sound, full and gruff, and lets you return to silence at the press of a button.
What makes up the exhaust on your BMW X4 M40i F26
An exhaust system is best understood in two parts. Here is what each one does, and what ROG replaces.
The cat-back is the complete exhaust system
It is everything you can see under the chassis of your BMW X4 M40i F26, from the outlet of the front section to the tips: pipes, silencer, valves. This is the part where most of our research and development goes: it is what shapes the sound, and it is enough on its own to transform the car.
The front section, where the catalytic converter sits
On your BMW X4 M40i F26, that is the downpipe, the pipe leading from the turbo. It contains the factory catalytic converter: the second restriction in the exhaust, after the silencer. Replacing it is optional: it frees up the flow, and it is the ECU remap that turns that into horsepower.
The figures for your BMW X4 M40i F26
An exhaust system is judged first by ear and on the scales. The extra horsepower comes from an ECU remap.
Power
Torque
Published factory and Stage 2 figures.
The ROG exhaust works with or without an ECU remap. To get the full potential out of your BMW X4 M40i F26, we advise taking it to an approved tuning centre for a remap afterwards.
The N55 has a reputation for responding well to an ECU remap: its turbo leaves reserves that a well-executed Stage 2 exploits, especially on torque. It all depends on the condition of the engine and on the professionalism of the tuner. The ROG exhaust completes that work on the exhaust side.
Configuring your exhaust, step by step
4 choices, in the same order as the product page configurator.
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Step 1 of 4: Material: stainless steel or titanium
For your BMW X4 M40i F26, the exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium.
304 stainless steel
2 490 €
- Weight
- Baseline
- Sound
- Full and rounded
The safe bet: strong, corrosion-proof, with a full, rounded sound. The best value for money.
Titanium
2 990 €
- Weight
- Around 40% lighter
- Sound
- Metallic, crystal-clear
It makes the exhaust around 40% lighter for the same design. Its note is more metallic and clearer higher up the rev range, and its finish ranges from brushed to blued.
No worries on durability: 304 stainless steel shrugs off winter road salt and titanium does not rust. Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes.
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Step 2 of 4: Front section: downpipe and catalytic converter
Optional: the downpipe on your BMW X4 M40i F26, with its catalytic converter. Each option is placed on our sound scale of 0 to 10, valves open, with the factory exhaust at 3.
Cat-back only
Included
7/10Factory emissions control
The factory front section stays in place. It is already a complete transformation, and the choice of many of our customers.
200-cell sports catalytic converter
+730 €
8/10Road use and French MOT
More flow, emissions control retained: the right option for road use.
100-cell sports catalytic converter
+730 €
9/10French MOT pass not guaranteed
More open than the 200-cell: the sound hardens at high revs and emissions control is reduced.
Decat
+470 €
10/10Track use only
Flow with no filter at all: the rawest sound and the sharpest response.
Sound intensity, on a scale of 0 to 10
- 10/10Decat downpipe + ROG cat-back
- 9/10100-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
- 8/10200-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
- 7/10ROG cat-back only, factory catalytic converter retained
- 3/10Factory exhaust, for comparison
Valves open. With the valves closed, every configuration becomes discreet again.
What about the engine warning light? With a sports catalytic converter it can come on, because the rear oxygen sensor reads less cleaning. Nothing mechanical is wrong: an ECU remap or a session with a diagnostic tool sorts it out. Without a catalytic converter, you will need an ECU remap. If it happens to you, call us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing the French MOT with a sports exhaust.
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Step 3 of 4: Valves: ROG remote or factory control
Two ways to control the valves on your BMW X4 M40i F26.
ROG remote
A discreet control unit in the boot and a two-button remote: you open and close whenever you like, independently of the drive modes. For fitting, we support you by phone or by email.
Factory control
- Only for vehicles fitted with factory valves
- Controlled by the drive modes
For vehicles fitted with factory valves: the exhaust connects to their control and the drive modes stay in charge, with no extra control unit.
At 130 km/h, many sports exhausts drone. Here, with the valves closed, the exhaust flows through the silencer and stays composed when cruising; open, it makes itself heard when you choose. More about exhaust drone.
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Step 4 of 4: Tips: the visual signature
Match the tips to the style of your BMW X4 M40i F26, understated or bold. A particular finish in mind? Send us a photo and we will look at it together.
- Stainless steel
- Black
- Carbon
- Blued titanium
- M Performance style carbon
The ROG sound signature on the X4 M40i's N55
The inline-six has a voice few layouts can match: even and silky at idle, then increasingly gruff as it approaches the red line. On the standard X4 M40i, this progression stays in the background, and the coupé SUV seems tamer than it really is.
With the valves open, the ROG exhaust puts the N55 centre stage: the bass takes shape, the climb through the revs can be heard all the way up, and gearshifts gain presence. With the valves closed, the X4 returns to a calmer sound, suited to everyday journeys as well as long distances.
From order to fitting
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Configuration
You configure the exhaust and enter the VIN from box E of your registration certificate.
-
Check
Your VIN is checked before any manufacturing begins.
-
Manufacturing
The exhaust is produced to order, for your vehicle.
-
Delivery
Free in Europe, insured parcel, tracking number from dispatch.
-
Fitting
Around two hours in the workshop, with no welding or cutting.
20 working days from order confirmation to delivery
- Warranty
- 3 years, parts and workmanship, from the date of delivery
- Payment
- In instalments with Klarna
- Installation
- At the garage of your choice
Is your BMW X4 M40i F26 still under the manufacturer's warranty? In Europe, the manufacturer cannot refuse it simply because a part from another brand has been fitted: it is up to them to prove that the fault stems from it. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.
Our recommendations for your BMW X4 M40i F26
-
Daily driving
2 490 €
- Stainless
- Cat-back only
- ROG remote
Your BMW X4 M40i F26 stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you choose.
View this configuration -
Fast road
3 720 €
- Titanium
- 200-cell downpipe
- ECU remap
The best of both worlds: character and breathing, with emissions control retained.
View this configuration -
Track
3 460 €
- Titanium
- Decat downpipe
- Stage 2
The most extreme configuration, for track use only.
View this configuration
Every BMW X4 M40i F26 has its own history and use: if none of these profiles sounds like you, let's talk it over.
BMW X4 M40i F26: your questions
How much power does an exhaust system add to the BMW X4 M40i F26?
From the factory, the BMW X4 M40i F26 produces 360 hp and 465 Nm. The exhaust alone acts first on sound, breathing and weight; the extra horsepower comes from an ECU remap. With a Stage 2 build, the published figures reach 440 hp and 630 Nm.
Stainless steel or titanium: which material for the BMW X4 M40i F26?
For the BMW X4 M40i F26, the ROG exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium. Stainless steel is the safe bet, with a full sound; titanium makes the exhaust around 40% lighter and gives a more metallic note higher up the rev range.
Do you need to replace the catalytic converter on the BMW X4 M40i F26?
It is not compulsory. The cat-back alone is enough to change the character of the BMW X4 M40i F26. Replacing the downpipe is how you go further, together with an ECU remap: 200 cells for the road, 100 cells or decat for more radical use.
Does the BMW X4 M40i F26 pass the French MOT with a ROG exhaust?
The cat-back only and the 200-cell converter both retain emissions control: present the BMW X4 M40i F26 with the valves closed. With the 100-cell converter, a pass is no longer guaranteed; the decat fails the emissions test.
How is the ROG exhaust fitted to the BMW X4 M40i F26?
With clamps and gaskets, no welding or cutting: around two hours in the workshop for a well-equipped mechanic. The exhaust is built to the VIN of your BMW X4 M40i F26.
What does a ROG exhaust for the BMW X4 M40i F26 cost, and how long does it take?
From €2,490 to €3,720 depending on the configuration. Allow 20 working days from order confirmation to delivery. Delivery is free and the exhaust comes with a 3-year warranty.
Unsure about your configuration? Give us a call.
Between stainless steel and titanium, between the cat-back only and the full system, the right choice depends on how you drive and on your BMW X4 M40i F26. We take the time to talk it through before you order, with a reply within 24 hours. We are not here to sell to you over the phone: we help you choose, even if that means a cheaper option because it suits the way you drive.
ROG is a French brand, and the way we work comes down to one idea: an exhaust system should be sold with advice, not just a product page. More than 500 exhaust systems fitted and a rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Further reading
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