I need to replace my muffler and I'd like to put in a (moderate cost) performance model hoping for an increase in horsepower and a nice sound. Any suggestions?
Don't hope too hard for any performance increase. Stock BMW systems are actually pretty good as far as performance goes. Just pick something that is affordable, durable, and reasonably quiet, since you have to live with it (and it will get louder as time goes on- they all do.)
I've got the stock exhaust on my car, and it's so loud it's almost annoying. Top down it's not too bad, but with the top up the sound just echoes like crazy.