Next Level Performance
July 14, 2026 • 9 min read
The BMW M2 Competition Akrapovic exhaust is the most expensive way to change how an F87N sounds, and also the only one that takes 22.5 lb off the back of the car. This is a full review of the Akrapovic Slip-On Line (Titanium) for the 2019–2021 M2 Competition and 2020 M2 CS — what it actually gains, what it actually costs you, and how it stacks up against the Remus and MBRP systems we stock at our Tampa, FL warehouse.
Our Verdict
Buy the Akrapovic Slip-On Line for the weight and the titanium tone – not for the horsepower.
Akrapovic's own data is honest about it: +4.8 hp and +4.4 lb-ft. The real story is a 21.2 kg factory muffler replaced by an 11.1 kg titanium one, four carbon tailpipes, a second exhaust valve the factory car never had, and zero need for an ECU remap. At $6,550.44 it is the premium answer. If your budget says otherwise, the MBRP T304 resonator-back at $1,949.99 gets you 80 percent of the drama for 30 percent of the money.
Shop Our Top Pick →What Is the Akrapovic Slip-On Line for the BMW M2 Competition?
The Akrapovic Slip-On Line (part number S-BM/T/3H) is a titanium rear-muffler replacement for the 2019–2021 BMW M2 Competition and 2020 BMW M2 CS. It is an axle-back system: it swaps the factory rear silencer and tailpipes only, and leaves the stock downpipes, catalytic converters and center muffler untouched. That single design decision is why it needs no tune, touches no emissions hardware, and installs in an afternoon.
The car underneath it is the F87N — BMW's facelifted M2, built around the S55B30 twin-turbo 3.0L inline-six lifted from the F80 M3. It makes 405 hp from 5,230 to 7,000 rpm and 406 lb-ft from 2,350 to 5,230 rpm, runs to a 7,600 rpm redline, and hits 60 mph in 4.2 seconds with the six-speed manual or 4.0 seconds with the seven-speed DCT. Curb weight is 3,600 lb (manual) or 3,655 lb (DCT). The 2020 M2 CS takes the same engine to 444 hp at 6,250 rpm with the same 406 lb-ft, and drops to 4.0 seconds (6MT) or 3.8 seconds (DCT) to 60 mph.
Akrapovic builds the muffler from titanium, with some components cast in the company's own foundry, and finishes it with four carbon-fiber tailpipes of a larger diameter than the factory tips. The kit is included — there is no separate tip purchase, unlike several of Akrapovic's other BMW systems.
Key Specifications
Power and Weight: What the Akrapovic Slip-On Actually Changes
How much horsepower does the Akrapovic slip-on add?
Akrapovic measures +3.6 kW (roughly +4.8 hp) at 5,100 rpm and +6.0 Nm (roughly +4.4 lb-ft) at 5,150 rpm on the M2 Competition. On a 405 hp car, that is a rounding error — about 1.2 percent. We publish that number because it is the manufacturer's own figure and because the aftermarket is full of axle-back listings claiming 20 to 40 hp that no dyno sheet supports.
The physics are simple. On the S55, the catalytic converters live in the downpipes, and the biggest restrictions in the factory system sit ahead of the rear muffler. A slip-on that starts behind the center silencer can only clean up the last few feet of the path. If peak output is genuinely your goal on an F87N, downpipes and a tune move the needle by an order of magnitude more than any muffler will.
So do not buy this exhaust for horsepower. Buy it for the three things it genuinely delivers: mass, sound and hardware. The two questions we field most often at NLP Performance on this system are whether it needs a tune and whether the stock exhaust has to be cut — the answers are no and yes, in that order, and we cover both below.
The titanium muffler body: 11.1 kg versus the factory 21.2 kg assembly.
Weight savings: 22.5 lb off the back of an M2 Competition
This is the strongest number in the whole review. The factory M2 Competition rear exhaust assembly weighs 21.2 kg (46.7 lb). The Akrapovic titanium replacement weighs 11.1 kg (24.5 lb). That is a 10.2 kg / 22.5 lb reduction — 47.9 percent lighter, and all of it comes out from behind the rear axle line.
Mass removed at the extreme rear of the car does more than the raw figure suggests. It reduces the polar moment of inertia, which is the resistance the chassis puts up every time you ask it to rotate into a corner. Twenty-two pounds will not change a lap time on its own, but it is real, permanent, and it is exactly the kind of change M2 owners chase with carbon panels and lightweight wheels — usually at a much worse dollar-per-pound rate than this exhaust delivers.
For context: 22.5 lb is roughly the weight of a full-size spare, or about 0.6 percent of the car's 3,600 lb curb weight, removed from the worst possible place to carry it.
Sound and Valve Control: What Changes on the Drive Home
The Akrapovic Slip-On Line gives the M2 Competition two exhaust valves — one per outlet — where the factory car has only one, on the driver's side. The kit includes a controller and wiring harness that plug into the car's existing valve wiring, so both valves still take their orders from the drive-mode selector and throttle position. Comfort stays quiet; Sport and Sport Plus open the system.
Akrapovic tunes the system for a sporty tone in the middle and upper rev range specifically without drone, and the titanium construction gives it a harder, more metallic edge than the stainless alternatives. Owners consistently describe more pronounced overrun burbles and noticeably more S55 in the cabin through the gears. It is worth being clear about what this is not: this is the refined, OEM-plus option. If your goal is maximum volume at any cost, the Remus Race axle-back is the louder buy.
One honest caveat for the spec-hunters: none of the four manufacturers in this comparison publish a measured decibel figure for these systems. Any specific dB number you find quoted online for an M2 exhaust is a third-party measurement at best. We are not going to invent one.
If you want to take the valve logic away from BMW entirely, Akrapovic sells an optional Bluetooth Sound Kit (P-HF1177) that lets you open or close the valves on demand from your phone.
Four carbon-fiber tailpipes are included with the Slip-On Line kit.
What We Like
- + Sheds 22.5 lb (47.9 percent) versus the factory rear muffler assembly
- + No ECU remap required – leaves cats and downpipes stock
- + Two valves instead of the factory one, still driven by BMW drive modes
- + Four carbon-fiber tailpipes included, not a separate purchase
- + Engineered against drone; Comfort mode stays highway-usable
Things to Consider
- – Only +4.8 hp / +4.4 lb-ft – this is not a power modification
- – Installation requires cutting the factory exhaust pipes
- – At $6,550.44 it costs more than three times the MBRP system
- – Refined rather than loud – volume-chasers may want the Remus Race
Slip-On Line vs Evolution Line: Which Akrapovic for the M2?
Akrapovic sells two systems for the F87N, and the difference is not subtle. The Slip-On Line replaces the rear muffler only. The Evolution Line adds link pipes and larger-diameter titanium tubing that replace the middle muffler as well.
The Evolution Line is worth +14.8 kW (about +19.8 hp) and +29.8 Nm (about +22 lb-ft), and drops 17.4 kg (38.4 lb) — roughly four times the power gain and 70 percent more weight saved. The catch is a hard one: the Evolution link pipes make an ECU remap mandatory. Skip the tune and the car will set a check-engine light. Akrapovic also flags the link-pipe set as not meeting emission compliance requirements for street or highway use, a warning the Slip-On Line does not carry.
For a street-driven M2 Competition that still visits a BMW service department, the Slip-On is the cleaner decision: no remap conversation, no emissions-hardware change, no warranty argument about the tune. For a track car that is already running downpipes and a custom map, the Evolution Line is the one to buy.
Akrapovic vs Remus vs MBRP: M2 Competition Exhaust Comparison
Every system below is confirmed for the 2018–2022 BMW M2 Competition (F87N) and stocked at our Tampa, FL warehouse. All four are behind the catalytic converters, so none of them require a tune. Prices are current as of July 2026.
| Kit | Type | Material | Tips | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akrapovic Slip-On Line (Titanium)Top Pick | Slip-on, 2 valves, no tune | Titanium (11.1 kg) | 4 carbon, included | $6,550.44 |
| Remus Axle-Back (Integrated Valves) | Axle-back, 2 OEM-actuated valves | Stainless, 70 mm (OEM 65 mm) | Sold separately | $3,138.85 |
| Remus Race Axle-Back | Axle-back, track silencer | Stainless, handmade in Austria | Sold separately | $2,822.80 |
| MBRP Resonator-Back (Active Profile) | Resonator-back, uses OEM valves | T304 stainless, 3 in | 4 carbon dual-wall, included | $1,949.99 |
Remus Axle-Back: The European Alternative
Remus builds its M2 Competition axle-back by hand in Austria from shot-blasted stainless steel, steps the tubing up to 70 mm from the factory 65 mm, and backs it with a 24-month warranty. Like the Akrapovic, it carries two integrated valves — but Remus drives them with the car's original OEM actuators and onboard electronics rather than adding a controller. The one budgeting detail to know: the tail pipes are a separate purchase, and you choose the finish (chrome, black chrome or carbon).
Remus Race Axle-Back: The Loud One
The Race version swaps in a track-oriented silencer with more flow and more volume than the EC-approved Sport unit, at a lower price than the valved axle-back. It is the pick for an M2 that spends weekends at Sebring rather than a car doing school runs in South Tampa — and, like the standard Remus, it needs tail pipes ordered alongside it.
MBRP Resonator-Back: The Value Pick
At $1,949.99 against an MSRP of $2,408.81, the MBRP S45023CF is the sensible-money answer. It is a 3-inch T304 stainless resonator-back with a quad rear exit and four dual-wall carbon-fiber tips with mirror-polished T304 inner sleeves, and MBRP's "Active Profile" design keeps the factory valve equipment in play so the tone still tracks the M2's drive modes. It fits 2018–2022 M2 Competition cars. MBRP's dealer network quotes gains of up to 20 hp and 18 lb-ft in M Mode; that figure does not appear on MBRP's own product page, so treat it as marketing rather than measured data.
MBRP's quad 4-inch dual-wall carbon tips: the value play at $1,949.99.
Installation: Budget 3 Hours and Expect to Cut
Akrapovic quotes 180 minutes — three hours — to install the Slip-On Line, and the job requires cutting the factory exhaust. The two pipes running rearward from the center muffler are cut, and the titanium slip-on clamps onto them. This is the single most important practical fact about the system and the one most reviews leave out.
What that means for you: the car needs to be on a lift or on stands with real clearance, you need an exhaust cutter or reciprocating saw, and the cut has to be square or the clamps will not seal. It also means the change is one-way — going back to a fully stock exhaust later requires buying a new OEM rear muffler section. The same is true of the MBRP system, which cuts at the same place.
The electrical side is genuinely plug-and-play: the Akrapovic valve controller and harness connect to the factory valve wiring with no splicing. No remap, no coding, no CEL. In our Tampa shop we book this as a half-day job with an alignment of expectations up front: most owners who try it in a driveway underestimate the cut, not the bolts.
Fitment: F87 vs F87N Is Not a Trim Detail
Exhaust parts for the 2019–2021 M2 Competition do not fit the 2016–2018 M2, and vice versa. The earlier F87 M2 runs the single-turbo N55 engine and makes 365 hp and 343 lb-ft (369 lb-ft on overboost). The F87N M2 Competition runs the twin-turbo S55 from the F80 M3 and makes 405 hp and 406 lb-ft. Different engine, different exhaust routing, different factory valve logic.
Akrapovic maintains entirely separate model trees for the two cars, which is why F87 listings almost always carry an "excluding M2 Competition" note. Before you buy anything on this page, check the chassis code on your build sheet, not the badge on the trunk. The Akrapovic Slip-On Line reviewed here (S-BM/T/3H) is the F87N part — 2019–2021 M2 Competition and 2020 M2 CS.
A note on emissions: slip-on, axle-back and resonator-back systems all sit behind the catalytic converters on the S55, so they do not replace emissions-relevant hardware. None of the four systems here carries a CARB Executive Order number, and we will not describe any of them as "CARB legal" or "50-state legal." Check your state and local sound ordinances before you order.
What Pairs With It: Carbon Diffuser and Suspension
The Slip-On Line keeps the factory rear diffuser, so the visual upgrade is optional. Akrapovic's high-gloss carbon-fiber rear diffuser (DI-BM/CA/3/G) is the natural companion piece — it is the part that makes the four carbon tips look intentional rather than bolted on. Akrapovic catalogs a carbon diffuser under both the F87 and F87N model trees, but dealer listings disagree on the exact fitment split; confirm your chassis code with us before ordering.
If you are spending Akrapovic money on the back of the car, the chassis is the next honest upgrade. The KW Coilover Kit V3 ($3,584.00) covers 2016–2018 M2, 2019–2021 M2 Competition and the 2020 M2 CS with independently adjustable compression and rebound, and the Ohlins Road & Track system ($3,500.00) is the pick for owners who split time between street and track days.
KW V3 coilovers ($3,584.00) fit the F87 M2 and F87N M2 Competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Akrapovic Slip-On Line require a tune on the M2 Competition?
No. The Akrapovic Slip-On Line (S-BM/T/3H) fits the BMW M2 Competition and M2 CS without an ECU remap. Because it replaces only the rear muffler and leaves the factory downpipes, catalytic converters and center muffler in place, the S55 engine's fueling and boost tables stay within their stock operating window. Akrapovic's Evolution Line is the opposite case – its larger-diameter link pipes and middle-muffler delete do require a remap, or the car will throw a check-engine light.
How much horsepower does an exhaust add to a BMW M2 Competition?
A slip-on muffler adds very little: Akrapovic measures +3.6 kW (about +4.8 hp) at 5,100 rpm and +6.0 Nm (about +4.4 lb-ft) at 5,150 rpm on the M2 Competition. That takes the factory 405 hp to roughly 410 hp. Anyone promising 20–40 hp from an axle-back or slip-on alone is overselling. The real reasons to buy a slip-on are weight, sound and appearance — the Akrapovic system saves 22.5 lb, which is a far more meaningful number than five horsepower on a 3,600 lb car.
Do I have to cut the stock exhaust to install a slip-on on an M2 Competition?
Yes. Installing the Akrapovic Slip-On Line on an F87N M2 Competition requires cutting the two factory pipes that run rearward from the center muffler; the titanium slip-on then clamps to the cut pipes. This is normal for slip-on systems on this chassis, and the aFe and MBRP systems for the car work the same way. The practical consequence is that returning to a completely stock exhaust later means buying a new OEM rear muffler section, so this is a job most owners hand to a shop with a lift and a proper exhaust cutter.
Will an M2 Competition exhaust fit a 2016-2018 BMW M2?
No. The 2016–2018 M2 (chassis code F87) uses the single-turbo N55 engine, while the 2019–2021 M2 Competition and 2020 M2 CS (F87N) use the twin-turbo S55 from the F80 M3. The two cars have different exhaust hardware and different factory valve logic, so the systems do not interchange. Akrapovic, Remus and MBRP all catalog separate part numbers for each. Always match the part to the chassis code, not just to the model name.
Does the Akrapovic exhaust keep the factory valve control and drive modes?
Yes, and it improves on it. The stock M2 Competition exhaust has a single valve on the driver's side; the Akrapovic Slip-On Line has two – one per outlet – and ships with a controller and harness that plug into the factory valve wiring. The valves still respond to the car's drive-mode selector and throttle position, so Comfort mode stays civil and Sport Plus opens the system up. An optional Akrapovic Sound Kit (P-HF1177) adds Bluetooth control if you want to override the factory logic.
Does the Akrapovic M2 exhaust drone on the highway?
Akrapovic engineers the Slip-On Line specifically to avoid drone, describing the result as a sporty tone through the mid and upper rev range without unwanted overtones. Because the valves close in Comfort mode, most owners report the car remains usable at a steady highway cruise. Note that no manufacturer – Akrapovic, Remus or MBRP – publishes a measured decibel figure for these systems, so treat any specific dB number you see online as unverified.
Akrapovic Slip-On Line vs Evolution Line: which one for the M2 Competition?
Choose the Slip-On Line if you want the titanium sound, the carbon tips and a 22.5 lb weight saving with no tune and no emissions-hardware changes. Choose the Evolution Line if peak output matters more than simplicity: it adds link pipes and larger titanium tubing for +14.8 kW (about +19.8 hp) and +29.8 Nm (about +22 lb-ft) and drops 17.4 kg (38.4 lb), but it mandates an ECU remap. For a street-driven M2 Competition that still sees a dealer service department, the Slip-On is the cleaner decision.
Is a titanium exhaust worth it over stainless steel on an M2?
The argument for titanium is mass, not power. The factory M2 Competition rear muffler assembly weighs 21.2 kg (46.7 lb); the Akrapovic titanium replacement weighs 11.1 kg (24.5 lb) — a 47.9 percent reduction and 22.5 lb removed from behind the rear axle, where it does the most to affect the car's polar moment. Stainless systems such as the MBRP T304 resonator-back cost roughly a third as much and sound excellent, but they will not deliver that weight change.
Ready to Upgrade Your M2 Competition?
Akrapovic, Remus and MBRP systems for the F87N in stock, plus thousands more performance parts at NLP Performance.
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