cehapest way is to simply plug the hole with some goop crap. a slightly more expensive alternative is to purchase a neew muffler(might as well goa ftermarket- cuz faactory will reem you). thirdly , and most expensively, get a new catback system, which will get you 9 hp extra in some circumstances(Supersprint). however I've heard not so good things about SS on 318's. bottom line, you are losing back pressure anytime there is a leak in the exhaust piping or hole in the muffler. if you like the clean stock sound, then you should either patch it or find one for sale cheap off the many boards or the local junkyard. hope this helps. Siyé www.bimmerforums.com www.dtmpower.net www.ebay.com when i start my car then go behind it i hear my exhaust go bluh bluh bluh bluh and its sounds real bad sum1 mentioned a hole in the muffler but i dont know, would that effect performance, cuz i need as much as i can wit my 318, and its kinda embarrasin when im wit friends and i go to start my car and it sounds like that but other then that the cars a bitch magnet.