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      01-11-2013, 12:26 PM   #1
M3Guy
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X-pipe fun

Hey guys. I have recently moved from my e46 M3 into a 2011 comp package e92 M3 and couldn't be happier. I'm going to do a write up about my take on the differences soon. Right now I have a mod question. I'm planning on doing a ess 625 or 650 probably in a year or so and I know one thing I need to do is loose the cats which is fine with me anyways. Now I have utilized the magical search function and have gained a good deal of knowledge about x pipes and the differences from one to the other. Most of that info is quite old so I was wanting to get any new opinions on the best brands out now for gains and sound. Most of what I've seen is Gintani and Challenge at the top of the list. However these (especially Gintani) are very hard to find for sale anywhere. Gintani doesn't even have them on their site :/ Most of the sites I'm familiar with are e46 oriented which of course some also have e92 M3 stuff but none have either if these pipes. EAS has even quit carrying Challenge. Anyways any opinions and info on what and where to buy would be great
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      01-11-2013, 12:40 PM   #2
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there are many different companies that make alot of different types of x pipes for our cars, some of the companies from the top of my head is...

-akra (GT4, EVO)
-mastermind (race,street)
-dinan
-challenge
-fabspeed
-amuse
-kreissieg
-RPI
-gintani

or you can even have a reputable muffler shop fabricate you a custom x pipe to your liking, like making an x pipe with both the cat delete, just the primary cat delete, just secondary delete, making you a straight pipe x pipe where it deletes both the primary, secondary, and the resonators, or even an x pipe with 4 resonators! another option would be to just go with a HFC or test pipes since thats where youll be making the most power!

haha hope that helps!
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      01-11-2013, 12:45 PM   #3
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I think the Fabspeed is the most widely used. It will depend on what you want in an x-pipe (cats, catless, resonators, etc.)
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      01-11-2013, 12:47 PM   #4
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2011 BMW E90 M3  [9.44]
I have the Active Autowerke x-pipe with HFC and I'm about to add the ESS 625 kit. I had the catless AA x-pipe first and it smelled horribly and sounded a bit raspy, but some people enjoy both of those attributes. Only other x-pipes I really considered were Dinan and Akra.
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      01-11-2013, 02:34 PM   #5
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Well I was planning on catless with resonators. Seem the exhaust is a bit raspy without at least resonators from the countless youtube vids Ive watched lol. I had enough of rasp from my e46. I never could get the rasp completely gone from it. I know I won't pass emissions as I'm in NC but I would just put the stock pipes back on to get inspected. How do the HFC compare power wise to catless on any given setup? I would guess it would be a good amount of loss? I actually don't mind the smell of catless and I do like the pops and crackles of it also. Just concerned about noise level. I'm planning on sticking with the stock rear section for now. It seems with the right x pipe the oem exhaust really wakes up quite a bit.
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      01-11-2013, 03:02 PM   #6
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I've seen 20whp gains from an xpipe, HFCs and an exhaust.
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      01-11-2013, 03:11 PM   #7
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Why not just get test pipes that remove the primary cats? With a tune it should be most of the gains you would see from an exhaust. OEM exhaust is already an x-pipe.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/IMG_2015.jpg
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      01-11-2013, 04:03 PM   #8
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Just email gintani at sales@gintani.com
I have the sport exhaust with HFC x pipes and I love it
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      01-11-2013, 04:14 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jbook
I have the Active Autowerke x-pipe with HFC and I'm about to add the ESS 625 kit. I had the catless AA x-pipe first and it smelled horribly and sounded a bit raspy, but some people enjoy both of those attributes. Only other x-pipes I really considered were Dinan and Akra.
Absolutely LOVE my setup like this. Turns heads and brings compliments daily!
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      01-13-2013, 07:57 PM   #10
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I am planning on going to "test pipes" next month with a tune. I have heard people talking rediculous gains for such a simple mod. We will see. I am sure it is going to be loud as hell with my current setup of fabspeed xpipe and Megan Ti race exhaust. I have even contemplated putting electric exhaust dumps on the tail end of the test pipes to run as close tomopen header as possible for those time when you just want to bask in the symphony of the V8 at speed

Something a little like this
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      01-13-2013, 08:03 PM   #11
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Thanks for the info guys. Still can't decide on the brand but I'm sure I want resonated with no primary or secondary cats. Probably will stick with the stock exhaust at this point. From the vids I've seen it sounds like a big difference in volume.
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      01-13-2013, 08:12 PM   #12
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Here is a quick clip of my setup when i was testing an external mic on my go pro.
[u2b]http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ir8NkxVdSTA[/u2b]
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      01-13-2013, 09:28 PM   #13
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So I haven't seen this one mentioned yet.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bo...e/bmw/model/m3
Borla seems to have a nice lower grumbley sound. Anyone have any experience with it? This price actually isn't to bad either. Also I've heard of summit before but never dealt with them. Reputable shop or no?
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      01-14-2013, 08:06 AM   #14
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Just run macht schnell test pipes until you find a gintani for sale
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      01-14-2013, 08:17 AM   #15
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run test pipes with the stock muffler and see how the volume and rasp change. IND sells challenge products also and you can always mod you stock x-pipe.
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      01-14-2013, 08:36 AM   #16
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I've got a Fabspeed X-pipe with resonator and secondary cat delete and love it! Many people have commented on the great sound as well.
The SOSI X-pipe has a similar sound - Not too loud but noticeably louder then OEM
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      01-14-2013, 09:17 AM   #17
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Turner test pipes are the best bang for the buck.
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      01-14-2013, 10:04 AM   #18
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I have a fabspeed pipe with HFC's and I love the pipe.
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      01-14-2013, 10:50 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3Guy View Post
So I haven't seen this one mentioned yet.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/bo...e/bmw/model/m3
Borla seems to have a nice lower grumbley sound. Anyone have any experience with it? This price actually isn't to bad either. Also I've heard of summit before but never dealt with them. Reputable shop or no?
The Borla is a catless, quad resonated x-pipe like the Dinan. Borla makes nice stuff. It would be a civilized x-pipe. I run a quad resonated x-pipe and my wife does not complain. If you are young and single and your exhaust is your mating call, go with just one pair of resonators and no cats for a louder exhaust.
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      01-14-2013, 11:40 AM   #20
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The more I research the more I am being pulled towards the fabspeed. Although I don't want cats mainly because of the power loss compared to catless it's looking like it isn't that much different. It would be nice not to have the cel on all the time in case something really happened and it needed to warn me but it was already on. Anyways I looked at the Dinan also but to much $ compared to everything else out there. Sound wise I do want it louder but not crazy loud. I go to way to many C&C shows early in the morning for it to be crazy loud. My neighbors and wife would kill me. They complained about my old e46 being to loud as it was and it had HFC on it too.

I saw there has to be "modifications" made to make the Fabspeed fit. Any ideas what that means?
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      01-14-2013, 11:50 AM   #21
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the Challenge sport pipe (with HFC's) is a good way to go. it will undoubtedly make the car noticeably louder though, as will any x-pipe that does away with primariy cats.
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      01-14-2013, 01:38 PM   #22
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Fabspeed sells a few variations. If you are looking at the $795 one that is just the back half of the x-pipe, I would skip it because it leaves the primary cats intact. The primary cats are 400 cell cats and create the most restriction. They are the ones you want to delete. The secondary cats are only 200 cell and are not as restrictive. Fabspeed sells a high flow sport cat option for $1,895 but it is just the front half of the x-pipe. Fabspeed also sells a full x-pipe with high flow cats and resonators for $2,449, but for that much money, you can choose from a number of other options.

The Borla quad resonated x-pipe is a pretty good buy at the price. Also take a look at the options from Challenge for x-pipes. And check the for sale section to see what used x-pipes people are selling.
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