Fabspeed X-Pipe with HFC's Review

[MShao825]

This past Monday, I celebrated my President’s Day off by visiting Fabspeed in Ambler, PA to take part in the Tri-State Powerchip GB. I was so impressed with Fabspeed’s top notch shop that I felt it warranted a thread dedicated just to them. You can see my Powerchip review here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352617

My 1st impression of Fabspeed was that their customer service was warm and welcoming. Their shop has a big screen HDTV and ping pong table. Too bad I couldn’t show off my 8-time AAU Junior Olympic/Junior National champion table tennis skills to anyone though as everyone was pretty tied up. As for the install, I wasn’t in their shop while the install was done, but it didn’t take them long at all. When it was installed and my car was flashed for my Powerchip tune, I was finally able to experience the anticipated new sound and added power.

The moment I started the car, the very 1st thing I noticed was that at idle, my car was the exact same loudness as it was with just my Eisenmann Race exhaust installed. There was no difference whatsoever, which was an unexpected, but pleasant, surprise. I told Alex at Fabspeed that it sounds the exact same, to which he replied with a sly grin “just rev it a bit.” The moment I did, all I could do was giggle like a little schoolgirl, which was embarrassing, but something I’m sure Fabspeed gets ALL the time. On my drive home, I noticed that at idle and at cruising speeds, my car isn’t much louder than with just the Eisenmann Race, if at all. However, at WOT, the car just screams and screams and screams It definitely went from more of an American muscle sound with just the Eisenmann Race to a more exotic sound with the Fabspeed goodies installed. My buddy said it sounds like a pure racecar, and even related it to a Nascar car. My other buddy just drove it around the parking lot outside our office and revved it to about 7500 RPM, and came back and dropped off my keys back to me and told me “it sounds EXCELLENT!”

I certainly had concerns with the new setup being too loud, as I’m sure many of you do as well. I was warned countless times that an Eisenmann Sport would be better, and that the Eisenmann Race would prove to be unbearable. However, the way I look at it is that the car is no louder than it used to be at idle and cruising speeds, and does not drone any more than it used to. When I step on it is when it’s truly loud, but isn’t that when we want our cars to scream anyway? With that being said, I have absolutely no regrets keeping my Eisenmann Race with the Fabspeed X-Pipe with HFC’s.

If you’re on the fence for one reason or another about getting the Fabspeed setup, let me tell you that you won’t be disappointed. In addition to the sound, the car has so much more low end torque and just feels more powerful throughout the entire rev range, which everyone already knows about. If you’re looking for a sound or performance upgrade, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Thanks again to the guys at Fabspeed for their hospitality and professionalism. It was a pleasure meeting Jay, Alex, and Jeremy, and I look forward to stopping by in the future

[BimmerRob08]

Nice feed back. Glad you are enjoying the Fabspeed. I ended up getting the Encore x-pipe with HFC and Remus Sport and love it equally. I thought about going with the Remus Race but the Sport sounds real nice with an x-pipe. Most definatly you are right about the torque and power at low rpm's and through the entire rpm rage. Mine screams like mad ape at WOT. Got the CEL once, dealer turned it off, good to go for now. Post some sound clips when you can. Like to hear it.

[DevJ]

Thank you for the review! I also have the eisenmann race and have been wondering about how it would be with HFCs and an xpipe. Any videos? enjoy the new mods!

[KiokenM3]

what about the hp?

[DoNDoN]

Originally Posted by DevJ

Thank you for the review! I also have the eisenmann race and have been wondering about how it would be with HFCs and an xpipe. Any videos? enjoy the new mods!

Here is what mine sounded like after going to Fabspeed.

[M3Alpine]

Dam dondon car looks and sounds excellent ! OP glad to hear everything went well

[DevJ]

Originally Posted by DoNDoN

Here is what mine sounded like after going to Fabspeed.

Thanks, I have had it favorited on my YouTube for awhile now Always like to hear more sound clips! No one close by has this set up, but it sounds so good

[lambobambo]

Im thinking of adding an x-pipe to my Eisenmann Race, is Fabspeed the best option?

[LV-E92M3]

Originally Posted by tomvcarter

Im thinking of adding an x-pipe to my Eisenmann Race, is Fabspeed the best option?

It doesn't pop up the engin cheek light and makes pretty good power.

[MCarRacr07]

I have the Fabspeed set-up (HFC & X-Pipe) and it sounds GREAT...and that is just going into stock cans....However!...after about 100 miles the CEL was thrown.....we read the code(Secondary O2 cat sensors)....re-set it and I dorve away.....about another 100 miles later give or take the CEL light was thrown again....check the code...same code....called Fabspeed and they sent us extenders for the sensors.....they have been installed and so far so good
I can only imagine the sound of an Eisenmann Race w/this set-up as I had Headers/HFC's/X-Pipe & Eisenmann Race on my E39M5 and it was AMAZING!!
To the guys at Fabspeed...will you be coming to NY anytime soon for tunes?
Regards
S

[yoko]

Sound! cool!
hp?

[dogears]

CEL will eventually always come on, IMO.

It took about 2500 miles for me, but it happened. I wound up using my tune to keep the light off.

Car running really good still!

[Robwe46m3]

Dont know why people keep giving money to Fabspeed for this product! it is advertised as "NO CEL". You DO get CEL and Fabspeed does not remedy this or discount the product in any way.

[J08M3]

CEL goes away on its own. Mine did. Fabspeed did however send me the O2 extenders, but you have to take the damn system down in order to install them.... which kinda blows. More work than I want to put back into it. If it comes on again, I'll just keep driving till it goes off again. I guess that's what happens when you run a cat that's right on the edge.

[LV-E92M3]

Originally Posted by J08M3

CEL goes away on its own. Mine did. Fabspeed did however send me the O2 extenders, but you have to take the damn system down in order to install them.... which kinda blows. More work than I want to put back into it. If it comes on again, I'll just keep driving till it goes off again. I guess that's what happens when you run a cat that's right on the edge.

how many miles have you drove?
damn.. I drove mine for 300 miles and never had a light on

[Fen335i]

does anyone have a DIY on installing the 02 extenders and xpipe/HFC's? Are the 02 extenders proven to work as advertised?

[Ben335]

Originally Posted by Fen335i

does anyone have a DIY on installing the 02 extenders and xpipe/HFC's? Are the 02 extenders proven to work as advertised?

They still will trigger CELs, it only works to delay it.

[J08M3]

Originally Posted by LV-E92M3

how many miles have you drove?
damn.. I drove mine for 300 miles and never had a light on

almost 4,000 before first one, then 600 for second one. It clears itself though, nothing to worry about, just gotta make sure it's not there when it's time for inspection.

[pumper206]

I have fabspeed x-pipes w/o resonators and have driven my car for approx. 6-7,000 miles with it and NO CEL... I wonder why? Didn't even use the O2 extenders you guys are talking about. Could it have something to do with installation? I mean it's not just plug and play. You actually have to cut the stock x-pipe out and replace it with the fabspeed one. I would be interested to know if the exact position of the x-pipe(positioning) has something to do with the CEL coming on. I've had 0 CEL issues thus far and I'm at approx. 11,000 miles right now.

[Ben335]

Originally Posted by pumper206

I have fabspeed x-pipes w/o resonators and have driven my car for approx. 6-7,000 miles with it and NO CEL... I wonder why? Didn't even use the O2 extenders you guys are talking about. Could it have something to do with installation? I mean it's not just plug and play. You actually have to cut the stock x-pipe out and replace it with the fabspeed one. I would be interested to know if the exact position of the x-pipe(positioning) has something to do with the CEL coming on. I've had 0 CEL issues thus far and I'm at approx. 11,000 miles right now.

Replacing only the Xpipe will never cause a CEL. Only if you change or remove the main set of Catalytic converters will you have issues with CEL. The O2 sensors that monitor things sit before and after the main cats coming right off the headers. That is why you have no issues with CELs as you have only done your Xpipe.

The Fabspeed HFC and Xpipe WILL Definitely throw CELS. It is just a matter of time as to when you actually get them. It depends on a lot of factors, like driving style, throttle position, etc..... Honestly, it is kind of annoying that Fabspeed still claims that it does not cause CELs and they disappeared off this board both as a sponsor and responding to anyone getting CELs. The only way around it is to tune it out or be willing to clear the code anytime it comes up.

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by Ben335

Replacing only the Xpipe will never cause a CEL. Only if you change or remove the main set of Catalytic converters will you have issues with CEL. The O2 sensors that monitor things sit before and after the main cats coming right off the headers. That is why you have no issues with CELs as you have only done your Xpipe.

The Fabspeed HFC and Xpipe WILL Definitely throw CELS. It is just a matter of time as to when you actually get them. It depends on a lot of factors, like driving style, throttle position, etc..... Honestly, it is kind of annoying that Fabspeed still claims that it does not cause CELs and they disappeared off this board both as a sponsor and responding to anyone getting CELs. The only way around it is to tune it out or be willing to clear the code anytime it comes up.

Good info...thanks. Assuming you can clear the CEL whenever it pops up from time to time w/the HFC's...is there any risk of damage to the engine? My assumption is no...it's just the smog it's reading that's causing the CEL I'm thinking of just doing this anyway, but want to be sure there's no long term damage to the motor to worry about.....I wouldn't be doing an ECU tune (that would effectively remove the CEL permanently) for some time down the road.

[pumper206]

Originally Posted by Ben335

Replacing only the Xpipe will never cause a CEL. Only if you change or remove the main set of Catalytic converters will you have issues with CEL. The O2 sensors that monitor things sit before and after the main cats coming right off the headers. That is why you have no issues with CELs as you have only done your Xpipe.

The Fabspeed HFC and Xpipe WILL Definitely throw CELS. It is just a matter of time as to when you actually get them. It depends on a lot of factors, like driving style, throttle position, etc..... Honestly, it is kind of annoying that Fabspeed still claims that it does not cause CELs and they disappeared off this board both as a sponsor and responding to anyone getting CELs. The only way around it is to tune it out or be willing to clear the code anytime it comes up.

Oooooo. That's why. Thanks.