Titanium Forward X-pipe Offering (9lbs!)

[berns]

Originally Posted by ganz

Hi berns, thanks for organizing this. Would this represent Randy's first "forward X" tune? I know that some of us running forward X (like ESS and BW) have had a little sluggishness / hesitation at lower RPM on other vendor's tunes. Is low-mid range RPM responsiveness something Randy will address?

As said above, Randy is THE ONLY tuner I’d consider for the s65 regardless of X placement. Unless of course you’re supercharged and running a specific setup. Even then, I’d still ask Randy to tune my car because he tunes race cars — cars meant to last through unforgiving beatings and still find consistency and big power.

With that said, yes, Randy made a tune for the BimmerWorld forward X specifically, and it’s problem free, like all of his tunes. We will start with that tune and adjust from there where needed.

[//steve\\]

+1 for Randy/Epic. Yes his tune is a bit more expensive than others but he's easy to work with and you know you're getting the best.

[e46IX]

Just thought I'd chime in to say I run a similar setup already, Akra Slip-On with a Taiwanese titanium midpipe, forward merge x-pipe with resonators and HFC's in the secondary location. Local forum member had a few made overseas, quality is good.

I can confirm it sounds great, gave the Akra more bark, more character. No more flat sound. Also no drone at highway speeds and the Akra muffler does a great job at keeping overall volume down. I believe my mid-pipe was under 15lbs all said and done.

[Rochen_00]

I am very excited and intrigued to see and hear the end result of this project.

[Adrian g.]

Will there be an option to purchase, after the initial 10 are received and feedback on sound, fitment, etc. is provided?

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by slcook54

I'm with Hujan, but will also wait for a full system. I see this option gaining a lot of traction since Akra went EOL and there aren't other Ti options on the market. I'd prefer to run cats for street use, don't mind the cost or the weight penalty.

I'm also running Laguna, would be cool if Nolan could fab some Laguna pipes. Most days are limited to 90-92db

Akra sort of does what you're asking for?
Doesn't smell on street and passes laguna sound (evo).

[m3number86]

Originally Posted by //steve\\

+1 for Randy/Epic. Yes his tune is a bit more expensive than others but he's easy to work with and you know you're getting the best.

Black Friday sale lol (he used to have them not sure if he still does)

He did 45 versions on my car until it was just right on the dyno but remotely.

[berns]

Originally Posted by Adrian g.

Will there be an option to purchase, after the initial 10 are received and feedback on sound, fitment, etc. is provided?

I can't say if more will be produced or not.

To be clear, this isn't something we are slapping together and hoping for the best. Nolan owns an E92 himself. He is 3D printing sections of the exhaust for his jig, test fitting on his vehicle. We are putting the first unit on my car and will tune for it with Randy from Epic. This piece is being fabricated, designed and tested, but the ground breaking part here is that we are making it light. Despite the insanely saturated market, we're going to offer something that doesn't exist. We aren't expecting to pick up massive gains, nor are we promising that. Upgraded X pipes, both standard and forward, have been out for this car for a long time. We all have a good idea what's going to happen here. I'd think there's some level of solace in that fact, compared to, let's say, a turbo kit, cams, or new plenum design.

[wyatth]

I just want that aluminum/bushing brace.


Great looking X pipe!

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by wyatth

I just want that aluminum/bushing brace.


Great looking X pipe!

Me too! If he cuts extra I would buy!!!

[slcook54]

Originally Posted by m3number86

Akra sort of does what you're asking for?
Doesn't smell on street and passes laguna sound (evo).

You're right. Akra checks most of the boxes. I like this as an option but Nolan said that he'd have to do stainless X pipe if I want cats.

[berns]

Wanted to share an update! Nolan has taken delivery of everything and is close to starting production of the first unit. It's been awesome working closely with him and seeing this come together.

Here you can see some renders vs reality. Just a note on the render with the X*** the X will be about 4' forward of the brace, but this gets it into one small image. Once Nolan is under the car fabricating, we'll be able to share some final placement imagery.

[m3number86]

Damn that brace is dope

[berns]

Another weekend update. Still waiting on the ball sockets for the rear connection to the axle back, and the slip joints for the downpipes, but it's looking pretty gorgeous!

We're using a 3D-printed jig -- so cool.
This will be the single nicest, lightest, and likely the most unique sounding x-pipe made for the E9x m3. Hopefully some power comes our way too!

[e9x_chucky]

Gorgeous work!

[Redd]

Man that's a work of art!

[berns]

Time for downpipes and o2 bungs!

[s0ldats]

so ready for this thing

[s0ldats]

Originally Posted by 911r

I've heard an x-pipe similar to this (forward x, no resonators) paired with an Akra and it was absolute perfection. Generally mufflers control rasp more efficiently and resonators are there for tonal control. Resonators function by altering the frequency of the pressure wave, and do not simply cancel out or mitigate rasp (although it is possible). Pretty common misconception.

in theory would adding resonators to this setup increase or decrease the pitch? or would that depend on the resonator used?

planning to run it w/ an oem rear section until i can find a ti akra rear

[911r]

Originally Posted by s0ldats

in theory would adding resonators to this setup increase or decrease the pitch? or would that depend on the resonator used?

planning to run it w/ an oem rear section until i can find a ti akra rear

I would say it all depends on the resonators themselves / how they're engineered … but generally resonators would serve to refine or pitch down the sound waves passing through them.

[itoto]

Originally Posted by s0ldats

in theory would adding resonators to this setup increase or decrease the pitch? or would that depend on the resonator used?

planning to run it w/ an oem rear section until i can find a ti akra rear

Generally, decrease. Mufflers and resonators, in general, both do the same thing; transfer energy from the sound waves to insulation of the resonator and mufflers, preventing the propagation of a variety of frequencies. Although possible, increasing the overall frequency of the waves in a refined manner will require something more complex than a hollow object with insulation; it'll require at the minimum dead-end tubing and a knowledge of how our car's exhaust functions, something universal resonators/mufflers don't generally take into consideration.

[berns]

Just waiting on the front brace attachments now. First two forward x’s are ready to go otherwise! Excited to install — from idea to product in a short time, and Nolan killed it!