Test Pipes or X-Pipe

[M3Captain]

Gonna be paired up with my dinan mufflers. I'm sure this has been beat to death but I haven't been able to hear either setup in person.

Somewhat concerned the test pipes will be too quiet. If someone has either one of these setups and could chime in would be great.

[Mit_Boost]

If you live anywhere close to ACM, I'd call ahead -- Good chance they'll have at least 1 M3 with the Test Pipes & another with a true X-Pipe

[M3Captain]

Originally Posted by Mit_Boost

If you live anywhere close to ACM, I'd call ahead -- Good chance they'll have at least 1 M3 with the Test Pipes & another with a true X-Pipe

I pretty much answered my own question today... x-pipe it will be. Review coming soon.

[momo3605]

Originally Posted by M3Captain

I pretty much answered my own question today... x-pipe it will be. Review coming soon.

I actually just hung out with someone with a dinan x-pipe paired with dinan muffler compared to my test pipes + dinan muffler, and the test pipes were louder than the dinan x-pipe. I'm not sure what x-pipe you'll be going for, but the dinan one is very quiet and makes the tone lower. The test pipes sound high pitched and very exotic. I decided against swapping with an x-pipe after doing the comparo.

Just my 2 cents

[W///]

Originally Posted by M3Captain

Gonna be paired up with my dinan mufflers. I'm sure this has been beat to death but I haven't been able to hear either setup in person.

Somewhat concerned the test pipes will be too quiet. If someone has either one of these setups and could chime in would be great.

Not sure it would be quiet to be honest with you. Bought my ACM test pipe and was pleasantly surprised at how much louder the car got. In fact, I thought it was too much with the OEM mod so I had to get a new muffler.

[325rider]

I don't think test pipes with anything but OEM will be too quiet…
Definitely not. Now, if you like obnoxiously and illegally loud cars then MAYBE it will be, but it is no doubt nice and loud.

[Matt@activeautowerke]

it depends what your budget is. Test pipes can run you $300-$400 and show 7-10 hp improvement. X-pipes can run you $600-$2000 and show 20-25 hp improvement.

[momo3605]

Originally Posted by Matt@activeautowerke

it depends what your budget is. Test pipes can run you $300-$400 and show 7-10 hp improvement. X-pipes can run you $600-$2000 and show 20-25 hp improvement.

Is that a joke? I will admit an x-pipe may make a bit more hp. But if you average all of the test pipe dynos and the x-pipe dynos, the test pipes dynos have consistently showed 25-30hp. Turner's dyno showed 40hp, but that was probably somehwat biased. Anyway, it is a known fact that you will get at least 80% of the total hp potential with test pipes. You should look this up before posting blatant lies on a forum.

edit: I don't want to turn this into a bashing thread of x-pipe vs test pipes. They both have advantages. X-pipes have more material, and are naturally more expensive. And everything will have a different noise. But in terms of hp, a catted xpipe vs test pipes will be exactly the same, and a catless x-pipe will make <10hp more.

[s85e90]

Yeah I can't see how an x pipe will make substantially more power than test pipes as the ppower seems to be made in the primaries.

this is a nice setup to not deal w/ a lot of smell and keep the rear resonators. Don't be fooled either, the OEM x pipe and exhaust flows very well.

The pipes are hydroformed and not crush bent, so in reality it's really flowing like a mandrel bent setup

[M3Captain]

Originally Posted by Matt@activeautowerke

it depends what your budget is. Test pipes can run you $300-$400 and show 7-10 hp improvement. X-pipes can run you $600-$2000 and show 20-25 hp improvement.

Budget is not the issue. I didn't wanna cut the factory x-pipe and eliminate both sets of cats.

To give you guys an idea of loud I had a remus race on my previous m3. Loved the sound / loudness. Didn't bother with an x-pipe since it was a lease.

I was thinking the new macht schnell xpipe or challenge race xpipe. Something with a resonator so its not ungodly loud.

[momo3605]

Originally Posted by M3Captain

Budget is not the issue. I didn't wanna cut the factory x-pipe and eliminate both sets of cats.

To give you guys an idea of loud I had a remus race on my previous m3. Loved the sound / loudness. Didn't bother with an x-pipe since it was a lease.

I was thinking the new macht schnell xpipe or challenge race xpipe. Something with a resonator so its not ungodly loud.

Yea, those are both good x-pipes. I would stay away from MS if you can though, I'm sure the x-pipe is fine. But I've seen lots of defective MS parts in the threads, especially their intakes.

[MasterP]

Owner of defective MS parts. But not the ones we're talking about.

I have ACM test Pipes on OEM X pipe. I really think an unresonated catless x pipe would be obnoxiously loud. Not to mention the smell and brown bumper...

[M3Captain]

Originally Posted by TrakBch

Owner of defective MS parts. But not the ones we're talking about.

I have ACM test Pipes on OEM X pipe. I really think an unresonated catless x pipe would be obnoxiously loud. Not to mention the smell and brown bumper...

Every x-pipe I'm interested in is resonated.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by momo3605

Is that a joke? I will admit an x-pipe may make a bit more hp. But if you average all of the test pipe dynos and the x-pipe dynos, the test pipes dynos have consistently showed 25-30hp. Turner's dyno showed 40hp, but that was probably somehwat biased. Anyway, it is a known fact that you will get at least 80% of the total hp potential with test pipes. You should look this up before posting blatant lies on a forum.

edit: I don't want to turn this into a bashing thread of x-pipe vs test pipes. They both have advantages. X-pipes have more material, and are naturally more expensive. And everything will have a different noise. But in terms of hp, a catted xpipe vs test pipes will be exactly the same, and a catless x-pipe will make <10hp more.

A recent dyno at EAS showed 15 rwhp from test pipes. Full X-pipes are typically closer to 25 rwhp.

[SflBimmer8484]

We offer both options now. So no matter what your choice may be, make it AA

[flipm3]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

A recent dyno at EAS showed 15 rwhp from test pipes. Full X-pipes are typically closer to 25 rwhp.

Agreed! Just to further confirm results from EAS, these were the results of Test Pipes and a XPipe from the dyno we use here in IL often. Both make excellent power, just a matter of preference and willingness to spend.

E92 M3 DCT w/ Test Pipes


E90 M3 DCT w/ XPipe (200cpsi Cats + Resonators)

[BrewRifle]

I went with the AA x-pipe with the HFC's to avoid having to cut into the stock piping as well. No stink and you still get all of the HP you need given there is only 200 cell cats + resonators.

[W///]

Originally Posted by TrakBch

Owner of defective MS parts. But not the ones we're talking about.

I have ACM test Pipes on OEM X pipe. I really think an unresonated catless x pipe would be obnoxiously loud. Not to mention the smell and brown bumper...

I'm running the same setup, but I got the secondaries straight piped and resonators intact. The smell is not bad, even when not moving (can't say the same if you are standing behind the car), and absolutely no brown bumper FYI. It's not like we are driving a straight piped diesel from the 80s here. I got rid of the secondaries more for extra sound than hp, but that doesn't hurt.

Total cost, with spare xpipe that I purchased from forum member = under $500.

[Matt@activeautowerke]

Originally Posted by M3Captain

Budget is not the issue. I didn't wanna cut the factory x-pipe and eliminate both sets of cats.

To give you guys an idea of loud I had a remus race on my previous m3. Loved the sound / loudness. Didn't bother with an x-pipe since it was a lease.

I was thinking the new macht schnell xpipe or challenge race xpipe. Something with a resonator so its not ungodly loud.

LOL @ "UNGODLY LOUD". BUT IT'S A RACE KIARRRRR LOLZ

[M3Captain]

Originally Posted by Matt@activeautowerke

LOL @ "UNGODLY LOUD". BUT IT'S A RACE KIARRRRR LOLZ

Because.... race car....

[Someone?]

Originally Posted by momo3605

Is that a joke? I will admit an x-pipe may make a bit more hp. But if you average all of the test pipe dynos and the x-pipe dynos, the test pipes dynos have consistently showed 25-30hp. Turner's dyno showed 40hp, but that was probably somehwat biased. Anyway, it is a known fact that you will get at least 80% of the total hp potential with test pipes. You should look this up before posting blatant lies on a forum.

edit: I don't want to turn this into a bashing thread of x-pipe vs test pipes. They both have advantages. X-pipes have more material, and are naturally more expensive. And everything will have a different noise. But in terms of hp, a catted xpipe vs test pipes will be exactly the same, and a catless x-pipe will make <10hp more.

Originally Posted by flipm3

Agreed! Just to further confirm results from EAS, these were the results of Test Pipes and a XPipe from the dyno we use here in IL often. Both make excellent power, just a matter of preference and willingness to spend.

E92 M3 DCT w/ Test Pipes


E90 M3 DCT w/ XPipe (200cpsi Cats + Resonators)

I will agree that this seems very low considering iv seen stage 1 tune only dynos make that much power (the 16hp extra from just the stage 2 and test pipes) and have seen some huge dyno gains on this forum from test pipe/stage 2 from others, but in most cases good HFC x-pipes make more power then cat less (not including the MRF of coarse)

We will see tho, i will dyno my car come spring it will have Dinan intake/pulley, Akra/stage 2 BPM tune, i would hope(and am pretty sure) ill be around 390rwhp.

[Someone?]

I dug up a quick 2 other NA dynos that made good power=
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...highlight=dyno

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...highlight=dyno