Fabspeed X-Pipe and HFC Review

[Ben335]

DonDon has posted a seperate review already but I wanted to post my thoughts as well.

DonDon and I had the Fabspeed X-Pipe and HFCs installed last Friday at their shop in Ambler, PA. What a great bunch of guys. From the time that we got there to the time that we left, they made us feel at home and really took care of us. We were able to watch the system installed and well as get a great tour of their shop. Jeremy was great to deal with and made it all happen for us quick and simple.

I have an 09 E90 with an Eisenmann Sport exhaust, AA Tune, AA Power Pulley, and Macht Schnell Air Filter. The exhaust piece itself is two pieces with the HFC in one section and the Xpipe with resonators as the second peice behind that. All fitment and finish of the pipes themselves as well as the welds are top notch. Comparing them to the OEM really makes you wonder what BMW was thinking in putting a system like that in their M cars.

The install went smoothly and once the car was off the lift, I took it for a quick spin to see how the car ran. WOW....you can instantly feel the increase in power in the car. It is truly amazing. We all look for mods that give us power and this one definitely delivers without a doubt. If I were to start over from the beginning, this would be the first mod that I would do performance wise as it really does deliver at a very reasonable price. The car is so much more powerful all over the rev range. The revs are freerer and quicker to climb as the engine is breathing much better now.

Sound wise it is great. Not that much louder than my Einsenmann Sport alone. When you get on the gas though, the sound is much more aggressive and raw. It is a bit louder, but as a comparison, it is still quiter than a Eisenmann Race in my opinion. For those that are looking for a bit more sound from the Eisenmann Sport, this is the item for you. If you daily drive your car also, this fits your bill.

I have posted a bunch of pics below of the stock system, the Fabspeed X-Pipe and HFC combo as well as come install pics of our cars on the lift getting the work done.

Again, my thanks to Jeremy and Jay as well as the whole Fabspeed team for their hospitality on Friday.

I am glad to answer any questions that anyone has.

[jackolo]

Thanks for the review!

I have a Meisterschaft GT and always wanted to free up some power with X-pipe and HFCs but was worried it would get considerably louder. Since it's not too much louder I might follow this as well. Fabspeed makes some great products!

[RGuard250]

Someone needs to pair this up with the Vanguard system and do a review!

[Jeremy@Fabspeed]

Originally Posted by RGuard250

Someone needs to pair this up with the Vanguard system and do a review!

If anybody has a Vanguard System and is interested in the Fabspeed HFC please feel free to pm me. If you can post up a video after install to give us feedback and soundclip I will take care of you

[john@wickedparts]

Originally Posted by RGuard250

Someone needs to pair this up with the Vanguard system and do a review!

Heck yeah. Maybe it should be you sir!

[TOOMANYCARS]

Nice & silver. They will turn into "GOLD" in no time.

[Nate@IND]

Nice review and photos. We just installed this same setup today at IND. The Fabspeed with the Eisenmann Sport is a perfect combo

[PunjabiM3]

Do you (or for that matter anyone else) have pictures of the intersection between the stock headers and cat pipes? I am wondering if you guys have the stock donut gasket in there (causing a gap between the flanges) or if Fabspeed took it out? I am running with the gasket in place so that is why I ask...

[endofanera7]

Im impressed by the quality of Fabspeed X pipe, at least how it looks from pictures.

Btw, that AW M3 is lowww...

[pjrn007]

Thanks to Ilia and Nate at IND. Love the exhaust note...can't decide whether to drive with the windows up or down!

[Ben335]

Originally Posted by PunjabiM3

Do you (or for that matter anyone else) have pictures of the intersection between the stock headers and cat pipes? I am wondering if you guys have the stock donut gasket in there (causing a gap between the flanges) or if Fabspeed took it out? I am running with the gasket in place so that is why I ask...

See the pics. That is the only that I have of the connection.

Originally Posted by TOOMANYCARS

Nice & silver. They will turn into "GOLD" in no time.

They already turned gold on the drive back to DC from PA.

Originally Posted by endofanera7

Im impressed by the quality of Fabspeed X pipe, at least how it looks from pictures.

Btw, that AW M3 is lowww...

Yeah, it is low. I took that picture on purpose to show how low it is on the dyno. I laid the camera on the floor to take that pic. He is lowered on KW Clubsports.

[RGuard250]

Originally Posted by Jeremy@Fabspeed

If anybody has a Vanguard System and is interested in the Fabspeed HFC please feel free to pm me. If you can post up a video after install to give us feedback and soundclip I will take care of you

Originally Posted by john@wickedparts

Heck yeah. Maybe it should be you sir!

Please gentlemen don't make me pull out my wallet, my wife will kill me. Very soon, if not extremely soon I will pick both these up w/ a tune. Just picked up another set of aftermarket wheels and my Ericsson bumper. But yes, the Vanguard w/ Fabspeed is my ideal setup to replace my Eisenmann.

[Jeremy@Fabspeed]

Originally Posted by RGuard250

Please gentlemen don't make me pull out my wallet, my wife will kill me. Very soon, if not extremely soon I will pick both these up w/ a tune. Just picked up another set of aftermarket wheels and my Ericsson bumper. But yes, the Vanguard w/ Fabspeed is my ideal setup to replace my Eisenmann.

Whenever you are ready to go just say the majic word! I will definately take care of you.

[DoNDoN]

Originally Posted by RGuard250

Please gentlemen don't make me pull out my wallet, my wife will kill me. Very soon, if not extremely soon I will pick both these up w/ a tune. Just picked up another set of aftermarket wheels and my Ericsson bumper. But yes, the Vanguard w/ Fabspeed is my ideal setup to replace my Eisenmann.

If anything get the Fabspeed HFC and X Pipe first. I guarantee you will not be disappointed with the sound or the hp increase. If I had to start modifying my car again this would definitely be the first mod that I would do.

[Shake-N-Bake]

Congrats Ben that looks awesome. Do you happen to have a video up of it yet? I was thinking of going the same route with the Fabspeed X-Pipe, HFCs and Eisenmann Sport exhaust.

Jeremy can you please PM me the price. Thanks.

[Ben335]

Originally Posted by Shake-N-Bake

Congrats Ben that looks awesome. Do you happen to have a video up of it yet? I was thinking of going the same route with the Fabspeed X-Pipe, HFCs and Eisenmann Sport exhaust.

Jeremy can you please PM me the price. Thanks.

You'll love this mod. Here is a link of my car on the Dyno. Go towards the end of the video and you can see my gray E90.

http://www.fabspeed.com/videos/BMW%2...Dyno%20Run.wmv

Here is DonDon's car taking off. He has an Eisenmann Race.

I will take some clips of the car revving and some of take off and get them up by tonight.

[umalip]

hey ben, is it loud in the car when driving, or is there drone? also, while your are driving, highway or city, if you are on the phone, can people hear you or vice versa? do you have to roll up your windows to talk to people on the phone?

[Ben335]

Originally Posted by umalip

hey ben, is it loud in the car when driving, or is there drone? also, while your are driving, highway or city, if you are on the phone, can people hear you or vice versa? do you have to roll up your windows to talk to people on the phone?

It is not loud in the car while driving, no drone with the Sport exhaust. The volume only increases while really getting on the gas and then it is limited to the outside. You hear it more with the windows down, but it is still very managable. I just had a conversation on my Bluetooth while driving and had no problems doing so. I always roll up my windows to talk via hands free as it is too noisy with the windows down regardless of any mods due to wind noise.

[umalip]

good to know, i was really worried about it just being too loud.

[J08M3]

Originally Posted by pjrn007

Thanks to Ilia and Nate at IND. Love the exhaust note...can't decide whether to drive with the windows up or down!

DOWN!

[J08M3]

Originally Posted by umalip

good to know, i was really worried about it just being too loud.

def not too loud. I had to sell my Eis Sport cause it wasn't loud enough with this setup.... although the tone of the two combined really is amazing.

[PunjabiM3]

Originally Posted by Jeremy@Fabspeed

Whenever you are ready to go just say the majic word! I will definately take care of you.

Jeremy did you leave the stock donut gasket between the header and cat in place or was it taken out? Getting the car dynoed this Saturday to compare to my stock run so hope I get some decent numbers.