Do all HFC x-pipe sound the same?

[cvstar9M3]

Say, you have a Dinan muffler paired with AFE HFC x-pipe, will the sound be the same if you replaced the xpipe with fabspeed HFC x-pipe or a macht schnell one? I am only referring to the xpipes that have the HFC at the primary cats location and without any resonators. A friend who is very familiar with the e9x platform told me this when I told them I wanted to change x-pipes. He said all the HFC ones will sound the same. Thanks for any input.

[BayE30]

short answer is NO. Every part will have a sound variation based on material gauge, angles, type of alloy, type of HFC, location of HFC, etc.

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

short answer is NO. Every part will have a sound variation based on material gauge, angles, type of alloy, type of HFC, location of HFC, etc.

Thanks. That's what I thought. I ask because I bought a full catless Frequency Intelligent (FI) exhaust. I like it but it was a bit too loud and couldn't deal w the smell. So I picked up a cheap used AfE hfc xpipe and paired it w the muffler for now. It's loud but not as loud and of course no smell so it's fine but I'm not crazy about the new sound. So I was thinking of eventually getting a hfc xpipe from FI to again have a full FI system. My friend said don't waste money because all HFC xpipe sound the same side the cats reduce the loudness equally.

[BayE30]

where does the AFE have the HFC, primary or secondary location?

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

where does the AFE have the HFC, primary or secondary location?

Primary location

[BayE30]

thats probably why the sounds is so much different. try an Xpipe with HFC in secondary position.

[GORDON.M3]

nope, depends on the brand of the cat and resonators that are used in the system.
it just so happened that challenge got it correct when using vibrant parts on their x-pipe system.

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by SFCM3

thats probably why the sounds is so much different. try an Xpipe with HFC in secondary position.

Mmm interesting. I actually considered the Akro evo but didn't wanna spend $1500 for a used one. What other companies make them like that? I did try a turner testpipe - keeping the stock secondaries and resonators - and it was way too quiet.

[strokemycocktus]

You may also look into x-pipes like Gintani or ESS, these have the X moved up forward and the cats in primary section, boy does that sound good.

[Richbot]

The aFe is the only one I'm aware of that uses a 300cell cat. All of the others use a 200cell either in primary or secondary location. THat extra flow alone will add some volume and change the tone

I've been using the aFe without a "cat delete" tune for the better part of a year and 8000 miles or so now and no CEL. That's not a sure thing with the 200cell setups from what people have said on here

[cvstar9M3]

the search continues... just put on fabspeed catless (resonated xpipe). It's actually quieter than the catted AFE. ODD!

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by strokemycocktus

You may also look into x-pipes like Gintani or ESS, these have the X moved up forward and the cats in primary section, boy does that sound good.

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

the search continues... just put on fabspeed catless (resonated xpipe). It's actually quieter than the catted AFE. ODD!

Agree on the Gintani x-pipe with hfc. Paired it with a corsa cat back and it screams now. Very happy with it. And no cel.

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by jktx

Agree on the Gintani x-pipe with hfc. Paired it with a corsa cat back and it screams now. Very happy with it. And no cel.

Thanks... Gintani catted is very hard to come by on the used market. I'll just put the catted AFE back on and wait I guess lol. It's really odd though that a catted xpipe (no resonators) can be louder than a catless w just resonators. I guess the resonators really reduce sound.

[Audioslave686]

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

Mmm interesting. I actually considered the Akro evo but didn't wanna spend $1500 for a used one. What other companies make them like that? I did try a turner testpipe - keeping the stock secondaries and resonators - and it was way too quiet.

you can actually do it yourself.
i bought the bimmerworld xpipe with the resonators and welded in Magnaflow HFC on a secondary position.
looks almost OEM

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by Audioslave686

you can actually do it yourself.
i bought the bimmerworld xpipe with the resonators and welded in Magnaflow HFC on a secondary position.
looks almost OEM

Oh.nice. Can you post a better pic? Also why did u choose the secondary position versus primary? Different sound (how did the sound change from Catless to when u added the cats?) More power? Do you also have to move the 02 censor thanks? Just wondering the mechanics of it all. Finally which particular magna flow cat is that. I might try this.

[Audioslave686]

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

Oh.nice. Can you post a better pic? Also why did u choose the secondary position versus primary? Different sound (how did the sound change from Catless to when u added the cats?) More power? Do you also have to move the 02 censor thanks? Just wondering the mechanics of it all. Finally which particular magna flow cat is that. I might try this.

i didn't install it yet, so cannot say anything about the sound.
i anticipate it to be 2-3 time louder than stock.
O2 sensors will stay at the same place. i will have to install the tune to get rid of the fault.
i followed SYT_Shadow advise on cats placement. he had one of his primary cats blocked, that resulted into the engine failure. so it's better to have the cats after an X

i used that one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(And now it is cheaper than ever)

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by Audioslave686

i didn't install it yet, so cannot say anything about the sound.
i anticipate it to be 2-3 time louder than stock.
O2 sensors will stay at the same place. i will have to install the tune to get rid of the fault.
i followed SYT_Shadow advise on cats placement. he had one of his primary cats blocked, that resulted into the engine failure. so it's better to have the cats after an X

i used that one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
(And now it is cheaper than ever)

Nevermind re pics. I c the location now. Another popular and reasonably priced hfc is vibrant.

[ryguy0492]

this is going to sound maybe very dumb, but how do people weld in cats/resonators like above, while keeping the same length as original? How are you chopping a pipe up and getting the OEM length? Or does it not matter?

thanks..

[strokemycocktus]

Originally Posted by ryguy0492

this is going to sound maybe very dumb, but how do people weld in cats/resonators like above, while keeping the same length as original? How are you chopping a pipe up and getting the OEM length? Or does it not matter?

thanks..

Use a tool to measure the length of the piece needed to be cut out?

[Freiheit]

Originally Posted by Audioslave686

you can actually do it yourself.
i bought the bimmerworld xpipe with the resonators and welded in Magnaflow HFC on a secondary position.
looks almost OEM

It does, but that crossover jumps out at me. I've always preferred the siamesed style of X pipe to the crossover, less turbulence, better velocity. That has me looking at the aFe X pipe on Bimmerworld's site instead. The price increase is pretty hefty though.

[cvstar9M3]

Originally Posted by Freiheit

It does, but that crossover jumps out at me. I've always preferred the siamesed style of X pipe to the crossover, less turbulence, better velocity. That has me looking at the aFe X pipe on Bimmerworld's site instead. The price increase is pretty hefty though.

if you're looking for afe hfc xpipe, I might be putting mine up for sale soon. Let me know if interested.

[Freiheit]

Originally Posted by cvstar9M3

if you're looking for afe hfc xpipe, I might be putting mine up for sale soon.

Why are you selling it?