Review: CNT Racing Exhaust

[Antonio1988]

So after selling my previous exhaust to pay down a cc balance, I decided to buy something cheap to keep me at bay for the time being. I tried doing the OEM mod, but it was simply not the sound I wanted. I've had the Megan exhaust before, but it has gone up nearly $200 since I last had it. So alas, I decided to give the CNT exhaust a try. The exhaust design does not seem all that different than the RPi (straight through style muffler; goes from one 2.5" pipe into two 2.5" perforated sections).

My review:

Packaging was very good and everything arrived undamaged. No quarrels here.


The exhaust is very good looking, almost beautiful actually. The tips are a bit bigger than stock and the welds on everything are very clean. The exhaust is on the lighter side by comparison.



General pic from the eBay ad:



Installation was one of the easiest I have ever done. On the floor, alone, with jack stands, 55 minutes to remove the old and put on the new exhaust. Fit is spot on, with one minor issue being the driver's side muffler hanging a little low and a little left. That will be corrected tonight with just the slightest bit of a bend.

Sound... well what can I say? I have a catless quad-resonated x-pipe that matches up to this exhaust and all I can keep saying is that this does not sound like an M3. It sounds so much meaner, and I mean that in the best of ways. The exhaust is very throaty, very much in your face. I have gotten compliments all last night and on my way to work this morning and I cannot speak highly enough of the sound this exhaust makes. There is drone, there is no fooling that, but it is alright with me. Sound down low will rumble everything around you, up top it still sings like an M3 should :-)

All in all, I feel that this exhaust is a nice competitor for the Gintani and the RPi systems, all for 1/3 of the cost.

More pics and videos to come in the next couple of days!

Update: OEM x-pipe was put back on, the drone is pretty evident with the catless x-pipe I had on there originally. Still retained 100% of the sound, but cut the drone down by about 75%. Now it's a badass exhaust! Videos and more pics coming this weekend.

Update 2: Exhaust was not able to be bent to correct the improper angle. I had to take the car to a local exhaust shop to have a little modification done. As you can see in the pic below, the driver's side muffler is hanging a little low and at an angle.



This was corrected by cutting the arm that extends (support bracket I suppose) and re-welding it about a half an inch up. Pics of the work:



Here is the finished result, $25 and 30 minutes later:



Some more pics of the exhaust...

[rjd598]

So how much was it?

[Antonio1988]

Originally Posted by rjd598

So how much was it?

$539 shipped

[BMW Fanatic]

Video?

[tdott]

I have this exhaust and was thinking of going catless next year summer, I wanna hear the video!

[mkPOTO]

in for video

[Antonio1988]

Updated, pics and vids coming Saturday morning!

[MPowerZ32]

Looks very well made! I'm curious whether it drones if paired with stock x-pipe.

[Antonio1988]

Originally Posted by MPowerZ32

Looks very well made! I'm curious whether it drones if paired with stock x-pipe.

Yes, it drones a little bit with the stock X-pipe, but no more than any other sports car with a great sounding exhaust (if you've had other performance cars before)

[Antonio1988]

OP updated with a slight modification that needed to be done. Sorry for the delay folks, I still need to make that video for you guys

[MSPORTWORLD]

In for the video!

[Antonio1988]

Originally Posted by MSPORTWORLD

In for the video!

Started working on it yesterday so I've got the inside audio read to go. Now I just need to find the time to do the outside video

[srtoad4]

Same exhaust I put on my e93, absolutely love it!

[Sered]

Needs some vids, I just ordered a Megan for $540 shipped as well

[Prablem_Child]

I have the same exhaust an I love it ...i only have one question, how big of a different is it with Catless because I really want mine louder

[Antonio1988]

Originally Posted by maad_flex

I have the same exhaust an I love it ...i only have one question, how big of a different is it with Catless because I really want mine louder

With a catless x with 4 resonators it reminded me of my 08 stang with long tubes and dumps. Sounded epic, just too loud for me now

[Infuzion]

Just placed my order with CNT Racing, payed a bit extra for shipping, but hopefully it'll be here before the weekend and I can add to this review and/or post some pics/videos!

[aerogear2000]

Originally Posted by Infuzion

Just placed my order with CNT Racing, payed a bit extra for shipping, but hopefully it'll be here before the weekend and I can add to this review and/or post some pics/videos!

Thank you, those tips look much bigger compare to the Megan Racing.

[sylonien]

Does it drone?

[Infuzion]

Exhaust just arrived! About to install it. I'll update it with pics and (hopefully) video of the sound. Let's see if they've corrected the driver's side being jacked up a bit!

[Antonio1988]

Exhaust does drone a bit in the typical 2000ish range

[happos2]

Originally Posted by aerogear2000

Thank you, those tips look much bigger compare to the Megan Racing.

The tip size has me curious... I want to hear this versus the Megan as well.