Post two updated with current build.

 

Opinions on this lip? It is a Autokits prototype lip that never went into production, from my understating, for the OEM G37 Sport bumper. After a little bit of digging around haven't been able to find any other examples of it online, making it rare with possibly just a few testers ever being produced.

 

Looks about 3/4" too wide, and the nose protrudes further in the middle than each 18" section from the middle. It doesn't perfectly follow that line. So unless you have fab skills to make it work, or access to a shop that does, (or your painters tape assessment isn't a tight fit) it will never look right, IMO. In other words, it could look fantastic when you step back and take in the whole car. But if your eyes linger on the lines and the fitment, it might look awkward. And since you're the one looking at it all the time, you might not be happy.

There are exceptions, but generally speaking every mod is a compromise.

 

Agree that it doesn’t mirror the bumper lines. I think would look better if it was continuously flowing vs how it pokes out just past the fog light section of the bumper then gets smaller along the center section.

The painters tape is a very loose fit so the fitment doesn’t look perfect but it sits up pretty nicely.

I bought the lip off MJaga I think back in 2019 and literally just opened the box today lol here is his car with the lip a little further out:

 

I like the Lip ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Scooped up some Tanabe axle backs. Polished up the tips with some blue magic product I had laying around and slapped them on the car. The cans will be painted black with VHT paint for the OEM look.

I like them, and need to spend more time with them but initial impressions are I wish they were slightly louder. I also need to still hear them from outside of the car to be certain but they are tame as can be from the driver seat with the windows down. I wanted the quietest exhaust I could get and these are for sure it.

They are great around 3k rpm. Nice low and deeper than stock tone. Very mature and exactly what I wanted, I just wish they carried that same tone everywhere else in the rpm band as well. The rest of the system is stock.

I'm thinking I may try either vibrant or coupe resonators for just that tiny extra increase In sound.

The Tanabe's are also slightly heavier than the OEM mufflers, which was a little surprising and bugs me a little lol.

 

The axle back has been on for a little over a week now and while I like it the sound, I want it to be a little more audible inside the car without being loud on the outside. I know I know.

So I hoped on offer-up and picked this up today:




Coupe Y-back for $60. Going to swap in the mid pipe as far back as I can go and weld it to the sedan axle back flange/piping.

But why? Why not just have the larger diameter mid pipe matched to the Tanabes?

Because I honestly have a feeling I’m going to like the sound of the mid pipe better with the factory axle back. This way I’ll get to try it out with both and make a finally decision.

 

Exhaust Update:



Factory Sedan Mid-Pipe


Coupe Mid-Pipe compared to Sedan Mid-Pipe post resonators.


Reducer - Not the prettiest job, but it is very much functional. Also temporary whilst I decide between the Tanabe's and Factory mufflers.


Need to bend the axle-back hangers to tuck closer to the bumper still.


Still not a fan of these tips.


Coupe Mid-Pipe and Sedan Tanabe Axle-Back Review:

So with the Coupe Mid-Pipe and Tanabe Axle-Back the sound from INSIDE has a VERY nice subtle loudness and deepness. I would describe it as being able to hear there is a "more aggressive than your average factory exhaust" on the car but it very well could be a factory option. It sounds good with enough audibleness for when you want to hear it, but you could also completely tune it out if you choose to, I hope that makes sense. Cold start is deeper and more aggressive, warm idle is ever so slightly deeper, and accelerations is louder and deeper but sounds very low key and tame. ZERO drone, ZERO NVH. On the freeway it disappears until you really put your foot in it. This set up sounds like a factory coupe that is a bit deeper and bit louder. Completely livable with for daily life.

I still need to hear it outside as someone drives-by in my car while I stand and listen. Then I'll do the same for the factory mufflers/Coupe mid-pipe combo and compare the two before making a decision on what to do next.

1. If I keep the Tanabe's then I'll re-do the exhaust work with matching mandrel bent pieces and v-band clamps. Right now the set-up goes:
Coupe Mid-Pipe -> Step down reducer to keep the factory slip joint/some piping for testing -> Tanabe axle-back which matches the Coupe Mid-Pipe piping diameter.
Finally replace the tips and paint the Tanabe mufflers black.

2. If I like the stock mufflers better, well then I'm set all set. The Tanabe's will get sold.

 

Headlight restoration by my body shop guy



Before

After

 

^^You going to fix that leaky rear diff bushing?

 

Temp fix is in place already. Poly fill and Bell Raceworks diff brace make it feel solid back there.

I’ll eventually replace all three bushings but that’s way down the road and part of a much larger set of mods. Finned cover, FD, and Wavetrac LSD.

 

Maybe that poly fill will be a perm fix? Replacing bushings is a exercise in rabbit hole exploration. Doesn't make sense to do it unless doing all of them, including those in various suspension components.

 

I honestly don’t see why it couldn’t be a long term solution. I used to poly fill my previous cars motor and transmission mounts and had zero issues with them, aside from the expected increased NVH.

I could carry out the R&R with the help of my Dad in my garage but I don’t think either of us really has the patients for this one.

 

I’ll be out at Laguna this Friday with the new set up for the first time.

Tanabe coilovers, PF01’s 18x9.5 +45(+35 upfront with 10mm spacers), and square 275/40 MPSS.

Wheels are getting ceramic coating sometime this week.

 

Really appreciate these photos as I'm actually considering the PF01 EVOs right now for my build. Looks great on the sedan (as does the Work Emotion CR Kiwami that they remind me of) - but at a definite weight/cost savings.