The Coupe Exhaust Thread
Registered Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Nyc
Question to everyone. I currently have a 2011 AWD coupe. I simply have a Muffler delete with Megan burnt tips. I was wondering tho, what would be the result if I were to get a tune without having test pipes. Im actually dont want flames, only that burble and occasional backfire.
Registered Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 15
Likes: 8
From: San Diego, CA
Question to everyone. I currently have a 2011 AWD coupe. I simply have a Muffler delete with Megan burnt tips. I was wondering tho, what would be the result if I were to get a tune without having test pipes. Im actually dont want flames, only that burble and occasional backfire.
Registered Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Nyc
Registered Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
Registered Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: West Moose Country Island
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Registered Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 28
Likes: 6
From: Maryland
New HKS HI Power + Eibach sways
I finally took the plunge and installed an HKS Hi Power cat-back exhaust and Eibach anti-sway bars on my 2008 G37 Coupe Sport 6MT (40K miles). Superb quality on both items. Shout out to Tim at MBS Performance Exhaust in Pasadena, MD for doing great work.
Now for the review... I gave MBS carte blanche to touch up any welds or anything else they could find but they found no flaw to fix with the HKS. After about 1500 miles of mostly hwy driving I can say that this exhaust is near perfect: quiet on the HWY and around town with regular driving - just a muted, subtle and very appealing linear growl. Just when you want it - while accelerating - the sound changes to from a deeper growl to a higher pitched aggressive snarl as revs increase. It has good ground clearance too (because speed bumps).
At local speeds (20-40mph) it’s subtle, still as quiet as stock. At startup it’s slightly louder than stock with a mellow growl that portends the VQ’s high-rpm scream. The car is noticeably more responsive to throttle inputs and it feels like it accelerates faster than before - especially at hwy speeds. I found that I’m shifting more smoothly from a start, and where there was a slight hesitation when stepping on the gas with stock, the HKS seems to have exorcised some of that lag.
The only negative is a very slight and brief drone (very minor) between 1300 and 1600 rpms when accelerating hard-ish from that range while in a higher gear (5th or 6th). That’s basically “lugging” the engine which you shouldn’t do anyway but I had to test the exhaust in various scenarios.
It doesn’t feel like I lost any low end torque but who knows. Tim guessed I might see a 10+ hp increase as is (mid and high rpms) and upwards of 15 to 20 if I were to add a true cold air intake (which I will not do). I have no plans to dyno the car as it won’t make it go any faster. I bought the HKS for sound, feel and looks but if it bumps up the HP that’s gravy. HKS’s gleaming stainless steel is gorgeous under the bumper. Sweet-looking titanium tips are too big - like clown shoes - yet they still nicely complement my G’s pearl white paint, though I wish their adjustability allowed them to be pushed in little more flush with the edge of the bumper/valance to hide their size. As is, they stand proud several inches. It still looks okay - if somewhat juvenile - so I can live with it.
I perused dozens and dozens of videos and comments before buying the HKS. I had also considered Ark Grip & Invidia Gemini. I think Ark sounds marginally nicer (deeper and more mellow than the HKS) but it hangs too low for speed bumps and my steep driveway. Plus, I was concerned about fitment issues mentioned in some forums. I read that Gemini May be louder in-cabin and a few commented on a slight drone which was a no-go. I didn’t care about saving a few hundred $$$ so I went with HKS over Gemini and would do it again 10 out of 10 times.
The Eibach sway bars were adjustable so I had them set at the softer setting in front, medium in the rear. They’re beefier (by what feels like several pounds) than the stock bars but the car is noticeably more stable and settled around curves. A few pounds gained, but a worthy trade off. My car has never seen snow, salt or rain so the stock bars are in great condition, as are the links so I may sell them to someone with a non-S coupe who wants a cheap upgrade for a little flatter cornering.
The HKS was $1055 delivered (Sport Compact Warehouse) and Eibach was just under $400 through Tire Rack. Both items were Black Friday/cyber Monday deals. For the installation, MBS charged $255 for both the exhaust AND the sway bars - SUPER reasonable. They usually do only exhaust and alignment work but they hooked me up regardless.
I’ve never been happier with the car. I also dropped in some AFE dry element engine air filters to replace the stock ones (no hp gain expected) for better sound and lifetime savings by washing/vacuuming their reusable filters (no oiling). Next is maybe a front strut tower brace -Soul Function or Cusco.
[img]blob:https://www.myg37.com/7abccf37-56f8-43ca-a5de-d7aaf080e91f[/img]
Now for the review... I gave MBS carte blanche to touch up any welds or anything else they could find but they found no flaw to fix with the HKS. After about 1500 miles of mostly hwy driving I can say that this exhaust is near perfect: quiet on the HWY and around town with regular driving - just a muted, subtle and very appealing linear growl. Just when you want it - while accelerating - the sound changes to from a deeper growl to a higher pitched aggressive snarl as revs increase. It has good ground clearance too (because speed bumps).
At local speeds (20-40mph) it’s subtle, still as quiet as stock. At startup it’s slightly louder than stock with a mellow growl that portends the VQ’s high-rpm scream. The car is noticeably more responsive to throttle inputs and it feels like it accelerates faster than before - especially at hwy speeds. I found that I’m shifting more smoothly from a start, and where there was a slight hesitation when stepping on the gas with stock, the HKS seems to have exorcised some of that lag.
The only negative is a very slight and brief drone (very minor) between 1300 and 1600 rpms when accelerating hard-ish from that range while in a higher gear (5th or 6th). That’s basically “lugging” the engine which you shouldn’t do anyway but I had to test the exhaust in various scenarios.
It doesn’t feel like I lost any low end torque but who knows. Tim guessed I might see a 10+ hp increase as is (mid and high rpms) and upwards of 15 to 20 if I were to add a true cold air intake (which I will not do). I have no plans to dyno the car as it won’t make it go any faster. I bought the HKS for sound, feel and looks but if it bumps up the HP that’s gravy. HKS’s gleaming stainless steel is gorgeous under the bumper. Sweet-looking titanium tips are too big - like clown shoes - yet they still nicely complement my G’s pearl white paint, though I wish their adjustability allowed them to be pushed in little more flush with the edge of the bumper/valance to hide their size. As is, they stand proud several inches. It still looks okay - if somewhat juvenile - so I can live with it.
I perused dozens and dozens of videos and comments before buying the HKS. I had also considered Ark Grip & Invidia Gemini. I think Ark sounds marginally nicer (deeper and more mellow than the HKS) but it hangs too low for speed bumps and my steep driveway. Plus, I was concerned about fitment issues mentioned in some forums. I read that Gemini May be louder in-cabin and a few commented on a slight drone which was a no-go. I didn’t care about saving a few hundred $$$ so I went with HKS over Gemini and would do it again 10 out of 10 times.
The Eibach sway bars were adjustable so I had them set at the softer setting in front, medium in the rear. They’re beefier (by what feels like several pounds) than the stock bars but the car is noticeably more stable and settled around curves. A few pounds gained, but a worthy trade off. My car has never seen snow, salt or rain so the stock bars are in great condition, as are the links so I may sell them to someone with a non-S coupe who wants a cheap upgrade for a little flatter cornering.
The HKS was $1055 delivered (Sport Compact Warehouse) and Eibach was just under $400 through Tire Rack. Both items were Black Friday/cyber Monday deals. For the installation, MBS charged $255 for both the exhaust AND the sway bars - SUPER reasonable. They usually do only exhaust and alignment work but they hooked me up regardless.
I’ve never been happier with the car. I also dropped in some AFE dry element engine air filters to replace the stock ones (no hp gain expected) for better sound and lifetime savings by washing/vacuuming their reusable filters (no oiling). Next is maybe a front strut tower brace -Soul Function or Cusco.
[img]blob:https://www.myg37.com/7abccf37-56f8-43ca-a5de-d7aaf080e91f[/img]
