im no turbo expert, but i have read a good amount from people in the industry and i would say the majority of turbo experts say that with a turbo'd car, you want the least back pressure after the turbo. It makes a lot of sense to me since to make power, the turbo needs to spool up as fast and easily as possible. Its not like a NA engine which requires a certain backpressure to help the engine run at its best.

That said, i dont have a downpipe and mine is a catback so i highly doubt there is any signifiant gains beside sound. but i figure down the road, when there is more research and testing with the engine, someone will come out with a bigger turbo kit which would make better use of a 3" system.

As far as how the car feels, i remember the day i left the shop, i felt as though there might have been a slight increase but that could all be in my mind. It definitely didnt lose any power and i was enjoying the sound waaay too much anyway (giving it a good amount of gas going on onramps and such )

 

ghost you forgot about the tips, the tips look awesome .

 

Thanks ghosthound!

 

I went out to search around for prices. The muffler shops told me it'd be the same price to fabricate on as it would to buy an already manufactured one. They would do the install though for 130.

 

look up on performancepeddler.com and get the parts your self and then have a shop fab them up for you.

 

Keep looking... I was able to find one that would price match on parts, fabricate and install, for an OTD price around three-fifty which is about the same price as Ghosthound's and lxjose9xl.

 

How long are the pipes ?

and can I use this resonator?

http://www.motorsportcafe.com/Exhaus...ator_AR30.html

 

i dont see why you couldnt use that resonator. looks good too.

 

Thanks. How much effect do you think it will have on sound? I don't want it to loud, but I don't want it quiet. Enough to make my presence known.

 

i dont have a resonator on mine and i love it . 3'' straight from the second cat and im working on getting a downpipe too.

 

Let me know how that goes.

 

it will probably effect it a good amount. Also, be aware that the placement of the resonator will effect the tone of the exhaust... the distance from the resonator to the muffler can be "tuned" to get a certain exhaust note. I would assume a shop would know the basics of that.


My shop recommended that i try it without the cat first, and if it was too loud, i could just go back and get a resonator installed. You may want to do this as well.

 

I went out scouting again..The place I went today said I had to buy pre-bent pipes because they didn't have anyone that has been doing it long enough.

 

My next question was placement haha. I probably will go without the resonator first.

 

resonator , you dont need no stinkin resonator

 

I would suggest that, the if it's too loud or too much drone, go ahead and put one on. Most likely I can guaratee you will be fine with it.

BTW I sent you a PM with info of a shop that does custom exhausts i your city, I just don't know how close to oyu they are.

 

lxjose9xl and ghosthound,
now that you've both had the exhaust for a while, any thing you would do differently? notice any drone? TIA.

 

I actually can't say that I would have done anything differently. I'm pretty happy with the exhaust.

Did you ever get to find a place to match and give you a good price?

 

i would have gotten it earlier.

That is seriously the only thing i can think of. I am very happy with it and have no regrets.


Funny thing is another person at my office has a 07/8 Laser blue/white cooper s like mine and i cant help but compare the stock exhaust to mine... Ive realized that the stock exhaust looks kind of goofy

 

would you mind PM'n me the name of the place?

 

I PM'd you.

 

Thanks Ghosthound. Glad to hear that you have no regrets

 

Anyone have the auto and done the custom exhaust? My main concern is droning with the auto.

 

install it without the resonator, drive it around a little, then go back if you want a resonator.

if you go the other way around and find out its too quiet, you cant return a used resonator.

 

Actually I did Now I just need the car Also I PM'd you. Thanks.