Equal-length exhaust discussion: new S55 sounds

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Pqbrown

I've got catless dp's, resonated eq, and a an AA 3 can. Just can't figure out loading videos on this site.

You need to upload it on youtube, then post the link here

[M3ZCPNYC]

Originally Posted by McIntoshMotorSports

What brand? I was running ARM's resonated catless for awhile before switching it up

Fabspeed

[Rolynyari620]

Originally Posted by Soul Coughing

6+ Month daily driven Update:

I've had the AA EL midpipe - non resonated - on my car now for 6+ months and wanted to give everyone an update.

Positives:

-The Sound past 4.5k rpm is just awesome. Sometimes I'll just rev out the gears without going WOT so that I can hear the I-6 wail! It sounds so nice and makes the car sound so much better than stock! I also have a valve controller, and run the exhaust open sometimes, and as long as the exhaust has warmed up (3-5 minutes of driving), there is no resonance or rasp all the way from 2k to redline.

Negatives:

-Cold start rasp - It doesn't seem to happen every time, but when I cold start the car, I will get some really horrible resonance/rattle/rasp after the engine roar has settled down and the car is in cold start mode (around 1.5k rpms). It sounds like a civic and can be really embarrassing as I can't lower the rpms to make it go away. If I open the valves, it's even louder and worse. I also can't have the valves open when the car is cold (first 3-5 minutes) and EGT temps are below 550-600 degrees or i'll get low rpm resonance that starts from 2k-3k - especially if I'm giving it more than 50% throttle. I've checked the mid pipe and its not actually hitting anything; I think it's just a resonance coming through. I've thought about getting the resonated pipes, but then I'd miss the wail at redline!

Still an awesome piece and something I will not be getting rid of anytime soon!

This is exactly my problem, I thought I was the only one that had it this bad. I'm literally embarrassed to cold start the car. I love the equal length non-res "AFTER" the first 3 minutes. It sounds like my muffler (ZCP) is going to rattle right off of the car. My god, I hope someone finds fix for this...

[Kilabyte]

Originally Posted by Rolynyari620

This is exactly my problem, I thought I was the only one that had it this bad. I'm literally embarrassed to cold start the car. I love the equal length non-res "AFTER" the first 3 minutes. It sounds like my muffler (ZCP) is going to rattle right off of the car. My god, I hope someone finds fix for this...

Try having a titanium trumpet called the MPE, I ripped out my piggyback and ordered a BM3 tune just hours after installation of my EL simply to delete the cold start sequence.

[rosemont83]

Does anyone have stock DP, AA Resonated EL, and switchpath V2?

Ordered the switchpath but wondering if I should get the AA, if that would do anything with this muffler

[deli333]

laughing at comments that recommend to keep valves closed up to 4k to cover embrassing sound lol ( while paying 1300-1500$ to fix the sound problem, also while waiting 3-4 months for delivery)

[TimmyM56]

I've had my EL midpipe for over a year and the only "embarrassing" sound is during a cold start, and no cold start ever sounds good. If there are any rattles, it has to be an installation problem for sure.

Definitely less embarrassing than other options that exacerbate the horrible sounding S55 engine.

[Kilabyte]

^Agreed

Meanwhile you still have people that think this sounds remotely good

[deli333]

Originally Posted by TimmyM56

I've had my EL midpipe for over a year and the only "embarrassing" sound is during a cold start, and no cold start ever sounds good. If there are any rattles, it has to be an installation problem for sure.

Definitely less embarrassing than other options that exacerbate the horrible sounding S55 engine.

my cold start sounds extremely good tbh, pure old school v8. just growls. i have 4 resonators all around, two in single mid and 2 in downpipes.

I thibk before throwing 1500 into this you should try resonated single mid pipes. especially cold start and low rpms are very good

[mapster37]

I have ARM resonated dp's with EL resonated midpipe, stock non zcp muffler. Very tame with valves closed, raspy when valves open

[Slo_F80_Mike]

Originally Posted by mapster37

I have ARM resonated dp's with EL resonated midpipe, stock non zcp muffler. Very tame with valves closed, raspy when valves open

This is what I was trying to find sound clips on and possibly run. How raspy? I'm on stock dp and muffler with non res EL midpipe. I heard f80ho's arm resonated dp with non res EL on stock muffler and that was just too raspy imo.

[mapster37]

Originally Posted by Slo_F80_Mike

This is what I was trying to find sound clips on and possibly run. How raspy? I'm on stock dp and muffler with non res EL midpipe. I heard f80ho's arm resonated dp with non res EL on stock muffler and that was just too raspy imo.

I was in the same boat as you trying to.find sound clips. Drone present from 2500-3000rpms. Ill run it for a while and may switch to non res dp's in the future....

[SilverLakeM3]

Hi all, does anyone else notice more exhaust back pressure with the AA EL vs OE?

[slaughter.mode]

Originally Posted by veloriderkm

Hi all, does anyone else notice more exhaust back pressure with the AA EL vs OE?

Yep, that's why I took it off. I lost a good amount on the dyno jet (top end).

[SilverLakeM3]

Originally Posted by f82.959

Yep, that's why I took it off. I lost a good amount on the dyno jet (top end).

I wonder if this is why they don't publish the dyno result online. Thanks for your reply!

Follow up question for you. Did you notice a bump in power at the low or mid end?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by veloriderkm

Hi all, does anyone else notice more exhaust back pressure with the AA EL vs OE?

I'm keen to know how you would know or measure this?

[slaughter.mode]

Originally Posted by veloriderkm

I wonder if this is why they don't publish the dyno result online. Thanks for your reply!

Follow up question for you. Did you notice a bump in power at the low or mid end?

They actually do highlight it's low end improvement over stock:

• Lighter weight than factory system
• Quicker turbo spool
• Increased low end and mid-range power
• Equal length design eliminates the pulsing sound caused by the unequal length down pipes

I noticed nothing but better sound in the higher RPM range and a lot of buzziness/rasp with unfortunate power loss across the entire RPM range. Dyno showed me consistent loss, I removed them after a week. I think they're great for OEM+ or S1 maps and that's about it.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by f82.959

They actually do highlight it's low end improvement over stock:

• Lighter weight than factory system
• Quicker turbo spool
• Increased low end and mid-range power
• Equal length design eliminates the pulsing sound caused by the unequal length down pipes

I noticed nothing but better sound in the higher RPM range and a lot of buzziness/rasp with unfortunate power loss across the entire RPM range. Dyno showed me consistent loss, I removed them after a week. I think they're great for OEM+ or S1 maps and that's about it.

I think you need to clarify when you post here that you are running aftermarket turbos. All your posts imply that these issues (sound & performance) will impact the vast majority of people who run OE turbos and no tune.

veloriderkm Consider EL as a sound only mod. If you’re running stock power levels then back pressure is not an issue since it’s already being regulated by the turbos. It’s slightly more restrictive when you’re running an aggressive tune or aftermarket turbos where you need a high flow or catless DP.

[slaughter.mode]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

I think you need to clarify when you post here that you are running aftermarket turbos. All your posts imply that these issues (sound & performance) will impact the vast majority of people who run OE turbos and no tune.

Lost power on stock turbos too.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by f82.959

Lost power on stock turbos too.

No one is losing or gaining significant power at stock power levels with just a mid pipe. You’re situation is a bit isolated given you’ve been tuning for a lot of power… that’s just not relevant to the majority of people who just want to change the sound and why it’s important for either you or others to make it clear you are very far from a stock setup. Both from a power and sound perspective.

[slaughter.mode]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

No one is losing or gaining significant power at stock power levels with just a mid pipe. You're situation is a bit isolated given you've been tuning for a lot of power… that's just not relevant to the majority of people who just want to change the sound and why it's important for either you or others to make it clear you are very far from a stock setup. Both from a power and sound perspective.

No, there's power loss on every configuration.

Stock turbo, aftermarket turbo, stock tune; S1 - S whatever. They are even marketed as such. The verbiage they chose is very specific, they're not going to advertise they're cutting top end power but it actually does. Show me a dyno that says otherwise. Stock power band for these turbos is in the high rpm range, these pipes squeeze the lungs a bit in that realm. Period.

I didn't not waste my time dynoing I'm not here with an abundance of free time but I'm here with experience on a F80/F82 with different setups and tunes and I can guarantee that the only benefit for these things is a short window or eargasmic bliss in a small upper rpm window. That's it.

Firmest sucks, you lose power, they're overpriced. Oh and when you're not signing in that pretty high rpm note it just sounds like a civic SI.

I really, really wished they were worth it, but they're just a hype buy I waited way too long for. Again s1 or oem plus owner might like it for aesthetic reasons with minimal notice of any power loss on the butt dyno.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by f82.959

No, there's power loss on every configuration.

Stock turbo, aftermarket turbo, stock tune; S1 - S whatever. They are even marketed as such. The verbiage they chose is very specific, they're not going to advertise they're cutting top end power but it actually does. Show me a dyno that says otherwise. Stock power band for these turbos is in the high rpm range, these pipes squeeze the lungs a bit in that realm. Period.

I didn't not waste my time dynoing I'm not here with an abundance of free time but I'm here with experience on a F80/F82 with different setups and tunes and I can guarantee that the only benefit for these things is a short window or eargasmic bliss in a small upper rpm window. That's it.

Firmest sucks, you lose power, they're overpriced. Oh and when you're not signing in that pretty high rpm note it just sounds like a civic SI.

Dude we get it, you like your setup - go start a single mid / big power build thread instead of spamming this one while not disclosing your significant modifications until after you are backed into a corner. That’s been your MO over the last year or so.

I’m not here to argue with you and you self admittedly have no dynos to back up your assertions. I actually think your feedback is relevant to some people, just not to the average buyer that just wants their car to not sound like a lawn mower.