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      06-11-2009, 03:00 PM   #1
J08M3
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Fabspeed X-Pipe DIY Install

The installation is pretty straight forward. I tried to take as many pics as I could of the installation process. So if you're looking for a project this is a fairly easy one, but it is time consuming if you don't have a lift. On a scale of 1-10 I would rate this at a 5.5 for difficulty. Nothing really technical here and no special tools required. But it's not easy to work under this car with only a set of jack stands. Your physical movement is greatly limited due a very small amount of space to work in.

The pipe is really a nice product. Everything fit together perfect. Aside from one small adjustment with a file inside the passenger side flange for the HFC. You can see in the pic below there was a small bump that needed filing. Once I took care of that the installation was just straight forward bolt up. The most time consuming part is taking all the skid plate, heats shields and front felt pieces down and reinstalling them.

Important to note that you need a soft mallet. This is used to bend up the heat shield that lies just above the drivers side HFC. There is nothing behind it so it's ok to bend it up a bit. If you don't do this step the HFC will rest against the heat shield and you will hear it vibrate while driving.
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      06-11-2009, 03:00 PM   #2
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Stock system
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Pic of secondary cat delete
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      06-11-2009, 03:01 PM   #3
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remove the Heat shield, front felt pieces, and skid plate.
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      06-11-2009, 03:02 PM   #4
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disconnect the O2 sensors and remove back brace under X section.
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Sorry, this pic belongs in last post. This is the skid plate.
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      06-11-2009, 03:03 PM   #5
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Unbolt flanges from headers, and resonators from connecting pipes, and center hanger from transmission. Exhaust will then drop down. Center hanger from transmission is not used on new pipe. It's not necessary without secondary cats.

Take out O2 sensors and put them in new HFC section
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Close up of Secondary Cat Delete
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make sure to take this mount of X section and bolt it onto new pipe in same location before installing. Slide the X-pipe and HFC sections together but don't tighten yet.
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      06-11-2009, 03:09 PM   #6
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I had to file just a little bit on the inside here to clean it up so it would fit onto the header flange.
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Loosely assembled x-pipe and HFC section, O2's installed and ready to go back in. Tighten everything once it's installed in the car. This makes it easier to adjust the pipes and get everything to line up perfect.
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here you can see the HFC against the heat shield. I learned the hard way you have to bend it up first.
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Last edited by J08M3; 06-11-2009 at 03:37 PM..
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      06-11-2009, 03:17 PM   #7
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Last step is to reconnect everything in the reverse order you took it apart in.

Once x-pipe is up in place, tighten all the bolts
Re-attach the O2 sensors, making sure to tuck the wires back in their holders
This is a good time to fire up the car and check for exhaust leaks
Attach metal skid plated under engine
Re-install heat shield under transmission
Re-install felt pieces in front of car under bumper.
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      06-11-2009, 03:26 PM   #8
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Nice post, thanks for sharing.
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      06-11-2009, 03:42 PM   #9
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So how does it sound?? Much deeper...no??

Do you feel any HP?
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      06-11-2009, 03:47 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dogears View Post
So how does it sound?? Much deeper...no??

Do you feel any HP?
only went for a quick test ride, now it's raining.

Before installing Fabspeed x-pipe and HFC with resonators, I already had an Eisenmann Sport and Secondary Cat Delete. The new sound is just slightly deeper at cold startup. It's way more raspy and it's a good thing I got resonators. I would say it's just a very little bit louder than what I had. If you want an aggressive sounding, but not loud daily driver, this is the perfect setup for you.

Tomorrow I'm switching to AA mufflers cause I want to be louder. Hopefully that puts me somewhere between my Eisenmann Sport and a Race. If it's not loud enough I'll be switching to Eisenmann Race.
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      06-11-2009, 04:16 PM   #11
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Nice writeup ... this may come in very helpful one day.
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      06-11-2009, 04:24 PM   #12
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Did taking the skid plate off make it easier? I did not take mine off, and I did not notice it ever being a problem. Everything was very accesible with it on. The heat shield was the only part I did take off when replacing my x-pipe.

-Andy
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      06-11-2009, 04:31 PM   #13
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Only reason I took it off was to make more room to unbolt the header flanges. I didn't think you could reach the top of the bolts with it installed. I guess it would save some time if you can get the wrench and your hands in there without taking it off. If you look at the EAS DIY, for the short shifter they also take it off to remove their x-pipe. That area is very small and even with it off I could only turn the bolts about 1/8 turn at a time.
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      06-11-2009, 04:41 PM   #14
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I see. I was able to put a wrench on the backside of the header flange, while putting the socket on the underside nut. Having a lift does help a little though. I was able to stand and maneuver the whole time.

-Andy
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      06-11-2009, 04:46 PM   #15
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Hows it sound in comparison to just having the ES mufflers?
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      06-11-2009, 04:52 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HREM3 View Post
Hows it sound in comparison to just having the ES mufflers?
It's far more aggressive than just the ES muffler. Umm.... it's definitely louder but not a lot. It's definitely still a Sport muffler sound. You don't get any drone inside, similar to stock x-pipe. It's more raspy sounding even with resonators. After hearing this I would never want an x-pipe without resonators. It's not a huge difference for me since my secondary cat was already deleted. But if you have a stock mid-section you will notice quite a difference. I'll have it for a good drive on the highway tomorrow so I'll report back.

My ride home will be with AA rear section so I'll be able to review both and compare against each other..... Stay tuned
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      06-11-2009, 06:00 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by J08M3 View Post
only went for a quick test ride, now it's raining.

Before installing Fabspeed x-pipe and HFC with resonators, I already had an Eisenmann Sport and Secondary Cat Delete. The new sound is just slightly deeper at cold startup. It's way more raspy and it's a good thing I got resonators. I would say it's just a very little bit louder than what I had. If you want an aggressive sounding, but not loud daily driver, this is the perfect setup for you.

Tomorrow I'm switching to AA mufflers cause I want to be louder. Hopefully that puts me somewhere between my Eisenmann Sport and a Race. If it's not loud enough I'll be switching to Eisenmann Race.
Did you notice a rasp in the video that Joey posted...the one with the Eisenmann Race/X-pipe/HFCs/resonators?

I couldn't detect one there, and am trying to figure out why there would be a difference.
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      06-11-2009, 07:01 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2thdr View Post
Did you notice a rasp in the video that Joey posted...the one with the Eisenmann Race/X-pipe/HFCs/resonators?

I couldn't detect one there, and am trying to figure out why there would be a difference.
You won't notice it as much on smooth slow acceleration, but you will when you blip the throttle. If you listen closely to that video you can just hear it when they first show the car with the setup. They blip the throttle a couple of times before they begin the dyno run, even before they go through first and second gear.
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      06-11-2009, 07:03 PM   #19
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I have the same system as J08M3. Same ES mufflers. I would not characterize the tone as having rasp. I guess we all call it something different. The white M3 that has the Eisenmann race, is a local guy. We met up. Cars side by side. If anything, mine had less "rasp" if that is what you call rasp. For the record, he preferred the no drone of mine and may switch mufflers.
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      06-12-2009, 08:48 AM   #20
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Justin that was a great detailed post illustrating how simple the install is on the High Flow Sportcats with X-Pipe. I'm sure she sounds like a beast
The majority of X-Pipes which have been shipped/installed in the last two weeks have the resonators installed because of the combination of either a Remus or Eisenmann muffler. Without the resonators it has a very loud rasp which can be an annoyance at certain RPM's.
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      06-12-2009, 09:30 AM   #21
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I have the same setup with an Eisenmann Race. I first had the x-pipe with no resonators. The drone and rasp was insane...I then got the resonators put on...and wow what a difference. I met up with dogears. He was nice enough to let me drive his car a bit. With an Eisenmann Sport there was no drone at all. It wasnt Raspy.. I would call it Higher Pitch. Although, after driving a bit I really fell in love with my Eisenmann Race Setup. There is a bit of Drone but I dont mind it. As for the sound of the Race..The fucking car screams. Its not Raspy at all. Its a sound in its own class. I was at the Johnny Dents car show and a few people asked to hear the car. Everyone seemed to love the sound.

Both the Race and Sport Exhausts sound amazing. It all depends on how loud you want your exhaust to be and if you dont mind some drone.
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      06-12-2009, 09:50 AM   #22
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JO8 keep us posted on the AA vs. Eisenmann Sport.

p.s. I'm glad you finally got a set-up that you love!
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