----------- 2006 M45 Element 114 Exhaust Install -------------

[Bob24]

Mine arrived in St. Paul 18 minutes ago. Whether it is delievered yet today remains to be seen.

[ken in az]

You guys are worse then kids tracking santa clause on christmas night - lol

[ATSELLAB]

I understand the quad look is kool and all, but I dont even notice it. Its not like youre a 2 foot midget walking to your vehicle and seeing the quads eye to eye .

I cant even really recall ever looking down at them. All i know is the power and sound make it worth it.

[odie]

And that's wrong because..

You guys are worse then kids tracking santa clause on christmas night - lol

..

[nitteo]

So far loving mine!

It is not too loud or overwhelming. It sounds just right...as for HP gain, it is noticeable.

By the way, the box fits on the rear seat.

So how long does the burning smell stay for?
Modified by nitteo at 2:27 PM 2/5/2009

[ken in az]

All i know is the power and sound make it worth it.

Very cool!

[menlund19]

Hey. If anyone is seriously interested in selling, I may be interested. I am in Minneapolis, MN area.

[odie]

So far loving mine!

So how long does the burning smell stay for?

Modified by nitteo at 2:27 PM 2/5/2009

That's what she said? Sorry, I kid I kid..

I don't know if you should be smelling burning...? May want to check your connections.

[M4T5]

odie, you must be a virgin of installing a new exhaust system!!

That burning smell is normal. It is the oils burning off the new metal. It will eventually go away.

J

[odie]

odie, you must be a virgin of installing a new exhaust system!!

That burning smell is normal. It is the oils burning off the new metal. It will eventually go away.

J

true, true.

[Bob24]

Just looked outside and the Fedex guy left it on the patio. I am going in at 1 to have it put on. I'll let you know the results.

[M4T5]

I'll be at work all day...... Not getting off until 7:30pm. I will probably trip over it when coming up to my door forgetting that it is supposed to be coming.We'll just see.....

Tracking is showing it in my location and in delivery route to my house! Guess the install will be happening tomorrow after all!

J

[Bob24]

Got it on! First impressions are that the sound is nice. I don't feel any horsepower gains though and I have been hammering it. Cosmetics are so-so.

I almost wish I never got a G35 as a loaner. The M, even a 45 like mine feels a bit weak. This thing with 330 or so horsepower should move more than it does. I guess that I am going to have to learn to be happy with it being a luxury car with some sport tendencies.

[M4T5]

I sure hope your wrong man..........Mine is here already, but I haven't opened the box yet. You have me debating opening the box up now!!!I'm now having a Dilemma...............................................................................................................................................................................

J

[M4T5]

Bob, you ruined it all for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J

[ATSELLAB]

NO hp gain? hmmmmmmmmmmmm.... thats not right.

[Bob24]

The sound is very noticeable. When you push the start button you get a nice throaty roar. At lower speeds it is also noticeably louder than stock.

I like the look of the bigger ovals versus the quads, however I don't know if it is an optical illusion or not but the tips seem to cant inward ever so slightly giving it a bit of a pigeon toed look.

I just don't see the power gains being noticeable however. The car definitely "sounds" faster though. I am hoping to see some gains in fuel economy.

[ATSELLAB]

Hey Bob, I know what u are talking about with the pigeon toed deal, I had to adjust the piping and whatever my self to get it to hang straight on the hangers and so on, then tighten them up so they were straight. But i got it after playing with it.

Do you use 91 octane? how many miles you have? Just curious because I felt the gain. My pedal was noticeably touchier. And I know someone that did a dyno himself and he had a 10 hp gain on the computer.

[ken in az]

I sure hope your wrong man..........Mine is here already, but I haven't opened the box yet. You have me debating opening the box up now!!!I'm now having a Dilemma...............................................................................................................................................................................

J

You are the biggest whiner! just put it on already!! it's not like there's much else out there who cares if bob doesn't feel anything....he's also the guy who complained about free donuts at the service counter!! - lol j/k bob

[ATSELLAB]

You are the biggest whiner! just put it on already!! it's not like there's much else out there who cares if bob doesn't feel anything....he's also the guy who complained about free donuts at the service counter!! - lol j/k bob

Chalk one up for Ken on that call.

[Bob24]

Oh man,

You are the biggest whiner! just put it on already!! it's not like there's much else out there who cares if bob doesn't feel anything....he's also the guy who complained about free donuts at the service counter!! - lol j/k bob

Oh man, don't get me started on those day old pastries again! Last visit did yield some acceptable M&M cookies however.

I don't doubt that there is some HP gain with the element kit. However, it is not perceptible to me. Like I said the car sure sounds a heck of a lot meaner.

[M4T5]

You are the biggest whiner! just put it on already!! it's not like there's much else out there who cares if bob doesn't feel anything....he's also the guy who complained about free donuts at the service counter!! - lol j/k bob

A$$HOLE#1

Chalk one up for Ken on that call.

A$$HOLE#2

Alright, alright..... My doubts are really all tied up in the look....I really like and prefer quad tips on this car. That's really all it was. On the performance aspect.... I have had very few exhaust systems net me gains in the past. The only ones that definitely netted me gains were the systems that replaced the cats with high flow units. That has been the only way I have ever actually "felt" the gains from an aftermarket exhaust system.Well...I'm hoping for the best...so...I'm about to begin the surgery procedure.

J

[szh]

Got it on! First impressions are that the sound is nice. I don't feel any horsepower gains though and I have been hammering it.

Allright!! First person I have met with an accurate butt-dyno.

Seriously, most gains with changes of this type (exhaust, plenums, etc.) will be relatively imperceptible. Given that our cars are pretty powerful to begin with and highly tweaked to get the most out of them to begin with. They are not the older gen typical American V-8s, or even the V-6s, where changes like this made a lot of difference.

If you really want to make a performance difference, get a turbocharger or supercharger ... or change the differential ratios, etc.

Z

[Bob24]

Hey Bob, I know what u are talking about with the pigeon toed deal, I had to adjust the piping and whatever my self to get it to hang straight on the hangers and so on, then tighten them up so they were straight. But i got it after playing with it.

Do you use 91 octane? how many miles you have? Just curious because I felt the gain. My pedal was noticeably touchier. And I know someone that did a dyno himself and he had a 10 hp gain on the computer.

I use 92 octane and I have 22k on it.

[M4T5]

Well....... not so great news and great news!! Both canisters (mufflers) have dents in the sides of them, One tip was a crease before the E114 logo, and a 2" scratch on the side of that tip!Could be due to a shipping issue.Getting to the point..... I couldn't get a hold of Element 114 from their phone number on their website. I then emailed my Element 114 contact about my findings. I recieved a phone call within 2min!! No kidding!I explained the problem I had with the mufflers. He then told me to keep the mid pipes and box the mufflers up. He said he would arrange for them to be picked up and two new ones dropped off to my door. Sounds pretty fair, right? I then started speaking to him about the cold air kit that I could not find on his website. He started talking to me about it and explaining that their kit is called a ram air kit. He said he had dyno results and picture of it, but does not have it on Element 114's website. He said he would send me pics and dyno results of it by email. He also said that their "best" gains of 10hp was achieved in combination with their exhaust system installed, but not to get confused about it being independant gains over the exhaust system.I was also telling him about how many of us at http://www.nicoclub.com had an interest and curiousity about their kit and getting some info on it.

Ok, so I get off the phone with him. Five minutes later, my phone rings again. It's him again. He then tells me he will send a ram air kit to me for free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huh?? Come again? Does it get better than this? Yes it does! He also gives me the choice of a polished aluminum one or a black powder coated tube...and which color neoprene connector gaskets I want. Black or red? I chose the black powder coated pipe with red gaskets! I mean.......how can I complain! What is their to complain about??So I have to wait another week.... so what, my upgrade project just got larger!All I can say is, Element 114 stood behind their product with no delay in responding and correcting the problem! A big two thumbs up to them from ME! They are highly recommended hands down! I just can't wait for the replacement units and Ram air kit to get here!!!!!! Yeah, I'm a happy camper!

J

[M4T5]

Some notes on the exhaust upgrade attempt: Those damn car ramps from Walmart hardly allowed me under the car....no I'm not fat, but I'm no gumby either. I could access the areas as far as the a little past the rear diff, but there was no way I was going to get to mid pipe to cat pipe bolts! Are there longer taller ramps available??

ATSELLAB? How did you get under the middle of the car with those ramps?? Are you the mysterious gumby or what? Would be nice to put all four wheels on ramps, but I'm not seeing that happening. Also, don't place car in Drive all the way off the ramps. Right after you get off the top edge, place it in neutral and coast the rest of the way down....Why? Because the car spit them out at about half way down the ramps!! It scared the crap out of me!

Oh yeah, I should have checked what size socket fits the exhaust bolts, but I didn't. Can someone tell me what size it is? I just like to be prepared in advance.

J

[Bob24]

Nice J! That is good news. The shop that installed the exhaust for me said it was a good product with great fit and finish.

[nitteo]

Some notes on the exhaust upgrade attempt: Those damn car ramps from Walmart hardly allowed me under the car....no I'm not fat, but I'm no gumby either. I could access the areas as far as the a little past the rear diff, but there was no way I was going to get to mid pipe to cat pipe bolts! Are there longer taller ramps available??

ATSELLAB? How did you get under the middle of the car with those ramps?? Are you the mysterious gumby or what? Would be nice to put all four wheels on ramps, but I'm not seeing that happening. Also, don't place car in Drive all the way off the ramps. Right after you get off the top edge, place it in neutral and coast the rest of the way down....Why? Because the car spit them out at about half way down the ramps!! It scared the crap out of me!

Oh yeah, I should have checked what size socket fits the exhaust bolts, but I didn't. Can someone tell me what size it is? I just like to be prepared in advance.

J

Dude, drive down to my 'Hood.

Go to Tech Auto Mechanic (Waugh and Memorial Drive)

http://houston.citysearch.com/profile/9845090

They are the best. Only charged me $50 to install the Exhaust system.

Had to go back today and got rid of the "heatshield" that covers the Driveshaft over the muffler. It sits a little too close depending on how you bolt it and it rattles.

BTW. My left pipe had a small dent on the canister. Ask them for another "RAM" Kit for your friend nitteo!

[ken in az]

you better get some pics of the intake on here...good work!! you lucky sob

[M4T5]

$50.00 for the install? I'll save that $50 and get it done myself. This is not a major ordeal really. lol...I've done far more than this. It's just been a long while to own a car and do mods to it. I've never used ramps before, so I thought I would give them a try. They would be fine if it raised the car up a bit more. If I could find some lower profile ones to go under the front at the same time I would. I even looked at a two point lift....but unless I could find one used, I'm not buying. They are just too expensive. Plus, I'm not sure if my garage foundation can support a lift anyways.I'm just going too far out on a limb is all.

J