Custom Axleback?

[austin713]

Looking to give the M a little more grunt without drone but dont want to shell out the $700 stillen wants for what is essentially 2 mufflers welded to the stock flange. I tried out the washer mod for a little while, but it just made it sound like it had an exhaust leak not an axleback.

Im thinking of buying 2 14829 Magnaflow mufflers and having a muffler shop weld them up to the stock axleback flange. anyone have experience with these? they look almost identical to the Stillen axlebacks, and at $180 a piece about half the cost when all said and done

http://www.jegs.com/i/Magnaflow/642/148 ... oCj7nw_wcB

[Altered]

I think they are in fact identical mufflers to the Stillens, with the exception they won't have "STILLEN" etched on the tips. I say go for it, it will look and sound exactly the same.

[Larz]

I have never heard a set of Magna flows that did NOT droan on the motorway, but I suppose it is possible. When I changed my exhaust, I wanted to hear as little as possible whilst at motorway speeds, but when I give it the beans, I want to hear plenty. For me it came down to Stillen or Tanabe. After researching, I found that Tanabe was best for me. They are not low priced but are less expensive than Stillens and the sound is much more brilliant! Nearly silent at 70 mph on long road treks, but on surface streets when I give it the beans it is amazing. Not in a 'listen to my loud noise' way, but in a more refined, low-pitched, powerful, and throaty way - like a Bentley sound but more volume. I couldn't be happier with mine. Below are some pics and a video oif Tanabe's on the 3.7 engine. Mind you though, I have an M35 but I reckon the set they make for the G37 will likely fit the M37.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7mIP3lCFqA <<<< video
..






Hope this helps

[Altered]

Larz I wish you were correct, but I tried the G37 ones on my M37 and they are in fact different. The piping arrangement looks similar but doesn't line up with the M37 bumper or exhaust hangers and they require welding on the flange the OP mentioned. I do like my Stillens though, I was just really inquisitive of whether or not the Tanabes fit without modification...and I like the larger tips they have.

[Larz]

Yes. The Tanabe Medalions were direct bolt-on and came with new flanges. It took the muffler shop about 30 minutes to install them. May I say also that your wheels look bloody brilliant !

[JCesar]

I wouldn't go for it. Magnaflows are ok but not good. "I've used them on other cars"

This is just me so don't quote me but the reason why I got my setup is because of the car. our M's are high end cars and to me I wouldn't mess it up with anything by quality parts.

Dual Takeda Intakes, Invidia High Flow Cats and Full Stillen exhaust system is what I decided to go with

[austin713]

I wouldn't go for it. Magnaflows are ok but not good. "I've used them on other cars"

This is just me so don't quote me but the reason why I got my setup is because of the car. our M's are high end cars and to me I wouldn't mess it up with anything by quality parts.

Dual Takeda Intakes, Invidia High Flow Cats and Full Stillen exhaust system is what I decided to go with

To each his own for sure. however.....

As noted in the first reply in this thread, the magnaflows i am looking at are the exact same mufflers as what stillen offers on the axleback, so why would it sound any different? im planning on painting everything black to keep the OEM look minus the tips of course so really hoping to pass it off as an OEM look as well to keep that high end look the M caters to.

Im coming from a G37 Sedan with a full Fast intentions exhaust(headers back), and a Stillen Gen 3 intake, so i know where you are coming from on the quality aspect. However as i discovered even with Fast intentions, they used a magnaflow x muffler as the midpipe and mufflers from a company called Sebring tuning out of korea to make up their catback. It still was to this day one of the best sounding exhausts ive ever heard on a G35-G37 and got complements all the time. I had it for the 5 years i owned the car and it never gave me problems.

[Altered]

Well, I've been emailing back and forth with Tanabe and currently they have no intention of making any exhaust products for the M37. Just an FYI, so Stillen or custom will likely be the only options for a while.

[Ilya]

I'm just going to go with Stillen. Even if I could spend the time and money to get it slightly cheaper by going custom, you know you get Stillen R&D and fit/finish behind the product. Not to mention a warranty. What if the dad and son exhaust shop down the street who'll do the custom closes shop in a year?

[Debonair]

If it's truly an off the shelf Magnaflow then there was not much if any R&D involved other then adding a 90* pipe. But there definitely is some value in being able to bolt it up yourself with near zero fuss.

My California mind was confused at first by your warranty concerns. Rusting is not much of an issue here so it's a non-issue, at least for me. I can definitely see how you would be concerned with it in a wetter, saltier environment though.

[Ilya]

Cars (especially Japanese ones, not so much the German ones) rust like crazy here (we use salt, wish they used sand like some places). Or at least they used to. Maybe the Japs have gotten better at rustproofing in the last 5 years lol. I've had to cut (with a grinder) so many bolts and pipes, etc. in the 12 years I've been driving/working on cars. If I didn't have tools/a lift at home, I'd be spending so much money on labor it's insane just for the hours it takes to tap out a rusted/broken bolt, etc. So glad my dad FORCED me to learn how to do 100% of my own work.

But yeah, I get the point about the muffler being off the shelf, etc.

[mexillis]

how is magnaflow not quality??? anyway custom exhaust are usually cheaper and what R&D is necessary for an exhaust besides trying to get a certain note out of it...really. I know the diamtere and back pressure plays a role but with an NA car that doesnt matter too much. Custom exhaust shouldnt look like s*** and should bolt up just like OEM. I have mine done and know of other shops that do top notch work. Just fyi there are exhausts made for thie car just in Japan...I will find it later and post but i thought it was Tanabe...

[mexillis]

found the link from my last thread. topic503930.html?hilit=m37%20exhaust

also Impul makes one for the newer M's http://www.i-quality.co.jp/~kcity/produ ... 51S_E.html

[austin713]

found the link from my last thread. topic503930.html?hilit=m37%20exhaust

also Impul makes one for the newer M's http://www.i-quality.co.jp/~kcity/produ ... 51S_E.html

haha 180,000 Yen for a axleback? thats like $1400 before import charges.

[mexillis]

yep....Japan makes all the stuff and is not cheap

[reggiebrown40]

I went with the Stillen catback and it sounds great. I agree with Ilyakol -- you could go with something established and warrantied or roll the dice.Your choice and your dollar.