Exhaust System for 2012 3.5 SR Coupe

[RxJoshRx]

First post here and just got my Altima at the end of March. It is a 2012 Altima Coupe 3.5 SR CVT (couldn't find any MT around). I got it at a local dealer with only around 50 miles on it and at a great price. I drive for work and have put over 4,000 miles on it thus far. I mostly drive between 70-80 MPH 70% of the time and most all miles are highway miles.

But, I am looking to install a new exhaust system on it- looking to help with performance as well as tone, but do not want a lot of drone as well. So far I have installed a K&N Series 69 Typhoon Intake and added a Bully Dog GT 40415. I plan on adding a RL strut bar and possibly a rear sway bar as well.

I have read a lot of posts and searched for 3.5 exhausts as well but couldn't find a lot on the 3.5s. So far I have thought about the RL Y-Pipe and have also looked at the Borla axle back (http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts-mu ... 3A0A0.aspx), and then the 2 Stillen models (http://www.stillen.com/product/exhaust/ ... 12206.html and http://www.stillen.com/product/exhaust/ ... 12199.html).

I would like to do CAT back with the Y Pipe and feel that would give the best performance and overall tone Im looking for. I like that the Stillen comes with resonators to help with the drone as well. I was looking at the GReddy Evo3 but it looks like to me that it is no longer selling.

Any help would be great and thanks in advance.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

The bay single in dual out cat-back system like the one I ran on mine a while back would be a steal, even though it's 2x the price from when I bought it in '09. I believe it's selling on ebay for $400 or $375. It's a top notch kit with a resonator that only had a more noticeable drone (nothing bad for the driver anyway) AFTER I put in the RL Y-pipe. It came with crooked a** tips so you might wanna weld on new ones (they weren't very straight nor dual layers, so it got very hot near the bumper). Sounded more aggressive to me compared to my Borla setup (volume, tone etc.).

I just looked on ebay and found a few listings cheap:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/OBX-Catback-Exh ... 98&vxp=mtr $299

http://www.ebay.com/itm/08-10-NISSAN-AL ... f8&vxp=mtr This one is like the one I had, with a resonator.

Here are the actual search results, I think you'll find a few different ones that'll work for you.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/08-10-NISSAN-AL ... f8&vxp=mtr

You'll wish you waited for a 6MT because at some point you'll want to add some serious power (if you do) like turbo etc. The CVT is a bottleneck due to its explosive qualities (haha not really). As long as you stay within stock power you'll be OK. Speaking of power, don't expect to notice any gains, at least with our CVT model, with the RL y-pipe, and exhaust (literally even with another stock V6 coupe). Maybe with the GT tuner, yes.

[RxJoshRx]

Thanks for the help. I feel so far with the Intake and the GT tuner installed, it has helped the low end drag that the CVT has in lower RPMs. Havent really went out and tested the 0-60 time or anything like that, but can feel a noticeable difference in the pull it has created. My dad drove it when it was stock and then this past weekend after the 2 above installed and he said he could tell a big difference as well.

So installing the RL Y-Pipe you didn't notice any gains? I know the website states around 13 HP gains and figured that was for the 6 MT, but thought it would help out the CVT at least some. Did you go with the Borla Axle back system they sell or go with 2 Borla mufflers?

Not that Im trying to make my car a speed demon by any means, but would like to add extra HP and a deeper or better tone than the stock exhaust right now.

I would have held out for a 6 sp MT but I totaled my '99 Solara (230,000 Miles) on the way to work one morning and found this at a dealer- had the SR Premium package as well as the Leather package added on and they came down over $7,500 off the original sticker....for basically a brand new car with only 50 miles on it..all because it was a 2012 and the end of the month.. too good of a deal to pass up on.

[Ranga14]

What did you pay total, out the door?

And CoupeVQ35CVT's butt dyno doesn't work right. Check out our comparison vids from a few years ago;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BBtzHJvWmE[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVNocgOm1AA[/youtube]

I would steadily pull on him when I was still naturally aspirated and cvt.

I had YL Yipe, Nismo Exhaust, Stillen Pulley, AEM Intake and BD Tuner.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Exactly, you had ALL THAT and the BD Tuner in order to have some sort of obvious lead in power.

I went up against a stock 3.5 CVT coupe with mine having just the Y-pipe and exhaust, and we were both even in the 2 or 3 attempts. However, I settled for the sound difference which was still nice, and I was only out $700 total for everything.

Another tip to OP. When you go full on WOT, press the gas pedal down a bit harder until you feel it go past a "click." Otherwise you're actually only giving it something like 95% throttle, so past the click you get 100% throttle (until the ECU limits it after certain RPM/speed) and make the CVT instantly rev the engine up (if in manual mode, it'll "downshift") when you hit it. Not sure if the '12 have this "feature" (safety thing I think to keep from over revving often) but just thought you'd like to know.

The low RPM drag is probably just the CVT not wanting to let the engine rev up, again that whole economy minded design, and having to push all the way down on the pedal. Not sure if I ever had this low rev 'drag' you speak of.

Right now I'm running a custom mandrel bent 2.5" catback and the Borla single muffler/dual out axleback system that they sell for the Altima Coupe. Sounds quieter than my ebay setup and the drone is a tad louder due to no resonator with my current setup.

[Ranga14]

Not to mention my suspension upgrades and better tires probably helped with the launch although at the higher speeds I still pulled, just a bit slower.

[rcboy514]

I run the y-pipe + nismo and there is very little drone apart from initial launch and under load on the highway (like going up hill). I cruise 65-75 and 2k-2500rpm.

[RxJoshRx]

What did you pay total, out the door?

Originally stickered at $33,035. They had a $5000 off promo on it at the lot, but the internet price was cheaper than they had quoted on the lot. I ended up getting it down to around 26-26,500 before taxes and title (which came in around $1550). Then they let me use my bike that I had for a trade in as well and gave me $3,000 for it (Paid $4,000 for it from a dealer 2 years ago and had put around 5,000 miles on it)- that was the nail in the coffin for me since I had planned on selling it. May have been able to get another $1000 or so selling it myself, but when an offer is right there, hard to pass it up. So I got it roughly at a 20% "discount" from sticker before the bike or cash down was involved. Put $2500 down and out the door after all that at around 22.5-23. Don't have the papers in front of me and going off of memory.

Another tip to OP. When you go full on WOT, press the gas pedal down a bit harder until you feel it go past a "click." Otherwise you're actually only giving it something like 95% throttle, so past the click you get 100% throttle (until the ECU limits it after certain RPM/speed) and make the CVT instantly rev the engine up (if in manual mode, it'll "downshift") when you hit it. Not sure if the '12 have this "feature" (safety thing I think to keep from over revving often) but just thought you'd like to know.

I know exactly what you mean there. I have one of my gauges set to monitor the throttle and it will hit around the mid 80s if pushed to the floor. Then if I give it the extra push it takes off and will hit the 100 on the throttle. Ive done it a few times going around 55-65 and get to 80 very quick. I actually did it for the first time yesterday going around 20-30 and the throttle read out did hit 100. So from what Ive seen, and if the BD tuner is accurate, you can get 100 throttle below 40 MPH.

I found the Stillen Catback exhaust online for $691. Stillens website has it right now for around 750 I think and free shipping. Would I be able to tell a noticeable difference with adding the RL Y-pipe and the stillen catback, or be better off looking at just the axle back? Or even a different setup like the Magnaflows? Would the Stillen Catback offer any gains over the Borla axle back- just ask since they are similar in the price.

[RxJoshRx]

Oh and one more thing...How much would be a reasonable cost to have all this installed by a shop? I would love to do it myself, but don't have a lot of knowledge when it comes to cars. I did install my K&N myself. Haha. But going to call around to a few shops and see what they say about the cost.

[rcboy514]

To be totally honest you probably won't feel a difference in power with a cat-back or axle-back, mostly just sound and Stillen is probably the most quiet. The RL y-pipe adds more sound, but def opens up a few horses, I've noticed that the car doesn't have to "downshift" as much when going up hills leading me to believe that the car is producing more power.

As far as install, if you are buying a name brand bolt on system you could install it yourself, it's not that hard just a matter of removing a few bolts. If you choose to have it installed by a shop I wouldn't think they would charge above $100. They don't have to fabricate anything.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

$100 give or take should be a fair price assuming no custom 'fixing' is required (crooked hangers/quirks). Hopefully you get all the gaskets with whatever kit you purchase, as that is the only thing that can interrupt a self-install, while a shop (a good one) usually has enough crap lying around that they can make do.

And what rcboy said, don't expect to notice it much physically, but do rest easy knowing the y-pipe definitely frees up the factory crimped y-cat-pipe thingy. Also, I'd get the Stillen CAT-BACK over the axle back since you'll also get rid of the stupid crimped stock piping that goes under the rear axle, considering you're paying that much for either of those.

[RxJoshRx]

To be totally honest you probably won't feel a difference in power with a cat-back or axle-back, mostly just sound and Stillen is probably the most quiet. The RL y-pipe adds more sound, but def opens up a few horses, I've noticed that the car doesn't have to "downshift" as much when going up hills leading me to believe that the car is producing more power.

So would you say there is any benefit going with the Cat back vs the axle back for the 3.5 CVT coupe? The axle back is going for around $471 and I found the cat back system on Thenismoshop.com for $691. If the full cat back wouldn't provide any extra gains or change the tone a great deal more, then the axle back looks like it would be the better buy at $200 less.

Any thoughts?

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Again, it's all up to your preference. I feel better knowing I don't have those crimps in the front and back of the exhaust, so I would get the cat-back for the "proper" feel/peace of mind/geekery. You might be happy with just the axleback and y-pipe.

[RxJoshRx]

Again, it's all up to your preference. I feel better knowing I don't have those crimps in the front and back of the exhaust, so I would get the cat-back for the "proper" feel/peace of mind/geekery. You might be happy with just the axleback and y-pipe.

So I think Im sold on the Cat back along with the RL Y-pipe, I will check with them before buying the stillen and make sure everything I need is included in the kit. Going to call or email Stillen and see if they match any prices (around $50 cheaper from the nismo shop.)

Would you all say this would be the best set up for what Im looking for? Or anything else out there I should look at or consider?

[RxJoshRx]

Just ordered the RL Y-Pipe and a front strut bar from them as well. Order came in just over 425 so I saved aroun $26 because I got free shipping where the order was over $425.

*Edit- Just got of the phone with Stillen- Great first impression of their customer service and sales reps. I asked and they said the cat back system comes with all the gaskets needed. I also asked about the price matching and he said they couldn't do it for the 691 since Thenismoshop.com does not offer free shipping (with shipping it would have been over $8oo from them). But they did say since I was a first time customer they could take off an additional $20 off the sale price. So shipped to mdoor with FedEx insurance I went ahead and pulled the trigger at $735.86 for it. They said it should be delivered by Saturday since it would be shipped out tonight. The Y-Pipe is on backorder right now so no clue how long it will take to get here.

I talked to my auto shop I do business at and they said they could put everything on for around $115 out the door. Thanks for the help and when it gets in Ill be sure to post some pictures. Just love spending over $1100 on my afternoon off. Haha

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Nice. Remember to take get some videos of the exhaust and sound after.

[RxJoshRx]

So it took over 2 months to get the y-pipe in from RL and got everything installed in early July. Sorry it has taken so long to post, work has been very hectic and on the road a lot (Had around 50 miles on it April 1- today around 16,500 in 4.5 months).

But with the Stillen cat-back and RL Y-pipe, I have noticed a much better low end pickup as well as 40-80 pickup. Sound on start up is much lower and throaty- would love a bit more rumble but going to be hard in this V6 CVT. Gas mileage has been pretty close to the same, maybe 0.5-1 gain, but about 2 MPG lower the first week or 2 after I got it...haha
Inside the car it is a lot louder than it was before. Stock had no sound at all in the cabin and now, especially going up hills it can be somewhat hard to hear someone in the back seat if they are talking. Not too much of a problem for me as 95% of the time Im in the car by myself and hasn't ever given me a headache.

At the same time I installed the RL front strut or sway bar- huge difference in handling and don't feel the "slide" going around corners any longer. I also have noticed I don't have to slow down nearly as much going into corners and has been a great buy so far.

I ordered the spacers from CXJ Performance Friday and they are supposed to be delivered today. Looked at getting the Stillen underdrive pulley, but have held off seeing some have had problems after installing them with air, stereo, etc.

But so far I have really enjoyed driving the car and have been pleased with all the mods Ive made so far. Looking forward to getting the spacers and see if those help with performance as well as some saying they saw increased MPG.

Cant seem to figure out how to post a picture that's on my computer. Does it have to be a website URL in order for it to be posted?

[RxJoshRx]

On Car lot- stock everything


First Mods- K&N intake and RL Front Strut tower sway bar


Stillen Catback Exhaust


RL Y-Pipe


Washed and 20% tint- cant see tint very well in this picture with it being at night.


The CXJ spacers are supposed to be delivered today and will try to get a video or 2 recorded after the spacers are on. I would like to look into some of the strip LED fog lights, coilovers, rear sway bar (RL), and improved brakes that don't put out as much brake dust as the stock. Any suggestions from what you all see?

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Nice, took you long to get it together but it looks good!

[RxJoshRx]

Nice, took you long to get it together but it looks good!

Haha I know, right? I doubt get the y-pipe in until the first week of July so that was the limiter. But glad I waited and put everything on at the same time.

Haven't got the CXJ intake spacers put on yet, but should be done by next week and excited to see how they do and if they change the tone any of the engine under pressure.

Really wishing I had spent the extra money and gone with the Uprev tune instead of the BullyDog GT after seeing the gains in power and especially the MPG difference some have seen- my BD hasn't really given me any mpg increase that I've seen.

Actually the most helpful increase for gas mileage has been using an Amsoil 15K oil filter- using fully synthetic oil, getting it changed at an Audi dealer for free right now (got 6 oil changes when I got the car) and bought the filter online- pricey at $40 for 2 after shipped but already made it back with the gas MPG difference. Gettin around 27-28 highway now compared to 25-26 before.

And anyone else get better mileage going at a faster cruise? I swear I get at least 1 if not 2 MPG better by setting my cruise on 79 vs 77. Makes no since to me?