Megan installed 2006 M45

[InfinitiSquared]

I really went back and forth on what to do for placement exhaust on my M45. I found great information from the NICO website. In the end I decided to go with the Megan Mid-Pipes and Exhaust.

PROS1. Tone was deeper than I expected - Love it however, it creates a heavier foot!2. I like the dual tip replacement

CONS The installation was not a direct fit. As you can see from the picture below the cross brace on the Mid-Pipe is not even and barely clears the top portion of the car. The passenger side hanger had to be heated to get the exhaust in the middle of the cut out. Both tow hangers (i think that is what they are) had to be removed. The left side exhaust pipe had to be heated to straighten it out.

In the end I am extremely pleased and I am thankful for the workmanship of the muffler shop I used.

I attached two video files - let me know your thoughts.G. Scott

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YanCujHJ ... ywwMhiXRAw

[Stan_izzle]

looks and sounds real good. you've got me wanting to spend moeny now.

[tigerclaws1318]

I have the same setup and I love the sound it makes. I sometimes wish it was a bit quieter inside the car.

[InfinitiSquared]

Thanks to both of you!

[Mazeska]

I have the exact same set up, my people had a hard time getting it on right too.

The only problem I have had is I now have a rattle sound, like a can full of rocks, but it is only at a low RPM.

[InfinitiSquared]

Mazeska - How long have you had it on? Is it something that started right after installation or after driving for a while?

[mexillis]

i noticed after my custom exhaust install that i too had a rattle, i think with the louder exhaust it makes things more susceptible to those kind of problems. Anyway all i did to get rid of the noise was move around the heat shields where my stock mufflers were and banged on them a bit to get rid of debris that was caught underneath m. Thats where my noise was coming from and maybe not the same for you guys but maybe it will help. Nice megan by the way, once it warms up over here ima polish my exhaust to look like yours.

[FndMspot]

I have the axle back and love it. I also had to have both tow hooks removed and had a custom shop tweak them to look straight.1. Love the sound 2. Love the dual tips.

[yosM45]

???

I have the Megan Axle-Back, and I had no problems with the install at all.

I know you did the mid-pipes, but there shouldn't have been a problem with the axle-back section.

Although, my drivers side muffler did hit the tow hook, so I did shave off about 3mm off the tow hook, so it didn't rub against the tip.

I'm just surprised that some of you completely removed the tow hooks.

[FndMspot]

The left tow hook(drivers side) was definetly interfering with the placement, but the right side had clearance, but needed to be removed when the muffler shop had to tweak the pipe to make them hang straight.

Curious on why you did not just remove the left hook, you proably will have movement anyway in that area in the future.

[New2Import]

I have the exact same set up, my people had a hard time getting it on right too.

The only problem I have had is I now have a rattle sound, like a can full of rocks, but it is only at a low RPM.

i noticed after my custom exhaust install that i too had a rattle, i think with the louder exhaust it makes things more susceptible to those kind of problems. Anyway all i did to get rid of the noise was move around the heat shields where my stock mufflers were and banged on them a bit to get rid of debris that was caught underneath m. Thats where my noise was coming from and maybe not the same for you guys but maybe it will help. Nice megan by the way, once it warms up over here ima polish my exhaust to look like yours.

Check your heat shields. If that dont fix it you need to add a damper to the exhaust. Those little rubber pieces muffle the exhaust vibation.My SLP setup lets you add the stock pieces to the exhaust.

[Mazeska]

My rattle started the minute I pulled it off the lot after the instalation. I too think it could be desbris on top of the heat shields, but it is hard to remove.

[yosM45]

The left tow hook(drivers side) was definetly interfering with the placement, but the right side had clearance, but needed to be removed when the muffler shop had to tweak the pipe to make them hang straight.

Curious on why you did not just remove the left hook, you proably will have movement anyway in that area in the future.

Good Question, figured I'd just need it some day.

[WirelessAndy]

I currently have the Stillen on my 2008 M45S and I'm having a problem where the larger 4" tips scrape against steep driveways.

I'm considering switching to the Megans.

I have no interior drone sounds while cruising with the Stillens. Are the Megans louder at cruising? I hope not!

[mexillis]

why not just cut off the single tips you have and put on quads. It will save you a lot of money and keep the sound you already like. I know you tube has a video of a guy that has stillen with quad tips.

[caug1]

it's a good idea to take car out of garage for the sound clip.

[WirelessAndy]

why not just cut off the single tips you have and put on quads. It will save you a lot of money and keep the sound you already like. I know you tube has a video of a guy that has stillen with quad tips.

I already thought of that. The problem is, the Stillen tips appear to have some kind of perforated metal "sleeve" that extends from the tip all the way deep into the interior of the muffler. Definitely not a simple hollow tube.

Plus this introduces another level of "what ifs": Mainly, trusting the fabrication skills of a muffler shop. The one I went to was highly regarded on Yelp but I did not have a good experience with them.

I may just bite the bullet and go Megan, due to the smaller diameter tips. I read an older post about a forum member who installed the Megans (forgot the username) and said it was fine at cruising.

[InfinitiSquared]

@caug1 - True, I will try and take it out tomorrow and get some additional sound bytes

@WirelessAndy - I don't detect any drone when cruising. My son and I carried on a conversation all the way to soccer practice and it was just as quiet as when I had the stock ones on. If i do do decide to downshift or floor it into passing gear you can hear a slight elevation in sound but it is not annoying or anything like my shorty headers/off road x-pipe/Borla exhaust on my Saleen Cobra!
Modified by InfinitiSquared at 7:16 PM 1/24/2010

[caug1]

YAH SN 95.

[WirelessAndy]

@WirelessAndy - I don't detect any drone when cruising. My son and I carried on a conversation all the way to soccer practice and it was just as quiet as when I had the stock ones on. If i do do decide to downshift or floor it into passing gear you can hear a slight elevation in sound but it is not annoying or anything like my shorty headers/off road x-pipe/Borla exhaust on my Saleen Cobra! Modified by InfinitiSquared at 7:16 PM 1/24/2010

Ahh, I can sorta relate!

I used to own a new 1993 5.0-Liter Mustang LX. 2-chamber Flowmasters, supercharged, etc etc. The kind of exhaust sound that set of car alarms as I drove down a parking lot.

If the Megans behave the way you've described (cruising = nicely quiet, but flooring it = Happy Fun Sounds) then I'm sold. I'll just tell whatever install shop to watch out for the tow hangers.

The one thing about the quad tips is that any misalignment REALLY shows! This is not good for my OCD!

I hesitated joining this forum because I was afraid I'd end up finding more things WRONG with my M. Now I'm glad I joined up!

FAVOR: InfinitiSquared, can you measure the height between the ground and the bottom edge of your exhaust tips? Like I mentioned before, mine hang low at a mere 8".
Modified by WirelessAndy at 7:45 PM 1/24/2010

[InfinitiSquared]

@WirelessAndy - I know you want to change because of the tips and dragging but how is the sound with the Stillen? I REALLY went back and forth between the two and in the end Price and Quad Tips sold me. I was afraid I would end up in the "You get what you paid for" category but so far, I am pleased. I did not want anything too aggressive since I often use my car to take clients to lunch and other activities and also didn't want to sound like the normal buzzing import tuner car.My wife on the other hand thinks that a family luxury car SHOULD NOT sound that way!

[WirelessAndy]

The Stillen is fine! I like it. It's as if the startup sound and revving sounds are amplified, but cruising is only slightly louder. Certainly nothing to complain about.

I'd say the Stillen makes a very mature yet sporty sound when pushed. But if you drive around in granny mode for business, it sounds stock or nearly stock.

I had a Corolla GT-S (RWD) in the 80's and early 90s, and that thing was a buzzing beehive. Drone city! The Mustang was a growl machine. The M45 with the Stillen is like James Bond: Smooth and suave in a tux at a fancy dinner party, but can make some respectable a**-kicking sounds when pushed. It may not set off car alarms, but at least I can hear it now in the insulated cabin!

Personally I think the Stillen hardware was mostly $$ due to the brand name and the fancy tips. Definitely not plain ol hollow tubes.

[InfinitiSquared]

Thanks for the info - Much appreciated!

[InfinitiSquared]

Anyone recommend a polish to keep the tips and mufflers shiny?

[WirelessAndy]

Polish:My friend who visited the Borla HQ in Oxnard for a custom Porsche exhaust received some polish.

http://www.borla.com/products/...21461

I don't know how well it works. But if it's from Borla...

Height:InfinitiSquared, could you do me a favor and measure your tip-to-ground height?

[KoMikeey]

Hey guys, i just bought full megan exhaust from cats back, and i noticed a sound coming from the right rear. it does sound like rocks in a can, so can anyone help me figure out this sound. its annoying as hell, and i did take out the left tow bar, and when i took the heat shield of the left side, i broke a bolt using too much torque. but the sounds seems like its coming from the right side. is it the heat shields having too much debris? but on a good note i love the sound of the megan sounds a lot deeper and aggressive but con the effing coins sound is kililng me .

[KoMikeey]

should i just remove the heat shield and see if that helps?

[CPJ LB]

glad you got your Megans....

....sorry to hear of this issue...

could be a few things:

- exhaust bolts need to be tightened/torqued thru the exhaust flanges
- rubber exhaust hangers may need to be replaced (causing vibration)
- a piece of the exhaust (mid pipe or muffler section could be touching something)

-- **worse case scenario** one of your cats may have gone bad -- causing the "coin in a can" rattle noise
the element in the cat may be loose or deteriorated...sounds worse after the car is up to running temp.
(this is commonly caused by exhaust installers using air impact tools -- which causes the loosening of the Catalytic elements within)...just a thought...

hope it's nothing major....

[KoMikeey]

**worse case scenario** one of your cats may have gone bad -- causing the "coin in a can" rattle noise
the element in the cat may be loose or deteriorated...sounds worse after the car is up to running temp.
(this is commonly caused by exhaust installers using air impact tools -- which causes the loosening of the Catalytic elements within)...just a thought...

i mean i got mine used because i couldnt get hold of a new one. how often can a cat go bad? im hoping its loose bolts, or heat shield ..

[donnieb83]

I dont believe the Megans come with cats, just resonators and mufflers. I think CPJ LB, was talking about your OEM cats. I am getting that coin in a can sound on my OEM exhaust. I guess I know what the culprit is now.