Y34 Exhaust Questions

[illest03M45]

Hello NICO, new member here. I am here to seek some wisdom from fellow Y34 owners, or anyone who can answer my questions, about the exhaust system. I'm thinking about installing an x-pipe onto the beast and was wondering if the flex pipes are necessary. I understand what the flex pipes do on the exhaust system but does anyone have issues with custom exhaust systems without flex pipes? My main concern is will it wear out the catalyct converters sooner without the flex pipes? Do flex pipes have any impact on smog, for registration purposes. Thanks guys.

[Double E]

No issues with making anything wear faster or pass inspections without them...but flex is exactly what they do, and that's it. No flex means something else is going to give when the engine moves on the mounts...and it does.

Before you proceed further, be sure you get under it to view the proximity of the flex pipes to both manifolds and converters. I do not think there is a reasonable to way to make anything close to an x-pipe on this car based on the OEM configuration.

A manifold connects to the bank which is followed by the primary cats, then flexpipe...and that's before they even get to the transmission. After that, they come together into one pipe, the secondary cat and then the resonator, then to the muffler where they split back up again and go to a butterfly valve that (we all think) is for noise reduction....

I think you're better off to remove the resonator and put in an exhaust cutout with remote control.
At least it will sound better.

[BobbyJackJR.]

i own a 2003 m45!
i removed and replaced everything after the factory headers!
headers into a Y-pipe then a single pipe straight back into a "Megan" double tip muffler…so she's mostly straight piped! (the factory butterfly valve tied so its always open)

i absolutely love everything about it! its loud and raspy when i get on it! but little to no drone at cruising speeds.

wasn't worried about the whole butterfly valve stuck open. because i dont tow anything and didn't care about losing low end torque… one of the main reasons this car was equip with this feature.

hope this helps on a decision cause i found nothing shopping for mine!

[BobbyJackJR.]

FYI …. i was going for something that would be a lot louder then OEM

[Double E]

a LOT louder? No problem. Check this: topic508684.html

and then watch this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIe_1w6i5ho

[marosari00]

Hi!

Here is a suggestion at the link below...a video is included. I installed a similar system, instead of the AR 25, my setup used Magnaflow resonators. As you can see the flex pipes are retained. I am more than thrilled with my install.

http://www.mandrelbend.com/mandrelbend. ... tentId=165

Manuel

[illest03M45]

Update!
I got the x-pipe installed and it sounds like pure f**king sex. Marosari, it sounds like we have the exact same setup but I don't have flex pipes cause I was told the driver side flex pipe was bad so I had them both taken out. The beast definitely gets the double take. One very lucky Y34 owner here.

[marosari00]

[Double E]

Sweet. You've proven it can work....nice job.

[EdBwoy]

Update!
I got the x-pipe installed and it sounds like pure f**king sex. Marosari, it sounds like we have the exact same setup but I don't have flex pipes cause I was told the driver side flex pipe was bad so I had them both taken out. The beast definitely gets the double take. One very lucky Y34 owner here.

Pics and video please?? The video in marosari's link was awesome