Got my Stillen installed today by my local dealer! It absolutely ROCKS! I was going to do it myself as I had access to a lift, but they put it in for $135. That was a decent price as they also installed a mylar heat shield from thermotec.com that went between the OEM heat shroud near the tranny and the under carraige (that was the biggest pain according to the tech). According to the folks at Avalon Racing (where I got the exhaust) that eliminates a lot of the resonance associated with the Stillen.

First impressions:

Are there performance gains?
Oh yeah, a LOT! This thing pulls like a locomotive going down hill, especially between 3.5K and redline -- WOW!

Is it noisier?
A little. I was worried about the "droning" that I read so many posts on, but I don't mind the sound at all. Its no longer whisper-jet quiet like stock, but now the car sounds like it means business! You can hardly tell its no longer stock on the highway (no kidding, you can hardly hear it around 3K at 60-70 mph --even at 90 mph, its not the least bit intrusive). Around town while rowing through the 6-mt it sounds AWESOME! Between 4K-6K this thing ROARS with authority -- I mean its too cool! (Maybe the folks who thought it droned had 5-AT's?)

Am I satisfied with the workmanship?
Absolutely! With only four pieces this thing is solid -- very well made, and the folks at the dealer thought it went in extremely well. The tech was very impressed with the workmanship and bends of the pipes -- a great system.

The dealer really wanted to install it and they did a great job. With the mylar shield, they said it took just under 2 hours. I think every tech at the dealership drove it -- they didn't want to give it back! Combined with a previously installed Z-tube and Popcharger, this engine really breathes now.

I was worried about all the posts of the Stillen's noise "problems," droning, etc. But I gotta tell ya, I'm a believer in Stillen's products (of course, it helps that I got this thing delivered for $850) for not only the h/p gains, but the AWESOME sound!

My 6-MT sedan was made for this exhaust!

Gotta go row the gears one more time at WOT before I turn in for the night -- wo-HOO!!

:-)

Q

 

quikrocket,

A real good write up. Let us know if it feels stronger after 35 to 50 serious driving miles.

By the way, I sure like mine... and it doesn't drone.

DaveO

2003 G35 AT Sedan / DP / Willow / Premium / Sport
350Z T-Stat, Engine Cvr & Air Duct / Stillen CAI / Crawford Plenum
GrdGear Kit / TS ECM / E-Fans
Street Edge TC / B&M Cooler / Stillen Exhaust

 

Glad you like it. I got probably the 3rd or 4th one shipped and it is still the best mod I have done yet. Compared with some of the other systems I have physically inspected, Stillen is by far the heavy duty choice. This thing will last longer than the car. My local muffler shop didnt install any "Mylar shield" since I didnt know anything about this when I had them put it in. What is this and where do you get it? I dont see how Mylar could hold up to the heat. Teflon maybe, but not mylar. I do have a bit of a drone with my 5AT between 2-3 K and wonder if this is the difference, or if Stillen is using longer/different resonators on the newer builds. Glad to hear yours doesnt drone at all.

 

Sorry, I read your post again and saw thermotec.com. I'll go check it out.

 

Also,

Do all of these http://www.technosquareinc.com/350reset.htm
Even if you have a 6MT, this will make a big difference after a major flow related mod like the Stillen. I do a reset every week to keep my 5AT on the edge. I wouldnt bother if it didnt make a difference.

 

Guys,

You're right on the thermotec material. Its not mylar, its more like a Nomex/aluminum blended fabric.

Also, after all the threads I'd read about droning, etc., I thought "if I put a Stillen in, I may have to Dynomat the entire car!" Boy, was I wrong. This thing sounds great (both inside and outside), and the performance gains can't be beat! I'm not dropping a penny on Dynomat -- this set up sounds so much better than stock IMO.

Sorry for any confusion on the mylar - Nomex mix-up...

Q

 

Actually, according to their website http://thermotec.com/products/full/16500/16500.html it is made of mylar and silica. It seems that it is for heat protection. Nothing is mentioned of its sound insulating properties. Glad to hear that you have not experienced droning. Maybe I will get the stillen after all.

2004 Sedan 6MT
Silver/Graphite/Premium/Aero
HuperOptik Ceramic 50/Clear Corners/XM Radio
Z-Tube/Stillen High Flow Airbox/Grounding Kit

 

A,

I'd strongly recommend it. I was really worried about some press on the Stillen IRT droning/noise/interior rattles, etc. But after having it in now for a few days, and doing all sorts of driving (WOT, highways, in town, etc.) I'm MORE than satisfied with the purchase. It really makes the car come alive -- plus the sound is awesome IMO! And you can barely notice the difference in interior noise on the highway...

Q

 

Your initial impressions are right on. Approaching 4000 RPM and beyond is fantastic. There's little noise intrusiveness at speed, it's when you're working up to speed that you hear it. But I like the sound myself. It roars when you get into it and really kicks up the performance above 4K. Well worth it. Loving it after 500 miles.

03.5 5AT-S (Black-Willow-Premium-Sport-Aero-GroundingGear™-Silverstars-PIAA-PopCharger-Z Tube-Tint-Stillen Dual Exhaust)

 

how is the sound compared to a stock coupe? i love how the coupe sounds stock, and was kind of disappointed that the sedan didnt sound the same. do you suppose its true that the 20hp difference between the sedan and coupe could be the exhaust?

 

SCSI,

It sounds a LOT more aggressive than a stock coupe, and yes much of the 20hp difference between a stock coupe and sedan is in the different exhausts. I don't think you'll be dissapointed if you put the Stillen on -- I wasn't!

Q

 

cool, thanks! wow...i kept looking in the sedan forum and i thot this thread disappeared...i thought to look in here just now O_o tricky stuff

 

quikrocket,
Where did you find it for $850 ?? Thanks.

 

I was looking into buying an exhaust for a coupe, ive been looking and i dont know who to go with , Stillen, Blitz, Borla, Nismo, or Magnaflow, or anything else.

 

i heard somewhere (i forget where) that the computer will adjust to certain bolt-ons and in time your gains will be lost, such as gains from an exhaust system...is this true?