M2 Performance Exhaust REVIEW! [HKS REPLICA]
 

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE THIS EXHAUST?
https://g35driver.com/forums/exhaust...ipes-more.html

I bought the M2 Performance Exhaust from Marinelli Motorsports about two weeks ago and finally got around to having it installed. I am going to give my honest, unbiased review of this HKS replica. Wasted about a quarter of a tank of gas from driving around and testing the exhaust.

HOW DOES IT SOUND?

I am not going to lie. I'm very pleased with the sound of this exhaust. It has a really deep sound and when you give it gas, it growls a bit which sounds even better. I am also running this exhaust with stock cats. I need to pass inspection so I'm not going to put test pipes or HFC's.

The exhaust is loud, but not obnoxious. You definitely hear the exhaust and it's not high pitched at all... even at WOT. At WOT, the exhaust growl gets even louder but still keeps its deep sound, which is why I really like it. No rasp at all.

I asked 2 of my cousins how the exhaust sounded and they said it sound sick. :biggthumpup: I asked my girlfriend how it sounded and she didn't care lol :rolleyes:

HOW IS THE DRONE?

The exhaust does drone a little, but its not that bad at all. I keep my music around "18" on the stock BOSE system and you can't even hear the drone. I mean it doesn't bother me, but to each his own.

I was able to hold a conversation with my girlfriend while driving and having the radio on. We did have to talk a little bit louder, but it wasn't annoying. My thought is hard to put into writing...

HOW IS THE FITMENT/LOOKS?

I brought my car and the exhaust to a shop to have it installed. The mechanic said the fitment was off on the tips, but that was to be expected. The tip on the passengers side was up against the bumper cutout. He heated up the piping before the tip and made minor adjustments. The exhaust now fits perfect.

The polished stainless steel actually looks really good, but I don't like the tips of the exhaust at all. I plan on replacing the tips with the real titanium ones when I have the money.

I thought the 4.5 inch tips would look really RICE, but they actually make the car look really mean.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

The exhaust smells really bad on the first start up and when your driving it around. I've been told that it happens with every new exhaust that hasn't been broken in.

After making a few trips and going joy riding, the bad exhaust smell started fading. I do smell it a little, but it is definitely going away. Keep in mind that I had the exhaust installed today.

PERFORMANCE GAINS

I definitely feel a difference according to my Butt Dyno, but who knows, it may all be in my head... :cool:

If your looking for an exhaust that sounds mean, is loud but not "too loud", and do not want to spend $1700+ for the real thing, then this is the exhaust for you.

The guy that I spoke with from Marinelli Motorsports was a really nice man and definitely wants his customers to be happy. I asked him about 10000 questions regarding the exhaust and he kept his cool without getting annoyed.

He was also very honest when answering my questions and responded to my PM's pretty quickly. I will definitely be giving Marinelli Motorsports my business again!! :JAMIN:

***This was my honest/unbiased review. I am not responsible if you purchase the exhaust and your not satisfied for some reason. Just thought I would be the first to review the M2 Performance Exhaust and give a video of how it sounds on a 2007 G35 Coupe.



VIDEOS

***NEW VIDEO***Cold Start [7 months after exhaust was installed]


***NEW VIDEO*** Revving [7 months after exhaust was installed]


Warm start and a few revs.


Couple Revs and then Take off.

PICTURES!

Box came beat up :( No dents, scratches, dings, etc :D
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5...c03033n.th.jpg

http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/6...03034sp.th.jpg

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/9...c03039i.th.jpg

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/8...c03040c.th.jpg

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9...03041ud.th.jpg

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/8...03042uf.th.jpg

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/5...c03061y.th.jpg

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/1...c03062e.th.jpg

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4120/dsc03063ya.th.jpg

Yes, the exhaust came with all the pieces, including the extenders, gaskets, hardware, etc... I was too lazy to take all of the parts out of the box -____-

damn that box got messed up lol. glad the exhaust wasnt dented. exhaust sounds good. you can get hfc and you'll pass inspection unless you are in cali.

I just put on the same exhaust but mine is way raspy above 3k rpm, I need to install the magnaflow hpipe

I'm from Queens, NY. I think the exhaust sounds perfect the way it is. No rasp whatsoever. The growl around 3k sounds sick!!!

hey nice write up! exactly what happened to me as well... also if people want to pick them up in so cal they should hit up MrWong@Statik, thats who I got mine from.

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Exactly what my shop did. (Valley Mufflers)

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Yeah I thought that in the beginning as well but once it was on, it fit the car quite nicely.
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Yeah it did but went away after a few days.

Thanks for the reinforcement airzjordan! How do you like the exhaust so far? I've gotten nothing but compliments. My friends love it and I love it as well :)

Hey man.. if you dont mind PM me the price Valley muffler charged you for the install...they are very close to me and once I get this exhaust I'll have them install it. What location did you go ??

Thanks !!

Very good review of the HKS replica !!

Thanks a lot, Nath :JAMIN:

Trying to get my hands on a better camera so I can really show you guys the true sound of the exhaust :DOMO:

I like the exhaust a bit. Im looking for a new exhaust and I already have headers and HFC installed. What exhaust on this forum can I buy that is quiet at least quiet enough for my neighbors and cops not to bother me. Fujitsibo is good but hard to find and expensive. I'm trying to spend no more than 800 on a new one. What do you guys suggest. The quieter the better.

How much?

Very nice review, basically the same exact thoughts I had when I first bought mine. I recently put on the Megan resonated test pipes and made it a whole new beast. But for knock off price, you do get knock off quality. I do plan on upgrading down the road, but it's definitely not bad for the time being.

would a shop

Post it up man.... With your review...I am definitely will get this one...

Hey bang for the buck right.. entry level that would suffice my budget... lol !!

How much would a shop charge when they fit this ??

Just got the same one from Marinelli Motorsports and installed it last week.Hears my opinion on it.The only difference is that I have megan Resonated test pipes.
Price-Super cheap for a cat back system.Quatily is not bad it all.So it has that going for it.

SoundComing from two Subies(WRX and an STi,both catless)Im no Pus.y when it comes to exhaust.But this one is loud as FK!On the outside of the car,it does sound sick,nice and deep when rev'ed.At idle its pretty quiet.When you get on it it starts off deep then rasp's out,but thats because of the test pipes.So keep that in mind.Now,on the inside.Thats a diffenrt story.Its sounds like a F'n cow.It drones so bad,worst I ever heard.And its not even highway drone.Thats not bad.Its driving around town at around 2-3rpm that its really bad.Looking to get some Esolite from http://www.raamaudio.com/ to see if it quiet the cabin at bit.
FitmentFiment is not bad until you get to the tips.The drivers side is not centered,but not that bad.The passnger side is were u will have problems.Its off center and to high up.Hits the bumper.Had it like this for 2 days.It started to melt the paint off the bottom of the bumper.Dont wait on this.Get this fixed when doing the install!This week had a shop fix it for a few bucks.So not bad,just do it at the same time.O yea,had to get under the car the second day to retighten the bolts,most were alittle loose.

Performance GainsIMO,lost alittle low end,and gains at the top.But really dont know for sure.

OverallFor the price,you cant go wrong.Fix the tips and your willing to deal with the drone.Then I said go for it.Everyone that has seen it said its nice and sounds good.But thats from the outside.People do say its a bit loud sitting inside the car.Hope this helps some people.:D

get the magnaflow xpipe it helps with the drone and great improves the sound imo

Yea,heard about that.Got to check it out.Maybe someone on here is running this setup with the xpipe and can post a vid