Hey, I just noticed this forum! When was it added? Great addition for one stop information!

I had the Kinetix Y-Pipe done a few months ago. Seemed to make the car pull slightly harder at higher rpms. Below 3500 rpm, it doesn't seem to make much difference, and my wife really dislikes the sound. Seems to make a sort of "resonant" raspy sound. I'm not sure I like it either in day-to-day driving. I was hoping the sound would mellow a bit with time.

Not really worth it in my opinion.

 

This has already been posted in Tech/Mod, however I thought it also belonged here.

Last month, I swapped out the OEM for the Kinetix. My initial thoughts were that this y-pipe sounded very ricey and resulted in significant vibrations especially at low rpm's. I was not at all satisfied with neither the sound nor the constant vibrations. As a result, I emailed Kinetix to express my concerns.

My first email to Kinetix is below:

I installed your y-pipe approximately a week ago. Almost instantly I noticed substatinal vibrations underneath my seat, especially at low rpm's. It sounds as though the car is flatulating. I thought this might subside after a week or so. However, this has not been the case. Is this normal? I thought that these vibrations may be a result of air leaks, however the installer advised that their were not any fitment issues. What are your thoughts?

Kinetix reply is below:

sometimes, the y-pipe causes the mid section pipe to drop down slightly. There is VERY little clearance between the factory mid pipe and the cross brace underneath the car, generally less than .25" This is what is causing vibrations. Adjust the exhaust or the cross brace to allow for some more clearance.

Thereafter, I took my car into my installer to check to see if their are any clearance issues. My installer confirmed their were infact fitment issues. My follow-up email to Kinetix is below.

I returned to my installer today and requested that they (along with myself) check any potential clearance issues causing the vibrations and excessive noise that I was complaining of (per my prior emails to you). Upon inspection of the y-pipe, we noticed that one of the flex joints (directly under drivers seat) of the y-pipe was touching the
underbody of the car and this was causing the vibrations and noise. I have attached pictures showing the contact of y-pipe to underbody for your review.

After examining the contact point, the service technician attempted to adjust the y-pipe (as well as other exhuast components) to prevent this contact. He un-torqued, adjusted, then re-torqued the bolts of the y-pipe on numerous occassions, to determine if the contact could be prevented.
However, in the end the contact remained. He along with the three other technicians determined that this particular y-pipe had fitment issues and regardless of the adjustments made, a clearance issue would exist and therefore the vibrations and noise that I could not stand would also prevail. As a result, I have no choice but to remove the y-pipe as I can no longer
stand the vibrations caused by it. I am very disappointed as I never imagined that the y-pipe would have these fitment issues. And, I was not anticipating having to pay for an install, removal, and then re-install of my OEM y-pipe. Due to the fitment issues with the y-pipe, I would like to return your product and am requesting full refund.

Kinetix reply below:

well,

I sincerely apologie, and thank you for the pictures, as we will definately look into our test car and the fitment on that vehicle.

We can honor a full refund. Please simply send the y-pipe back to us at the address below, and include a slip of paper including original order info and request for refund.

My follow-up email:

Please be advised that I have fedex'd the y-pipe back to your company. FYI, the tracking number is xxxxx and the estimated delivery date is 10/21. I will follow up once again upon your receipt of the pipe. Also, I have endured considerable expense as a result of this y-pipe not
fitting properly as it should have. This additional expense is as follows:

1) Installation of Kinetix Y-pipe (swap from oem to kinetix) = $40
2) Removal of Kinetix Y-pipe (swap from kinetix back to oem) = $40
3) Shipping of y-pipe back to your company = $22.10

In my opinion, the fair and honorable thing for your company to do would be to credit me for #2 and #3 ($62.10 - in addition to the $300 that I have already paid Kinetix) as these expenses were a direct result of the poor fitment of your y-pipe on my vehicle.

Please be advised that the above email was forwarded on 10/17 and a similar email was forwarded on 10/28. I have received credit for $300, however I have not even received a response to the above email requesting additional credit for $62.10.

In my opinion, I should be entitled to reimbursement for the expenses I incurred removing and shipping a faulty product. What are your thoughts?

As for all the claims of Kinetix providing exceptional customer service, I think they are average at best. They have only credited me for a faulty product, which I have returned.

 

Why didn't you just have the guy who installed the Y pipe remove the metal cross brace, cut a small piece out, weld it back together, and bolt it on again (thereby raising it up just ever so slightly to allow more clearance between it and the new Y pipe)?

As soon as my exhaust/muffler guy saw this brace (I pretty sure it's the same one you're talking about) after he installed my new Coupe midpipe, he immediately noticed that cross brace (and heat shield further back for that matter) was just barely touching the new midpipe, so he asked me if I wanted him to modify the cross brace so it doesn't touch and cause a rattle or vibration..."of course...do what you need to do," I said. ;-) Anyway, after he did what I mentioned above, the cross brace doesn't touch my Coupe midpipe, and the only "vibrations" I hear are from the sweet, deeper exhaust note of the new Coupe midpipe.

Although I cannot speak about this Y pipe; only my experience with installing my Coupe midpipe with a very similar, if not the same issue. I understand and appreciate your frustration, but maybe next time, you should hire a better technician...just a thought.



2004.5 G35-S 5AT Black/Willow - Prem, R. Spoiler, Navi, Sport Wheels, Alum. Pedals, Tint, Z Tube, K&N, Coupe Midpipe<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by bsgoren on 11/06/04 09:08 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

It was not the cross brace that was the cause of the vibrations. The problem was that the driver side flex joint was touching the underbody of the car and regardless of adjustment we were unable to create clearance. This was the cause of the raspy sound and excess vibration.