Printable View
I'm thinking about switching to the Tanabe concept g exhaust. I've only heard awesome things about it, but I do have one question. Is it worth it to pay 600+ for their DP? In a lot of things I'm skeptical of ebay products, but few of the DP's they show look like direct copies and made from the same ss grade tubing. If its basically the same I would just as soon use the remaining 500 on other goodies, but if there is a difference I'd rather bite the bullet and know what I got.
I have the ebay m2 tanabe copy and no problems for me. Many people run it here too I'm sure. Seems like good quality for me.
Only bad thing I can say about it is that it hangs abit low in the rear but that can be modified with a few welds and I will do that once I go with coilovers.
So I'd say M2 > Tanabe
Simply because
400$ > 1700$
DP isn't worth it, catback may or may not be. Lot of people have run the M2 and had great things to say.
Personally I just plan to go with a knockoff DP and do a Tanabe Medallion touring catback.
I have something similar to the M2. Pretty thick and fits fairly nice but gets some rust on it if you drive in rain/snow. Not sure if the Tanabe would do that.
No way I would spend $600 on that DP. I could buy multiple knock offs for that price or a 3SX one (which is better flowing). I would go with 3SX or IPS.
The M2 and Tanabe downpipe design is poor. It should be a proper y where the rear doesn't go directly into the front at a near 90. Go with one of the vendor's downpipes that has a good merge. The Tanabe will last longer than the M2 because it won't rust like the eBay stuff. If you like the look, then stick with the M2. I'm sure you'll want a different exhaust system before it falls apart. I like the Tanabe Hyper Medallion and IPS quad tip exhausts if you want something different to look at.
I've handled about every exhaust for this platform at some point in time. The Tanabe Medallian Touring is by far one of the most quality parts available for this platform. It fits absolutely perfect.
The Gen3 quad tip is quite nice also, needs some tweaking to fit right(no cutting or anything, just cant bolt together and be good to go) and has the sleek stock look, also very quiet like the Tanabe M. The Tanabe G and M2 are freakin loud, and sound great btw.
IPS downpipes fit nice, but have soft flanges and pretty much always has a minor leak. I'd personally buy the downpipe and ask for stronger flanges and a flex section between the f/r 02 housings. The material and build quality is superb and will hold up fine for a long time, just dont like their flanges or lacking a flex between 02 housings.
Jason
Had the m2 for 2 years almost hasn't rusted yet. It's T-304 Stainless Steel...Quote:
Originally Posted by TurboSinceBirth
I run the M2 catback and 3SX dp. Both fit like a glove, coated with VHT Flameproof.
There's no need for a flex section between o2 housings. There would be some serious issues if it was needed. Don't spend an arm and a leg on a dp. Just buy a nice flowing down pipe, and whichever catback you choose. I personally wouldn't skimp out on the catback though imo
I've owned or been building these cars since 2002, a flex between the f/r 02s is very useful for initial install and keeping the gaskets sealed long term. The only dp that I have ever had that didn't leak was stock and the atr. All the others needed some tweaking/milling the flanges to get them to seal correctly.
Jason
The M2 is as said stainless but for the flanges, and hardware. The M2, and Tanabe are very close in look, and sound if not identical. If you like the look/sound of the Tanabe go with the M2 all day any day. It is the best option there is in a twin can exhaust.
If you want to go with a different down pipe sell the M2, and pick up one of the fore mentioned dp's. As for the flow concerns n the down pipe, they have never been substantiated to date that I am aware of. Does it look like it could be an issue? Possibly, but no data has been had as proof.
Considering that Ray dynoed from stock exhaust to open pipes and got a difference of 16whp pushing 500+whp. So, probably a pretty minor difference in HP.
Yes but these chinese made parts use a low grade low cost stainless steel that isn't as good. What they use even T-304 SS will have a lower chromium and nickel content due to the fact that ASTM standards for metal manufacturing in China aren't as strictly enforced as in the U.S. 304 SS isn't as corrosion resistant as you might think not compared to other SS like 316, 2205, A286, etc. A lower carbon content will promote more intergranular corrosion resistance, but again this would cost more for China so you normally see higher carbon contents. Higher chromium content is the best prevention for iron oxide in stainless steel because you're taking a steel with over 65% iron content and adding other minerals to increase it's resistance to corrosion. The finish of the steel can make a difference but mostly it's the type of environment the metal will be exposed to. Using higher grades of stainless steel greatly increases the cost though so it's a give and take.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ange
The M2 catback will still work fine. The main problem is the welds. I highly doubt they backpurge the welds with argon gas when they're welding the stainless steel. That will be first thing to rust out. Again, I'm not saying it won't last for awhile but it definitely won't outlast your car. Like mentioned before, people's tastes and mods change often so I'm sure a person will be onto a new setup before they see the M2 disintegrate. I still won't discourage the exhaust. It's a good budget setup. Your money can go further but it's all personal preference at the end of the day. It's not like we have Corvette, Viper, GTR, BMW, Mercedes, etc. budgets or I'm sure we might not be here.
I could see how the flex section could help with the install Jason. I also think if you get them sealed correctly in the first place, leaking won't be a problem. It really is all in the install
That being said, just buy whichever dp and exhaust you want man. They will all sound good on the car. But keep in mind, the cheaper you go, the more tweaking you might have to do to make everything fit correctly
Well I've worked in a machine shop for about 20 years now so modding and making things work is nothing new. But TSB has sent me in the right direction many times so I'll start searching for a good y pipe down pipe and go with the Tanabe.
Even if I was a millionaire I'd still be driving my 3s, it would just be a whole lot faster with more goodies.Quote:
It's not like we have Corvette, Viper, GTR, BMW, Mercedes, etc. budgets or I'm sure we might not be here.
Oh I'd still own one too or probably a few of them to do a track car, street car, one with an auto, etc. For most of us though the 3S is our main performance car. I'm sure many agree it has a special place in your heart.
I vote ebay tanabe blue copy, just can't beat the price.
like this
Stainless Steel Catback Cat Back Exhaust System 3000gt Stealth Turbo Turboback | eBay
Shop around though
a v-engine expands vertically and horizontally when it heats up and tries to pull the downpipe apart.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dsmhunter
good shot of medallion touring:
http://www.chrisbehnken.com/Images/p...3N3Y5_800D.JPG
I want that trailer!
This. I love my Medalion Touring. Fit and sound are, imo, perfect.Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonY
I've lusted after a Medallion Touring since I first saw them. If I could ever sell this Borla I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
So which is the best sounding, the G or the Medallion? I will admit the Medallion is growing on me after seeing Gump's pic
I just want to buy the best sounding and looking exhaust I can get and call it good :smile-new:
The M is more mature, the G is a lot louder. I'd take the M every time. Thats with two VR4 in the garage with the knock off G and my 99 had the M. Both sound great though.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a48...VR4/99rear.jpg
Jason
The Medallion is definitely more of a GT type muffler, much more understated than the G. The G is a louder more in your face kind of sound.
Both are good, just depends which way you want to go with it, personally I want a quiet good sound exhaust so I'm going for the Medallion.
Well I'm definitely not a ricer, which don't get me wrong I've seen some nice ones I wouldn't mine owning. Just not my personality. I also don't want that American muscle sound either. Lol I want Ferrari and Maserati sound :devilish: after seeing Gump's and especially Jason's car I'm 99% leaning toward the medallion.
I think you would be incredibly satisfied with a Touring Medalion from what you say you're looking for. I'm home(have access to my car) until Saturday if there's any picture angles you'd like to see. I could try video although I think internet vids seldom do exhausts justice(and I'd have no idea how to post a vid).Quote:
Originally Posted by Desperado
I have a real g blue and the sound is one of, if not the best sounding exhaust for our cars in my opinion! To address the loud concern I do run the silencers in it. I get the same sound but just quieter. All my dyno's have been with them in so it shouldn't make a noticeable power difference. But even with the silencers out it's not over the top loud until you open it up then you can be heard for blocks away. But just low rpm cursing it's not that bad.
I can can also tell you that not all the knock offs sound the same. There are more than one knock off of the g blue exhaust. One has 2 hole in the muffler tip for the silencers and one has 1 hole in the muffler tip for the silencer just like the real one does. The knock off exhaust is a killer deal (best value by a long shot!) but not quite the same as the real deal. Hope that helps.
I'm leaning toward the IPS dp, but I want to buy a real Tanabe, be it G Blue or the Medallion. If I went with the G Blue from everything I've read it wouldn't be long before I put the silencers in. I don't have loads of cash to burn but I want to do this one right.
The downpipe on the g blue exhaust is awesome! It is NOT A LOG design. I spoke with a guy who helped Tanabe with the g blue exhaust, and he said that the down pipe had the exhaust pulses timed to NOT collide with each other's making it very efficient. (Same idea as equal length headers being timed to pulse sequentially at the collector.) The rear bank curves into the merge too. Their are people who look at the design and say that it's not properly engeneered but they would be speaking from an assuming position. In my opinion it's a high quality down pipe.
I have had this exhaust since 2006 I preordered it and I was one of the first to install it. I ran the car with out the silencers for almost 4 years before decided to use them. It's not that much louder at idle and off loaded situations (highway cruise) it's only loud when you gun it. I drove for 20 hours strait with out the silencers in and it did not bother me at all. I only put them in because of all the attention I draw with them out. Including cops!
Am running the Medalion Touring with a Stillen downpipe. The quality of that catback is just freaking awesome! Without any cats, the sound is a civilized loud without any drone... Yeah, I love it!
I was probably one of the first to run the ebay M2 something like 3 years ago now. I don't DD the car but I do drive it a couple times a week rain or shine. To this day there is no rust on the exhaust at all. The bolts they sent did rust a little bit but nothing major. The gaskets were garbage and were replaced when I got them. I don't know if the welds were back-filled or not but they are not rusting and holding just fine. As for the DP. It was sold the next day. I had a 3sx DP that I got a couple years prior on a Black Friday sale which I used. That M@ exhaust fits better that the damn 3sx DP does....LOL
Here is the initial review I did when I got the package with tons of pics: http://www.3sgto.org/turbo-engines-s...must-read.html