Supersprint Race system or not....

I dont want a system that is low, as my scorpoin already grounds out over bumps.!

Any other ideas?

Some time ago, I required a new system. I looked at the SuperSprint Race one, but decided against it as it was said to be very noisy. And the regular Supersprint road one is NOT stainless. Heard the stories about the Scorpion. So didn't want that. Didn't want a OEM one due to the cost. And didn't want a "Powerflow/Longlife item" as they generally use low quality materials which end up failing.

I chose a Milltek. Was a complete nightmare to get hold of. Rang virtually every supplier in the UK, Including Thorney and West Tuning (who don't answer their phones it seems) and only Powerstation had one. Turned up next day, but they'd forgotten the gaskets which they sent to me overnight. So not bad rectification. Fitting was a little fraught. I'd heard the tales of it sitting too far to the left in the rear bumper cut out and assumed that was down to the person who fitted it. But it's true. The shape of the pipe that goes from the front (centre) box to the rear box doesnt have the correct angle/length on it. Its only a little bit, but its enough to mean that the tailpipes will strike the bumper. I had to shim it across with about 5-10mm of washers till I was happy. (see pic)



As you can see it still sits to the left, but at least it doesn't hit on the bumper now. Also on the fitting side the bolts supplied for the front section to the manifold are too short to get any more than 2-3 threads into the nuts. So I used BMW items.

Regarding clearence, my car is standard height, so I've had no issues with that. And on the plus side having a single large bore pipe running down the car completely irradicates the resonance a twin pipe system generates around the 3k mark. The sound is also much bassier, but not excessively loud. Which I prefer. I would say that from the "ar5e test" that it feels more restrictive that the monkey Longlife system I had before. Which is a bit disappointing. But I can't back that with any actual back to back figures.

Overall, I'm not sure I an recommend any of the above exhausts over each other. They all have their faults*. Be that fragility, loudness, or poor fitment. Its down to how much you can live with each issue.

* Diverting slightly. In fairness that seems to be the case with M3 ownership. There is either not the parts you need or the specialists/tuners are not all that good and stuck in their ways. (eg. Its Alpha N or nothing. Its a certain combination of Cams or nothing. Or my personal favorite "they all do that, theres nothing you can do") Some fresh and original thinking to old problems would be a great benefit to all concerned. (but thats for another thread perhaps )

Edited by rr_ww

rr_ww,

How do you mean you shimmed it?  Where did you put the shims?

Cheers,

Jake

Between the upright thats between the 2 tailpipes and the rubber mount on the car.

Something like this



Edited by rr_ww

I have a scorpion on mine but I have never driven a standard one. What
issues do you have with the scorpion system?

Mine had a Scorpion on it when I bought it and within 10 miles I would have a splitting headache, so I opted for the Milltek. The mechanic who fitted it commented that it freed the engine up compared to the Scorpion.

As Rich said in an earlier post everybody has a view on exhausts and many still favour the original mild steel system and are concerned that the buzzy S14 does stainless steel items no favours. Having said that I will stick with my Milltek.

hmmm - having read through this post am starting to wonder if the oem still sounds expensive...

er, then perhaps the oem is cheap??

amorgan wrote: Or another cheaper alternative is to get a origianl backbox and replace the rest with a custom pipe made for you. I had mine done at a place called pipecraft in essex (specialise in custom exhausts). With the cat gone now it produces 11bhp more and cost me £100. Sounds pretty good too Adrian

any pictures???

Thats right. In and out in an hour. They dont use stainless as the cost would go up. I dont have any pics at the moment. will try and get some. When I took it to Bexley;s they were quite impressed by doing it that way. Think they kept the cross over part too(?)

Adrian