realneal370z

Would i need a y-pipe first because the above is just backbox and centre pipes? I am seriously tempted by HFCs... listen to this!

I suspect that was me then. I've only had it a few weeks, just enough to break it in! I didn't mention that for the first few hundred miles is that there was a bit of smoke coming from the tailpipes and a chemical smell. it stopped pretty soon so i'm assuming it was just heat burning off cleaning or polishing chemicals or something. my car hasn't caught fire yet! oh and the sound has improved now too.

viewtopic.php?f=103&t=48973&p=714545#p714545

For those interested

After many months of wandering in cyberspace researching the many models of exhausts possible for the 370Z I finally decided... on the TANABE Touring Medalion. I could not see that anyone in UK had this system already on a 370 and so it was a big gamble especially given the cost and importing the system and the fact that Tanabe themselves won't commit to saying it will fit a RHD 370Z. With nobody having one I could listen to first I decided to base my decision on videos on youtube and the370z.com.

The UK seems massively behind USA when it comes to UK-based people and companies offering good systems for the 370Z. I looked at Akrapovic, Stillen, Scorpion, Amuse, Fujimura, Fujitsubo, AAM, Fast Intentions etc etc and with so many systems available (albeit not that easily) it was a difficult choice. I narrowed it down to FI, Stillen and Tanabe and settled with the Tanabe after advice from lots of happy Americans on the370z.com. Most of the decision making came from videos of the TANABE Touring Medalion on Infiniti G37s which is a luxury saloon and so I decided I wanted that sound.

I am totally over-the-moon with what I settled on (my girlfriend isn't, mind! ) and so I thought I'd run this thread to help people see what it's like.

I wanted these things:

1) Mature sound that wasn't too loud for daily driving and no rasp;

2) no drone at cruising speeds;

3) an exhaust that would 'let rip' under open throttle

4) looked good from the back end - rolled stainless steel cut tips, bigger tailpipe tips than stock and not protruding past the bumper.

5) an exhaust that would took up under the car and be no more likely to hit speed bumps than the stock

6) at this stage I'm not bothered about performance improvement but want something that can be tweaked further by addition of more shiny bits of imported metal if needed in future!

The Shiny bits...

First of all the build quality of the system seems very good. The tailpipe tips are 4.5inch and round so appear bigger than the stock oval tips. The polish is better and they flare out to the same level as the bumper. From above, the tips seem to slightly exit towards the outside of the car very nicely. In general it has the appearance of a very well thought out bit of kit.

Sound

It sounds great IMO and totally tranforms the Z. It definitely turns heads - it's deep and certainly louder but not too loud. To me it sounds mature yet aggressive when you want to show it off. When starting from cold it's pretty loud but quietens within a few minutes. Between 2-3k rpm it's got a nice low down rumble and a bit burbly when letting off the revs. The quicker you go through the revs from 2-3k the more that deep growl turns to a louder howl. But it is never at all too loud! I drive with the windows open all the time now as I enjoy listening to my new toy, but with windows down it's not at all intrusive as the 370 has lots of sound deadening. If anything I'd have been happier it being louder still! My dad has a diesel mondeo estate and he laughed at me when i bought a RWD Z but when I let him drive it with the Tanabe he was grinning like a 17-year old joyrider.

IMO the most notably tiring thing after a long journey in the Z is road noise from the tyres and at least now I hear a nice deep exhaust sound instead. There is no drone at 2k RPM but I think if it was any louder I could see that there might be. So again Tanabe have obviously put the time in getting it right for daily driving.

There is no rasp at all. Once you hit 4k revs and start to go upwards the volume really increases but gives a deeper than stock whaling howl... sounds awful when i describe it but I think it's a beautiful sound! Just go through a tunnel and put your foot down and enjoy.

I've tried recording it but it really doesn't do justice to the sound. As for the syncro-rev... well to be quite honest I love this sound and I now drop down into 1st at lights just to enjoy the sound and wake up other drivers

Here are some pics:

loaded into the boot and behind seats

stock system

The garage taking their own photos for their website

Tanabe rear end

Side view (first trip into the countryside to try to endear the girlfriend to it...no luck)

side view close up

Just washed

I hope all this helps anyone who's interested. I have got a few vids but I don't know how to blur out the number plates and the camera really doesn't pick up the sound all that well. I did interior and exterior stock vs Tanabe sound comparisons, a warm start rev comparison and a couple of drive-bys. If anyone knows any good and preferably free video editing software I'll put the vids up too.

You're welcome Scotty. Mine is sat nicely in my garage to be put back on in 2 years (if i sell my beloved Z). The Tanabe should fetch a few quid.

I was surprised to see that there was some evidence of rust on the stock system when I put it in the garage.

Get the vidup mate. I just imported and got the Tanabe touring medallion fitted to my 370Z last week and love it. I'm always interested to hear other people's exhausts on the Zeds.

Any details on the lakes meet yet or am I missing something? I want to give my new exhaust a good run!

My Z wouldn't even get 3 metres in 1inch of snow. Seriously... TTS drivers were laughing! I got a month metro pass in December.

I'm fairly new to this forum but like most people I acknowledge that the 370z needs a better soudning exhaust. After scrawling through pages of info and videos I have narrowed my list down but most have to ordered and imported from US.

Should any CBE exhaust fit a UK RHD Z? I read somewhere and heard from the writer of 370zexhaust.com that all systems should fit RHD cars and it's only the headers that won't be interchangeable.

I know the Stillen, Akrapovic and HKS Super Sound Master and Hipower fit but should I be worried about buying one? Having never heard another 370Z with aftermarket system I am only able to go off videos. I'm really keen on the Tanabe Touring Medallion but again I'm worried it might not fit despite being a Japanese company it seems only possible to buy it from US and so I'm wondering if it'll fit.

Does anyone know if they/it will fit???? HELP! And if so can anyone get hold of a Tanabe at a good price?

I've spent long enough looking... it's time to make the car sound the way it should.

Thanks in advance guys.

Looks amazing. I'd love to hear one. Get some pics and vids up mate!

Sounds great from what i can tell. Have you any more vids of the stillen on your 40th anni model. You're in Scarborough! Next time I'm down your way I'm tempted to beg you to have a look and listen to directly compare it to my stock Black Ed. Or do you ever attend any meets?

Can I as MBS where you got your exhaust from?

Cheers

I'm in the same boat. Really want to get a new exhaust without bankrupting myself. My favourite in terms of looks and sound is the Tanabe touring medalion. It has a low 'hum' without and rasp and it sounds exotic IMO.

I don't want tips that are any smaller than stock and I'd want them rolled (which means only akrapovic, stillen, S-tune, tanabe) and not BLUE burnt tip. The only place i can find that does the Tanabe exhaust is tokyoexpress.co.uk but no reply over phone or email! So from USA it looks to be about £740 to buy and £190 for delivery... not to mention any import duty. (?)

There are other companies like Scorpion which seem good value but no real idea of what they sound like and the quality... and also the tips are smaller than stock. Has anyone got any experience of these on their 370z?

Akrapovic looks good but is outrageously expensive at £800 for the axle-back exaust and £500 extra for even the titanium tips! And it's a gamble because there are no vids of only the axle back exhaust on the net.

What do people think or advise? Is importing from US a realistic option?

How does stillen compare for price and sound? It's hard to find vids that are just the exhaust as most Americans seem to place headers, intakes sports cats or test pipes so the sound is a complete mix.

Sunderland DFS will be fine. Is that just off the Sunderland highway/A1231 at North Hylton? Just the 4 of us?

I'm a Z newbie so am looking forward to meeting some guys who are as enthusiastic about their cars as me, if not even more so. Assuming that a car meet ain't too girlfriend friendly I'll probably try dropping her off at the shops before I pop down in order to keep her little face happy... yeah, not normally under the thumb by the way but I've been in the dog house recently and any mention of cars or my future plans for tuning gets her annoyed!

Hope for no rain!! Oh, and Im assuming a car wash is a requirement?!

Are Newbies welcome on the 27th?

I should be free 27th yeah.

Again depending on date and time i'd be up for comin along to meet a few people

I know I should get an exhaust. Oh but which one though?!

I don't want to spend a fortune and it's hard to make a comparison of looks (I still want it to look stock) and sound. Akrapovic is supposed to be top-end, like Stillen and HKS but I have no idea. A tuning company near me recommended Scorpion as a good cheaper option and Akra, but they would buy in any I wanted. What about this??

http://www.agencypower.co.uk/product_in ... s-catbacks

It sounds great and isn't going to break the bank. I noticed this looks like a dual system or am I wrong?

Sorry I realise I'm in danger of hijacking a thread about CF bumpers here! Its just the first time I've seen an akrapovic exhaust on a Z other than on their actual website.

Looks awesome. Been thinking about the Akrapovic myself but was wondering if from a financial point of view if the 'slip-on' exhaust rather than the full Evo would be good.

A dealer in Newcastle tried to sell me a black 40th anniversary edition, number 13. I nearly bought it (if they'd given me a decent price for my previous car in part-ex) but I couldn't decide if it was cool to have number 13 or whether it would be bad luck. 13 has since gone... so someone around these parts has it.

In the end I bought number 93 at a different more realistic garage who were actually bothered to sell a Z to me.

I had the same issue, especially with the black edition. my company esure said they agreed it was wrong but it was better to over-insure and so they jjust put it down as 3896. they were aware of the problem

Black... number 93.

Count me in.

Hi guys. I don't know if this meet/drive has already occurred or not but I'd be up for it or the next one... as long as there's no snow like there currently is!

It seems this thread went dead a while ago but please add me to the list... Newcastle upon Tyne

Because I have a Black Edition I wanted a black badge. From this angle it doesn't look great. Still not decided on keeping it but since the OEM Nissan one was started to lose black from the lettering I think it looks better than that.

To get the old badge off I used a blunt heated up knife rested on tissue paper to protect the paint and then i getle levered off the badge but it took a while and some faffing.

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Since doing this I thought about buying the same badge but in silver, and painting everything but the Small silver 'Z' so that a small Z is all that is seen.