HEY! Got HKS knock-off and it actually looks good!
02-18-2009, 09:31 PM
#23
As to your comment on the price of Z's... Don't really see the difference in prices after actually test driving a base the other week. If someone wants to cut corners they're gonna cut corners regardless of the price of the vehicle. Ricer's are everywhere, doesn't matter how much you spend on your car. Case example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibG7N-CGa3U
Looks like an '07 and the vid is posted in '07. Prime example of someone dropping $35k on a vehicle and completely Fing it up.
Just my 2 cents.
02-19-2009, 11:30 AM
#27
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They are all the same dude, my buddy is in China right now and working deals out for product to be shipped here. He is at the factory that makes that exhaust tomorrow. They sell to anybody and everybody and are all made the same.
I'm not saying that just thinking that is the case, I'm telling you with 100% certainty that this is the case because I have dealings in that area. Of course all the guys say they are different, some call it XO2 some make up other names etc.. they are all the same crap. They want you to buy it from so of course they say it's better than the other guy, but in reality they are all buying from the same people in China. Maybe in some cases unknowingly.
It doesn't matter to be honest, if you are happy then everybody is happy. I have been told the quality has changed because of all the complaints so better materials have been used. So some places may be selling the old stuff while other selling newer. They will change and develop the product to be better even if it's from China. They do want happy customers and if they are crap people stop buying, they stop selling and their work to knock it off and make jigs for all the parts, CNC programs for flanges etc is all lost.
I'm not saying that just thinking that is the case, I'm telling you with 100% certainty that this is the case because I have dealings in that area. Of course all the guys say they are different, some call it XO2 some make up other names etc.. they are all the same crap. They want you to buy it from so of course they say it's better than the other guy, but in reality they are all buying from the same people in China. Maybe in some cases unknowingly.
It doesn't matter to be honest, if you are happy then everybody is happy. I have been told the quality has changed because of all the complaints so better materials have been used. So some places may be selling the old stuff while other selling newer. They will change and develop the product to be better even if it's from China. They do want happy customers and if they are crap people stop buying, they stop selling and their work to knock it off and make jigs for all the parts, CNC programs for flanges etc is all lost.
02-19-2009, 08:56 PM
#29
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Always a huge debate about these knocks offs and the real thing..The only thing that gives the knocks a bad name is the rust issue and the ugly tips. I personally bought the CX-Lighting a few months ago and then had the thing Jet Coated in black. Thing looks awesome. I'll get some pics of the exhaust installed on the car. As far as performance, what a difference, car feels so good..Also whats a few hundred dollars if you plan on dropping a turbo in the future; then invest in an expensive exhaust. Bottom line good price, great sound, and great performance
02-20-2009, 02:31 PM
#30
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OK so my buddy in China sent me another email. The material for all these exhaust systems (no matter WHAT the company told you) is Stainless Steel 201. They are NOT 304 stainless.
My buddy who does trade there is gonna get me one and asked them about getting one made in 304 stainless, they said they have not done any with 304 but could for an additional cost. So I think I will have him make one up in 304 for me and sent over with his next trade mission he is on and see how that goes.
Up to this point they have all been made in 201. It's easier to polish because it's softer, cheaper due to less nickel and more plentiful. 201 is only 3-5% Nickel vs 304 which is 8-11% which is why they were rusting for people in wet climates. 201 with 3-5% nickel might be non-magnetic enough to pass as 304 so a simple magnet test may not be enough to tell if its 304 (which is what most car enthusiasts do when trying to see if something is "stainless steel") however 201 is a far inferior grade of stainless to 304.
My buddy who does trade there is gonna get me one and asked them about getting one made in 304 stainless, they said they have not done any with 304 but could for an additional cost. So I think I will have him make one up in 304 for me and sent over with his next trade mission he is on and see how that goes.
Up to this point they have all been made in 201. It's easier to polish because it's softer, cheaper due to less nickel and more plentiful. 201 is only 3-5% Nickel vs 304 which is 8-11% which is why they were rusting for people in wet climates. 201 with 3-5% nickel might be non-magnetic enough to pass as 304 so a simple magnet test may not be enough to tell if its 304 (which is what most car enthusiasts do when trying to see if something is "stainless steel") however 201 is a far inferior grade of stainless to 304.
Last edited by 350z-Jim; 02-20-2009 at 02:38 PM.
02-20-2009, 08:52 PM
#31
OK so my buddy in China sent me another email. The material for all these exhaust systems (no matter WHAT the company told you) is Stainless Steel 201. They are NOT 304 stainless.
My buddy who does trade there is gonna get me one and asked them about getting one made in 304 stainless, they said they have not done any with 304 but could for an additional cost. So I think I will have him make one up in 304 for me and sent over with his next trade mission he is on and see how that goes.
Up to this point they have all been made in 201. It's easier to polish because it's softer, cheaper due to less nickel and more plentiful. 201 is only 3-5% Nickel vs 304 which is 8-11% which is why they were rusting for people in wet climates. 201 with 3-5% nickel might be non-magnetic enough to pass as 304 so a simple magnet test may not be enough to tell if its 304 (which is what most car enthusiasts do when trying to see if something is "stainless steel") however 201 is a far inferior grade of stainless to 304.
My buddy who does trade there is gonna get me one and asked them about getting one made in 304 stainless, they said they have not done any with 304 but could for an additional cost. So I think I will have him make one up in 304 for me and sent over with his next trade mission he is on and see how that goes.
Up to this point they have all been made in 201. It's easier to polish because it's softer, cheaper due to less nickel and more plentiful. 201 is only 3-5% Nickel vs 304 which is 8-11% which is why they were rusting for people in wet climates. 201 with 3-5% nickel might be non-magnetic enough to pass as 304 so a simple magnet test may not be enough to tell if its 304 (which is what most car enthusiasts do when trying to see if something is "stainless steel") however 201 is a far inferior grade of stainless to 304.
02-21-2009, 04:31 AM
#32
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In Georgia 201 will be find you don't have much snow or problems with rusting I would imagine. In a wetter / colder climate we do. Which is why Im trying to get one in 304.
201 makes sense to me now, how could they possibly make it and sell it in full polished 304 for $300 plus shipping and still make money here, and make money in China? The material or workmanship would have to be cheaper to support that. The welds look really nice so where else can they skimp? The tips obviously and 201 which nobody can tell.
It's also more than likely that the place buying the exhaust systems and selling them on ebay don't know they are 201. The company making these does not list them as 201, my friend only found this out by being in China looking at them and was told the material. The worst part for my buddy is he designed a really awesome Honda/Acura traction bar system and that same factory knocked it off and he saw his product being knocked off and sitting on shelves right in front of him. He was pissed. He sent me a photo of it but I better not post it just incase hahah..
03-21-2009, 12:29 PM
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I was thinking about buying this exhaust (X02) for $500, but then I saw on theztore.com that a real tanabe exhaust was $700... So I'm just going to save up a little more money and buy the tanabe's.
03-25-2009, 03:08 PM
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Always a huge debate about these knocks offs and the real thing..The only thing that gives the knocks a bad name is the rust issue and the ugly tips. I personally bought the CX-Lighting a few months ago and then had the thing Jet Coated in black. Thing looks awesome. I'll get some pics of the exhaust installed on the car. As far as performance, what a difference, car feels so good..Also whats a few hundred dollars if you plan on dropping a turbo in the future; then invest in an expensive exhaust. Bottom line good price, great sound, and great performance
03-25-2009, 03:38 PM
#38
I installed my HKS about a week ago. Installation is as straight forward as it can get. You will need deep welled 14mm sockets for removing the OEM mid-pipe and muffler. You will need PB blaster for breaking loose the OEM bolts. You will need WD-40 for the hangars. 2 OEM Nissan gaskets are optional for the Y pipe, my car has 46k miles on it so I decided not to take a chance on the original gaskets leaking. A member on here once said do it once, do it right.
03-25-2009, 10:17 PM
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03-25-2009, 10:32 PM
#40
I'll take you up on that challenge. I raced a brand new GSX-R 1000 (not positive, could have been a 750, definitely not a 600) and he was pissed as hell when he couldn't get ahead of me. On a second run, he started in front of me and i had to get out of it cause i ran him down and was really close to his back tire. I currently have a 2008 Triumph Daytona 675, and my car definitely pulls way harder than the bike.
Anyway, good luck with the exhaust. I'm a firm believer of you get what you pay for. Hopefully you won't have any problems. Nice looking exhaust.