M2 Performance's KCR Exhaust Review (HKS/X02)
05-28-2009, 03:01 PM
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M2 Performance's KCR Exhaust Review (HKS/X02)
Well I decided to change out my exhaust system from the Topspeed Pro 1 to the KCR (HKS style) exhaust. I did this because once I installed the MR long tube headers on my G, there was so much rasp, it ruined the sound IMO. So being that my G has always been on a budget build, I decided to go with one of the "more expensive" clones on ebay. The seller has almost 26k feedback responses and a score of 99.1%. You can find the exhaust here. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dual-...Q5fAccessories
Well let me get started. The install went suprisingly smooth. Took about 30-45 minutes. It was a little tedious simply because of all the connections on the whole system. I got everything hanging by a light torque of the bolts, then use a floor jack very gently to help suspend the exhaust off the k-frame and up over the rear sway bar (this is crucial to do otherwise you will have all sorts of metal on metal rattling and misaligned tips). Once everything was in place, I gave all the nuts/bolts a final german torque (goodentite)
Everything fits very very well for the most part (just a 1/4 inch from being perfectly aligned in the factory exhaust slots in the lower rear bumper, but its not even noticiable).
PRO'S $519 SHIPPED! You cannot beat this! All the welds look GREAT!. No pitting, no excessive heating when it was tig welded. The polished stainless looks great and the tips are 10x better looking than the Elohite X02 exhaust. The fitment was almost right on. The sound is amazing None the less! It took out all of the rasp that I had with my Topspeed Pro 1 setup and looks 20x better. So if your running long tubes or test pipes, this is what you want. I am now rasp free! There is virtually no difference between this and HKS Hi Power other than the location of a brackett or 2 and welded caps on the dead chambers. But if you compare this system to the HKS, if you look at the dead chamber above the right muffler on the HKS system, the bracket that stabilizes the muffler with the dead chamber is on the outside, whereas on the KCR its hidden behind it so you don't see it which is all for a cleaner look IMO. Essentially it has the same sound as the HKS, just a little deeper. HKS is a stainless steel exhaust with Titanium tips. KCR is a polished stainless with polished stainless tips, so you will pay quite a bit more for the Ti HKS.
CON'S Very tedious job when it comes to making sure everything is aligned from the Y-Pipe all the way back to the tips, especially where the exhaust goes up and over the sway bar on the passenger side and a close tolerance near the rear differential. I'm a perfectionist so I had to make sure this would align the best as possible so it took some crawling back under the car a few times using a floor jack to suspend the exhaust off the k-frame and align it perfectly at the sway bar location and where the exhaust tips come out the rear. You be the judge and let me know
All in all, let me say, the main reason why I got this exhaust was to get rid of the rasp. The Topspeed Pro 1 only had 1 resonator on it. KCR has 2 and 2 dead chambers. Plus it just looks sick!
I give this exhaust system from KCR (M2 Performance) a 9/10 in terms of build quality, alignment of all components, sound, and looks. I am a very satisfied customer and I would reccomend this exact system over Elohites in terms of quality. If your on a budget like me, I reccomend it over HKS. It's virtually the same exact system, 3/4 of the cost cheaper.
I will post a video within the coming weeks, in the mean time I have provided some pictures of the build quality and alignment. All comments are welcomed!
Well let me get started. The install went suprisingly smooth. Took about 30-45 minutes. It was a little tedious simply because of all the connections on the whole system. I got everything hanging by a light torque of the bolts, then use a floor jack very gently to help suspend the exhaust off the k-frame and up over the rear sway bar (this is crucial to do otherwise you will have all sorts of metal on metal rattling and misaligned tips). Once everything was in place, I gave all the nuts/bolts a final german torque (goodentite)
Everything fits very very well for the most part (just a 1/4 inch from being perfectly aligned in the factory exhaust slots in the lower rear bumper, but its not even noticiable).PRO'S $519 SHIPPED! You cannot beat this! All the welds look GREAT!. No pitting, no excessive heating when it was tig welded. The polished stainless looks great and the tips are 10x better looking than the Elohite X02 exhaust. The fitment was almost right on. The sound is amazing None the less! It took out all of the rasp that I had with my Topspeed Pro 1 setup and looks 20x better. So if your running long tubes or test pipes, this is what you want. I am now rasp free! There is virtually no difference between this and HKS Hi Power other than the location of a brackett or 2 and welded caps on the dead chambers. But if you compare this system to the HKS, if you look at the dead chamber above the right muffler on the HKS system, the bracket that stabilizes the muffler with the dead chamber is on the outside, whereas on the KCR its hidden behind it so you don't see it which is all for a cleaner look IMO. Essentially it has the same sound as the HKS, just a little deeper. HKS is a stainless steel exhaust with Titanium tips. KCR is a polished stainless with polished stainless tips, so you will pay quite a bit more for the Ti HKS.
CON'S Very tedious job when it comes to making sure everything is aligned from the Y-Pipe all the way back to the tips, especially where the exhaust goes up and over the sway bar on the passenger side and a close tolerance near the rear differential. I'm a perfectionist so I had to make sure this would align the best as possible so it took some crawling back under the car a few times using a floor jack to suspend the exhaust off the k-frame and align it perfectly at the sway bar location and where the exhaust tips come out the rear. You be the judge and let me know
All in all, let me say, the main reason why I got this exhaust was to get rid of the rasp. The Topspeed Pro 1 only had 1 resonator on it. KCR has 2 and 2 dead chambers. Plus it just looks sick!
I give this exhaust system from KCR (M2 Performance) a 9/10 in terms of build quality, alignment of all components, sound, and looks. I am a very satisfied customer and I would reccomend this exact system over Elohites in terms of quality. If your on a budget like me, I reccomend it over HKS. It's virtually the same exact system, 3/4 of the cost cheaper.
I will post a video within the coming weeks, in the mean time I have provided some pictures of the build quality and alignment. All comments are welcomed!
Last edited by xxhotelcrazyxx; 05-28-2009 at 04:49 PM.
05-28-2009, 07:29 PM
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Dude. Great pics and write-up. I would like to see a follow-up report on your system, if possible. Maybe, in 10k miles? Also, if you get on a dyno, please post numbas! Your ride looks tight. Cheers!
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05-29-2009, 12:31 AM
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Its not my DD. Its my weekend baby. Probably gets driven 1-2 times a month. I know.... its a car....it needs to be driven.
05-29-2009, 03:31 PM
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So you have the MR LT headers bolted up to the KCR HKS replica?
I'm in for the sound recordings and as always a dyno comparison if possible. From the pictures, the welds look pretty good and everything appears to line up great. Are there silencers in the tips?
Some say the other lower price HKS replicas have thinner piping that add to potential damage and the bee-can sound. Any indication the piping is thinner than the HKS here?
I'm in for the sound recordings and as always a dyno comparison if possible. From the pictures, the welds look pretty good and everything appears to line up great. Are there silencers in the tips?
Some say the other lower price HKS replicas have thinner piping that add to potential damage and the bee-can sound. Any indication the piping is thinner than the HKS here?
05-29-2009, 04:12 PM
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So you have the MR LT headers bolted up to the KCR HKS replica?
I'm in for the sound recordings and as always a dyno comparison if possible. From the pictures, the welds look pretty good and everything appears to line up great. Are there silencers in the tips?
Some say the other lower price HKS replicas have thinner piping that add to potential damage and the bee-can sound. Any indication the piping is thinner than the HKS here?
I'm in for the sound recordings and as always a dyno comparison if possible. From the pictures, the welds look pretty good and everything appears to line up great. Are there silencers in the tips?
Some say the other lower price HKS replicas have thinner piping that add to potential damage and the bee-can sound. Any indication the piping is thinner than the HKS here?
05-29-2009, 05:14 PM
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I see now, thank you! It looks like the bolts on the sides are to adjust tip length.
The eBay listing says it uses T-304. What makes you think it isn't?
The eBay listing says it uses T-304. What makes you think it isn't?
Specification
- T-304 Stainless Steel 2.5" Straight-Thru Design Piping
- Includes Stainless Steel Y-Pipe
- Dual mufflers with 4.5" Titanium Look Burn Tip
- Includes Gaskets and Hardware
Last edited by JMSpeed; 05-29-2009 at 05:20 PM.