M2 Performance's KCR Exhaust Review (HKS/X02)
I like how the car looks, and the exhaust looks to be of decent quality, but man that passenger tip is screwing with me. Instead of the mounting bolts being like -O- like the driver side, they are like /, more of an angle. And to make it worse, it looks like the slash cut on the tip isn't done so that the longest part is on top. Other than the, the whole setup looks fantastic.
The replica HKS exhausts are T202 stainless.
A guy who deals with China stated this after going over there to visit a few of the factories that make the knock-off parts you see on ebay (exhausts, wastegates, bovs, etc). He also asked the factory if they could make a T304 version of the HKS, and they said yes, but that it would cost over $1k.
T304 stainless costs much more money than T202 stainless (raw material and manufacturing process). T202 is softer than T304, which makes it easier to mandrel bend and polish (that's why all of these ebay exhausts are polished), but it is less durable and more susceptible to corrosion (rust) than T304.
I own an X02 exhaust (bought used for $300). It has about 8k miles on it (6K when I bought it). No complaints, no corrosion (but I live in the desert). I could definetely feel a gain in HP, especially at the top end. I've seen dynos of this clone making 9-10 hp from 5k to redline.
I also have a 5/16 MD spacer (legit +10whp), and would say the gain of the exhaust is comparable to the spacer (exhaust went on after the spacer).
There are plenty of dynos in Las Vegas, but haven't dynoed my car, so don't have any hard data to add.
My cousin has the CXLighting version of this exhaust on his G35 coupe (bought new about 6 months ago). He loves it too.
Installation on both exhausts went very smooth.
I'm not under any misconception that this exhaust will last the life of the car, but for the price and performance, it's difficult to beat.
However, if you encounter salt (on the road or in the air), your $500 ebay exhaust may have a short lifespan.
And the reason why all of these ebay ads are proclaiming that their exhaust is T304 is that:
Many JDM companies have their parts manufactured in China. Very few JDM parts are actually made in Japan. Most of the knockoffs are made in the exact same factories, on the exact same jigs, by the exact same personnel that make the real parts.
BTW, all of the tips have the retaining screw mounted at a slight angle (but the OP's passenger side tip is really crooked. Nothing a drill and a few minutes can't fix though).
A guy who deals with China stated this after going over there to visit a few of the factories that make the knock-off parts you see on ebay (exhausts, wastegates, bovs, etc). He also asked the factory if they could make a T304 version of the HKS, and they said yes, but that it would cost over $1k.
T304 stainless costs much more money than T202 stainless (raw material and manufacturing process). T202 is softer than T304, which makes it easier to mandrel bend and polish (that's why all of these ebay exhausts are polished), but it is less durable and more susceptible to corrosion (rust) than T304.
I own an X02 exhaust (bought used for $300). It has about 8k miles on it (6K when I bought it). No complaints, no corrosion (but I live in the desert). I could definetely feel a gain in HP, especially at the top end. I've seen dynos of this clone making 9-10 hp from 5k to redline.
I also have a 5/16 MD spacer (legit +10whp), and would say the gain of the exhaust is comparable to the spacer (exhaust went on after the spacer).
There are plenty of dynos in Las Vegas, but haven't dynoed my car, so don't have any hard data to add.
My cousin has the CXLighting version of this exhaust on his G35 coupe (bought new about 6 months ago). He loves it too.
Installation on both exhausts went very smooth.
I'm not under any misconception that this exhaust will last the life of the car, but for the price and performance, it's difficult to beat.
However, if you encounter salt (on the road or in the air), your $500 ebay exhaust may have a short lifespan.
And the reason why all of these ebay ads are proclaiming that their exhaust is T304 is that:
- they don't know
- they were lied to by their supplier
- they know the truth and are lying
- they are just doing a copy and paste from another ad and are clueless
Many JDM companies have their parts manufactured in China. Very few JDM parts are actually made in Japan. Most of the knockoffs are made in the exact same factories, on the exact same jigs, by the exact same personnel that make the real parts.
BTW, all of the tips have the retaining screw mounted at a slight angle (but the OP's passenger side tip is really crooked. Nothing a drill and a few minutes can't fix though).
Last edited by beetlejuice; May 29, 2009 at 07:14 PM.
Well the vehicle isnt my DD so it doesnt see rain/snow. Even so i think anyone should take the time to clean their mufflers just like the rest of the car, because even a brand new car can get teh cancer.
I like how the car looks, and the exhaust looks to be of decent quality, but man that passenger tip is screwing with me. Instead of the mounting bolts being like -O- like the driver side, they are like /, more of an angle. And to make it worse, it looks like the slash cut on the tip isn't done so that the longest part is on top. Other than the, the whole setup looks fantastic.
Hey if my exhaust ever gets stolen like my last system, ill have a trademark to look for right? 
The tip on the right does have the longest part at the top!
The replica HKS exhausts are T202 stainless.
A guy who deals with China stated this after going over there to visit a few of the factories that make the knock-off parts you see on ebay (exhausts, wastegates, bovs, etc). He also asked the factory if they could make a T304 version of the HKS, and they said yes, but that it would cost over $1k.
T304 stainless costs much more money than T202 stainless (raw material and manufacturing process). T202 is softer than T304, which makes it easier to mandrel bend and polish (that's why all of these ebay exhausts are polished), but it is less durable and more susceptible to corrosion (rust) than T304.
I own an X02 exhaust (bought used for $300). It has about 8k miles on it (6K when I bought it). No complaints, no corrosion (but I live in the desert). I could definetely feel a gain in HP, especially at the top end. I've seen dynos of this clone making 9-10 hp from 5k to redline.
I also have a 5/16 MD spacer (legit +10whp), and would say the gain of the exhaust is comparable to the spacer (exhaust went on after the spacer).
There are plenty of dynos in Las Vegas, but haven't dynoed my car, so don't have any hard data to add.
My cousin has the CXLighting version of this exhaust on his G35 coupe (bought new about 6 months ago). He loves it too.
Installation on both exhausts went very smooth.
I'm not under any misconception that this exhaust will last the life of the car, but for the price and performance, it's difficult to beat.
However, if you encounter salt (on the road or in the air), your $500 ebay exhaust may have a short lifespan.
And the reason why all of these ebay ads are proclaiming that their exhaust is T304 is that:
Many JDM companies have their parts manufactured in China. Very few JDM parts are actually made in Japan. Most of the knockoffs are made in the exact same factories, on the exact same jigs, by the exact same personnel that make the real parts.
BTW, all of the tips have the retaining screw mounted at a slight angle (but the OP's passenger side tip is really crooked. Nothing a drill and a few minutes can't fix though).
A guy who deals with China stated this after going over there to visit a few of the factories that make the knock-off parts you see on ebay (exhausts, wastegates, bovs, etc). He also asked the factory if they could make a T304 version of the HKS, and they said yes, but that it would cost over $1k.
T304 stainless costs much more money than T202 stainless (raw material and manufacturing process). T202 is softer than T304, which makes it easier to mandrel bend and polish (that's why all of these ebay exhausts are polished), but it is less durable and more susceptible to corrosion (rust) than T304.
I own an X02 exhaust (bought used for $300). It has about 8k miles on it (6K when I bought it). No complaints, no corrosion (but I live in the desert). I could definetely feel a gain in HP, especially at the top end. I've seen dynos of this clone making 9-10 hp from 5k to redline.
I also have a 5/16 MD spacer (legit +10whp), and would say the gain of the exhaust is comparable to the spacer (exhaust went on after the spacer).
There are plenty of dynos in Las Vegas, but haven't dynoed my car, so don't have any hard data to add.
My cousin has the CXLighting version of this exhaust on his G35 coupe (bought new about 6 months ago). He loves it too.
Installation on both exhausts went very smooth.
I'm not under any misconception that this exhaust will last the life of the car, but for the price and performance, it's difficult to beat.
However, if you encounter salt (on the road or in the air), your $500 ebay exhaust may have a short lifespan.
And the reason why all of these ebay ads are proclaiming that their exhaust is T304 is that:
- they don't know
- they were lied to by their supplier
- they know the truth and are lying
- they are just doing a copy and paste from another ad and are clueless
Many JDM companies have their parts manufactured in China. Very few JDM parts are actually made in Japan. Most of the knockoffs are made in the exact same factories, on the exact same jigs, by the exact same personnel that make the real parts.
BTW, all of the tips have the retaining screw mounted at a slight angle (but the OP's passenger side tip is really crooked. Nothing a drill and a few minutes can't fix though).
+1... Just like anything exposed to salt, it will have a shortened life span. Just clean it like the rest of the car and it should last.
Thanks, thats they only thing that bugs me a little also, i just think who ever was welding that day wasnt paying attention to that tip. Oh well no biggie Hey if my exhaust ever gets stolen like my last system, ill have a trademark to look for right? The tip on the right does have the longest part at the top!
Hey if my exhaust ever gets stolen like my last system, ill have a trademark to look for right? The tip on the right does have the longest part at the top!
I work 4/10's at the airport so my car really stood out there. Someone just had been keeping their eye on it and one day i when i got off work, went out to start it and it sounded really loud! I thought to myself "damn, i have one hell of an exhaust leak, ill have to re torque everything when i get home" I started driving and it sounded worse so i pulled over to the gas station and got out and walked to the back and my heart dropped. No exhaust and someone pried the emblems off my oem trunk with a screw driver and scratched the paint all up. They new exactly what tools they needed. They even cut my rubber hangers with a razor blade! I park way the eff out also and they still messed with it 
I work 4/10's at the airport so my car really stood out there. Someone just had been keeping their eye on it and one day i when i got off work, went out to start it and it sounded really loud! I thought to myself "damn, i have one hell of an exhaust leak, ill have to re torque everything when i get home" I started driving and it sounded worse so i pulled over to the gas station and got out and walked to the back and my heart dropped. No exhaust and someone pried the emblems off my oem trunk with a screw driver and scratched the paint all up. They new exactly what tools they needed. They even cut my rubber hangers with a razor blade! I park way the eff out also and they still messed with it
Its NEVER been dynoed.
When I was shopping around for an exhaust, I found this dyno of an HKS clone.
This is not my dyno, nor do I endorse this shop in any way.
Just sharing some info. AFAIK, baseline car was stock, only mod was exhaust.
This is not my dyno, nor do I endorse this shop in any way.
Just sharing some info. AFAIK, baseline car was stock, only mod was exhaust.