SStoRX8

Alright so since my cat is nearing the end of its life anyway, I decided I want to buy a catless midpipe. I know that the BHR is obviously the best and the quietest, but I've had my eye on the AP midpipe, the RB seems too loud for me. However, I want to know if anyone has ever tried an eBay midpipe?
Stainless Racing Catted Downpipe Exhaust Catalytic Converter Mazda RX8 SE3P 13B | eBay
I usually never buy "eBay brand" things, although I may but an eBay catback, but for the price I was just curious if anyone has tried it and what kind of experience you had with it.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The cat in that thing will likely burn out quickly. But the cats in the other more expensive pipes burn out quickly as well. So you want catted or non catted? Basically it comes down to fitment and longevity. This may fit like crap and may not last. But it looks good and is made of T304 so i would bet it is at least as good as the AP, Megan, etc.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Two sayings apply here:

You get what you pay for and If you can't afford to do it right, when can you afford to do it over.

A significant portion of owners end up spending quite a bit more than the price of the BHR midpipe in the end, especially the people trying to go cheap at the start.

Your choice of course.

SStoRX8

It says its catted but I read in the description that it contains a resonator, not a cat, I would rather go no cat simply so I don't have to worry about it failing.

And yeah I know what you're saying, it's a lesson I learned the hard way when I had the Cobalt SS, but it was a much more important component that I made the mistake of going cheap with. It's only a matter of about $70 between this midpipe and the AP midpipe, I guess I'd be better off going with the known brand.

paimon.soror

iTrader: (15)

not sure the AP midpipe would be any better to be honest with you.

SStoRX8

In terms of being too loud or being notorious for falling apart?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Raspy at high RPM and drones when cruising. Just like every generic midpipe. Most people can't stand it, including girlfriends, wives, friends, neighbors, etc...

The resonator only limits volume, but does nothing toward making it tolerable to drive.

SStoRX8

Lol my Cobalt used to drone terribly, very nonrestrictive exhaust setup...what matters more to me though is how it is at idle and lower RPMs, I wouldn't want to disturb people in my neighborhood when starting up my car in the morning or driving through. And plus, a catback would get rid of the rasp and drone for the most part correct?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

We are talking OEM catback and OEM header, the rasp and drone are as annoying as f**k.

The rotary itself rasps. There are only 2 things I am aware of that eliminate the rasp from a rotary. One is a catalytic converter, the other is the Moroso spiral resonator (BHR's version is a heavily reinforced one, possibly with a few tweaks). Every other resonator does nothing but reduce the volume at which it rasps. The stock catback is better at reducing rasp volume than aftermarket ones, but not enough to be tolerable. Higher flowing catbacks just make the rasp even louder. An Agency Power midpipe and HKS Hi Power catback (for example) is straight up embarrassing to drive. It sounds like you are attacking a tin shed with a chain saw, from inside the shed. It isn't pleasant in any stretch of imagination. You literally have to enjoy sonic torture to be willing to put up with it.

SStoRX8

Yeah I read about the rasp that a rotary makes, I think you wrote it. Hmm so the BHR midpipe then is really the only midpipe that can suppress rasp and drone? If that's the case then I would rather not have a repeat of my Cobalt, which I was embarrassed to start up in the morning on some days.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

op i have an ap midpipe with their catback. my car is pretty loud but i love it

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes. I try not to come across as a "BHR fanboi", but I've heard, in person, nearly every midpipe out there with various catbacks, and I've driven quite a few combinations. BHR's is the only off-the-shelf* one that can eliminate the cat without also picking up the rasp and drone. Some cheap midpipes have packing that will kill it for a while, but that inevitably burns out under the rotary heat, sometimes in as short as a couple hundred miles.

BHR's is also durable, I put 55-60k on mine before I sold my 8, year round daily driven, and the sound never changed.

If another company wants to produce a midpipe that achieves the same result, I'd add them to the recommended list, but no other company has bothered to.

*I bet someone will show up saying that their custom exhaust hardware does it too, but custom is custom, and you pay for it.


My previous comment stands :p

slvrstreak

iTrader: (3)

I would also recommend the Racing Beat dual resonated midpipe
I had mine for over 30k miles and it was quieter than a brand new BHR midpipe with no drone at all
You can't really compare the two as far as exhaust note though
The BHR pipe allows a more natural engine sound...though the hissing really bothers me
While the RB midpipe has more of a deep throaty growl
I was really impressed with both which is more than I can say about many of the other brands I've used

JamesD31

I love my BHR midpipe, and once they come out with the long-tubed headers, feel free to buy my midpipe . Though, as everyone is saying, save up and buy the right product. Or, what you can try to do, is buy the BHR resonator and weld it into any midpipe you would like.

SStoRX8

Hmm yeah I see what you're saying, I've watched videos of the BHR and you can barely tell that there's an aftermarket midpipe. I might just end up going with the BHR then, thanks for your help
Yeah haha I've watched videos of the RB in action, I wish there was another RX8 around here so I could hear how loud it actually is, it would help. But I may consider the RB as well, thanks
Yeah I might do just that, especially if I plan on getting an eBay catback, I want to quiet it down as much as possible while retaining a nice exhaust note.

JamesD31

You will defiantly be able to tell there is an aftermarket midpipe. I have the BHR married with the TurboXS cat-back, due to the cat-back it makes it loud; but a good loud. I can rawr it when I want, and make the idle purr is a nice one, though it can be too loud at first.

I also have mine catless, enough said with that compared to stock.

SStoRX8

I just hope that the $450 I just spent goes to a nice and quiet midpipe haha, I mean obviously it'll be a little louder, but so long as it's only a little louder it should be fine :P

JamesD31

Do you have it married to any aftermarket cat-back?

SStoRX8

Not yet no, I might in the near future though, maybe after the worst of the winter. Oh and does anyone know how long it usually takes for BHR to ship the midpipe out?

JamesD31

I got mine in just a week or two, if I remember correctly.

SStoRX8

Nice, I hope I get it before it gets too cold lol, working with metal when its 30 degrees out is the worst, I've done it before lol xD

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

so you're saying that you were already deaf *before* you bought that cat-back?

zachgt

Is that you opinion on the exhaust itself or just the combo of an AP midpipe and HKS Hi Power catback?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

The combination.

SStoRX8

So the midpipe hasn't come in yet lol, it just shipped out on Friday, a few more days and it should be here, I hate waiting for new parts xD