Anyone with HFC or Test Pipe regrets?

tcarretti · 01-03-2010, 07:07 PM

I've had my Berk test pipes, as well as my Invidia Gemini exhaust installed for 1200 miles now. At first I thought it was a little too loud, but now I actually enjoy the tone and volume just fine. I'm 47 years old so I'm a little more conservative than I used to be.

I have no discoloration on my bumper, and have even moved the tips further in so that they are about 3/4" from being flush with the bumper and still no discoloration. The smell is not an issue. You can tell a difference, but it is certainly not as bad as some make it out to be.

I have had to reset the ECU four times so far due to the CEL thrown. The first time was at 97 miles after install. Second time was about 245 miles more, third time was after another 450 miles and this last time just at 200 miles. I'm not too worried about this either because at some point I plan on having the car tuned at Uprev and they say that they can permanently disable the secondary O2 sensor reading to the ECU.

At idle and cruise the car almost the same volume as stock. Under mild acceleration it sounds fantastic! At WOT throttle acceleration it is quite loud in the cabin but still maintains a great tone.

All in all I'm very pleased with the exhaust note and that it has increased performance a little.

I hope that this helps.

Tony

G37Sam · 01-03-2010, 07:16 PM

FI Res Test Pipes & Catback here and no regrets whatsoever.. Sounds just way too good

>135I · 01-04-2010, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranceformer

I had a '05 PPW 350z with test pipes, my rear bumper got stained too.

I don't know, maybe because of the color (PG) it doesnt show up?

kannibul · 01-04-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckd05

interesting, maybe I am harder on my gas or the win blows the oposite direction by me, lol jk

I let my car warm up every day 5-10 minutes before i drive it, maybe thats why ? My bro has a 03 350 PW and his bumper turns yellowish too!

Anyone else with test pipes want to give there .02 about this ?

That 5-10 minute warm up I bet had at least a bit to do with it, but that's me speaking without knowing.

semtex · 01-04-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckd05

Test Pipes leave residue all over your bumper, I love the sound/performance, but I am taking Scratch X to my rear bumper once every two weeks to elimate the brown/yellow tint it leaves on my bumper. Im shocked no one ever complains about this..

It does make some rasp but it sounds great imo... I think once i couple it with the stillen exhaust the rasp will go away, just as it did in my old 03 g35 coupe with the greddy evo2 i had on it... not a touch of rasp with the greddy but with stock exhaust there was a ton...

but yes one thing I resent, not regret, is cleaning my rear bumper way more than I should have to, esp with a scratch remover because the brownish tint doesnt come off with just a wash. This is with TEST PIPES, i dont think hfc will do that, or atleast not nearly as much

Chuck, Simple Green will cut right through that crud as well. Just spray it on when you wash your car. That's what I did with my 350, which had Kinetix test pipes. You might find that easier than using ScratchX.

tranceformer · 01-04-2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by >135I

I don't know, maybe because of the color (PG) it doesnt show up?

the tips on the exhaust i had were recessed slightly but stains are unavoidable, just a matter of how bad. black paint really hides the stains the best, white is the worst.

NXTAZEE · 01-04-2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckd05

Test Pipes leave residue all over your bumper, I love the sound/performance, but I am taking Scratch X to my rear bumper once every two weeks to elimate the brown/yellow tint it leaves on my bumper. Im shocked no one ever complains about this..

It does make some rasp but it sounds great imo... I think once i couple it with the stillen exhaust the rasp will go away, just as it did in my old 03 g35 coupe with the greddy evo2 i had on it... not a touch of rasp with the greddy but with stock exhaust there was a ton...

but yes one thing I resent, not regret, is cleaning my rear bumper way more than I should have to, esp with a scratch remover because the brownish tint doesnt come off with just a wash. This is with TEST PIPES, i dont think hfc will do that, or atleast not nearly as much

May I suggest a mild cleaner wax instead of the scratch X. The Scratch X is far too aggressive for that frequent of use. There are many milder options available.

hot_mic_64d · 07-07-2014, 11:42 PM

Mine is white with Beluga resonated TP's. I have no staining after hundreds of miles with them on.

DEpointfive0 · 07-08-2014, 12:18 AM

Test pipes will give you cancer. Be prepared.

shaun66 · 07-08-2014, 01:26 AM

I've been thinking ART pipes, should keep a nice tone. Not to mention they have cancer absorbing resonators.

RoadsterST · 07-08-2014, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaun66

I've been thinking ART pipes, should keep a nice tone. Not to mention they have cancer absorbing resonators.

Art pipes create Rasp unless you buy the complete motordyne exhaust. (Per Tony at Motordyne. The computer design Hurlwitz resonated tubes only work with their system)
I love my ART'S mated with my Ti look, Top Speed exhaust. It's kinda loud, but sounds great to me.

Jordo! · 07-08-2014, 04:27 AM

Get ones with resonators...

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

Test pipes will give everyone else around you cancer. Be prepared.

Fixed

shaun66 · 07-08-2014, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadsterST

Art pipes create Rasp unless you buy the complete motordyne exhaust. (Per Tony at Motordyne. The computer design Hurlwitz resonated tubes only work with their system)
I love my ART'S mated with my Ti look, Top Speed exhaust. It's kinda loud, but sounds great to me.

I have the Motordyne exhaust already so that is why I will probably stick to the art pipes. Even though they are expensive.

NEEZMO · 08-14-2014, 02:44 PM

Obviously the stain is most noticable with white cars. My test pipes stain my bumper very bad. Use Meguiars paint restoration which takes it right off. I have HFC on the way which will hopefully reduce it. The exhaust smell does get annoying at times. I have FI CBE and HFC on the way. Should make my car sound so much smoother although i'll def lose some power going from straight pipes to this

ANMVQ · 08-14-2014, 09:32 PM

I had exoticspeed on my G coupe with FI RHFC'S , loved the sound only regret was selling two weeks after for some nonsense I was dealing with. Kept the cat back installed it on my G sedan and am awaiting my Z1 HFCs to arrive

.

01-03-2010, 07:07 PM	#16 (permalink)
tcarretti Base Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 78 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 15	I've had my Berk test pipes, as well as my Invidia Gemini exhaust installed for 1200 miles now. At first I thought it was a little too loud, but now I actually enjoy the tone and volume just fine. I'm 47 years old so I'm a little more conservative than I used to be. I have no discoloration on my bumper, and have even moved the tips further in so that they are about 3/4" from being flush with the bumper and still no discoloration. The smell is not an issue. You can tell a difference, but it is certainly not as bad as some make it out to be. I have had to reset the ECU four times so far due to the CEL thrown. The first time was at 97 miles after install. Second time was about 245 miles more, third time was after another 450 miles and this last time just at 200 miles. I'm not too worried about this either because at some point I plan on having the car tuned at Uprev and they say that they can permanently disable the secondary O2 sensor reading to the ECU. At idle and cruise the car almost the same volume as stock. Under mild acceleration it sounds fantastic! At WOT throttle acceleration it is quite loud in the cabin but still maintains a great tone. All in all I'm very pleased with the exhaust note and that it has increased performance a little. I hope that this helps. Tony __________________ 2009 BS 6MT Touring - Berk Test Pipes, Invidia Gemini Exhaust

01-03-2010, 07:16 PM	#17 (permalink)
G37Sam A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,507 Drives: RB'd G37 Rep Power: 20	FI Res Test Pipes & Catback here and no regrets whatsoever.. Sounds just way too good __________________ '14 Viper GTS '08 RB'd G37S - Sold

07-07-2014, 11:42 PM	#23 (permalink)
hot_mic_64d Base Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Midland City, AL Posts: 31 Drives: 2013 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 11	Mine is white with Beluga resonated TP's. I have no staining after hundreds of miles with them on. __________________ 2013 Nismo: Litespeed Titanium long tube intake, Uprev tune, Beluga Racing Axel backs, Beluga resonated test pipes, Advant Garde 310's 275's front, 305's rear (no rubbing) (stock ride height).

07-08-2014, 12:18 AM	#24 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	Test pipes will give you cancer. Be prepared. Zoren 370, DavidZ370 and acelesson like this. __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

08-14-2014, 02:44 PM	#29 (permalink)
NEEZMO Base Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Simpsonville, SC Posts: 17 Drives: 2012 Nismo 370z Rep Power: 11	Obviously the stain is most noticable with white cars. My test pipes stain my bumper very bad. Use Meguiars paint restoration which takes it right off. I have HFC on the way which will hopefully reduce it. The exhaust smell does get annoying at times. I have FI CBE and HFC on the way. Should make my car sound so much smoother although i'll def lose some power going from straight pipes to this __________________ 2012 Nismo 370z, Stillen Gen 3 Intake, AAM Short Tail Exhaust, GTM Test Pipes, Uprev Tune. 322whp 289tq

07-08-2014, 01:26 AM	#25 (permalink)
shaun66 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: n Posts: 837 Drives: MB 370z 7AT Rep Power: 16	I've been thinking ART pipes, should keep a nice tone. Not to mention they have cancer absorbing resonators.

08-14-2014, 09:32 PM	#30 (permalink)
ANMVQ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Framingham MA Posts: 2,732 Drives: 2014 Q50 AWD Rep Power: 19	I had exoticspeed on my G coupe with FI RHFC'S , loved the sound only regret was selling two weeks after for some nonsense I was dealing with. Kept the cat back installed it on my G sedan and am awaiting my Z1 HFCs to arrive . __________________ 14 Q50 AWD, ARK, ECUTEK (SEB), Takda,

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Installed Berk Test pipe	>135I	Exterior & Interior	13	09-11-2009 09:04 PM
Measured gains tested from Test Pipe to HFC??	ErnieT	Intake/Exhaust	8	07-18-2009 08:51 PM
Test Pipe Rasp Cure?	CCCLXXZ	Intake/Exhaust	0	07-13-2009 10:00 PM