Cat-back exhaust review: RS*R Exmag
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Product Cost
Retail Price: $465-609 (shipped)
Additional Hardware: None
Shipping Cost: Some shops include shipping in cost
Install time: Approximately 1-2 hours
Tools Required: (Air gun/ratchet, or) various sockets and wrenches, an acetylene torch (if the bolts holding your oem b-pipe to the catalytic converter won't budge), and possibly a breaker bar.
Product Info
Sleek in design, this exhaust systems jet-black coating hides the SUS409 stainless steel muffler and piping behind the well known. Each ExMag system is custom tailored for each application. The ExMag muffler can be either a straight through, loop or chambered design.
The ExMag's quiet, refined tone coupled with the performance gains found in an aftermarket system creates an exhaust system perfectly designed for the street. By bolting up an ExMag system to your vehicle, you immediately notice the gains in HP, torque and throttle response. It does not take a loud exhaust system to produce the power that you are looking for, and the ExMag is evidence to that.
Contents of exhaust kit:
- ceramic coated, mild stainless b-pipe, ceramic coated mild stainless muffler with polished exhaust tip.
- b-pipe to cat metal gasket and b-pipe to muffler metal gasket
- nuts (I think)
Install Notes
Had the Exmag installed at the dealer, but helped with the installation. Removing the 3 bolts holding the OEM b-pipe to the catalytic converter required extreme heat from an acetylene torch (muffler shops and dealers alike have these), using a standard butane torch, I was not able to heat the nuts enough to loosen them.
There are many who said to properly fit this VTEC exhaust onto their Si, they had to slightly widen the 3 bolt holes on the b-pipe flange in order for it to properly mate to the catalytic converter, however I found this was not necessary when I bolted the b-pipe to the cat. From what
I have read though, the modificaion is minor, and can be done with a dremel or similar type of tool. Hanging the b-pipe was easy, and the hangers all met perfectly with those coming from the car's undercarriage. To properly hang the muffler however, one hanger, closest to the rear pass. wheel had to be bent down a bit with a breaker bar. This was done for two reasons: the muffler's hanger could reach the rubber bushing on the car's hanger, and also the lower control arm was close, if not in contact with the pipe running into the muffler (while this was done on a hoise at maximum wheel extension, the possibility of contact being made was a risk not worth taking). Other than that, the exhaust mounted up fine. Once again, the aforementioned modification may not be necessary.
First Impressions
If you live in a cold-climate area that experiences snowfall and where salt is necessary to keep the roads dry, this exhaust is ideal because on top of being constructed of mild stainless steal, it is also ceramic coated. On top of the quality construction, this exhaust is incredibly quiet, but not to the point where you'll miss any exhaust note whatsoever. I've noticed over time that my Exmag has evolved from a quiet child to a somewhat grumpy teenager, and is thusly slightly louder with a little more bass to it's low RPM note. No traffic citations here though, and certainly no silencer required: if you're looking for an exhaust that'll both free up restriction (the piping-diameter is 60mm) but also keep the noise down, an exhaust that'll be comfortable for long highway trips but also be heard when you open the throttle up, this exhaust is ideal for you. Honestly, I hear my AEM intake more at wide-open throttle than I do the exhaust, but at idle when I quickly tap the gas pedal, I can hear the Exmag growl.
Final Notes
Quality construction, exactly what you'd expect from a part made in Japan. I have been very happy with this exhaust, while I do desire a bit more of a growl from it, I think the quietness of this exhaust has really amazed me to no end. I've had it on for about 8 months, and have found no nicks in the ceramic coating nor and rust on anywhere but the 2 small "RS*R" metal tags welded to the system on the b-pipe and underside of the muffler. One tip I have is to use a chrome polish with as little grit as possible on the tip, while mine still shines wonderfully, I have some small swirl marks from using a $hitty chrome polish. I suppose the only qualm I have with this exhaust is after it heats up, when it begins to cool (slowly at a idle and quickly after the car is shut off), the b-pipe makes a somewhat loud tick-tick-tick-tick noise as the metal contracts -- purely a minor thing though, and this slight imperfection doesn't stop the Exmag from being about as close to perfect as a cat-back can get.
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