GR86 Exhausts

[Lauren]

This is the weld on mine, don't have welding experience so opinions welcome
View attachment 12523

Not great is it? Think it's because Milltek Mig weld rather than Tig welding like Cobra do. Tig welding is harder but has advantages. I admit I am not a welding expert! My view is based on going through 4 Milltek exhausts where all of them cracked where the pipe went into the rear silencer. Loved the sound of the Milltek, the quality of their welding, less so.

From Google: 'MIG is generally seen as being easier to learn and perform as well as being faster and better for welding thick materials. However, TIG welding offers greater control and precision, is better for thinner materials and offers neater welds with little finishing required.'

And another which is specific to car exhausts: 'TIG-welding produces less brittle, precision welds, which are lighter, stronger, more accurate and durable. With an intricate product such as an exhaust system, TIG-welding is by far the best solution in terms of quality and aesthetics.'

 

[WpR]

Not great is it? Think it's because Milltek Mig weld rather than Tig welding like Cobra do. Tig welding is harder but has advantages. I admit I am not a welding expert! My view is based on going through 4 Milltek exhausts where all of them cracked where the pipe went into the rear silencer. Loved the sound of the Milltek, the quality of their welding, less so.

From Google: 'MIG is generally seen as being easier to learn and perform as well as being faster and better for welding thick materials. However, TIG welding offers greater control and precision, is better for thinner materials and offers neater welds with little finishing required.'

And another which is specific to car exhausts: 'TIG-welding produces less brittle, precision welds, which are lighter, stronger, more accurate and durable. With an intricate product such as an exhaust system, TIG-welding is by far the best solution in terms of quality and aesthetics.'

I know someone who welds, I guess when it breaks I'll have him fix it instead of going through the warranty hassle, maybe to have the same issue again after a while.

 

[Lauren]

I know someone who welds, I guess when it breaks I'll have him fix it instead of going through the warranty hassle, maybe to have the same issue again after a while.

I reckon that it's a bit mileage dependent. When I had Milltek on my GT86 I was doing 25K a year or so. They'd tend to last 20K or so, though I did get 40K out of one of them. Mine were supplied by RRG Macclesfield so they sorted out the warranty claim each time. In the end they opted to no longer sell them because of the cracking issue. Many others just get their's re-welded which is not that difficult or particularly costly.

I reckon a lot of owners who don't do high miles will fair better simply through lack of use. I wonder if that's what Milltek bank on? If you Google Milltek exhausts cracking it is a common problem unfortunately.

 

[WpR]

Just made the videos but they are utterly useless, sorry..

Apparently you need a really good microphone and wind filter to capture these sounds. I'm ashamed of the quality but I'll post it anyway, I didn't spend much time in editing. Doesn't sound anywhere near as deep as it really sounds like. You can hardly hear the pop/bang around 2:29. The Milltek videos are even worse with the wind noise.
Anyway, I might record them again but I need an external microphone then.

I suggest turning up the volume with good speakers or a headset for the most "realistic" sound and ignore the wind noise haha

 

[Gari]

Just made the videos but they are utterly useless, sorry..

Apparently you need a really good microphone and wind filter to capture these sounds. I'm ashamed of the quality but I'll post it anyway, I didn't spend much time in editing. Doesn't sound anywhere near as deep as it really sounds like. You can hardly hear the pop/bang around 2:29. The Milltek videos are even worse with the wind noise.
Anyway, I might record them again but I need an external microphone then.

I suggest turning up the volume with good speakers or a headset for the most "realistic" sound and ignore the wind noise haha

Sounds great, and still a better advert for it than Milltek's own video showing off the resonated(!?) version.

 

[PVGR]

Update on my original post: https://www.gr-zoo.com/threads/electric-blue-2.2832/post-50074


Now with sound track and full review of my APEXi N1-X Evolution Extreme Exhaust.

Install was straightforward with trolley jack and stands.

Here are the figures:

So you may look at this and think the increase is weedy - 13-16% average across idle and revving but this doesn't tell the story - this is sound pressure only.

To quote @beorg: “Just a note on the % difference for noise figures.
Decibels are measured on a logarithmic scale, so any increase of 10 dB results in roughly double the perceived loudness increase.”

My impressions are that it is not only louder but deeper and more interesting - the standard tone is flat and tinny - this is warm, rounded and bassy.

However as you may see from the data this doesn't really translate into the cabin – but you absolutely hear the tone difference in the cabin, particularly at low revs which is really nice.

Some reviews have mentioned zero motorway drone – in my experience this isn’t quite true – it’s definitely alot less than any aftermarket exhaust I’ve had – but of course the tone is increased on the motorway over stock, particularly when accelerating.

I took some videos but can’t be arsed with the faff of editing so if you want the audio PM me and I'll send, it's only like 2mb.

So overall I think it’s fabulous, quality seems very high, and will take the car from basically sounding like an EV to an actual sports car without blowing your head off, lovely warm, rounded bassy tones.

P.S For those curious about the GPF effect - i think it's minimal as my figures and sounds closely match those recorded in the US on this excellent review video: FT Speed Review

Let me know you think!

 

[Conscript]

It sounds pretty good but dear lord.....eighteen-hundred and forty-nine pounds.

:O

 

[Gari]

It sounds pretty good but dear lord.....eighteen-hundred and forty-nine pounds.

:O

And the AWE is £1599, I'm noticing an expensive trend for these parts!

 

[Conscript]

That's not much less than I paid for the Ace header and Cobra hi-flow CAT on my old car.
No doubt it's a good product, but that's a lot of wedge for a catback. Have a feeling you're right about that being the trend though, especially with not a big market of cars in the UK for suppliers to sell to.

 

[PVGR]

It sounds pretty good but dear lord.....eighteen-hundred and forty-nine pounds.

:O

Worth it! I figure it will stay on the car for its entire time with me so over that period pretty reasonable.
Also was precisely what I was looking for, nothing else did it for me.

Alot of the cost is import and shipping sadly.

 

[Conscript]

Worth it! I figure it will stay on the car for its entire time with me so over that period pretty reasonable.
Also was precisely what I was looking for, nothing else did it for me.

Alot of the cost is import and shipping sadly.

Yeah, I imagine. I think I will wait and see if we get any more options coming to market. So far I think it's this of the HKS Hi-Spec 2 which are main contenders for me. I thought about the AWE Touring, but it's far too loud for my taste.

 

[LukeC22]

Yeah, I imagine. I think I will wait and see if we get any more options coming to market. So far I think it's this of the HKS Hi-Spec 2 which are main contenders for me. I thought about the AWE Touring, but it's far too loud for my taste.

The HKS is the one that I would like, as it's one of the only ones to bring a higher pitched sound but I can't bring myself to spend so much on an exhaust (especially after PPF)

Edit: On second inspection, the APEXi does sound good too!

 

[Gari]

Now that's more like it! Great pricing from Milltek.

 

[Conscript]

Tempting. But I think the unresonated is a tad too loud and the resonated barely any more audilbe than stock (listening to the official Milltek videos).
Also, as Lauren said....quality is a concern with Milltek. I never owned one, but I read about them being notorious for cracked welds with the GT86.

 

[RDMsport]

Now that's more like it! Great pricing from Milltek.
View attachment 13219

Looks like they've just carried over the GT86 parts. Its the same part number.

 

[Conscript]

I have got myself a Spec L II

I just spotted this post. Have you fitted it? If so...how is it? And where did you purchase from?

I think the Spec L II is current favourite for me at the moment. Was bored yesterday and found a few good videos.
First one is Japanese, shows installation, but then good comparisons with stock (and then also something about some interior parts). Start at 4.00 to avoid installation and annoying music/voiceover:


Then there's this guy with a BRZ. Cold start video and also a good interior video of the car being driven.





Based on these, think it's my favourite contender so far. Seems to have a nice tone, not too loud or obnoxious (especially on cold start), and looks to be good quality. Only downsides are the price and the fact that there's only two options for tips - burnt titanium or carbon fibre. Think I'd prefer a plain steel tip tbh.

But yeah @WWGR86, I'd really like to get your feedback on it if you don't mind!

 

[LukeC22]

I just spotted this post. Have you fitted it? If so...how is it? And where did you purchase from?

I think the Spec L II is current favourite for me at the moment. Was bored yesterday and found a few good videos.
First one is Japanese, shows installation, but then good comparisons with stock (and then also something about some interior parts). Start at 4.00 to avoid installation and annoying music/voiceover:


Then there's this guy with a BRZ. Cold start video and also a good interior video of the car being driven.





Based on these, think it's my favourite contender so far. Seems to have a nice tone, not too loud or obnoxious (especially on cold start), and looks to be good quality. Only downsides are the price and the fact that there's only two options for tips - burnt titanium or carbon fibre. Think I'd prefer a plain steel tip tbh.

But yeah @WWGR86, I'd really like to get your feedback on it if you don't mind!

I couldn’t agree with you more; for me, the HKS Spec L II is by far the best sounding exhaust that fits with the sports car style.
I keep eyeing one up but can’t justify the cost (yet).

 

[Gari]

I wish the HKS didn't have the step down in diameter for the tips...

 

[Conscript]

I couldn’t agree with you more; for me, the HKS Spec L II is by far the best sounding exhaust that fits with the sports car style.
I keep eyeing one up but can’t justify the cost (yet).

Indeed, it has that nice sports car pitch to it, it seems like. I'm just trying to do a bit more research as there's a few people on the US forums saying it still drones a bit, which I'd like to avoid; but unclear whether they are referring to the L Spec 1 or 2. Which is why I'd like to get WWGR86's take on it before buying.

Found another video, but this is with a UEL header (I guess catless) so not a fair comparison if you're just looking for a catback upgrade. Worth a post anyway.

 

[Swizzle]

how high did you need to get the car to reach the post cat bolts? I'm planning to go low rise trolley jack straight to the diff casing and axle stands as high as they'll go, will this be high enough?