I added the Mild 2 Wild exhaust remote to my 08 Z, and the sound is definitely louder in the open mode, but not aggressive enough for my taste. Also, it doesn't sound as good to me as the Borla's on my C5 Z when in the open mode. I'd like to keep the Mild 2 Wild option and replace the stock system with B&B Fusion exhaust with X-pipe. Does anyone have any experience with these mufflers? Any thoughts on the matter is much appreciated.
I listened to a local forum guy's car that had the Fusion. I liked them enough to just buy a set from Tony at MPH. I'm going to install them this weekend. The best way to describe them is this... with valves closed, not much louder than stock & almost no drone (but still a better tone), so the car remains totally usable for long trips & not scaring the neighbors. When you romp on it (or flip the switch to open the valves) the sound gets much more aggressive. Overall, the sound is more muscular than stock either way. The stock system has a rather poor tone outside the car to me, the B&B has a much better growl. It's also the only one I found that has the valves like stock to give you a choice.
I listened to a local forum guy's car that had the Fusion. I liked them enough to just buy a set from Tony at MPH. I'm going to install them this weekend. The best way to describe them is this... with valves closed, not much louder than stock & almost no drone (but still a better tone), so the car remains totally usable for long trips & not scaring the neighbors. When you romp on it (or flip the switch to open the valves) the sound gets much more aggressive. Overall, the sound is more muscular than stock either way. The stock system has a rather poor tone outside the car to me, the B&B has a much better growl. It's also the only one I found that has the valves like stock to give you a choice.
Thanks for your opinion. I've been a little afraid of buying B&B's since my last experience with them was not good. I bought a set of their PRT's for my '99 C5 convertible because they had a nice note and were advertised as having no drone at cruise. The drone with the top up was unbearable. That's why I've switched to Borla's. I probably will take a chance on the Fusion's because they are the only ones that make a unit like the OE system.
Are you going to do any other mods to your exhaust,e.g., headers, X-pipe, or hi-flo cats?
Thanks for your opinion. I've been a little afraid of buying B&B's since my last experience with them was not good. I bought a set of their PRT's for my '99 C5 convertible because they had a nice note and were advertised as having no drone at cruise. The drone with the top up was unbearable. That's why I've switched to Borla's. I probably will take a chance on the Fusion's because they are the only ones that make a unit like the OE system.
Are you going to do any other mods to your exhaust,e.g., headers, X-pipe, or hi-flo cats?
I'm not going to do headers, as I don't want to do anything to kill the emissions here in CA. If someone would come up with a CARB approved header & cat setup, I probably would. I did get an X-pipe so we'll see how they sound together. The guy's car I listened to didn't have an X-pipe so mine will have a slightly different tone (probably better for my taste).
I'm not going to do headers, as I don't want to do anything to kill the emissions here in CA. If someone would come up with a CARB approved header & cat setup, I probably would. I did get an X-pipe so we'll see how they sound together. The guy's car I listened to didn't have an X-pipe so mine will have a slightly different tone (probably better for my taste).
How does the X-Pipe sound? any more HP? feel any difference? hear any difference? I'm up in the air on the X-Pipe. i ordered it, then cancelled my order b/c so many people told me it "qiets" down the exhaust? Why woul I want to do that after getting the Fusions for that in the first place??? thanks
I have had my fusions on my Z for obout three months..and..i..love..them. if you are trying to decide on the reason to turn them on or off this this IS the best system. Note, on the mild side it is a little louder than the stock "wild side"but since you have had the borla's i see why it would be a hard choice. the B&B's a very good, distinctive sound,IMO. you won't loose.
How does the X-Pipe sound? any more HP? feel any difference? hear any difference? I'm up in the air on the X-Pipe. i ordered it, then cancelled my order b/c so many people told me it "qiets" down the exhaust? Why woul I want to do that after getting the Fusions for that in the first place??? thanks
Installed my Fusions last weekend.. BTW, there are 2 generations of Fusions! Gen 1 was on the other forum members car that I originally listened to & they are quieter than Gen 2 (Gen 1 is barely louder than stock with valves closed, but has a nice growl when open). The Gen 2's (like I just bought) are a fair bit louder!!! I put an x-pipe on with mine for a little extra power & to change the character of the exhaust a bit (but not the B&B one, as B&B's price for an x-pipe was a lot more expensive than others). The x-pipe only does a tiny little bit of quieting, it mostly changes the tone & burble. I remember once Katech said an x-pipe adds 12hp, so that's good enough for me.
As to sound, in my opinion, for a street driven car, the Gen 2 Fusions are as loud as anyone could possibly want or stand, unless you want to go deaf and don't have to worry about waking all your neighbors!!! Even though my car has very little drone, after an hour long drive back from going out tonight my ears were slightly ringing when I got home! How can people say this isn't loud enough?!?! After getting home my daughter even said my car is extremely loud but sounds good. Anyone that wants a louder exhaust would get a ticket where I live, guaranteed. Heck, I float the throttle when I drive by a cop now as it's loud enough to where I worry. It sounds very good, but I'm going to put 2 small resonators in the x-pipe to take the edge off.
Bottom line is, it's plenty loud, sounds good & gives you a quiet/loud mode. But expect a fair increase in SPL.
Installed my Fusions last weekend.. BTW, there are 2 generations of Fusions! Gen 1 was on the other forum members car that I originally listened to & they are quieter than Gen 2 (Gen 1 is barely louder than stock with valves closed, but has a nice growl when open). The Gen 2's (like I just bought) are a fair bit louder!!! I put an x-pipe on with mine for a little extra power & to change the character of the exhaust a bit (but not the B&B one, as B&B's price for an x-pipe was a lot more expensive than others). The x-pipe only does a tiny little bit of quieting, it mostly changes the tone & burble. I remember once Katech said an x-pipe adds 12hp, so that's good enough for me.
As to sound, in my opinion, for a street driven car, the Gen 2 Fusions are as loud as anyone could possibly want or stand, unless you want to go deaf and don't have to worry about waking all your neighbors!!! Even though my car has very little drone, after an hour long drive back from going out tonight my ears were slightly ringing when I got home! How can people say this isn't loud enough?!?! After getting home my daughter even said my car is extremely loud but sounds good. Anyone that wants a louder exhaust would get a ticket where I live, guaranteed. Heck, I float the throttle when I drive by a cop now as it's loud enough to where I worry. It sounds very good, but I'm going to put 2 small resonators in the x-pipe to take the edge off.
Bottom line is, it's plenty loud, sounds good & gives you a quiet/loud mode. But expect a fair increase in SPL.
I heard that they were tweaked a bit... congrats on the sound. BTW: where do you get the resonators>
I heard that they were tweaked a bit... congrats on the sound. BTW: where do you get the resonators>
I figure there's at least 3 options on the resonators...
1) B&B PRT center section (but maybe more $$ than it's worth?)
2) Vibrant performance resonators (straight thru bottle type)
3) Custom local exhaust shop that makes their own
I'm checking the $$ on #1 and will probably choose #3 this wknd if I don't like the cost of the PRT center.
Installed my Fusions last weekend.. BTW, there are 2 generations of Fusions! Gen 1 was on the other forum members car that I originally listened to & they are quieter than Gen 2 (Gen 1 is barely louder than stock with valves closed, but has a nice growl when open). The Gen 2's (like I just bought) are a fair bit louder!!! I put an x-pipe on with mine for a little extra power & to change the character of the exhaust a bit (but not the B&B one, as B&B's price for an x-pipe was a lot more expensive than others). The x-pipe only does a tiny little bit of quieting, it mostly changes the tone & burble. I remember once Katech said an x-pipe adds 12hp, so that's good enough for me.
As to sound, in my opinion, for a street driven car, the Gen 2 Fusions are as loud as anyone could possibly want or stand, unless you want to go deaf and don't have to worry about waking all your neighbors!!! Even though my car has very little drone, after an hour long drive back from going out tonight my ears were slightly ringing when I got home! How can people say this isn't loud enough?!?! After getting home my daughter even said my car is extremely loud but sounds good. Anyone that wants a louder exhaust would get a ticket where I live, guaranteed. Heck, I float the throttle when I drive by a cop now as it's loud enough to where I worry. It sounds very good, but I'm going to put 2 small resonators in the x-pipe to take the edge off.
Bottom line is, it's plenty loud, sounds good & gives you a quiet/loud mode. But expect a fair increase in SPL.
Are there any sound clips posted that I can listen to before deciding on which exhaust to buy ? I am leaning toward the Borla system but the Fusion system may be the best of both worlds . Thanks
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2007 2LZ Velocity Yellow ZO6 - stock for now .
2006 Z-51 A6 Black/Black , Dynotech Engineering intake/ head/cam upgrade . Headers and Borla exhaust . 3.15 stage 3 rear differential with HP computer tuning . 437 rwhp / 411 rwtq .
I had my Fusions installed today, and the drone (with the stock H pipe) is absolutely unbearable! Has anyone done this, and then decided to add the X-Pipe? It's really ridiculous... and I like a little drone. I'm so upset with the sound currently... I hope the X-Pipe will fix it... sounds so good on YouTube!
I had my Fusions installed today, and the drone (with the stock H pipe) is absolutely unbearable! Has anyone done this, and then decided to add the X-Pipe? It's really ridiculous... and I like a little drone. I'm so upset with the sound currently... I hope the X-Pipe will fix it... sounds so good on YouTube!
I think you're probably in the same boat I was. Got the Fusions on and was OK with the sound around town with the windows down, but it got a little annoying with them up. Then when I took it on the fwy it was pretty darned annoying. Actually gave us a headache on our 1st fwy trip. I would use 5th gear on the fwy just to keep the revs up & reduce the droning!
I wound up adding the PRT center resonator section. It helped a lot. Now it's very liveable & mellow with the valves closed, and almost no drone (just a little on the fwy at certain RPM's, but not enough to be annoying). It still has a good bark with the valves open too. Bad thing is, the PRT section has some fitment issues. B&B uses a non-stock style flat flange plate that's much larger than the stock stamped one. I had to grind down the tops of the flanges to try & keep it from hitting the tunnel plate as the engine rocked around under load & add some rubber travel limiters. Man was that annoying... I'll have to see if it's really cured or not on a longer drive. I relayed my feedback to them & suggested they change to stock style flanges. If they did that there would be no issue.
Good news is, the sound is pretty much perfect now...
I think you're probably in the same boat I was. Got the Fusions on and was OK with the sound around town with the windows down, but it got a little annoying with them up. Then when I took it on the fwy it was pretty darned annoying. Actually gave us a headache on our 1st fwy trip. I would use 5th gear on the fwy just to keep the revs up & reduce the droning!
I wound up adding the PRT center resonator section. It helped a lot. Now it's very liveable & mellow with the valves closed, and almost no drone (just a little on the fwy at certain RPM's, but not enough to be annoying). It still has a good bark with the valves open too. Bad thing is, the PRT section has some fitment issues. B&B uses a non-stock style flat flange plate that's much larger than the stock stamped one. I had to grind down the tops of the flanges to try & keep it from hitting the tunnel plate as the engine rocked around under load & add some rubber travel limiters. Man was that annoying... I'll have to see if it's really cured or not on a longer drive. I relayed my feedback to them & suggested they change to stock style flanges. If they did that there would be no issue.
Good news is, the sound is pretty much perfect now...
Same shop that installed my Fusions are cutting out the H crossover and custom welding an X into it... should be the same as an X pipe from B&B or anyone else - right?
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Fusions are the Best way to go!
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