aFe E9x X-Pipe w/GESi EPA Cats Unboxing

[a5m]

aFe MACH Force-Xp X-Pipe 2-1/2 IN 304 Stainless Steel w/ Cat & Resonator

Part Number: 49-36321-1

I wanted to post this once I had it installed, but gained some interest when I shared in another thread that aFe is using GESi 50032 EPA Compliant 300 cell cats that they guarantee will not throw a CEL. So thought I wouldn't delay further and share some unboxing pics.

I had inquired before ordering and aFe told me GESi EPA Compliant 300 cell cats are used in their X-Pipe, which isn't mentioned anywhere on the product page. I recently received my order and am happy to inform they are indeed the stated GESi cats.

Excellent packaging and quality. OEM BMW donut gaskets included, which was a surprise to me. Not a welder but the welds seem excellent to me for a hand-made product. The resonators have no markings on them, so I've reached out to get more info. Interestingly they place them before the X, which I also believe is moved a bit further back than stock? Will confirm once I do a side-by-side comparison. Not sure how that affects anything but they must've done it for a reason.

May be a while before I install this so apologies in advance for no installed pics and sound clips. Maybe somebody else will beat me to it

Thought about ceramic coating it but don't think that would be as beneficial as maybe on a forced induction application.

[CamasM3e93]

Thanks for this. I would have never thought aFe was using a high quality cat on this since they don’t describe it. Always assumed it was a $100 set doomed for rattling failure. I may have to return to this idea. Running on secondary cats is less than ideal.

Ceramic coating of xpipe in this application definitely no benefit unless you want it to be heavier and quieter.

[rotomoto712]

Would there be any issues with this x pipe on a SC application given that the cats are placed in the OEM location?

[a5m]

My pleasure. Figured I'd get the word out since aFe seems uninterested. Will request them again to add the GESi cat info.

They got back about the resonators. It's their own brand; Part # 49M10003.

Yes there was concern with cats melting in stock primary location for track cars. Not sure if a high quality, high flow cat would suffer the same issue. I doubt aFe has tested for that but wouldn't hurt to ask. Will report back.

EDIT: aFe gave a generic response of "I have confirmation from my exhaust team that you should be able to run it with a supercharger". Take that for what it's worth.

[amrazM]

I would not run cats with a blower under any circumstance.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by amrazM

I would not run cats with a blower under any circumstance.

Absolutely this ^

I wouldn't even consider extended spirited driving with them. they'd get way to hot and melt them lol.

especially 'epa' variants that are more restrictive.

the occasional 1-3 wouldn't be a problem, but constantly up in the RPM range in a canyon / track I'd be a bit concerned.

[a5m]

Genuinely curious, have there been a lot of cases of melted cats? I know it happened to SYT, but can't remember what brand the cats were. Unless I'm mistaken they weren't high quality units like HJS or GESi. Stock is the worst of all I assume? Anyone know the specs of the GTS X-Pipe?

[rotomoto712]

I have been running cats on the Harrop setup for over a year with the M3world setup that places the cats further back with no issues. I also drive the car hard and at high speeds for long durations. I think the issue with cats may have more to do with where they are at in the exhaust but I'll let the experts on the matter chime in on that. My only complaint with the M3world setup is that the cats don't reduce the exhaust smell nearly enough, and the cost to have proper HJS or GESI cats installed in my current setup would cost more that this exhaust does, which makes it somewhat intriguing if they would hold up and not potentially damage the motor.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by a5m

Genuinely curious, have there been a lot of cases of melted cats? I know it happened to SYT, but can't remember what brand the cats were. Unless I'm mistaken they weren't high quality units like HJS or GESi. Stock is the worst of all I assume? Anyone know the specs of the GTS X-Pipe?

Pretty sure the GTS/CRT xpipe has either 400cpsi or 300 cpsi cells. They do remove the secondary cats and move the primaries further back. Probably the coolest OEM xpipe cause its a flat cat while moving the cats further downstream.

[omgzirra_exe]

Originally Posted by a5m

Genuinely curious, have there been a lot of cases of melted cats? I know it happened to SYT, but can't remember what brand the cats were. Unless I'm mistaken they weren't high quality units like HJS or GESi. Stock is the worst of all I assume? Anyone know the specs of the GTS X-Pipe?

No, probably not. It mainly has to do with the primary location. As with most things, heat will destroy them, yes. But again, who knows.

I wouldn't track the OEM x-pipe. That's just my thing. But I'm also a firm believer that if you're going forced induction, you should remove the restriction completely.

[wyatth]

Plenty of people track with the stock midpipe, so that seems like a pretty extreme take. I personally have not heard of a failed OE cat. I reckon SYT was using an ESS midpipe. OE cats should be extremely efficient (at their intended purpose) and durable, at the expense of flow/restriction.

[DRLane]

GESI makes cats that are capable of sustaining up to 850hp per exhaust bank, at 300 CPS and EPA complaint.

Which can absolutely handle sustained supercharged track heat. But always best to ask them, I’m just armchair QB.

[Richbot]

Interesting it looks like they've changed the catted xpipe design a bit since I bought my catted unit in 2018. I dunno, been a while. I need to check it out and see if mine are marked next time I'm down there, but I did confirm back then that they were using a 300cell

Never thrown a cat efficiency code, don't have a delete tune, so it's worked out great for me.

[a5m]

Originally Posted by derbo

Pretty sure the GTS/CRT xpipe has either 400cpsi or 300 cpsi cells. They do remove the secondary cats and move the primaries further back. Probably the coolest OEM xpipe cause its a flat cat while moving the cats further downstream.

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View post on imgur.com

So badass. Thanks for the pic. Hard to find exhaust related photos of the GTS. Wonder how restrictive it is though compared to regular E9x.

Originally Posted by Richbot

Interesting it looks like they've changed the catted xpipe design a bit since I bought my catted unit in 2018. I dunno, been a while. I need to check it out and see if mine are marked next time I'm down there, but I did confirm back then that they were using a 300cell

Never thrown a cat efficiency code, don't have a delete tune, so it's worked out great for me.

I remember you mentioning this. That's cool. May be GESi, or just a higher quality cat. Like that aFe has improved rather than cheaping out like some brands *ahem* Evolve *ahem*


Yea I'm not buying this "melting cats" claim. So far only one user had this issue (SYT) and who knows what cats were used. Probably some shitty ones.

I'll reach out to GESi and see, but they make it difficult to reach them by usual means. Last time I filled out some form and somebody called my US # from Canada. Why they'd assume I have international calling and not choose to just email is beyond me.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by a5m

So badass. Thanks for the pic. Hard to find exhaust related photos of the GTS. Wonder how restrictive it is though compared to regular E9x.

Would be curious but being that there are only less than 250 of them in the world, its hard to gauge. I thought it was interesting that its moved downstream and the secondary cats are not present.

[a5m]

Originally Posted by derbo

Would be curious but being that there are only less than 250 of them in the world, its hard to gauge. I thought it was interesting that its moved downstream and the secondary cats are not present.

Yea definitely interesting design. Look like the same cats, just moved further down.

BTW the aFe X-Pipe is on sale for $1788.30.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Plenty of people track with the stock midpipe, so that seems like a pretty extreme take. I personally have not heard of a failed OE cat. I reckon SYT was using an ESS midpipe. OE cats should be extremely efficient (at their intended purpose) and durable, at the expense of flow/restriction.

Yup, it was my ess xpipe. I think someone did some investigating and it used gesi cats, but not sure

I wish this xpipe had a forward x instead

[Richbot]

A) I've tracked mine, but nowhere near as heavily as SYT was tracking at the time, and my car doesn't have aero, doesn't have much in the way of extra power, is a very soft street suspension setup, and I was on 200tw tires every time I've tracked this car except for once or twice (and those times were on the factory cats). That means less time with the send button pushed, my use case isn't the same as SYT's at all

B) It doesn't take much obstruction to cause a hot spot and cascading failure. So if, for instance, they take a curb or speed bump hit and the substrate gets a hard enough whack or is deformed enough to crack and flake off a bit and block a flow path, they can eat themselves.

So caveat tracktor

[alefcole]

Originally Posted by a5m

Yea definitely interesting design. Look like the same cats, just moved further down.

BTW the aFe X-Pipe is on sale for $1788.30.

Is this the same x-pipe but for $1549???

http://https://www.southerncarparts.com/afe-filters-49-36321-mach-force-xp-race-pipe-fits-08-13-m3.html

[a5m]

Originally Posted by alefcole

Is this the same x-pipe but for $1549???

http://https://www.southerncarparts.com/afe-filters-49-36321-mach-force-xp-race-pipe-fits-08-13-m3.html

Yup that's it! Great price if the site is legit and you're getting fresh stock, or else you may get an older non-GESi catted pipe.

[alefcole]

To the OP do you have any leak at the exhaust clamp? If so. How did you fix it. Also has this exhaust triggered any check engine light in your case??

Thank you

[a5m]

Originally Posted by alefcole

To the OP do you have any leak at the exhaust clamp? If so. How did you fix it. Also has this exhaust triggered any check engine light in your case??

Thank you

I haven't installed it yet. Getting two mini mufflers welded in and it then wrapped to reduce rasp/drone so it pairs well with an MPE.

Richbot used these clamps to seal a leak on his. Looks like I'll have to get the same:

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...6&postcount=58



So did you end up buying it from that site for $1549? Did it come with GESi cats? Model # 50032?