Received my cat-back today!

[Schnitzelsemmel]

Hi,

after a long quest for an optimal cat-back exhaust, I chose one by Bastuck, a high-end, high-quality German manufacturer.

As I had some troubles with the tuning shop where I ordered it (forgot about the order etc.), I had to wait nearly one and a half months for the system.

But today, I finally received it. Although the packaging looked quite fucked up, there weren't any issues with dents or bends - the exhaust was covered in nearly 4 pounds of plastic and newspapers!

So, here are the pics:

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/246/spa0116hs6.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spa0116hs6.jpg)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/443/spa0118yr9.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spa0118yr9.jpg)

The tailpipe is slash cut, oval and 120 x 80 mm - does that fit in the Protege's bumper cut-out? (dunno) The piping is 60 mm, and only the canisters and the tailpipe are polished.
Furthermore, the build quality is (nearly) perfect, and the welding seams look very good. A good investment, I dare say.

Next week I'll mount it on the car, and man, I can't await how it'll look and sound!! (ughdance)

So, what do you think of the exhaust?

[Wojtek]

looks good is it all stainless steel?

[Sliver5]

something new, can't wait to hear how it sounds

[FightClubTheory]

Euro, eh? I'm surprised there's an application for the Protege (or is it going to be custom fit?).
It's definitely different.
I'd love to hear how it sounds.

[ProtoType5]

The protege/323/Familia is a globally distributed vehicle...So why would you be surprised that there would be globally manufactured aftermarket parts???

That looks absolutely f-ing badass....the tip will fit perfectly...looks a lot like the MP3 tip....

Are you in Germany??? or Europe?? How much to export to the US??

and please...please..get some sound clips and video...

[InFlames]

sweet, how much was it?

[TreFlip999]

Niiiiice

[Schnitzelsemmel]

Thanks for the feedback!

Yes, it is completely stainless steel-made.

Yes, it was hard to find a European-made exhaust system for the Protege, because I desperately wanted one with complete papers. Without papers, I would have paid much money (and time) for a special permission.
Except for Bastuck there are only 2 other manufacturers in Middle Europe: Remus and Sebring, both from Austria, basically the same and total crap.
I chose the Bastuck rather than a custom-made system, because Bastuck is one of the premier exhaust manufacturers in Europe. I mean, nearly every tuned Beemer over here has such an exhaust on it.

I live in Austria... not an easy country for tuners (smash) I don't know how much it'd cost to ship to the US and A, but I think you could orientate on shipping from Japan.

Well, it cost me 740 € including taxes and shipping, that's about 1170 $. But it's worth every cent.

Of course I'll make a video... I hope I can install it Monday, but as far as I know it takes around 300 miles until the "true" sound is "unleashed".

[TreFlip999]

1170$? wooooooooooooooooo...Thats a pretty penny my friend...Cant wait for the install

[ProtoType5]

That is pricey...but considering the lack of choices/supply..I guess you have to get what you can...And by all means that looks like a BADASS exhaust system....quality from their website/etc...looks like second to none...

Definitely a good product...

PS...I am VERY glad you didn't get the dual tip design....wouldn't look right at all on a P5...

[FightClubTheory]

The protege/323/Familia is a globally distributed vehicle...So why would you be surprised that there would be globally manufactured aftermarket parts???

My surprise is, naturally, a combination of my growing familiarity with the car and my lack off seeing (or knowing of) Euro-tuned Protege's from other owners.
Are there common parts used by many that are EDM, or is it relatively small?


Thanks for the feedback!
Well, it cost me 740 € including taxes and shipping, that's about 1170 $. But it's worth every cent.
Glad you weren't disappointed, man.
I wish you the best of luck with it after it's installed!

[ProtoType5]

Parts would be 100% interchangable between Euro/Aussie 323s and US Proteges..Same with JDM Familias....All the same car....Except the All-wheel drive version, which has many different parts in the transmission of course...but nearly all are standard with the FS-DE engine...which can be fairly easily modified to the FS-ZE JDM engine...

The differences are mostly cosmetic, but there are some programming differences in the ECUs and some cam-shaft differences...

Mostly little things...nothing major..


End off topic discussion....

[Flash5]

$1100 for a catback? damn! That cost as much as my wheel and tire package...

[Tasty]

No catback exhaust is worth $1200. You got taken for a ride.

[ProtoType5]

Did you read his posts...He's in Austria...The selection for tuner parts is limited and must pass inspections...like California....

In the end you get what you pay for...we in the US are just lucky enough to have a large number of vendors who carry Japanese and US made goods..I'm sure the build quality is 3X better than OBX or Megan, and 2X as nice as RB...so value/money = quality...

Research the brand he got, it is the one of the best European made exhaust systems....

[mountjonas]

Parts would be 100% interchangable between Euro/Aussie 323s and US Proteges..Same with JDM Familias....All the same car....Except the All-wheel drive version, which has many different parts in the transmission of course...but nearly all are standard with the FS-DE engine...which can be fairly easily modified to the FS-ZE JDM engine...

The differences are mostly cosmetic, but there are some programming differences in the ECUs and some cam-shaft differences...

Mostly little things...nothing major..


End off topic discussion....

i thought north american protege5s had a longer rear bumper than everywhere else. at the very least, compared to the jdm rear bumper the US one is longer making parts like an exhaust not quite 100% interchangeable, unless you want your exhaust to be shorter than the bumper by a couple inches. i could be mistaken, though.

[ProtoType5]

well they are 100% interchangabe...You would just have to get the JDM rear bumper support and cover...which isn't US DOT legal, but whatever....They are all the same platform, so the part will interchange...It's just a matter of how many parts you are willing to change.

[Schnitzelsemmel]

So, today I installed the exhaust.
I haven't taken any pics yet, as it's already late (and that means beer time - damn I love school holidays (thinkbeer), but hopefully I can do that tomorrow, along with a video.

What can I say so far? Fitting was a pain in the ass (I'll explain that more precisely tomorrow), the tailpipe hits the goddamn rear lip, BUT it sounds really really nice - very decent and not too loud (bowdown). But you'll hear (hear ya)

[Sliver5]

awesome, can't wait!

[aMaff]

the tailpipe hits the goddamn rear lip,

Try using worm clamps / hose clamps around some of the rubber exhaust hangars. Strategically placed, they can give you just enough clearance. Leave it like that and you're going to have a melty lip ;)

[Flash5]

im looking forward to the video

[Schnitzelsemmel]

Leave it like that and you're going to have a melty lip ;)

Of course I won't leave it like that. It doesn't have contact all the time, only when the car is standing, the exhaust vibrates and hits the rear lip. I thought about even more cutting it, but your idea doesn't sound bad either... do you mean using them as some kind of spacers? Putting them inbetween exhaust and hanger, so that the exhaust won't move anymore?

[aMaff]

It doesn't have contact all the time, only when the car is standing
your car lies down!? (boom07) :p

do you mean using them as some kind of spacers? Putting them inbetween exhaust and hanger, so that the exhaust won't move anymore?

put the clamp around the hanger and use it to basically squeeze the hanger into the shape it needs to be to keep it from hitting your bumper.

[Schnitzelsemmel]

So, here are the pics...

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/703/spa0119ju3.th.jpg (http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spa0119ju3.jpg)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9674/spa0121lz2.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spa0121lz2.jpg)

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/900/spa0123am9.th.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spa0123am9.jpg)

... and here's the vid.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=39018297

[Schnitzelsemmel]

Sorry for the bad sound quality in the vid, but I had to film it with a cell phone as my digicam has some malfunction, but I'll post a better vid when my cam's fixed up.
Note the knocking sound... this is the problem I meant before.

[InFlames]

sounds really good (thumb)

[Sliver5]

awesome, that looks really clean

[maxchao]

Wow, I'm no expert but that really sounds like the V6's in my school...I never hear a I4 sounds like that. Really really impressed.

Josh

[alexcited]

sounds awesome! post up better vids when your camera is working