Exhausted looking at Exhausts

[Olly350z]

I never thought searching for an exhaust for my Nismo would be this difficult. So I'm reaching out for help from people here who have hopefully been in a similar boat.

 

The last few months after parting ways with the AAM short tails, I've spent alot of time looking at various brands, YouTubing sound clips and looking at our main two suppliers, Tarmac Sportz and Torqen. Those who know me personally know I had a right mare with a previous well known branded exhaust from Torqen so they'll understand my "once bitten twice shy" feeling, and as much as it pains me, water under the bridge. But I absolutely do not want a repeat of last time. I want to buy it, get it fitted, and enjoy it. Simple as that

 

The bit that troubles me is the lack of information on both websites about whether "insert brand name here" will fit my Nismo. We all know the MK2 has a bigger diff and longer back end then a GT or MK1 and so far tarmac sports seem to be the only ones reporting that the ARK Grip V2 "WILL NOT" fit the Nismo. I know from someone else that it will not fit without modification. 

 

So, what I want is simple, I want a deep and rich sound, I do not want rasp and as minimal drone as possible. So far my list I've narrowed down to is

 

1) Ark grip V2 - requires modification 

2) Ark grip DT-S - no information on nismos

3) Greedy evolution GT - no information 

4) Injen SES - this was the culprit last time

5) invidia Gemini - this seems to go on no issue? 

 

Does anyone here have any of these exhausts on their MK2 nismos and can help shed some light for me? Does any of our suppliers have these in stock so I'm not waiting a massively long time and can shed light on what fits and what doesn't? 

 

I appreciate this probably comes across as a whinge post and in part it is. I just do not want a repeat of spending £1500 minimum on an exhaust for the bloody thing to cause me grief. 

 

Cheers all

 

[pintopete58]

Hi yes I only paid 500 for my invidia  was in the write place .

But fits absolutely spot on .

If your anywhere near tarmac sports speak to bob

[pintopete58]

What's not nice about this £1500 .

Happy days

[Olly350z]

Yes I remember seeing that go up for sale at the time, why I didn't jump on it is beyond me. Must've been a sudden case of @*!# to the brain

 

 

 

 

 

[pintopete58]

I know even I questioned my self .

But buy one you won't go wrong 

[davey_83]

Do the tips have enough length adjustment to cater for the Nismo bumper?

 

[pintopete58]

I would say yes .

Might be best to speak to Bob at tarmac

[Olly350z]

I'm sure I noticed on the video torqen put up of a greddy evolution on a MK2 nismo they did seem slightly recessed in on the bumper, which is a concern as there is no adjustment on that. 

 

The invidia Gemini is a strong choice Pete. How would you say it sounds? Any drone? I'm after more of a rich sound than overly loud hence the ark grip DTS being 

[pintopete58]

Hi if you look at the top of page with exhaust off the car you can see there is adjustment but how much I don't know .

I've had a look at bobs at tarmac pictures at Gaydon he has a nismo rear bumper and the tips on his stick out quite abit .

I think mine sounds  great not loud but I have been told if I change my cats it comes alive.

Might be worth a call to Bob and ask what he has and ask about adjustment on the invidia he fitted mine

[Lewis Schwier]

Completely feel you! Been looking for my Nismo for a couple of years. Must of seen nearly every exhaust video on youtube lol

Ive got a mk1 so can't help but I know @ShortPaul has the greddy on his mk2 and also someone else who had the injen system on their mk2. Ive heard both these systems in person with stock cats they sounds incredible, deep tone with no rasp like you were explaining.

[Ekona]

Tbh you would be better served finding a local exhaust specialist and having something custom made. That’s what I did with my old BMW: I told them how I wanted it to sound, what volume level I was comfortable with, and what tips I wanted. They did the rest and I was more than happy with the result. 
 

Did the same at another company for my Dad’s Hummer, including a removable silencer so it was essentially straight through after removing it. God that sounded like thunder!

[GranTurismoEra]

 

 

Im guessing u want the Gemini sound with a tiny bit more decibels at higher RPM 4-7500. No drone or as little drone as possible on slight acceleration 2-3k. Cruising you barely want to hear it just a tinge especially between 50-80mph 😉. No crazy vibrations or noise from the trunk area. 

 

You might need a more hollowed backbox and/or a couple of resonators along the way. Could consider an X pipe to replace the H which is deeper. 

 

Basically an X pipe with a different backbox or your backbox modified maybe?! Get rid of some of the meshes inside. OEM plus

[ShortPaul]

Lots of good advice from owners 

[Tomato]

On 30/11/2022 at 17:04, Ekona said:

Tbh you would be better served finding a local exhaust specialist and having something custom made.

I would second that, often find there also better quality for a decent price.

[Olly350z]

Ideally I'd like to quote everyone but for some reason the forum and Samsungs Internet do not get on 

 

Ekona, I have considered this but I worry its more of an unknown then buying off the shelf. I would be so disappointed if I went somewhere and got the car back to only find it doesn't sound like what I want. Can anyone recommend a decent exhaust place on the south coast, I'm willing to travel? 

 

Lewis, which system would you say you preferred from the little you heard? I had the injen SES on my 350z and loved how it sounded, but the fitment was absolutely awful. So I'm very wary of that brand? The greddy evolution is another close choice, but I'm very interested in the ARK DTS. But it's nearly 700 pounds more expensive 

 

Short Paul, can you confirm if the greddy fits OK, and doesn't sit inside the bumper as you have a MK2 like mine? 

[Ekona]

That’s the beauty of a custom job, if you don’t like it then you tell them to change it  

[HEADPHONES]

Sportzntouring has a MK2 Nismo.

From what I see and hear on YouTube videos it looks and sounds the business.

He went to @buster at Tarmacsportz for their short tails,got some Cobra sports cats and a switchable map.

IF I were ever lucky enough to get a MK2 Nismo, I'd want it to sound JUST LIKE THIS

Skip to 7:30 and you'll see it's barely noticeable cruising at 70mph but when you hit the gas and switch on pops and bangs in the switchable maps......ooolala

 

 

 

[Olly350z]

I've met and heard Antz Nismo in person and I hate to say as good as it sounds, it's just too loud for me. I had resonated AAM short tails on before which are very silimar to the short tails offered by Tarmac and Torqen and while the cruising around town bit was nice, the second you tried dropping a gear and disappearing everyone knew exactly what was happening and I personally found it embarrassingly loud. 

 

I've emailed several custom exhaust places so will have to see what they come back to me with. 

 

So far, its boiling down to either the 

 

1) invidia Gemini 

2) Ark DTS

3) injen SES

 

The greddy just seems too loud for me from videos as much as it fits the bill elsewhere. Annoyingly though, neither tarmac or torqen make any mention as to whether the above systems fit a nismo, so it's a £1300 + gamble. 

[GranTurismoEra]

Ants exhaust is loud....louder and raspier than AAM tails.....Youre better off getting a custom and saving the money if you dont want loud.

 

My mate got an oem plus custom single exit exhaust. Its a bit like S Line type exhaust. "Sporty" no drone in cabin barely tunnel worthy not befitting a car like Nismo. The neighbours still wont thank you for the deep vibration on the floorboards. 

 

You may still be able to hear the sound actuator with a Gemini type exhaust. 

[Rhysos]

Might be worth contacting the exhaust manufacturers direct as well to check on product fitment for your car. Horsham developments are also listing the Gemini product in addition to Cobra exhausts at the moment, so you may want to contact them for an opinion as well as Torqen and Tarmac Sports.

 

I plan to get the Gemini for my 2019 m2 Nismo next year so will be contacting all the above before taking the plunge just to be sure.

 

 

[Adrian@TORQEN]

On 04/12/2022 at 21:44, Olly350z said:

So far, its boiling down to either the 

 

1) invidia Gemini 

2) Ark DTS

3) injen SES

 

The greddy just seems too loud for me from videos as much as it fits the bill elsewhere. Annoyingly though, neither tarmac or torqen make any mention as to whether the above systems fit a nismo, so it's a £1300 + gamble. 

 

Injen on a Nismo here:

 

 

 

GReddy on a Nismo here:

 

 

 

Invidia Gemini on a standard 370z, but it also fits the Nismo:

 

 

Another option would be the TORQEN Zorst, here on a Nismo as well:

 

 

Hope these videos help.

 

 

[Olly350z]

So an update for those who are in a similar boat as me with a MK2 Nismo 

 

On Monday the Invidia Gemini that I ordered from Tarmac Sportz turned up, perfectly packaged and right on time. Today after work I decided to make use of the workshop and fit the exhaust myself, as why have a dog and bark yourself. I want to say a massive thank you to Bob and Chris at Tarmac sportz for first class service, information and options

 

I will say the Invidia Gemini was not my first choice, which was the ARK grip V2 however out of the box these do not fit MK2 nismo's and require welding to fit, which I couldn't bring myself to do on a £2100 pound system out the box. The welding and design on the invidia is gorgeous, and a credit to them.

 

Removing the old system was a breeze part due to a workshop full of tools and a relatively low mileage exhaust system. Total time for removal and fitting the Invidia was an hour and a half. Fitment is perfect in terms of not hitting the chassis or differential clearing sections including the lower chassis brace and the rear bumper.

 

It's not perfect cosmetically as due to the longer rear on the Nismos the tail pipes do sit shorter in the bumper then ideally liked, however I have been since able to realign them for a better fit. They are on the smaller side for Nismos so could ideally benefit from 5 inches tips in the future. Sound wise it's borderline perfect, with a deep rumble at cruising speed and a love tone under throttle. As others have said its everything the Nismo should have been from the factory. Personally, I'd have liked a touch louder so in the future I'll be looking to get the Y pipe baffles removed. 

 

Overall I'm very very happy considering the battle us Nismos owners have getting an exhaust. Hopefully with time it'll get a little louder

 

 

[pintopete58]

Bob I wasn't allowed to help you fit my invidia exhaust. 

But it's OK for a punter to fit his own ? .

You need to look in the mirror 

[Olly350z]

6 minutes ago, pintopete58 said:

Bob I wasn't allowed to help you fit my invidia exhaust. 

But it's OK for a punter to fit his own ? .

You need to look in the mirror 

 

You owe Bob an apology because I happen to work in a main Dealership 6 hours away from Tarmac sportz and they had absolutely nothing to do with fitting my exhaust. 

 

Next time don't assume and jump to completely wrong conclusions 

[pintopete58]

Word it correctly. 

Sorry Bob  for all of my miss leading accusations. 

Don't worry it's a story of my life funking old c₩¥t