After browsing through the forums, Ive decided that I want to get invidia mid pipes but Im curious about a few things.

What exactly are mid pipes? Are they part of cat back exhausts? What exactly do they replace in my car if I already have the F sport exhaust? And I read something about it deleting secondary cats, etc and Im a little confused. Also anybody know an estimate of how much a reputable shop would charge to install the midpipe?

Thanks guys, I appreciate all responses

 

The mid-pipe is the pipe connecting between the header / manifold and the exhausts. That's why it is called the mid-pipe. It also contains the secondary cats from the factory. By replacing it with aftermarket like Invidia (which doesn't have the cats), you are technically "deleting" it.

That's why the mid-pipe mods are illegal in most states.

If you have an axle-back exhausts, they don't replace anything. You still use the same Tanabe/F-Sport/HKS/etc... exhausts along with the Invidia mid-pipe. The Invidia will replace the OEM mid-pipe...that's all.

If you take it to a cheap shop like Midas, they can probably do it for around $40 to $ 60. My cousin got his exhaust installed at Midas for 20 bucks. But it also depends on your location. Or you can bring it to any muffler shops.

 

Make sure you listen to sound clips to get an idea of how your car will sound. Or better yet go to a meet and hear it in person. Combined with an exhaust, a midpipe can make your car VERY loud.

 

^ I agree with brociouz. Make sure you hear it in person first

 

That's funny Bob:

You don't know what it is....but you've decided you want one

 

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

 

Ive listened to all of your sound clips along with another member on here and its exactly what Im looking for sound wise

 

Well......I mean I had a general idea of what a mid pipe is, just not the any details like shadowman explained lol

 

I tend to want things that I do not understand too

 

I get it I do, loud exhaust sound appeals to us all at some point. You bought a quasi-luxury car, with modest performance and handling that you really cannot fundamentally change. You spent some bucks on a louder but legal CAT back. What I do not get is why you feel the need to spend more to remove the converters. The converters are part of the reason why you aren't choking on Mexico City or Beijing like smog. Of course if you want that then take up smoking and keep the windows closed, but leave the rest of us to enjoy what passes for clean air.

If you want more noise, drill holes in the muffler, or get someone with a torch to burn the baffles out. Cutting a sizeable hole in the air intake box might do it for you.

For several years, I drove an old 356 Porsche with no muffler. Now they put mufflers on SCCA racecars; times change. We mature. Go in peace, rant over.

 

None of those things will give you the same sound a midpipe does. And if you're so worried about the environment you should probably be driving a Prius.

 

Listen to my video... @ 530 thats all midpipe your hearing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUj9r...eature=related

 

You are right of course that removing the converters will change the sound in a way that will be hard to duplicate exactly. That is not the central issue.

Well, one might argue so I will, that with current technology the total environmental cost of a hybrid or a battery vehicle will be no better than, and possibly worse than, an efficient IC engine. I am, as we all ought to be, concerned about quality of the world around us. Do you want to return to using leaded gas? You could bring back big block V-8’s with four-barrel carburetors and no ECUs. Nine miles per gallon would be worth it. The brain damage to children growing up near heavy traffic areas is a small price.

We could make an environmental trade off though. I will support optional converters, if you support reducing fossil fuel consumption enough to make up for the impact. There are several ways to do this. Require 60 mpg cars and 30 mpg trucks. We can still go fast; 30 HP will get you over the speed limit. Sharply limit immigration. The US has a third world rate of increase and reducing this will ease the load on the environment. Ban the use of private cars in urban areas or charge steep fees for permits.

The point of that seemingly extreme proposal is that small sacrifices now by many might mitigate large sacrifices later. In some ways, the idea of converters is similar to that of vaccines or public hygiene.

Because of the idea of herd immunity, not every must be vaccinated in order to benefit everyone. Because most others are vaccinated there are fewer carriers to transmit the disease to the unvaccinated. A free ride if you will.

The general benefit decreases as the percentage of unvaccinated increases and eventually herd immunity is lost. That is happening right now in the US. Misinformed parents, those with religious objections and immigrants who are ignorant of modern medicine or culturally biased against it, are unvaccinated. They have reintroduced diseases that were absent, or greatly increased the number of cases. Tuberculoses and measles are the current examples. Bedbugs, Plague, Malaria, Cholera and the annual Chinese influenza lottery are on the list.

I leave it to you to argue if you can, that air pollution and the effects, are not equivalent to disease, legally, morally, ethically or anyway you care to frame it.

Removing the converters is both unlawful and socially irresponsible. By god, it is impolite. Most people, even children, upon reflection can distinguish between childish and adult behavior, and between selfish and civil behavior. Like it or not, we live in an increasingly crowded world and observing the norms of the civil society is both an obligation and an act of self-interest.

A child or an adolescent (no matter the age), and a sociopath will all say, that what they want is all that matters. The adult thinker (no matter the age) will say that personal desires must be constrained by law and due consideration for others.

Examples are all around us. California has a law limiting the sound level of exhaust systems and another limiting the maximum sound level of car stereo systems as measured from outside the car. Some drivers have a "F... you!” response to this infringement on their "rights". Others make an effort to comply.

Do I always obey the law? No. I sometimes drive over the limit and I do not always recycle old fluorescent lamps or partial cans of paint. In general though I try to make informed choices. That is the most I can hope that the OP or any of us, will do.

 

@fbarbarosa

I think you probably need to leave this forum... this is a car enthusiast forum and i highly doubt what your saying will do anything except make us hate you and want you to leave. We all understand what removing the "converters" does... but once again, we are on a car enthusiast forum. We really dont care.

 

Damn I thought that auto-crossing, SCCA racing and complete engine teardowns and rebuilds qualified me as an enthusiast.

Still I thank you for making my point. "We really don't care" is a very sad outlook.