Update on 3" Vibrant Performance SS T304 tips for my X5
 

While I understand that some here like the OEM oval tips, I tried to like them and I simply can't. There are quite a few BMW's and some other SUV's going with this style now but I guess I'm sort of old school. I like the 4.4I ones other than being to small IMO.

I got these in Today and while I like them and think they would look good, I realized there is room for bigger 3.5" tips. The price difference is only few bucks per tip and the total cost right at $120 for 4 tips. I believe the 3.5" will fill the opening better while not looking to big.

I'll do another update when I get the replacement in. The pictures don't show it but they have the same slanted angle as OEM which I was after anyway.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vp...Fc1_MgodoWIASA

After some thinking, I decided to go with rolled edge (like OEM) instead the beveled edge (current pictures). So this is my final pick (picture is generic, it will be same polished SS T304 as the one I'm returning):

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vp...FQypaQodzQ4ADA



http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps064d79a3.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb030e354.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...psaf4e0243.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps90274a5c.jpg

Those should look great and will completely fill the openings! My Remus are 3.25" and only left about 1/2 and inch on each side of the opening.

The things I don't like about welding on tips are the rusts from the welds and getting them properly aligned, especially when you got 4 of them to do. Good workmanship are hard to find these days :(

Subd to see how it comes out!

I have Remus on my 540 and I love the look of the tips, the quality and sound:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps31d64c62.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...6/DSC03449.jpg

It seems that very few make the exhaust for 4.6is and beside being aftermarket being very expensive, I love the sound of OEM 4.6is exhaust.

You're right about difficulty of finding the good place for tips installation. I'm very lucky in that aspect as I have independent muffler shop just down the road from me that specializes mainly in Corvettes.

They did install Magnaflow catback exhaust on my neighbor 2000 Audi S4 and he was very impressed with the workmanship while being very fairly priced.

Hopefully next weekend. As mentioned, I'll have to make sure they're aligned and not sticking too much or too little.

Just make sure the shop welds using stainless rod or better yet does TIG welding and it should look perfect, you can always trim the length of the tips before fixing to the mufflers to adjust the length

Thanks for the tip. Cutting tips from the back side is the plan if they turn out to be 7.5". There is conflicting info between Summit Racing and Vibrant Performance but whichever is true, it will work. I do plan to keep the same length as OEM since they stick out just enough but not to much.

I've struggled with beveled vs rolled edge, but the rolled edge won and it's slanted as well.

So this is the final pick: (pictures are sort of generic. It's the same highly polished SS T304 as the one I'm returning)

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vp...FQsKaQodkCgAfQ

https://shopping.yahoo.com/817313085...tips/?bfr=10.0

Those big tips should fill the openings nicely!

I prefer bevelled though, I feel they look sportier.

Really interested to see how they turn out.

I personally like the rolled edge better as I do enjoy being able to polish the insides of the edge slightly, gives the tips more "depth", as opposed to a slash cut tip.

I do like the clean lines of beveled tip generally but in this application I'm trying to go for the OEM look yet something different than let's say 4.4i tips which I like but they're bit small IMO. We'll see, I might get disappointed but I have to try. I'm really going to take the time looking over it before any welding is done.

I was 50/50 on it but most Europeans car do have the rolled edge while beveled IMO looks very good on American Muscle cars. So yes, I agree with you on rolled edge choice.

This is a little better picture and I'll have to cut of 1" of the back of tip in order to match OEM stick out length:

Vibrant Performance Exhaust Tip Stainless Steel Part 1304 Free Shipping | eBay

You're definitely the first that wants to go from a 4.6iS to a 4.4i "look" ;)
Just glad you didn't went for the 3.0i "bent pipe" style :bustingup

Somebody has to be first, LOL.

In all seriousness, 4.4i tips are smaller then 3.5" and they're black chrome. So definitely not the same, but similar perhaps.

Gotcha. rolled does go with the OE theme you are looking for.

Either way, you cant really go wrong with quad tips on anything! :)