Top Speed Headers and Exhaust
 

I would like feedback from anyone who has installed either the Top Speed headers or exhaust or both. Is there any drone from either part? Is there any issue with ground clearance with the headers and the O2 sensors? What is your opinion of the quality and fitment? Thanks.

Top Speed Headers and Exhaust
 

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Any feedback?

Which iteration boxster do you have ?

I have both. No idea if there's drone from headers and stock cats and stock muffler. Muffler is gloriously loud and lovely with the top down, but the cabin drone with the top up is deafening if you hang around 2800 rpm.

Gives about 18 hp bump on a 2.5 over stock without reflashing the ECU.

No ground clearance issues, but you will have to wrap one of your AC lines and zip tie it to something to keep it from rubbing up against the headers, which are a lot larger than stock headers. O2 sensors fit fine.

Quality and fitment seem to be good.

Hope this helps!

I recently purchased (and then returned) a set of their cat bypass pipes for my 98 Boxster. I was very unimpressed with the fit and even less impressed with their reaction to my suggestion that something seemed to be wrong. When installed the pipes ended at different heights and widths and one of them touched the chassis.

Obviously I wasn't going to use them that way so I rang them to see if they had any explanation. Without much thought on their part I was told that their must be something wrong with my car and no consideration was even given to the thought that the product was at fault. Since they were bolted to the back of a set of stock headers I'm not sure what exactly they think could be wrong. Interestingly product bought from another source fitted perfectly.

To add insult to injury I was then informed that I would have to pay for the shipping in both directions and that I would be charged a 20% restocking fee. After some discussion it was agreed that they would at least look at them and they would see if anything appeared to be wrong.

They received them a week ago and they have yet to refund anything. They sell cheap imported Chinese product and you get what you pay for. Aside from that however they don't seem to be a particularily customer focused company. I found George to be downright rude. I would not recommend them or ever use them again.

Top Speed Headers and Exhaust
 

Thank you RandallNeighbour. JDanger, I have a 2000 Base 2.7 Boxster.

Top Speed Headers and Exhaust
 

Thanks Jittsl.

Sorry, but without getting into too much detail, changing the headers and pre-cats on a 2.7 boxster isn't worth the time or effort spent messing around with a cheap set of headers . With all due respect to Randall, if he's getting 18 hp from a set of Top Speed headers, along with their cat back exhaust, that's nothing short of miraculous . After nigh on to 10k of custom exhaust mods, to included an ECU re-map, I barely achieved that figure on my vehicle .

Hi Jittsl.
So what is the product you ended up using, and where did you get it?
( if you don't mind sharing this information )

To be honest I do not know. I only mentioned them because they were proof to me that there was nothing wrong with the shape of my headers. I found them secondhand on Craigslist. Previous owner said he bought them from Atlanta about 2 years ago.

I need to chimed in on this posting, we had sold many of these Boxter 97-99 2.5L and Boxster & S 00-04 2.7/3.2L Test Pipes through this forum and E-Bay/Web-site sales all with good reviews and feedbacks.

I had a good discussion with our sales rep George about this complaints and found out:

jittsl had a 1998 Boxster 2.5L using a unknown Header and with 2002 Boxster Rear Exhaust section, ended up purchased our Test Pipes for Boxster 97-99 2.5L Test Pipes through our web-site on August 15th

Now this is the issue, if you are fitting 2000-Up exhaust you will need to use Test Pipes from 00-04 2.7/3.2L applications to be compatible with the fitment. As far as the Headers for 97-99 2.5L and 00-04 2.7/3.2L are the same specs with difference of O2 sensor bungs.

Hope this clears up the issues and questionable quality and fitment with our Top Speed Pro-1 products.

FYI:
97-99 Boxster 2.5L Test Pipes
http://www.topspeedauto.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=293&idproduct=2843

00-04 Boxster 2.7/3.2L Test Pipes
http://www.topspeedauto.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=293&idproduct=2844

We will issue jittsl refund back subject to our standard return policy.

Our company is responsible and reputable seller, we have nothing to hide and will stand up to our rights.


Thank you :cheers:


Best Regards,

Che

I had zero issue installing a set of TopSpeed bypass pipes last weekend. In my experience, I had to insert the tail end of the pipe into the muffler and and then align the front. The alignment took some time to get perfect because of the tight working area. The pipes does increase the flow dramatically as my exhaust is noticeably louder. I'm happy with the results and happy having not spent $300+ more on two pipes from another manufacturer.

By the way, there is a video by another member regarding the installation and how he had to have a muffler shop cut two tack welded bolts in order to install. I found this to be not the case. The nuts were tack welded but the bolts still turned. All you need is a simple socket set and a long socket extension to reach two bolts.

Hey Che, I guess you can't read either. I stated quite clearly above that I have 98 headers on my 98 Boxster. George (who i suspect is simply lieing to cover his arse) knew this as I told him this about 10 times. For the record (and if you had ever bothered to find out the difference you would know this) you cannot fit the test pipes from an 02 at all to a 98. The mounting flanges are upside down and it would not start to install. Did George show you the many photos I sent him?

I really don't care how many of these systems you have sold without complaint I know the following: the pipes you sent me do not fit on a 98 that is running stock headers (which is not to say that they don't work if they are installed with your headers). I have already sent an email to George that he verifies against a stock 98 cat because the ones you sent me end up installing with their terminations at different angles and different widths as well as hitting the bottom support member of the suspension.

I think in all fairness that you should explain what you mean by "we have nothing to hide and will stand up to our rights" and "subject to Our standard return policy". In my case it meant you keep your profit margin (as a 20% restocking fee charged to me) and that I should pay for transportation in both directions. WHO exactly is even considering my rights?

If you would like to get your facts straight and actually know what you are talking about before you put your BS up on the forum feel free to call me. You've always had my phone number. Until we have sorted this out I stand by everything I said in my original post.

Im glad you had no issue.

Yours however must be different from mine. Mine have no adjustment at the front. There is a welded flange that that bolts up to the rear of the headers and that's it. Likewise mine have no tacked in nuts.

I have a 2003 base with a 2.7 engine with factory headers and factory primary cats. The flanges are NOT adjustable. I just had to install the end of the test pipes into the muffler first and then twist the pipes so that the holes in the flanges line up.

Sorry you had a tough time with your set up......it sure takes the fun out of modding these great cars when issues like yours come up. I Hope things work out for you in the end because I sure like the way my car sounds after the install.

Best of luck to you.

Things are already sorted for me so no issue. I just don't like be taken advantage of by anyone and I don't want my fellow 986s to fall into the same trap as I did.

What I don't think our friends at topspeed recognize is that had if I had not been treated like an **************************** by them then I would have never said a word. If the response had been "gee, sorry to hear your having an issue, please send them back and we'll try and figure out what's going on" instead of "we sell hundreds of these and we never have an issue and so there must be something wrong with your car!" then I wouldn't have a complaint. These people might be fine to work with when things go right, but they are pricks when they don't and I wish them nothing but ill.

No need to insult my reading skills, I've supposed your reading skills are just as good as mine.

Everything I had posted are gathered based on what I had on records and informations exchanged between you and George.

Regardless, refund will issue back to your Pay-pal account today. We all move on separate ways. Thank you !

I have no idea what you even mean by the the first paragraph so I will ignore it

Regarding your second paragraph: So now that you know different when do you plan to retract the misrepresentations? You must have figured out that the fault lies with your equipment and not with my 2.5 fitted with the stock headers and has nothing to do with me ordering the wrong parts. If not then look again at the photos I sent you.

Your third paragraph is a half truth as well isn't it? What you sent me was $41.32 short of a refund. If I add the $12 it cost me to return the goods to you that means, in all, I payed $53.32 for the pleasure of spending a couple of hours trying to fit the garbage you sent me. You also never bothered to offer any explanation as to what caused the pipes to not fit (other than the untruth that there is something wrong with my car). My guess is that they are already back on the shelf waiting for the next dumb bastard to order a set with you.

Good luck in the future with your business (term applied very loosely). I'm sure your very proud of what you probably see as a win. And yes we will be going our separate ways and so will everybody else I can persuade to look elsewhere.

(Thank you, we don't need luck to stay in business for 17 years and still going. Our business are built upon trust and return customers by word of mouth referrals. Obviously not with you)

I'm done replying on this posting, you can post what ever you like to vent out.

Of course you don't want to post on this subject anymore. You are making yourself look pretty bad. Keep in mind that I have repeatedly ask you to call me and you chose to defend yourself on this forum.

I really shouldn't be surprised, but I am somehow, that you should resort to blatant lies. Are you now claiming that you kept my money because the pipes were all used and scratched? I mounted them so yes they probably have a few scratches on them but USED? I never started the motor so they are not used. Since I had them in my possession for less than a week they really must be crap if they got all used while sitting around in a box.

I really think you should make your return policy a lot clearer. What it should read is: If you buy our product, and you try to fit it, and it doesn't fit your car please return it and we will do nothing to help you and we will keep 20% of your money and we will insult both you and your car.

I know you do not want to reply but I would really love to hear just one last thing. Did the pipes I returned to you fit on a 98 Boxster when you tried and did you take photos? I still have not heard any explanation as to why they did not fit my car.

Oh and yes I will keep venting. As far as I am concerned you are either a fool or a thief and a lier and I will keep ranting until justice is served.

Jittsl any credibility you once had with your complaint has been lost and now you just appear to be a butthurt asshat.

For the record I have purchase multiple items from Top Speed and have had nothing but first class service and have found that they do warranty their products and have a reasonable return policy.

I am beginning to think that the issue in this particular case just may be staring you in the face when you look in the mirror.

But that's just my opinion :D

I can't wait to get my headers and testpipes when their shipment comes in -- goodbye hairdryer, hello motor-sound!

I have seen their exhaust first hand on a friends car. They fit. Period. You can't ask for more than that. If it is too loud, drone etc. Well that is just what comes with the territory. If there was a problem with the system, it happens. I am in business and not everything is perfect all the time. As much as I wish I could keep 100% control of my overall product it is just not the possible. I understand both sides. As for losing time, yea that sux. I actually just bought some high end equipment yesterday that I have to drive 45 miles to get and got home and the Sh&# don't work. I have to go back Friday now. Gas, time etc. There are so many worse things that could go wrong within a day. Take it in stride and move on. Keep your head up. On a side note I just bought a JIC system from ebay and it was cheap and the quality was awesome and the fit and sound is great. So if your still in the market there is one more from the seller online. A different style but still sweet!

Just my .02

In the words of Pedro

"Happy Boxstering"

All, (and I promise this is my last post on the subject). I am well aware that I have been ranting over a very insignificant (in the grand scheme of things) issue. It is obvious that there are many satisfied customers who have had good service and product from the company in question however, that does not give them the right to be arrogant about the infallibility of their product. It is obvious (to me) that there is something wrong with the specific item I received (which happens - nobody is perfect) but:

To claim that the only explanation is that there is something wrong with me or my car without even examining the product in question is just not how I expect a reputable business to respond.

To tell me that, if I return the product, I'll be charged a restocking fee (once again, before they have even seen the equiptment I am complaint about) is just not how I expect a reputable business to respond.

I sense that this was an extraordinary circumstance probably created by one employee who was having a bad day but it would have been so easy to pick up the telephone and fix the issue after the event. Instead (and without contacting me) John went on here and explained that I had miss ordered which is Just not how I would expect a....

And wingnut, I'm really pleased that you have had good service with them but that was not my experience. Sorry if I'm boring you, please recognize that I'm really not interested in your perception of my credibility (why would i care? I have nothing to gain here). I made my original post simply to illustrate my experience for the education of someone who asked.

At that I'll take Jaay's advice.

I installed the Top Speed Test Pipes and Cat-back exhaust on my car. Had lots of problems associated with fitment and quality. But the sound is amazing and nearly perfect. I love how it is quiet at normal driving, but gets loud when you hit the throttle.

1. The Test Pipes were bent at too much of an angle. I had to use every ounce of my strength to bend it into the catback exhaust U pipes. And then the test pipes ends were much smaller in diameter than the U pipe diameter. Not even an exhaust clamp can hold it in place or help. Because of this, I have an exhaust leak coming out in between the muffler U pipe and the test pipes. Only solution is to get a Muffler shop to bend the pipe and expand the outside diameter of the test pipe ends to meet the inside diameter of the U-pipes.

2. The Cat-back Exhaust fitment was horrible. The side of the muffler had pipes sticking out that attach to the U-pipe, which then attach to the test pipes. Those side pipes were different diamaters on each side(1 too small, 1 too large). I had to get an exhaust shop to expand the U-pipe inner diameter to fit the catback exhaust on one side, and expand the muffler side pipe diameter on the other side to make the U pipe fit on the other side.

2.1. The Catback Exhaust tips are crooked and they touch the bumper, making it a fire hazard. The Top Exhaust Bracket was welded on very crooked from Top Speed. To solve this, I bought a Dremel and extended the holes in the top exhaust braket so I can change the angle so that the tips look straight.

2.2. The top exhaust braket on the cat-back exhaust is in wrong location-set up too close to the tips. They should have pushed the bracket back towards the engine/test pipes another 3 inches for proper fitment. This was the main reason why the tips were touching the bumper. The bracket location forced the system to be tilted and pushed against the bumper. In addition to using the dremel, I bought longer exhaust bolts and put a bunch of washers in between the top exhaust bracket and its mounting location to straighten the entire system.

It takes some work. This system is cheap for a reason. But one you finish with the installation and creative solutions, the reward is great sound and looks. All in all, I think it is still worth it when you consider that Fabspeed or anyone else would have cost an extra $1000+.

True, just looking at their pricing for the test pipes, they are less than half the price of the Fabspeed cat bypass pipes. At those prices, how can you expect perfect quality and fitment? Of course it's gonna be cheap...because it is! Even so, after seeing the Top Speed exhaust on another fellow Boxster owner's car, it looked of decent quality for the price.

You may not like the way they handled your situation, and they may not have lived up to the highest standards for client service, but at the end of the day, you lost 20% restocking fee for a not so expensive item in the first place (which was their standard return policy as advertised). It wasn't that big a deal. IMHO, there was no need for all the insults. Just chalk it up to a bad experience and move on. If enough people actually experience the same disappointing situation, their business will suffer regardless of your actions or inaction.

couple of months ago I purchased a set of the headers...my primary cats are heading south. I have to say Ive been happy with the product. I did not install them myself, had a custom muffler shop do that...he said the install went great, no problems to report. As for hp gains...Id say yes...feels more peppy up top. Sound is more deep, which I like, and no drone to report. My car is a 2004 2.7

Krista

You get what you pay for, sometimes!
 

OK well take a look at these headers I bought from debloz aka "Che, aka "John"

I didn't realize the O2 bungs were installed wrong making them hang down instead up like oem & checkout the tube alignment at the head flange. I had the headers ceramic coated inside & out($200) before installing & discovering the O2 bung defect.http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1347336921.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1347337035.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1347337082.jpg

That's messed up. My headers from Che are the older style for 2.5s that don't have the sensors on them at all.

Dude, you obviously "ordered the wrong parts". Did you specify that you didn't want the specially developed O2 plug cooling headers? Sorry, I know I said last one but I couldn't resist.

So more importantly than screwing up (which can happen to anyone), what was honest John's reaction to the issue and how were you dealt with and compensated? Hopefully it was better than his reaction to mine.

My experience has been the same.

In Lower Manhattan, Assembling to Remember 9/11
 

The bagpipes began filling the 9/11 Memorial plaza with sound a little after 7:30 a.m., readying for the procession that will begin New York’s 11th anniversary commemoration of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at 8:39 a.m. on a cool Tuesday. Halfway between the rising towers of 1 World Trade Center and 4 World Trade Center, which stand at opposite corners of the memorial quadrangle, an honor guard of policemen and firemen held up an American flag and slowly marched away.

The ceremony will largely consist of the now-traditional reading of the names of those who died in the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks, coupled with musical interludes and moments of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m., when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the north tower 11 years ago. Unlike last year’s commemoration for the 10th anniversary of the attacks, Tuesday’s ceremony will not feature readings from current and former presidents, governors, mayors or other dignitaries. They were told they could attend, but would have to stay silent — only family members will be permitted to read the more than 3,000 names.

An hour before the ceremony was to start, dozens of relatives of Sept. 11 victims were milling around, enacting the rituals many have kept every year since the attacks: some held signs with the names and faces of the dead, some wore T-shirts emblazoned with photos of their loved ones, some carried coffee with their flower bouquets.

Some paused at certain names engraved into the stone surrounding the twin reflecting pools where the towers stood. Others chatted with other family members, pointed out features of the site to their children or simply sat on the stone benches that dot the quadrangle.

At 8 a.m., as the bagpipes played “America the Beautiful,” two tiny figures standing on a deck of the unfinished 1 World Trade Center released an enormous American flag, which unfurled slowly down the side of the tower. Meanwhile, the assembled crowd settled in to wait.

Once I sent him these same pictures he acknowledged they had a problem & wanted me to return them for full refund including shipping. He refused to give me anything for the $200 I spent ceramic coating the headers & he later resold my headers on E-bay, so he made money, I alerted him to the problem saving him money, & I lost $200 & 20 hours wasted time because of his companys error. :mad: