This looks like the right place to post some experience with the "Beluga" mufflers, from Ebay.
In another thread, I was downright insistent that mine did not drone. As a matter of fact, I suggested that others might not know what "drone" really is.
Fast-forward 2000 miles on the unit: yeah, mine began to drone. Between about 2200 rpm and 3000 rpm. It's not horrible, and certainly not "unbearable", as some report. But who knows: maybe it continues to get worse? I don't know. But it should have occurred to me that any muffler using a "packing" of any sort to attenuate sound would experience some changes as it ages.
In the meantime, however: What HAS become unbearable to me, is the rattling from inside the mufflers.
I first noticed it within about 2 weeks of installation. When I'd start the car, I'd hear a ringing-rattle from the left can. Once warm, it would diminish, or sometimes stop. But it became progressively worse. I contacted Beluga, in Galveston TX. They confirmed they have a 1-year warranty period for defects in workmanship, but they require I send the unit back to them for inspection. I decided to live with it until winter.
BUT: it kept gettting worse and worse, and eventually the right side was doing it as well. I once stuck a length of coat-hanger wire up the can, and managed to hook it on the perforated inner-pipe. Putting just the slightest tension on it made the sound go away entirely. So eventually I ran a borescope in and took a look. Sure enough: the inner, perforated steel pipe was rattling against the outer stainless housing. My guess is that they tack-weld it in place, and the welds are insufficient. That both sides did it concerns me that it may not be an isolated event.
I removed it to send back to them, since I was down and out for abit with a bad clutch. Holding it in my hands and shaking it, before I placed it int he box, I was able to reproduce the sound enough to confirm that they will be able to understand the problem when it gets back to Beluga, tomorrow.
I have no reason to expect they won't honor the warranty. I'll keep you updated.
This looks like the right place to post some experience with the "Beluga" mufflers, from Ebay.
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I have no reason to expect they won't honor the warranty. I'll keep you updated.
They honored the warranty on mine, sent me a new one no hassle, after I sent the original back to them.
If they replace the system with the same, won't it have the defect as well? It sounds like bad assembly practices.
That's precisely my concern. But the warranty was for replacement only, not refund. So, if it happens again, I'll cut it open and fix it myself. Pfft.... I don't mind welding stainless.
I have no reason to expect they won't honor the warranty. I'll keep you updated.
After I installed my muffler I sent Beluga an email asking about clamping suggestions to try to eliminate drone. They never responded and I gave up after a couple tries, their customer service falls a bit short. Hopefully your warranty return will go smoothly. I sold the unit to a guy who was going to track his Boxster. I don't miss it at all.
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1999 Boxster, Ocean Blue Metallic-grey top.
LN IMS dual row-, Ben's short shift kit
Beluga racing refused to warranty my exhaust rattle because the car changed hands despite having receipts and proof of purchase from March this year. They did however provide me a discount on a newer unit. I finally got around to installing it today, I was getting really tired of my boxster sounding like a tin of marbles.
It looks like they updated their exhaust design/ bought from a different manufacturer. You can see the old exhaust had a crossover vs the new exhaust which is more like fabspeed max flow mufflers with no crossover and they added a beluga name plate to one of the cans. I’m just hoping it lasts and the exhaust doesn’t drone too bad.
I do plan to take the old exhaust to a shop and see if they’re willing to replicate something similar but with larger diameter piping.
I’ll update with pictures later this forum isn’t super user friendly
1998 Porsche 986
Boxster
Hybrid Mode
