You popped the hood and saw that you had the Stillen exhaust or the intake?

 

Sorry I wasn't more accurate is describing what I saw. I believe I saw Stillen cold air intake pipes on each side of the engine. I think the actual exhaust system is still stock...

 

Is it the Gen 2 or Gen 3 intake. Intakes won't cause the sound you are referring to. Take a picture and post it. My stillen Gen 3 is super subtle even at WOT. Possibly because of the placement of the filters outside the engine bay. I don't experience any drone or rasp of any kind. Is there headers on the car?

 

I am not mechanically inclined and know little about, engines, mods or any add ons. I had a nice 2010 G37x and at Christmas purchased a 2012 white G37XS.
I was happy with the older vehicle but jumped at the chance to grab a car with 10,000 miles rather than 26,500; the sport package and nice tinted windows and a clear mylar type bra. The car looks really nice and drives like a dream, but for the "drone". To be honest it was an impulse decision. I didn't test drive the newer vehicle thinking it would be similar to the older car. I did notice the low rumble when starting and driving the car that I initially enjoyed. Now I find the sound, described as a "drone" in this thread, to be irritating. As I mentioned, I did look under the hood, and as best I could, under the back of the car and was able to take some photos. I apologize in advance for their poor quality.

Could someone let me know what the add on in attached to the engine and if you think the exhaust is stock or modified? What is the purpose of the add on/modifications and is it feasible to remove the add ons and return to a stock/quieter car?

Thanks for educating me on this.

 

From the pics it looks like you have a Stillen Gen 2 intake and and a Stillen catback exhaust.

The intake replaces your air filters, air filter boxes and factory plastic + rubber tubes with metal piping and cone filters.
The catback replaces the exhaust sections starting right after the catalytic converters all the way until the tips at the end. The piping is larger and the mufflers are smaller hence the sound.

 

Thank you for the response.

I have a few more questions. What is the advantage of the Stillen intake piping?
If I remove the catback with stock exhaust sections, will I eliminate the "drone"?

Again thank you.

 

That is the Stillen Gen 2 Intake system but that does not look like the Stillen Cat Back. The muffler is Wider on the Stillen Cat Back. Also look at the Exhaust Tip. It should say Stillen on the Tip.

 

I have a 7at coupe and i just recently bought a fi cbe. I noticed i have alot of the same issues with droning as you sedan guys. I had the transmission update done, now it has made it worst. I m suspecting this is an issue for all 7at owners with aftermarket exhaust. Oh wells guess its time to sell the cbe

 

Glad to have found this...I just bought a 2009 G37 sedan...no mods yet aside from suspension. Was thinking of Stillen Gen2 long tube dual intake and Stillen CBE. I have been concerned about drone.

Sounds like I'd have a similar issue. Have to rethink if I'll do the CBE. Maybe I'll just do intake.

Definitely don't want drone in the cabin, nor to sound like a "16 year old ricer" if/when I have clients in the car.

 

No exhaust on this car but my previous ride was an Acura CLS. First the 5AT then the 6MT. I had the same comptech exhaust on both cars. The drone was so annoying on the 5AT and completely absent with the 6MT. The obvious difference being the gearing and related engine rpm at highway cruising speed 2-3k. I was thinking about the stillen exhaust on my g37 7AT but after this thread I'll pass.

 

Does anyone have any pictures they can share of the stillen exhaust installed on their car? How is clears the bumper and the mufflers look?

 

I just wanted to post an update. The exhaust drone had only gotten louder and worse over time. I also noticed my transmission had been lagging really badly for several months and it made the drone that much worse. Tried getting help or a refund from Stillen due to their "zero drone" false advertising on their website and have even gone through Amex with little positive result.

In my contact with them, Stillen has proven:
A- to not really care to answer or respond in any way to emails or calls unless threatened by a chargeback
B - to know about the problem with 7ATs, but to not care enough to tell their customers the truth about the drone

They have proven to be some of the worst snake oil salesman I've ever encountered. They did just enough emailing etc with me to build a case against the chargeback and to satisfy Amex, and then completely ignored me after that.

By the way, potential purchasers: there is no returning of parts once installed, so don't think you can buy it, try it out, and then return it. Not going to happen.

I went back to stock and my transmission lag is completely gone, along with the $hitty drone. I miss the roar at wide open throttle, but the way it turned my $40k car into a $hit box around town I do not miss.

Please do yourselves a favor and steer clear at all costs if you have a 7AT.
And if you are a fan of good customer support and honesty, I'd steer clear of Stillen as well.

Please re-post my experience to other forums to spread the word and have others benefit so that my wasting over $1000 wasn't for nothing.

 

Have you spoke to other 7at guys with stillen? I'm curious if they have the same problem.

 

PG, do some searching on here to see how well the invidia Q300 works with a 7AT. I have that on the 6mt and it sounds great. Very mild under normal driving, but really comes alive over 3500 rpm and screams at redline. Not sure if it would be subject to the drone/7at combo, but worth investigating.

 

I have Fast Intentions CF cat back on my IPL 7at and it sounds Amazing. i dont notice any trany lag at all. Mines louder then normal because I have test pipes. Tony's customer service is second to none! Sell or trade your Stillen.