[rixY]

Hey everyone! I thought I would document this adventure for you guys on my journey with an Alibaba titanium exhaust. I have just recently joined the BMW community with my 2023 M240i xDrive in a beautiful Thundernight Metallic, and I of course have been doing my research on the best starting modifications. I am stumbling upon thread after thread about a ton of brands basically drop shipping full exhausts from China. After constantly reading different opinions, I thought I would take the somewhat risk and be a guinea pig for myself. I officially put in the order 2 days ago and the supplier said it should be here within 30-35 days (I am from Michigan in the USA for context). I will link the exhaust below for you guys to check out. I will be getting it installed at a shop (mainly because I do not trust myself with the wiring of the electronic valves, which it comes with and two almost identical remotes to a certain company, something something tronic).

Alibaba Titanium Exhaust

So far, the supplier has been nothing but extremely communicative, helping me customize the exhaust with different exhaust tips, and even engraving a logo into the muffler if I wanted to for an extra $100 (I did not but cool as an option). I will update once I get it installed, let me know if you have any questions!!

[mike@x-ph.com]

The muffler connection has a steep angle, which can cause resonance and affect sound quality.
Additionally, the pipe from the muffler to the tips appears smaller than the rest of the exhaust, which may also impact the overall sound.

However, for the price, as long as it fits well and holds up for at least a year, it's a decent deal if you're willing to overlook a few imperfections to save some money.

[VegasG42]

Very nice. I almost pulled the trigger on an Alibaba cattback the other night.

I'm pretty sure the exact exhaust that you ordered, was the cattback that 1StockF30 had on his first G42.

Please keep us updated on everything.

Did they charge you $360 for the express shipping ?

Here's what I'm going to order shortly :
https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...39604328TVkdbO

Same company that all the 340i guys ordered their catbacks from.

Here's the 340i thread :
https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2095221

[IanH]

Interested to see the product you receive vs what's on the listing. (Not that I expect it to be super different)

The biggest thing that I would watch on this exhaust is that there are a LOT of welds. Like 10x the number of welds found on a steel mandrel bent exhaust. It's totally possible that all of them are sound, but from a manufacturing standpoint more welds usually means more chance of a flaw in a weld.

[rixY]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

The muffler connection has a steep angle, which can cause resonance and affect sound quality.
Additionally, the pipe from the muffler to the tips appears smaller than the rest of the exhaust, which may also impact the overall sound.

However, for the price, as long as it fits well and holds up for at least a year, it's a decent deal if you're willing to overlook a few imperfections to save some money.

At the end of the day I am working with a shop that has installed a few of these before. If I do have the go spend a bit more to custom fit some stuff, I am ok with that because it will save me the money down the road. Again, I do acknowledge I am a bit of a guinea pig with this purchase that is why I wanted to document the full journey so other people can either take advantage of a great deal if it works out or stay clear!

[rixY]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

Very nice. I almost pulled the trigger on an Alibaba cattback the other night.

I'm pretty sure the exact exhaust that you ordered, was the cattback that 1StockF30 had on his first G42.

Please keep us updated on everything.

Did they charge you $360 for the express shipping ?

Here's what I'm going to order shortly :
https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...39604328TVkdbO

Same company that all the 340i guys ordered their catbacks from.

Here's the 340i thread :
https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2095221

I kid you not I stumbled upon his video a few hours after I placed the order, and I think it is the same one. If you do not mind waiting, I am getting the exhaust in early to mid-December and am immediately getting it installed and will be documenting said install on here. Regarding cost, I paid a grand total of $1,699 all in. This was with air shipping cost and him helping with some of the sales tax.

[rixY]

Originally Posted by IanH

Interested to see the product you receive vs what's on the listing. (Not that I expect it to be super different)

The biggest thing that I would watch on this exhaust is that there are a LOT of welds. Like 10x the number of welds found on a steel mandrel bent exhaust. It's totally possible that all of them are sound, but from a manufacturing standpoint more welds usually means more chance of a flaw in a weld.

That is why I want to make sure I document everything on here for the community. If it goes horrifically then that can be a lesson for others in my same situation. If not, then maybe we just found a cheaper "loophole" and might convince some of these stores to stop charging over 150% for a damn exhaust, when in reality that are changing damn near nothing from ordering it directly from China.

[IanH]

What brands exhaust are you saying is coming from China? Thats a pretty big allegation.

I'm not being scoldy, but its absolutely taking advantage of the system to pay chinese material and labor costs and transport it 5-7 thousand miles to be sold in the US...

For a company buying quality materials in the US and making the parts here, I doubt there is a ton of profit in the parts.

[rixY]

Originally Posted by IanH

What brands exhaust are you saying is coming from China? Thats a pretty big allegation.

I'm not being scoldy, but its absolutely taking advantage of the system to pay chinese material and labor costs and transport it 5-7 thousand miles to be sold in the US...

For a company buying quality materials in the US and making the parts here, I doubt there is a ton of profit in the parts.

I do not want to call out or make a thing about it but from my own research, even on this forum, it seems people are pointing the finger at valvetronic. Again, I cannot confirm or deny but there are some people on the G20 side of the forum that have stated that.

[IanH]

Originally Posted by rixY

I do not want to call out or make a thing about it but from my own research, even on this forum, it seems people are pointing the finger at valvetronic. Again, I cannot confirm or deny but there are some people on the G20 side of the forum that have stated that.

A company that has actual welders on staff is making the parts in china? Based in red territory of PA with a huge building?

https://valvetronic.com/pages/about-us

That both seems unlikely and would be comehting that could put them out of business quickly if true.

[VegasG42]

Originally Posted by IanH

A company that has actual welders on staff is making the parts in china? Based in red territory of PA with a huge building?

https://valvetronic.com/pages/about-us

That both seems unlikely and would be comehting that could put them out of business quickly if true.

Valvetronic has already publicly stated their exhaust systems are produced overseas. The design and initial fabrication was made by them in the US. Just like every other US company. But all the mass manufacturing is done by China.

Except for AWE. They are 100% US made. (and a couple other companies)

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...3&postcount=85

[IanH]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

Valvetronic has already publicly stated their exhaust systems are produced overseas. The design and initial fabrication was made by them in the US. Just like every other US company. But all the mass manufacturing is done by China.

Except for AWE. They are 100% US made. (and a couple other companies)

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...3&postcount=85

Very interesting.

[7ssainf]

Subbed! Looking forward to your review

[rixY]

Originally Posted by 7ssainf

Subbed! Looking forward to your review

Timeline is delivery around 8-15th of December. Going to have it installed immediately after it gets delivered. Expect an update around then.

[kudos]

Looking forward to this.

[7ssainf]

I sent them a message to inquire about shipping and its $1199 air cargo to the door for SS option. Not bad at all

[VegasG42]

Yep, they always go with express shipping. It's almost always $360

[VegasG42]

Originally Posted by rixY

Timeline is delivery around 8-15th of December. Going to have it installed immediately after it gets delivered. Expect an update around then.

Still in the 'build' process, waiting to ship ?

I ordered the regular valved stainless exhaust about a few weeks ago. Still hasn't shipped. But they have a 30 day window to ship the exhaust.

[rixY]

Originally Posted by VegasG42

Still in the 'build' process, waiting to ship ?

I ordered the regular valved stainless exhaust about a few weeks ago. Still hasn't shipped. But they have a 30 day window to ship the exhaust.

I literally just got an update that it is being shipped out tomorrow, will post pictures tomorrow when I get them of the completed exhaust. Shipping should be around 12-15 days, getting it installed as soon as it is delivered.