Retain Scorpion or not?

[E30BeemerLad]

As some of you will know I have acquired a 6 branch manifold and will be fitting it in the coming months, but not before I have sorted the headgasket and given it a top end rebuild, possibly even some piston rings.

I have a Scoprion system on at present, which I assume is the 2 piece as there are only 2 pieces to it in the stainless which consists of the back box and then the twin pipe section that flattens where it passes below the rear beam. It then goes into a centre section in mild steel upto the down pipes.

Now I have got this 6 branch, but also with it comes a full standard 325i system which has been welded together and is complete and ready to fit.

Sometimes I am a bit bored of the loud howl from the scorpion and it has got me thinking of whether to ditch the scorpion system when fitting the 6 branch, given that the 6-branch will hopefully allow it to breath better.

Do you reckon a 6 branch with standard system will give me more power than I have with present standard manifold and scoprion system? Sometimes I think whether there is any noticeable power increase from the scoprion system as they seem pretty hollow and perhaps do not allow such a free flow of gases anyway, all bark and no bollocks in other words. The car came with this on so i have no before & after comparison.

I suppose the only true test would be to swap stuff about and have it on the rollers each time but that is an expensive day out.

Any thoughts on the matter chaps?

My car allegedly made 192bhp on a rolling road not long after the existing mods were done 4 years ago. With a top end rebuild and possibly some new rings, once bedded in, maybe the mystical 200bhp barrier could be broken? Much depends on the credibility of the original RR session, as my mate who had the car at the time cannot find the graph etc.

[M5pilot]

Scorpion systems dont release any more power over standard. Infact they reduce the amount of low end torque.

My old Alpina made 170 lb.ft at 2000rpm with a BMW quicksilever system and then I changed to Scorpion and the torque went down to around 150@2000rpm.

The car was never as quick with the scorpion.

Ever notice why I never put them on the zone shop?

The standard systems are brilliant as long as its boysen or another one called bosal (i think).

Standard systems also make a really nice noise.

Which 6 branch is it? If its a magnex or fritz Bitz expect bottom end torque loss......lots of.

[E30BeemerLad]

It's a fritz bits one, gotta be an improvement over the cast iron pig that is on there though? hope so!

I do feel my car lacks low down grunt, it surges well once on the boil, probably due to the cam in it. but below 3500 it's pretty lame

think I may dabble in a wild zone chip for it as I don't know what is in it now as the invoice for when it was all done just says something like remap using custom chip.

[pacerpete]

There are two places to put a scorpion exhaust
1. the bin
2. the parts for sale section

[Simon]

Never had a scorpion on an M20, but the word scorpion in the S14 world is a swear word, every single one seems to loose power, and I for one have noticed a huge difference since ditching mine for a standard system.

I've got to say, I liked the noise they make on the M20 though!

Oh and as Sal said, the standard Boysen systems sound real nice!

[E30BeemerLad]

I think it is a Bosal system I'm getting with this 6-branch.

I am coming round to the standard system over the popping and farting of the scorpion. Well i definately am if I will see an increase in performance

[dazleeds]

gotta say my old 325 had a new standard system on it before she died
sounded gorgeous on idle
and fookin awesome when the revs were wound up
but beware ive heard some 325s with standard systems just too quiet

maybe its a difference between 2 or 3piece dnt know??

[A1BMW325iSport]

E30BeemerLad - if you are selling your scorpion system can you let me know as i`m desperate for a rear box, name your price