info and pics from member at rennteam

 

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Nice, but still begs the question: worth the bucks for the few hp gain?

 

the CF looks yummy.

 

Thanks. Looks awsome. Can't wait...

 

exactly. For what ... $15K? I don't think I'd be going for the X51.

 

I would get it for several reasons:

1- Porsche original products .. from Dealer

2- Wont void warranty...

3- Better than aftermarket products..

4- Gains are 100% ...

i'll wait for the new GT3 , check the price vs carrera S price + x51 package

 

Hmm interesting. I wonder if the AWE exhaust, free flow cats, headers would still yield +39hp on the X51 package. 430hp! That exhaust looks like the standard 997 exhaust so if it's as restrictive as it is supposed to be it might make for a nice hp package.

 

Realize for for $15K you could have the EVO SC package & still keep some money. Question of 26 hp from the factory or 150+ hp from the aftermarket. I would go for the EVO unit. Warranty is a valid point. I guess I will just wait for some special edition to come out, not sell & get discounted $20K & I will get the X51 package in due time.

 

Realize though when you smoke a motor with an SC guees what no warranty.. I personally would only SC an out of warranty car..as far as discount ya like the 40th aniv cars w X51 they will come..

 

The X51 comes standard with Porsche Sport Exhaust, but I do not beleive this exhaust adds any horsepower. The description says it let it breath in more gas and air, and has better exhaust flow. If anyone finds that a different exhaust adds significant bhp, I'd like to know about it.

 

Is that confirmed ? I have heard it both ways. It is, & it isn't. If it is then the price point is a bit more palatable as the PSE is about $2500 option alone.

 

It does come with the PSE. I have one on order should be here in a month or 2.

 

After looking at the Fabspeed website and some X51 photos, it looks like it's nothing more than and intake and exhaust package. If that's the case, $15k for 26hp is way too much. I thought it involved engine internals.

Looking at a stock Carrera S, the intake has 2 tubes that merge into 1 from the airbox. One big fat one and one little one. The little one emerges from a flapper valve that controls the sound of the engine. When the valve is closed, a separate chamber within the intake is used to alter the sound of the engine. When open, that chamber is not being used. The X51 package has two big intake ports vs the single intake port on the standard S. It also doesn't have the 2nd tube or the flapper valve emerging from the outlet part of the airbox. Net effect is much better breathing on the X51 package.

The stock S uses super-restrictive headers that are even more restrictive than standard 996 headers. Look at the Fabspeed site for more details on this.

Header Video

The replacement headers from Fabspeed and AWE etc essentially eliminate the Y bottleneck that is placed in there by the stock S header. The X51 package has headers that do not have the same Y that the stock S headers have. It has more of a 996 style header. Both Fabspeed and AWE say that the 3.8L S engine is corked up by the exhaust, especially the header. This kind of makes sense because Porsche has the perfect upgrade designed for the Carrera S. Also, it allow them to leave a little on the table for future variants of the engine. Why else would they use a more restrictive header than even a 996 factory header.

As far as exhaust, it is merely the PSE which is probably a little less restrictive than the standard 3 chambered exhaust that the 997 comes with. Net effect of all this is 26hp. IMO, I would go AWE headers and exhaust or Fabspeed headers and exhaust instead of the X51 package. You will net more hp, it will cost less money and it will definitely weigh less. As far as warranty issues, that's why we have the Moss-Magnuson act. Tons of people changed exhausts on their 996s without any warranty issues whatsoever. I think a definite must for any 997 owner is header replacement. I had Fabspeeds on my 996 and I will probably go with Fabspeeds headers and exhaust on my 997S. The quality of manufacturing is top notch. They also have some really nice tips.