The Best Nissan 350Z Exhausts

If you've ever researched anything about the automotive aftermarket, there's a good chance you've heard of the brand TOMEI. Based in Japan, the company started off specializing in building Nissan race engines, so it knows a thing or two about Nissan cars. When it comes to the 350Z's VQ35DE engine, TOMEI has a wide assortment of products, including engine internals such as camshafts and connecting rods. Knowing that, it's little surprise we recommend its exhaust as our Editor's Pick.

This isn't a cat-back exhaust, rather it connects at the y-pipe and if that's what you're looking for, the TOMEI's Expreme Ti should check all your boxes. It is a rather loud option, but it does come with a silencer to help quiet things down a bit if necessary. Other than the flange that connects to the factory mid-section, the lightweight three-piece assembly doesn't have any flanges. Instead, you'll connect all the pieces together using clamps, which also makes install a little more flexible. Overall, its design has minimal bends and curves for maximum performance with 3.15-inch (80 mm) diameter piping constructed from stainless steel.

Along with the larger diameter piping and straighter design compared to stock, the titanium construction means this exhaust weighs about 13 pounds, compared to the factory's 46 pounds.

We understand not everyone wants to spend $1,000 on an exhaust for their Nissan 350Z. The aftermarket has plenty of affordable options, but quality is always a concern, which is why the ISR Performance Single GT Exhaust is our Best on a Budget pick. The brand has built a reputation within the Nissan community for blending quality with affordability, with years of hands-on experience building vehicles and testing their products thoroughly on the track before they hit the market.

This three-inch exhaust option produces a deep and aggressive tone, fully constructed from mandrel bent stainless steel with a polished tip and muffler. It's precision TIG welded and is a few pounds lighter than the factory exhaust. At the end of the system is a 4.5-inch tip with a fairly standard design.

This is a single exit, y-pipe back exhaust is ideal for 350Z owners looking to enhance their performance and tone without breaking the bank account.

Oftentimes, titanium exhaust systems demand a price premium, and it's easily understood why since it's a lightweight, high-strength material. Striking a balance between price and performance is another entry from ISR, the company's Performance Series II Titanium Single GT Exhaust, made entirely from titanium to tip the scales at a scant nine pounds. Like the Single GT we chose as our Best on a Budget Pick, it's a y-pipe back exhaust, so you're experiencing a noticeable weight savings from the factory's 46-pound unit. It's a two-piece, three-inch exhaust system with flanges to mate the mid-pipe to the muffler section, all precision welded for quality.

This exhaust delivers a deep and aggressive tone, but keep in mind it can be quite loud since there's no resonator in the mid section. You'll get a clean, although basic, muffler design but the burnt tip lets the world know you're rocking a titanium exhaust.

An aftermarket brand that has been around for decades, HKS is practically a household name for tuners and car builders worldwide. The HKS Hi-Power Exhaust is what we'd call a Japanese classic, as the Hi-Power name has been used for exhausts across various makes and models for years, from street cars to race cars and drift cars. It's arguably one of the best-sounding exhausts throughout its history, as HKS has developed a straight-through muffler design that is deep, throaty, yet not overwhelmingly loud for a daily driver. From the factory, the VQ35DE is one of the best-sounding engines out there, and the HKS Hi-Power simply enhances that deep growl to sound even more menacing.

This is a cat-back exhaust system, meaning you'll bolt it onto your catalytic converters, replacing the entire exhaust system from then on. As you can tell from its photo, it's a true dual exhaust with approximately 2.4-inch piping (60 mm) that features a special SUH 409 coating to protect the stainless steel underneath from the elements. Although the rest of the exhaust itself is stainless steel, the Hi-Power does have burnt titanium tips.

For those who want a premium exhaust and willing to spare no expense, consider Motordyne's Shockwave TDX2 Exhaust. It's a true dual exhaust system that includes an x-pipe with progressively expanding 2.5-inch primary tubing to three-inch exhaust tubing for an optimal power curve. Its design makes it one of the best sounding exhausts for daily drivers on our list, which is vouched by numerous owners on forum threads when a community member asks, "What's the best sounding exhaust for the 350Z?"

It's made from polished stainless steel 304L with back purged and TIG-welded construction. At the end of the exhaust are 4.5-inch rolled or slash cut tips in stainless steel or optional burnt titanium. If you're running a turbocharged VQ35DE and really love Motordyne's exhaust, you can custom order it with full three-inch tubing instead of the 2.5-inch primary tubing. So if you're looking for performance, quality, and sound without a concern for budget, check out this premium dual exhaust from Motordyne.

One of the most well known brands when it comes to exhaust components, MagnaFlow pretty much has exhaust systems for every sport compact car out there and more. Our recommendation from MagnaFlow comes from the company's Street Series Stainless Performance Exhaust lineup, which focuses on having a mild tone inside your vehicle, while sounding nice and throaty on the outside. In other words, comfortable on the ears while driving, but noticeable on the street to everyone else. The main piping diameter of this system measures 2.5 inches and it's a cat-back system with all mandrel bent tubing.

Featuring 409 stainless steel, which is more resistant to corrosion than 304 stainless steel, MagnaFlow uses CNC precision robotic manufacturing to construct its exhaust. This is also an ideal exhaust system for 350Z owners who want a more subtle design for the exhaust tips, which do measure 4.5 inches in diameter. In a way, it's simply a larger version of the factory design so the exhaust tips aren't the center of attention, like what you see on some of our other recommendations. Oh yeah, MagnaFlow includes a limited lifetime construction warranty with this exhaust.

Borla is yet another household brand in the exhaust industry, with the company's systems made in the U.S. Its offering for the Nissan 350Z is a true dual exhaust that comes with an h-pipe for a complete cat-back system. Borla uses its signature XR-1 Race-Bred mufflers for increased performance and improved sound. You'll want to consider this exhaust if you want a system that simply amplifies the stock exhaust note and you're not in the market for something too loud. As you can tell by the photo, it uses a fairly straight-through design and the company claims flow numbers improved 27 percent over stock, with independent dyno tests showing 15 to 20 horsepower and torque gains. It's worth noting however, that it uses 2.25-inch diameter tubing.

It's constructed from T-304 austenitic stainless steel and when compared to the factory exhaust, it weighs 12 pounds less. At the end are four-inch, angle-cut rolled edge T-304 stainless steel tips, which again, are more subtle than other entries on the market. In fact, it fits the factory rear diffuser nicely if you're looking for a more factory-like appearance. All of Borla's products come with a million-mile warranty for peace of mind.

When the Nissan 350Z initially arrived on the market, Stillen was one of the first brands to develop and produce parts for it. The company's history of working on Nissan vehicles made it obvious that Stillen would move quickly and that's one of the main reasons why this exhaust is on the list. It's tried and true for many years with its 304 stainless steel construction and limited lifetime warranty. The company claims you can expect an increase of 16 wheel horsepower and 14 ft-lbs of torque, while delivering a mild note at idle and cruising. It opens up to a more aggressive note at wide open throttle.

This is a dual split rear exit exhaust with 4.5-inch dual wall tips at the end and polished mufflers. It's one of the quietest exhausts out there for the 350Z, so if you're looking for a bump in performance with a full cat-back system without all the noise, consider this option.

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Photo credit: Jason Siu / AutoGuide.com