If there are no patents, no unique no-how/trade secrets, no special process…I don’t see what the point of any of this discussion is. I highly doubt JHM has any legal recourse once and if this competitor enters the market.
Who really cares? There are obviously folks on here that want some additional market competitition and others that want the “innovator” to not lose any business opportunity. In the end, the company that caters best to its customers will win.
I think everyone should wait to pass judgement until these two are actually competing in the market (last I heard neither company can even currently supply the market). Discussion until then serves little purpose outside of demonstrating there are 2 sides of this “argument” and to pass time/boredom.
And in full disclosure, I have absolutely no intention of purchasing either catback system and have no vested interest in the success of either company. Although I woudl like to get a JHM tune sooner rather than later! ;D
AMD
The original 2.75"
hot swap cats and test pipes
xpipe
So I guess JHM is another copycat/thief by your estimation?
Lets put it this way:
AMD, JHM and EBwerks all developed their own X-Pipe and the geometry and placement are all different.
They all use 2.75" piping which is off the shelf from a supplier. None have a claim they invented 2.75" piping.
AMD and JHM use cats that are cheap to source, originated in China (034 as well here).
Mufflers and tips are off the shelf, there is no claim anyone can make when a 3rd party reseller sells them on the open market. There are no patents. If its a catalog part, you can buy it, and obstructing said purchase is illegal.
Ben’s setup is very different than the AMD and JHM systems:
Completely different interface to headers from DP’s
New design to ease removal and install of DP’s
New hanger designs throughout
I believe they are using different materials
Different/better welding process
X pipe is located in a different location
X pipe geometry is different
CNC bend throughout the exhaust, not patchwork pipe welding
Different full exhaust geometry so system is tighter to car
In house designed and manufactured tips
in house designed and manufactured mufflers
Where they are similar:
2.75" piping
has an x pipe
has 2 mufflers
has two tips
Has test pipes
uses V bands, but uses them throughout, not a mix of v band and slip fit.
All I have to say is this is nowhere near a copy everyone claims, and is a dramatic improvement. I suggest people hold their assumptions/comments on sound, fitment, performance until its on the ~10 or so cars that have pre-ordered the setup.
umm…AMD doesn’t have an exhaust…and MTM was making 275 exhaust long before them.
Diameter is one of 5 things I listed. If two companies use the same diameter, it is not a copycat. If one company makes a 2.50 or 2.75 or whatever, tests the diameter, and it works, great. If someone else does their homework, great. I happen to know that JHM used SVT and Roush contacts to determine what is best for the RS4. Not what MTM was doing.
I find it comical that you don’t address the fact that Ben’s exhaust is 5 for 5 on the copycat system…yet you focus on the diameter of the pipe on an exhaust that was never sold by AMD to deflect attention from Ben’s (and yours as we now know) ripoff job. Then you mention 7 other things that are nowhere near as important as the choices that are the same as JHM’s parts. You’re classic. "downpipe interface’. lol. That’s the one we all look at when determining what exhaust to buy. I like how the new exhaust is using in house designed mufflers. I guess Mick Flanigan will be a distributor for Sebring and sell to ebwerks lol. Better scratch that Sebring logo off the tips while you’re at it.
Good luck with your new business Mick. I hope it works out for you guys. I hope you and quattroworld do yourselves proud, and this new exhaust enables you to finally break out of the 13s in your superstar RS4.
