[Sniz]

they both went on easy as butta!

Installed these on a members car yesterday in very quick fashion. Used a lift and air tools, even took time to mess with the AE exhaust on the car and tweak some tip alignment.

I dont have the official times but I think the Helix FMIC went on fully installed and road tested in just under an hour.

The downpipes obviously took longer and being catted made the space constraints that much worse, BUT they fit perfectly and looked great. No smell, great flow, and his car pulls like a bullet.

I believe they took around 2.5 hours taking our time, taking a lunch break and all the while watching the Playboy channel in HD........lol

Stage III Rev II maps worked flawlessly as I could tell, hitting low 15psi range on pulls. Car is a stealth rocket, not loud at all.

well done to both vendors for their products, especially Helix for getting their massive stepped core FMIC to fit better than any FMIC I have installed so far. Hell, the smaller code 3 took more than twice as long and required a lot of cutting. I have not installed a VK FMIC yet, I'm thinking that one could be done in 15 minutes based on what I have seen.



So there is my review from an installers point of view.

[JoeyFiasco]

thanks for the notes. i was defeated by the heat shield when trying to install my catless AR DPs..

[ianthegreat]

Originally Posted by JoeyFiasco

thanks for the notes. i was defeated by the heat shield when trying to install my catless AR DPs..

Haha I'm wondering if I should even try the DP installation myself. *edited for rudeness* Does a lift really make the difference vs. rhino ramps.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by ianthegreat

Haha I'm wondering if I should even try the DP installation myself. I refuse to think a fkn mechanic is smarter than I am. Does a lift really make teh difference vs. rhino ramps.

huge difference, I pity anyone installing downpipes on rhino ramps.

I'm sure it can be done, just not going to be me.


when my 335 got totaled I had to uninstall all my aftermarket parts w a jack and jackstands......it sucked so F'ing bad it wasnt funny, but that was my $$ getting ready to go to the junkyard and I just had to suck it up.

Lifts rule....period.

[Helix Wildebeest]

[MrChessy]

Can you compare the Helix FMIC to the Code3 FMIC as to performance? If you were to invest in one, which one would you highly recommend?

[WCM3]

Originally Posted by ianthegreat

Haha I'm wondering if I should even try the DP installation myself. I refuse to think a fkn mechanic is smarter than I am.

Oh man that's a rude statement.

And once I purchase some downpipes, I'm going to jack my car completely up in the garage and put them in. I installed a whole turbo kit in my M3, I'm sure downpipes will go in fine.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by MrChessy

Can you compare the Helix FMIC to the Code3 FMIC as to performance? If you were to invest in one, which one would you highly recommend?

Helix, hands down

its bigger, cheaper, and installs easier. Quality is top notch too.

I saw some very very good IAT readings/logs when I had my 335 w Helix FMIC and UR CAI.

hell when I 1st got my Helix FMIC almost 2 years ago I thought the IAT datalogging on my procede wasnt calibrated correctly. I was seeing sub 100 degree IAT's POST turbo......and that was on 2-4th gear pulls at WOT. Crazy good.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by WCM3

Oh man that's a rude statement.

that statement will change the more he works on his own car......especially if he tries to install catted DP's on his own car on Rhino Ramps.

[MrChessy]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Helix, hands down

its bigger, cheaper, and installs easier. Quality is top notch too.

I saw some very very good IAT readings/logs when I had my 335 w Helix FMIC and UR CAI.

hell when I 1st got my Helix FMIC almost 2 years ago I thought the IAT datalogging on my procede wasnt calibrated correctly. I was seeing sub 100 degree IAT's POST turbo......and that was on 2-4th gear pulls at WOT. Crazy good.

I guess that just answered my question.Hahaha. If only there was still a group buy on this, I would totally jump on it.

[ianthegreat]

Originally Posted by Sniz

that statement will change the more he works on his own car......especially if he tries to install catted DP's on his own car on Rhino Ramps.

I meant it more on the lines of... I 'know' I can try and do this myself and I guess "refuse to give in." Incorrect word choice.

I've rebuilt old carbed Ford engines -- where room to work is never an issue. However, this n54 is the tightest fit I've dealt with to date. So a lift might make all the difference.

Anyways, I'm impressed at how quickly you were able to install the FMIC. I take it you did not have to remove the front bumper? Was there any trimming involved? Most have mentioned there was.

[Septro]

You had better luck with the Helix than I had. Awesome intercooler nonetheless but there are multiple folks who still had to do some trimming to get them to fit. Not a lot mind you, but the mod is not a pure 'bolt-on'

First time took me about 5 hours to get just the FMIC installed. Drinking + modding = long installation

[Craig@SupremePower]

nice review man...

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Septro

You had better luck with the Helix than I had. Awesome intercooler nonetheless but there are multiple folks who still had to do some trimming to get them to fit. Not a lot mind you, but the mod is not a pure 'bolt-on'

First time took me about 5 hours to get just the FMIC installed. Drinking + modding = long installation

its a tight fit for sure, but it didnt require cutting on Scott's car, maybe others it did.

I remember when I installed the 1st Helix FMIC (the prototype) laying on my back in my garage it took a good 3-4 hours and I had to cut plenty of plastic. Since then it seems they have refined their design specs a bit. It seems to be the leading edges of the end tanks are more aggressively sloped/rounded in allowing for a little more clearance.

patience is key, but on Scott's car is slipped right into place once it was line up correctly. It helps that this was not my 1st time either.

oh yeah, no bumper removal.

[Mote]

Great stuff, Sniz.. I have that same setup. Helix and Ar Design FTW! Unbelievable how hard this car pulls.

[Septro]

^ You're missing the Helix logo in your sig.. you need a second line lol

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by Septro

^ You're missing the Helix logo in your sig.. you need a second line lol

Septro, just noticed you have an e90, im' pretty sure the Helix unit was designed using an e92.

wonder if that is the difference u were dealing with.

[eric@helix]

Originally Posted by MrChessy

I guess that just answered my question.Hahaha. If only there was still a group buy on this, I would totally jump on it.

There is: you can find it at the end of this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=232100

[Mote]

Originally Posted by Septro

^ You're missing the Helix logo in your sig.. you need a second line lol

LOL

[scottp999]

I'm still smiling from the install session yesterday. I was prepared for an 8-10 hour session and things just fell into place.

Matt has the 335's down to a tee, and others like me are benefiting from his experience growing. The mid-atlantic community is definitley starting to really help each other out with the whole range of mods. I feel like it's Christmas morning each time I get to go to Adam's garage.

I feel for the people not using a lift. We had some major long extensions and swivels working yesterday in order to hit things from the right angles. It would be very frustrating to me to attempt them on ramps or jack stands.

On the advice of Scalbert and Former_Boosted_IS I bought a cheap O2 socket set off amazon and it was very valuable for the DP install.

Worked great for less than $20: http://www.amazon.com/OEM-27110-Oxyg...4746103&sr=8-1

[TheTwinz]

Originally Posted by Sniz

I believe they took around 2.5 hours taking our time, taking a lunch break and all the while watching the Playboy channel in HD........lol

Side note, playboy channel still suck? isn't it like Skinemax still where they dont show much? lol

[ar design]

Nice