[jokergerm]

Well im putting my car back to stock to take it in and get new turbos( I Hope)

when the AR 3" DP were installed i paid like 200 bucks to get a shop to do it.
If you have simple hand tools and a ramp or something its a peice of cake ( I have a lift in my garage)

took me about 30 min to get the AR's out, im taking a lunch break and then im installing the OEM down pipes

So if you considering paying a shop but have some simple tools just do it your self!

[jlcf22]

I think I'm gonna try and do it myself next couple of weeks when they come in

[Crazylegs]

Not with big arms an hands it's not...

[blackbeast06]

It is not extremely hard if you have the right tools, the tools are the key for sure. The problem is when you have a couple little quirky issues that occure ie. v band clamps on the turbos. Not to mention the tight space you have to work in, especially with out a lift. It is not the hardest install ever but doing it for the first time will definitely not be a breeze.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Key is getting it up high enough to work comfortably. I would lift it onto heavy duty jack stands over ramps.

[cn555ic]

You must have tiny hands because this is far from easy to install...I did it myself but I would NEVER do it again...Rather pay someone the 200-250

[jokergerm]

Well this was my 1st time, it took me about 2.5 hours from start to finish.

And that includes taking off the drivers side DP cause i forgot to put the o2 sensor in first and it was to tight to do with both DPs in the way

The hardest part without a doubt is that STUPID band clamps they dont cooperate what so ever. I hate them

i bet i spent 45 minutes on the passagner side DP Im calling the left DP the drivers and the passanger the right DP if your sitting in the car.

Other then that it was a breeze. Now im making my appt at the dealer to try and fight til the death over these stupid turbos rattling.

While i had the DPs of i was wiggling the wastegate and it makes the same noise as it does while rattle occurs.......imagine that

having a lift at your shop at home is a huge bonus lol

[jokergerm]

Originally Posted by cn555ic

You must have tiny hands because this is far from easy to install...I did it myself but I would NEVER do it again...Rather pay someone the 200-250

haha no, i dont have small hands on a scale of 1-10 i would give this job a 3. Pretty simple and straight forward, having 2 people would be a bonus however but i was rolling solo

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by jokergerm

haha no, i dont have small hands on a scale of 1-10 i would give this job a 3. Pretty simple and straight forward, having 2 people would be a bonus however but i was rolling solo

It's not mechanically challenging, but it takes some time due to the space constraints…Anything under 90 minutes is really tidy work IMO. If you have a lift and the right tools it's no biggie, but on ramps for a first timer I could see it being quite miserable.

[SCGT]

Height/weight? I'm 280 lbs and a competitive lifter. I want to do this myself but am concerned (convinced, really, given my experience doing, oh, any work on this car) that my fat fingers will once more be a detriment to me. It used to just be on airplanes that I regretted getting big. Add to that list working on this car.

[jokergerm]

Originally Posted by SCGT

Height/weight? I'm 280 lbs and a competitive lifter. I want to do this myself but am concerned (convinced, really, given my experience doing, oh, any work on this car) that my fat fingers will once more be a detriment to me. It used to just be on airplanes that I regretted getting big. Add to that list working on this car.

im 6'1 235 football build

[SCGT]

Sweet. I'm in. If I get stuck in my engine bay expect a nasty PM lol.

[jokergerm]

Originally Posted by SCGT

Sweet. I'm in. If I get stuck in my engine bay expect a nasty PM lol.

If i were you i would go buy a little 2 or 3inch LED light so you can see the turbos while working, the biggest issue i had was using a big ass tubular drop light, that made it really hard to get my hands up there but i got a tiny little 6 LED light and set it on the K frame or what ever its called and it was much much more user friendly!

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Hardest part i found was getting the stock o2 sensors out. That was basically a tool issue because the wrenches I had were either too long to work or too short to apply any torque. Otherwise the actual install is pretty straight forward. It is a pain doing it on your back though.

It also helps to mark which o2 sensor goes where so you dont have to end up going back underneath the car to put the right.

Make sure you have clearance for your sub frame and with some downpipes it helps to also adjust the mid pipe bracket for more clearance too.

Last but not least be sure to leave room for clearance on the V Clamp Flange for the Wastegate actuator Arms.


Home depot sells LED Lights that go around your forehead like a sweat band. They are goofy looking but work wonders when you need some light exactly where your eyes are looking. (hands free).

[klipseracer]

The hard part is putting the new downpipes in. Getting them off isn't hard.

getting the pipes to line up and the vbands to fit without being able to see very well if you're laying on the ground is the bitch, arms get tired.

[jokergerm]

I had a harder time putting the OEM intake box back on, that was pain, those little plastic accordian deals are not very flexable and i spend 30 minutes trying to wiggle/force them to go back on the stupid airbox.

Its really lame driving the 335i in stock form, so slow is a joke.

Now im going to clear codes and pull the JB4 off and back to stock she is.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by jokergerm

I had a harder time putting the OEM intake box back on, that was pain, those little plastic accordian deals are not very flexable and i spend 30 minutes trying to wiggle/force them to go back on the stupid airbox.

Its really lame driving the 335i in stock form, so slow is a joke.

Now im going to clear codes and pull the JB4 off and back to stock she is.

That's cause the DCI tubes are smaller then the OEM. So as time goes on with heat from the engine bay and daily driving they shrink.

[jokergerm]

[BQTuning]

Originally Posted by cn555ic

You must have tiny hands because this is far from easy to install...I did it myself but I would NEVER do it again...Rather pay someone the 200-250

yup agreed...when sh*t starts to rattler etc indont want to be right back under the multiple times. I have no time for that. it easier just to put the liability on someone else that what I am paying for

[pobudz]

Just installed BMS downpipes.

Heat shield took WAY longer than it should have.. requires tiny hands. Turbo clamps are just retarded. There is literally 0 space to move it around into place on either pipe. There was two of us, with the car on ramps. I think we wasted a good two hours messing with both of these things. The O2 sensors are easy if you have the socket made specifically for removing them. Everything else was a piece of cake.

There is a lot of blind-bolt threading. Hope you have a good imagination!

[jokergerm]

i didnt even take off the heat shield, i worked around it guess i got lucky.

i didnt see a reason to take off that little heat shield, i guess im just used to working on tight spaces etc etc

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by Crazylegs

Not with big arms an hands it's not...

sure it is, there is a 18-20" hole as long as you drop the steering rack all the way..... Not just move it a inch or so. I am 6'4 290lbs and my big hands and arms for easily. I have done 25 sets.