[mapleleaf1773]

Non dealer shops that you trust are a good way to go when you do not want to perform those kind of tasks. Have any you could ask?

[Dave92N54]

Originally Posted by mapleleaf1773

Non dealer shops that you trust are a good way to go when you do not want to perform those kind of tasks. Have any you could ask?

I know that, at least around here, unless they're a strictly performance oriented shop (as in they build cars that don't see the street) they won't touch a catless install because of emissions.

[Gregrobin]

Originally Posted by stewbets

Sounds like a little physical therapy

I'm an old man, why did I pick this car as the one I wanted to tune and have fun playing with? Sarcasm..

[dubgtr]

If there is an exhaust shop around you, you can usually wait until maybe a half hour to an hour before they close. Walk up to the shop, not the office, and wait by the garage door until one of the employees ask you if you need help. Thats when you say, "I was looking for someone willing to make a few bucks on the side, I have katless downpipes I need installed and I'm an old man."

Not that I think you're an old man, it helps sell the deal though.

[fgpalmer71]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

Well I called every local BMW service shop and none of them will do a catless downpipe install, so if I go with this upgrade it looks like I'll have no choice but to do it myself. Bad back, elbow, shoulder and all. Girlfriend's father expects to have the new lift installed soon so I'll wait for that.

A lift would've made this job 10x easier for me.

[Gregrobin]

Originally Posted by fgpalmer71

A lift would've made this job 10x easier for me.

I like both suggestions, thanks. If I'm patient I'll have access to a lift soon, my girlfriend's father is putting one in his new garage.

[Bimmer_Bro]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

I like both suggestions, thanks. If I'm patient I'll have access to a lift soon, my girlfriend's father is putting one in his new garage.

I hope you don't have an xi? Horrible job on a xi.
I would wait for a lift if you plan to do this yourself. Or use a performance shop like I did... but I paid an arm and a leg.

[Gregrobin]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Bro

I hope you don't have an xi? Horrible job on a xi.
I would wait for a lift if you plan to do this yourself. Or use a performance shop like I did... but I paid an arm and a leg.

08 335i E93

I found 2 performance shops that will do it.

$1100 Parts and labor and $1200 labor only.

[Bimmer_Bro]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

08 335i E93

I found 2 performance shops that will do it.

$1100 Parts and labor and $1200 labor only.

I think I paid 1300 cad. Not including the pipes.
But it's a lot more work on an xi. Thats including dropping the subframe, install and alignment after. (Due to subframe drop)

[Gregrobin]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Bro

I think I paid 1300 cad. Not including the pipes.
But it's a lot more work on an xi. Thats including dropping the subframe, install and alignment after. (Due to subframe drop)

Everything I read states someone who knows what they're doing and who's done this job before can do it in two to three hours. Not that I'm not willing to pay $1,000 to have the job done right, I'm just not understanding how 3 hours gets to $1,000.

[mapleleaf1773]

The cost usually escalates when manifold studs break. Thats where time increases on most cars and trucks.

[Bimmer_Bro]

Originally Posted by mapleleaf1773

The cost usually escalates when manifold studs break. Thats where time increases on most cars and trucks.

Umm what? Downpipes attach to the turbos with vband clamps... no studs.

[fgpalmer71]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

08 335i E93

I found 2 performance shops that will do it.

$1100 Parts and labor and $1200 labor only.

I just spit my coffee out while reading that. Good lord that seems nutty as hell. If people are paying that I need to quit my day job and do nothing but install N54 DP's. I could buy a used lift after job #2 and bang them out 2 a day if the demand was there. If professionals can't knock this out in less then 4 hours I can't trust them. If I had a lift and air tools I'd say 3 hrs is reasonable.

[ab987]

As for the smell, on cold starts if I sit for a minute in my garage I'll notice it, but then again our 2 N52 cars that are fully stock smell more or less the same, just not quite as much. Fully warm I don't notice it one bit, I can sit and idle all day standing behind my car and nothing. I can't say the same for cars without secondaries, that's where you really get smells, just driving behind them around town fully warm you constantly smell them, especially on ethanol.

As for the sound, unplug your boost solenoids and do some revs, it's pretty similar, just a bit deeper. There's a tiny bit of rasp 5000-5500 but it's not bad rasp, it sounds a lot like the NA straight sixes of old. Almost a bit exotic when going through under a bridge or tunnel. I think it's the perfect sound/volume alongside stock exhaust or PE.

I'm doing inlets next week and have to drop the downpipes (and need to replace one of the v bands that is in two pieces from when I installed them a year ago, DO NOT CHEAP OUT - GET NEW V BANDS) so if you want yet another write-up for downpipes to decide if it's worth it (my first time took maybe an hour + undertray) I'd be happy to make one. Contemplating throwing my stock ones back in to do emissions, but my buddy's fully catless 335is passes somehow so I'll make that decision then.

[ky0u]

Originally Posted by stewbets

Sounds like a little physical therapy

Instead of having that weird pain on one side of your body, you can now have it on both so it's all balanced!

Originally Posted by fgpalmer71

I just spit my coffee out while reading that. Good lord that seems nutty as hell. If people are paying that I need to quit my day job and do nothing but install N54 DP's. I could buy a used lift after job #2 and bang them out 2 a day if the demand was there. If professionals can't knock this out in less then 4 hours I can't trust them. If I had a lift and air tools I'd say 3 hrs is reasonable.

Honestly man, I used to think the same (and sometimes I still consider it). But everytime i do even a "simple" DIY, it seems like something really stupid pops up and bones me with no lube. And idk if dealing with that stress/frustration on the daily would be worth it. I mean I DIY as much as I can but with the knowledge that I'll only have to do it once or twice

[Gregrobin]

Originally Posted by Dave92N54

I know that, at least around here, unless they're a strictly performance oriented shop (as in they build cars that don't see the street) they won't touch a catless install because of emissions.

Same here. I found 2 performance shops that will do it if I "keep quiet" and the other wants me to order the parts, which I prefer.

[Gregrobin]

After doing more research I think I will go with VRSF over ARM. But, I am not impressed with VRSF customer service compared to ARM. I got a same day answer to an email from ARM, and a 10% return customer discount. It takes 2-3 days to get a reply from VSRF. And now I am waiting (over 2 days) for them to confirm this is the one I need:

https://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-3-stai...-bmw-135i.html

Should I also replace the V-Band Clamps and Turbo to Downpipe Gaskets at the same time?

[ky0u]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

After doing more research I think I will go with VRSF over ARM. But, I am not impressed with VRSF customer service compared to ARM. I got a same day answer to an email from ARM, and a 10% return customer discount. I takes 2-3 days to get a reply from VSRF. And now I am waiting (over 2 days) for them to confirm this is the one I need:

https://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-3-stai...-bmw-135i.html

Should I also replace have the V-Band Clamps and Turbo to Downpipe Gaskets replaced at the same time?

Gaskets are a yes, v-band clamps not 100% necessary but it doesnt hurt, plus you already went through that whole process to reach it so might as well

I have a set of VRSF from several years ago that fit fine but just a heads up, I've been seeing complaints pop up more about their recent fitments as well as issues with Customer service

Also yes those are the right ones

[Dave92N54]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

After doing more research I think I will go with VRSF over ARM. But, I am not impressed with VRSF customer service compared to ARM. I got a same day answer to an email from ARM, and a 10% return customer discount. I takes 2-3 days to get a reply from VSRF. And now I am waiting (over 2 days) for them to confirm this is the one I need:

https://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-3-stai...-bmw-135i.html

Should I also replace have the V-Band Clamps and Turbo to Downpipe Gaskets replaced at the same time?

If it makes you feel any better, I purchased my VRSF DPs in March (around the time I had been seeing some complaints on here) and had absolutely no issues. They fit right in, and fitment is perfect. I've also since removed and reinstalled them with no problems, but it's starting to look like I may need to a 3rd time (I should have just bought the turbo to dp gaskets…)

[fgpalmer71]

Originally Posted by Gregrobin

After doing more research I think I will go with VRSF over ARM. But, I am not impressed with VRSF customer service compared to ARM. I got a same day answer to an email from ARM, and a 10% return customer discount. It takes 2-3 days to get a reply from VSRF. And now I am waiting (over 2 days) for them to confirm this is the one I need:

https://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-3-stai...-bmw-135i.html

Should I also replace the V-Band Clamps and Turbo to Downpipe Gaskets at the same time?

For me it was down to those same 2 choices. I chose ARM solely on the price and the fact that I could have them more quickly. To me they're all the same at a certain point. The only difference I see is the additional welds on the ARM pipes. Mine were all well done and the fitment was issue free. Diameter and materials appear to be the same. I have zero complaints with my choice and can't fault anyone for going a different direction.....we know there's a plethora of options.

I didn't replace the clamps or the gaskets and did that intentionally. The turbos were replaced roughly 20k miles before my purchase. In my particular case they looked pretty great. If my situation would've been different I'd have replaced them though. I don't want to do the install over again because I didn't want to spend a couple of dollars.

[ab987]

I went with the VRSF ones back in October, they were backed up about a month but I have no regrets, really nice fitment and build quality. If you have any sort of mileage, please do gaskets and V bands, don't cheap out. At 84k my gaskets were disintegrated and in pieces and my front v band snapped when I took it off. These things get really brittle with heat.

[Gregrobin]

Pulled the trigger and purchased the VRSF downpipes, clamps and gasket.