[Supr3me]

So now that my gloss gunmetal Forgestar SDC F-14's are on and the windows are tinted (looks so SICK!), I'm of course moving on to performance upgrades.
My plan is JB4 + chargepipe + .....something else.

I'm torn between an Injen CAI and a VRSF catless DP.
Both will give me a improvement in the sound of the engine under load but only one will give a true performance improvement.

I know that there is some fuel smell at idle with the catless DP, but here's my question:
How bad is it? Is it just with windows open, or is it noticeable with windows closed also?

To clarify- I'm an N55. So I understand that there are no downstream cats.

I know this fuel smell question is a tough thing to quantify, so I'll suggest a more specific question, how likely is it to piss my wife off? LOL
Or another way to ask it-- does it piss YOUR wives off?

My rule of thumb is that as long as my mods don't impact my wife negatively, she won't give me a hard time about blowing cash on my ride. I don't want my party to get rained on, so... gotta decide this one carefully.

Opinions welcome and expected...
Thx
T.

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by Sµpreme

So now that my gloss gunmetal Forgestar SDC F-14's are on and the windows are tinted (looks so SICK!), I'm of course moving on to performance upgrades.
My plan is JB4 + chargepipe + .....something else.

I'm torn between an Injen CAI and a VRSF catless DP.
Both will give me a improvement in the sound of the engine under load but only one will give a true performance improvement.

I know that there is some fuel smell at idle with the catless DP, but here's my question:
How bad is it? Is it just with windows open, or is it noticeable with windows closed also?

To clarify- I'm an N55. So I understand that there are no downstream cats.

I know this fuel smell question is a tough thing to quantify, so I'll suggest a more specific question, how likely is it to piss my wife off? LOL
Or another way to ask it-- does it piss YOUR wives off?

My rule of thumb is that as long as my mods don't impact my wife negatively, she won't give me a hard time about blowing cash on my ride. I don't want my party to get rained on, so... gotta decide this one carefully.

Opinions welcome and expected...
Thx
T.

You will smell it a bit on cold start but beyond that it shouldn't be much of an issue, unless you or your wife are very sensitive to the catless smell you should be fine.

We have sold a lot of out Performance Line N55 Catless pipes and I don't think we've had one person come back and complain about odour.

If you are really worried there is always the option of the ar design race catted pipes.

Mike

[Euroboost91]

IMO it doesn't smell THAT bad. During cold starts maybe a bit more or if you are stuck in traffic with the windows down then you'll start to smell the odor. Just get JB4, chargepipe and a catless DP and forget about a intake as the gains are minimum compared to a DP.

[E90 335xi]

I was worried about odour too but like Mike said, it's nowhere near as bad as I thought. No one has even noticed it unless I pointed it out to them. And now I feel ridiculous that I even worried about it.

If you end up running some E85, it smells more like alcohol than like gas on cold starts, haha.

With the windows up, I can't smell a thing... and I have a sensitive nose.

Also, the 2 options are very different:

-intake: loud on heavy throttle only, barely any power gains, makes "BOV sound" when you let off, easy & cheap to install

-catless DP: exotic exhaust sound especially up to 3K RPM, makes a good amount of extra power, helps reduce turbo lag, can be a PITA to do the install which will take 2-4 hours even at the hands of a qualified mechanic

[Supr3me]

Thanks for the replies. Funny how you can search the forum posts for an hour and then only after you post a new thread you'll finally find some old posts that answer your question.

Specifically, I have a 2011 X-drive coupe, so it sounds like maybe there are secondary cats downstream. I think I'm gonna go for it.
Thx
T.

[Supr3me]

E90 I am blessed with a dealer mechanic friend that does my work on a lift no charge. He says "you buy, I labor, just keep the cart full"
Needless to say he doesn't pay to eat or drink if I'm around.
T.

[CantCatchMe]

Originally Posted by Sµpreme

So now that my gloss gunmetal Forgestar SDC F-14's are on and the windows are tinted (looks so SICK!), I'm of course moving on to performance upgrades.
My plan is JB4 + chargepipe + .....something else.

I'm torn between an Injen CAI and a VRSF catless DP.
Both will give me a improvement in the sound of the engine under load but only one will give a true performance improvement.

I know that there is some fuel smell at idle with the catless DP, but here's my question:
How bad is it? Is it just with windows open, or is it noticeable with windows closed also?

To clarify- I'm an N55. So I understand that there are no downstream cats.

I know this fuel smell question is a tough thing to quantify, so I'll suggest a more specific question, how likely is it to piss my wife off? LOL
Or another way to ask it-- does it piss YOUR wives off?

My rule of thumb is that as long as my mods don't impact my wife negatively, she won't give me a hard time about blowing cash on my ride. I don't want my party to get rained on, so... gotta decide this one carefully.

Opinions welcome and expected...
Thx
T.

DP for gains and sound. Intake for sound. I mean it's pretty clear if you're a performance person. I have the catless DP with my PE and it's awesome. No drone at all. It doesn't smell either. I drive a lot on the hwy too.

[proj335i]

Originally Posted by CantCatchMe

DP for gains and sound. Intake for sound. I mean it's pretty clear if you're a performance person. I have the catless DP with my PE and it's awesome. No drone at all. It doesn't smell either. I drive a lot on the hwy too.

How loud is it at cold start? I have PE exhaust with oem downpipe and I'm wondering if I install or not the VRSF downpipe I already have sitting home.

[Johnny Boost]

You really wont smell anything unless you're inside of a garage or idling for an extended period of time in one spot. Definitely go with the DP over the intake for performance and sound. If you have the money then get both.

[4lss]

Just get the DP, you won't regret it!

[CantCatchMe]

Originally Posted by proj335i

How loud is it at cold start? I have PE exhaust with oem downpipe and I'm wondering if I install or not the VRSF downpipe I already have sitting home.

It's loud for about 25-30 seconds and it's quiet. Everywhere I go I get compliments on the sound. Even the guys at the dealer loved it.

[ShlemonboostedM]

I have kittyless and when I stop at the red light smell is fawking horrible ... And no I'm not sensitive to smell .. But that shit smells bad .. If u can go catted u should go catted ..

[proj335i]

Originally Posted by CantCatchMe

It's loud for about 25-30 seconds and it's quiet. Everywhere I go I get compliments on the sound. Even the guys at the dealer loved it.

So do you have resonators in your midpipes sections? If you have an xi, you should normally have resonnators so it quiets it a little.

[CantCatchMe]

Yes I do. I don't plan to remove my secondary cats either cause if I ever sell the car. It's honestly perfect with no rasp either. I really need to go back on my YouTube channel stating my mods and showing videos of it.

But seriously get the DP. Even if it's slightly too loud for you, get a vibrant resonator to quiet it.

[proj335i]

I already have the downpipe but it is brand new sitting in the box, never installed...

I add a huge deal on PE exhaust so I bought it and installed it but I was not expecting my car to become so loud only with those OEM cans...

Now I am a little confused... Adding resonators on my oem midpipes is not something that I want to get into...

[proj335i]

Originally Posted by ShlemonboostedM

I have kittyless and when I stop at the red light smell is fawking horrible ... And no I'm not sensitive to smell .. But that shit smells bad .. If u can go catted u should go catted ..

Is your car an xi or rwd?

[tc535i]

it's not bad, I can smell it after I run hard and stop at a light, or just idling in a garage

driving normally I never smell anything on the street

[Sackett]

Being an xdrive with extra cats the smell isn't bad. And it's not super loud either. I think it's perfect. Installing the dp isn't as hard as people make it out to be. I did my xdrive dp install with 2 jack stands and basic hand tools in my garage.
Id buy an Intercooler before an intake, after you get jb4, dp, and chargepipe. But I'd definitely do it all... I did mine all at once.

[SUPAN]

JUST do it ...

[kevBquick]

i don't smell it at start up. after its warmed up in my garage.

i don't smell it on the street.

i do smell it after a good run...it will smell when you idle after....it cools down.
it goes away.

sound...wastegates are open on startup and with flaps open with jb4...its loud...for like 20 seconds and then you don't know you have them.

only down side is if you have emissions....only way around it is to swap back to stock and get tested. cat is such a bottleneck.
most catted dps also throw codes too...so if your gonna do it....then DO IT!

[LGCubana]

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

You really wont smell anything unless you're inside of a garage or idling for an extended period of time in one spot. Definitely go with the DP over the intake for performance and sound. If you have the money then get both.

Those are my findings as well. But my conclusion was to go back to stock.

Owners have different expectations of BMW ownership. I fall into the category of not wanting to be compared to an adolescent, modified Honda Civic.

On local streets (with my eTune), initial boost could be overbearing sometimes, sound wise. I would throw the AT into "manual" to change gears, to lower the feedback from the exhaust.

With my PTF eTune (comparing both DPs) I'm not really feeling a difference in performance. Still have the 5" stepped FMIC, dropping K&N filter and VRSF CP

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by SUPAN

JUST do it ...

+1