SFvalleyGTi1
Go Kart Champion
Purchase
A few days ago I was on the forums and came across a FS thread for a catless downpipe, $250 including install. Even though my plan was to get a 42dd downpipe with resonator & cat, I just couldn't pass up on this deal. Made a 100 mile trek to Y34RZ3R0iscoming's house for the purchase/install. (Great *former* dubber)
Install
He got down and dirty, knocking off bolts faster than I could place them in order. He was able to remove the dreaded hidden downpipe bolt from under the car. Everything bolted up fine except a hanger... (more on this later) The install took about 4 hours including a 45 minute break/cool down period.
Quality
The downpipe was used, and I'm pretty sure it had seen severe weather since the previous owner was from Alaska! Good thing was the downpipe was NOT showing any wear or effects of rusting probably because its made from stainless steel. :thumbsup: The welds were nice and fat, they were not pretty and colorful as you might see else were. Point being there was no leaks and no way the welds on this downpipe would fail. We did run into 1 issue and that was with the passenger side hanger. It would not align properly with the mount that connects to the subframe. After loosening the DP bolts on the turbo were we able to pull down the hanger enough to slip it into the mount. Little did I know this would turn into an annoyance. After driving home I began to notice a lot of rattling around 2k rpm or each time I would go WOT. I sent an email to Chris @ USP motorsports, I explained to him how I bought the used downpipes and the rattling. He gave me 2 options, I could either wait a week for them to send a replacement part or spend 2 minutes to pry the hanger down. I chose the later because I didn't want to put anyone through any unnecessary trouble when the fix was so simple.
So it just shows USP stands behind its product and is willing to help their second hand customers! Thats something unique in this business. Thanks again USP! :clap:
Performance
I had the car running Stage 1 tune with the catless downpipe for 150 miles before I was flashed to Stage 2. Within those 150 miles, I noticed the car would actually break traction which it wouldn't do with Stage 1 alone. (Not dumping the clutch fast)
The next day I went to my APR dealer and got updated. The torque below 3k didn't seem unchanged. At 4k rpm is when all hell breaks loose up until 6k. The sound of the car changed once you would hit 4k rpm, sort of like Vtec :yikes: Anything below 4k and the car was pretty tamed like stock sound wise. I would say the only thing Stage 1 and Stage 2 have in common is power below 3k rpm.
The car feels like it has a more linear power band. The car is more Rev happy, and the power just hits hard and keeps pulling.
Cons of Catless Downpipe
I've owned a couple cars that were catless and none ever smelled as bad as the GTI. This car without cats is unbearable, it only took me 24 hours to look for ways to get rid of the stench. I even though of selling the downpipe...
I searched for high flow cats and couldn't find any local. I checked online various outlets including ebay. I found out that NO ONE would ship high flow cats to California!!!
addle: While researching the various cel counts that cats come in, I remembered I still had my secondary cats from when I had my 335i. I decided to have my Bmw cat welded onto the mid pipe. Took the car to a exhaust shop, bare in mind my car still has no plates. I told the guy I wanted this cat installed on my car... He gave me a funny look and said "your new car doesn't have a cat". He then noticed the cat had BMW stamped on it and began to question if this was what originally came on the car, so I told him yes thats the original cat.
After the cat was installed the car sounds more civilized, no more rumbling like a mustang and best of all I didn't have that smell anymore... Performance did take a hit, but I plan to take the car and dyno next week to see how much the cat hurts the performance.
Final Thought
If I could do this all over again, I would probably just bought a downpipe with a high flow cat (100 cel) and a resonator. I would still purchase from USP because their product is of quality and pricing is fair. Best of all they will be there to help you when you call on them. Anyone thats thinking of going Stage 2, do yourself a favor and get a catted downpipe!
Here are two videos I took with a crappy point and shoot camera. Not the best for sound but gives you an idea of how quiet the car is until you Rev it. Keep in mind the car is only being rev'd to 4k and not past it which is were it wakes up.
The videos below are USP downpipe with Bmw Cat and Stock Catback.
A few days ago I was on the forums and came across a FS thread for a catless downpipe, $250 including install. Even though my plan was to get a 42dd downpipe with resonator & cat, I just couldn't pass up on this deal. Made a 100 mile trek to Y34RZ3R0iscoming's house for the purchase/install. (Great *former* dubber)
Install
He got down and dirty, knocking off bolts faster than I could place them in order. He was able to remove the dreaded hidden downpipe bolt from under the car. Everything bolted up fine except a hanger... (more on this later) The install took about 4 hours including a 45 minute break/cool down period.
Quality
The downpipe was used, and I'm pretty sure it had seen severe weather since the previous owner was from Alaska! Good thing was the downpipe was NOT showing any wear or effects of rusting probably because its made from stainless steel. :thumbsup: The welds were nice and fat, they were not pretty and colorful as you might see else were. Point being there was no leaks and no way the welds on this downpipe would fail. We did run into 1 issue and that was with the passenger side hanger. It would not align properly with the mount that connects to the subframe. After loosening the DP bolts on the turbo were we able to pull down the hanger enough to slip it into the mount. Little did I know this would turn into an annoyance. After driving home I began to notice a lot of rattling around 2k rpm or each time I would go WOT. I sent an email to Chris @ USP motorsports, I explained to him how I bought the used downpipes and the rattling. He gave me 2 options, I could either wait a week for them to send a replacement part or spend 2 minutes to pry the hanger down. I chose the later because I didn't want to put anyone through any unnecessary trouble when the fix was so simple.
So it just shows USP stands behind its product and is willing to help their second hand customers! Thats something unique in this business. Thanks again USP! :clap:
Performance
I had the car running Stage 1 tune with the catless downpipe for 150 miles before I was flashed to Stage 2. Within those 150 miles, I noticed the car would actually break traction which it wouldn't do with Stage 1 alone. (Not dumping the clutch fast)
The next day I went to my APR dealer and got updated. The torque below 3k didn't seem unchanged. At 4k rpm is when all hell breaks loose up until 6k. The sound of the car changed once you would hit 4k rpm, sort of like Vtec :yikes: Anything below 4k and the car was pretty tamed like stock sound wise. I would say the only thing Stage 1 and Stage 2 have in common is power below 3k rpm.
The car feels like it has a more linear power band. The car is more Rev happy, and the power just hits hard and keeps pulling.
Cons of Catless Downpipe
I've owned a couple cars that were catless and none ever smelled as bad as the GTI. This car without cats is unbearable, it only took me 24 hours to look for ways to get rid of the stench. I even though of selling the downpipe...
I searched for high flow cats and couldn't find any local. I checked online various outlets including ebay. I found out that NO ONE would ship high flow cats to California!!!
addle: While researching the various cel counts that cats come in, I remembered I still had my secondary cats from when I had my 335i. I decided to have my Bmw cat welded onto the mid pipe. Took the car to a exhaust shop, bare in mind my car still has no plates. I told the guy I wanted this cat installed on my car... He gave me a funny look and said "your new car doesn't have a cat". He then noticed the cat had BMW stamped on it and began to question if this was what originally came on the car, so I told him yes thats the original cat. After the cat was installed the car sounds more civilized, no more rumbling like a mustang and best of all I didn't have that smell anymore... Performance did take a hit, but I plan to take the car and dyno next week to see how much the cat hurts the performance.
Final Thought
If I could do this all over again, I would probably just bought a downpipe with a high flow cat (100 cel) and a resonator. I would still purchase from USP because their product is of quality and pricing is fair. Best of all they will be there to help you when you call on them. Anyone thats thinking of going Stage 2, do yourself a favor and get a catted downpipe!
Here are two videos I took with a crappy point and shoot camera. Not the best for sound but gives you an idea of how quiet the car is until you Rev it. Keep in mind the car is only being rev'd to 4k and not past it which is were it wakes up.
The videos below are USP downpipe with Bmw Cat and Stock Catback.
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