[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by benzy89

OP -- You can keep the Vanguard rear section, if you still have your OEM midpipes w/ the secondary cats + resonators you can just bolt those in. Once the secondary cats are back in, the smoke will get filtered out.

The "visible smoke" issue only occurs in two instances:

1. Cars with serious problems (copious amounts of oil blowing through the PCV, bad turbos seals, etc)
2. Cars that are completely catless

OP, more than likely you are suffering from being completely catless since this problem developed after you installed the Vangaurd CBE (from what you've said, when you went to catless DPs, the car was fine). I've been looking into upgrading from the OEM exhaust & between concern for drone (I'm AT) + the "smoking" headaches, an Axle-Back exhaust seems to give you all the benefits without any of the headaches. Here are some Axle-Back options (not particular order):

• BMW PE
• UUC/Corsa (my favorite)
• Akrapovic Slip-On -- Available in Stainless Steel + Titanium
• Remus -- Race or Sport (keeps vacuum flap)
• Billy Boat
• Eisenmann
• Rogue Engineering

I no longer have the midpipes installed since the Vanguard exhaust is a complete system. The 335i exhaust system is one piece, so if I go this route; I will have to cut the exhaust which is fine by me as long as the problem goes away. I am currently looking at the axle back options you mentioned. Thanks!

[M3 Eater]

have you sea foamed? RB pcv valve upgrade?

[benzy89]

Originally Posted by M3 Eater

have you sea foamed? RB pcv valve upgrade?

Sea foaming a direct injection motor won't work because it'll never hit the intake valves. And the Rob Beck has specifically said that if you have a smoking issues that the RB PCV won't fix them..... I really need to install mine, been sitting on my desk for 2 weeks now

[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by benzy89

Sea foaming a direct injection motor won't work because it'll never hit the intake valves. And the Rob Beck has specifically said that if you have a smoking issues that the RB PCV won't fix them..... I really need to install mine, been sitting on my desk for 2 weeks now

Dang it, that was my next question, about the PCV. That goes that solution!. If this crap continues, I am going to part out the e90 and drive it like gradma. LOL

[Rob@RBTurbo]

A faulty PCV valve could most certainly cause a smoking condition. However replacing the PCV can not be a guaranteed fix for every situation.

[benzy89]

Originally Posted by El Bimmer

Dang it, that was my next question, about the PCV. That goes that solution!. If this crap continues, I am going to part out the e90 and drive it like gradma. LOL

Well if you have a leaking PCV, then buying an OEM replacement or the RB one will fix that. BUT if your OEM PCV is holding boost + isn't leaking, the RB PCV isn't magically going to make the smoke go away.

[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by benzy89

Well if you have a leaking PCV, then buying an OEM replacement or the RB one will fix that. BUT if your OEM PCV is holding boost + isn't leaking, the RB PCV isn't magically going to make the smoke go away.

Yeah my car hold boost prefectly! Since installing the vanguard exhaust, the car pull even harder, but the dowside been the smoke, but other than I love the power.

Honestly, I am not sure if its leaking, but certainly not loosing boost nor power!

[BES335xi]

What i came to notice that every time my car smokes, I see water on the exhaust tips...I think its condensation or something, how do i stop that? I've never experienced/seen water before i went completely catless there.

[benzy89]

Originally Posted by BES335xi

I think its condensation or something, how do i stop that? I've never experienced/seen water before i went completely catless there.

You don't, if you had cats in the car would heat up faster & evaporate the water off more quickly. Once again, these are the problems with going completely catless

[BES335xi]

Just replaced the PCV with the RB PCV and the Check Valve and also changed my oil today, but now after I replaced the PCV there is more smoke coming out and it steady unlike before where there would be smoke coming out but it would stop after a few min's...Only thing i've noticed that before it smelled gassy and now it doesnt smell like anything really lol...But its smoking idling, at stop lights...Only when i'm driving it doesnt smoke...

What could it be, It's driving me craazyy!

[A418t81]

Small wafts of blue smoke as the car is coming back down to idle is due to slightly leaking turbo seals. It is certainly not the end of the world. Catless people notice this more because the secondary cats do a decent job of cleaning up the smoke you would otherwise see. Heavy blue smoke is a sign of turbo seal failure, but a little seepage and a little smoke does not mean impending turbo destruction. This is a common problem in the mazdaspeed world where the IHI copy of the Borg warner turbo isn't built as well as it should be, and the seals allow some leakage. It's quite noticeable at times on catless cars, but they typically don't have any serious issues because of it. If it leaks excessively, this can lead to carbon coking around the CHRA heat shield and other issues, but for the most part it's just more of an annoyance.

You can weld your secondary cats back in place, or ignore it. Those are two of the easier and less costly options.

[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by A418t81

Small wafts of blue smoke as the car is coming back down to idle is due to slightly leaking turbo seals. It is certainly not the end of the world. Catless people notice this more because the secondary cats do a decent job of cleaning up the smoke you would otherwise see. Heavy blue smoke is a sign of turbo seal failure, but a little seepage and a little smoke does not mean impending turbo destruction. This is a common problem in the mazdaspeed world where the IHI copy of the Borg warner turbo isn't built as well as it should be, and the seals allow some leakage. It's quite noticeable at times on catless cars, but they typically don't have any serious issues because of it. If it leaks excessively, this can lead to carbon coking around the CHRA heat shield and other issues, but for the most part it's just more of an annoyance.

You can weld your secondary cats back in place, or ignore it. Those are two of the easier and less costly options.

Interesting! I am putting everything back in the car and bringing back to stock. I hate to do it, but I hate to have all these parts and not be able to enjoy it. It was nice while it lasted!

[BES335xi]

Originally Posted by El Bimmer

Interesting! I am putting everything back in the car and bringing back to stock. I hate to do it, but I hate to have all these parts and not be able to enjoy it. It was nice while it lasted!

I feel the same way, i will pay a diagnostic fee somewhere though to see what seems to be the problem exactly before i put everything back In and possibly trade it, still not sure yet..

[A418t81]

Originally Posted by El Bimmer

Interesting! I am putting everything back in the car and bringing back to stock. I hate to do it, but I hate to have all these parts and not be able to enjoy it. It was nice while it lasted!

Just put the stock downpipe-back exhaust back on the car and enjoy it that way (you could always remove your resonator and have a bit sportier sound from your stock exhaust, which is how the E92s come from the factory).

[lonestar22]

removing the emissions system from the car and complaining about smoke/smells and popping is ridiculous.

a direct injection motor is going have more carbon on the valves than a regular motor, even if u beat on it alot. all DI cars i know of that are catless smoke a little, especially volkswagens

[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by BES335xi

I feel the same way, i will pay a diagnostic fee somewhere though to see what seems to be the problem exactly before i put everything back In and possibly trade it, still not sure yet..

Ok, I took off the JB4. the JB4 deletes the codes, so I was not able to see what was really wrong.


and I found this as well:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239842


Here are the codes:

[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by A418t81

Just put the stock downpipe-back exhaust back on the car and enjoy it that way (you could always remove your resonator and have a bit sportier sound from your stock exhaust, which is how the E92s come from the factory).

Yeah you are right about that!

[BES335xi]

I said white smoke not Blue...

[A418t81]

Originally Posted by El Bimmer

Ok, I took off the JB4. the JB4 deletes the codes, so I was not able to see what was really wrong.


and I found this as well:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239842


Here are the codes:

You have catless downpipes? The JB4 simulates you having cats, so the car doesn't throw the catalyst efficiency codes you see above. Without the JB4, you car will have a check engine light on soon with catless downpipes in the car. The reason the ECU has generated those codes is because the JB4 is now out. It wasn't suppressing the codes before, they weren't generated because of the cat simulation the JB4 does.

[E92M356789]

Originally Posted by A418t81

You have catless downpipes? The JB4 simulates you having cats, so the car doesn't throw the catalyst efficiency codes you see above. Without the JB4, you car will have a check engine light on soon with catless downpipes in the car. The reason the ECU has generated those codes is because the JB4 is now out. It wasn't suppressing the codes before, they weren't generated because of the cat simulation the JB4 does.

Very True. DPs and Stock Exhaust going back on.