[bimmerwith335]

The story begins when my stock rear turbo failed, so I decided to upgrade to Viv 17T turbos. I specifically asked them for TD04 turbos, not ones with mixed internals, but they didn’t seem to care—they sent turbos with a TD03 cartridge and mixed internals instead.

The first time I installed them on the car, it ran horribly. After just a 15-second pull, the front turbo shaft broke, and the car started smoking badly. I replaced the turbo cartridge and fixed the issue, then reinstalled the turbos, but the car still ran terribly. It was barely able to reach 20 mph, jerking, stalling, and misfiring badly.

At that point, I didn’t think the turbos were the issue and assumed that the broken turbo shaft had caused another problem. I started troubleshooting, replacing the solenoids, MAP sensor, and O2 sensors. I even tried two different DMEs, thinking it was a DME issue since the car was only throwing misfire codes. Then I removed the engine head, suspecting a blown head gasket, and even replaced both camshafts and ledges, installed a new timing chain, replaced the valve seals, replaced fuel rail, replaced intake manifold(since it had rough sound, because of backfire) and reset the timing—but nothing made a difference. The exhaust even started making a strange, "fart-like" sound.

Finally, my mechanic decided to remove the turbos, and we discovered the problem: the turbo exhaust housing was blocked internally, with barely any airflow getting through. It was clogged with cast iron, which came from the poor-quality material Viv uses. This entire issue was due to their poor design and low-quality materials.

So, after six months of frustration, we finally found the root of the problem. Both Viv 17T turbo manifolds were blocked from the inside with cast iron material. Their customer service is also terrible; they wouldn’t even listen to my concerns. U can see the pictures of how they looked, I specifically cut open the turbos to see what was happening.

Take my advice—avoid Viv turbos. They’re trash. Good luck with your builds, everyone!

[Brandoch]

Stop buying eBay turbos.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Stop buying eBay turbos.

This right here. If you want something that's going to last, that's machined, balanced, and handle assembled here in the USA......get a set of RB Turbos.

Ebay/Viv turbos are hit and miss. Some people have good luck with them, some don't. That's what happens when your goal is to assemble as many as you can in the shorted time possible, and keep the price to a minimum.

Good/Fast/Cheap........you get to pick two

[whyzee125]

I genuinely don't mean to sound un-empathetic, but what did you expect?

There is literally COPIOUS amounts of info out there about this platform. This isn't the first time someone's tried a new turbo. Every single person who runs off brand turbos has this experience and for all the crap turbos out there, which there are tons, I've never even heard of this particular flavor of junk.

OEM, RB, Hydra, and Pure turbos are the only stock location turbos that will last. Period. It's not worth that much labor to save a few hundred bucks on garbage from a company who makes garbage and inevitably won't stand by their products.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Stop buying eBay turbos.

well, have you go online lately, tons of people saying good stuff about unbranded turbos. Mainly those stupid youtubers that do a review after 2 miles .

I dont see a lot of negativity about those turbos, other than they will have same issues as OEM after few thousand miles, which is OK for many people.

Not surprised to see this post, we should thanks OP to report.

Cheapest good turbo is the CTS one, even a shop owner reported here he sold 100s and no returns.

[Brandoch]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

well, have you go online lately, tons of people saying good stuff about unbranded turbos. Mainly those stupid youtubers that do a review after 2 miles .

I dont see a lot of negativity about those turbos, other than they will have same issues as OEM after few thousand miles, which is OK for many people.

Cheapest good turbo is the CTS one, even a shop owner reported here he sold 100s and no returns.

Considering this person has gone through a bunch of cheap turbos........

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Considering this person has gone through a bunch of cheap turbos........

I would agree to go good brand once !

This job is sooo a p-i-t-a, that I wouldn't even try unkown brand


thus the reason why I mostly recommend to go single turbo when TT fails ; less heat, less vacuum line, no more boost solenoid, no intakes, 2 less O2, less low end torque (easier on the engine), takes minutes to swap if turbo fails.

yes more expensive, but on long run pretty sure this is cheaper

[sparkyte]

Maybe you should have got them balanced/tested before putting them on the car, thats the rule usually with chinese turbos or at least that's what i will do if eventually get ones. The reviews are not that bad and they are times cheaper than everything you can get, especially here in Europe, so worth a try.

[bimmerwith335]

I just want people to read this, and I do not want them to suffer like me. Do not buy these Viv or any chinese turbos on the market.

[bimmerwith335]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

I genuinely don't mean to sound un-empathetic, but what did you expect?

There is literally COPIOUS amounts of info out there about this platform. This isn't the first time someone's tried a new turbo. Every single person who runs off brand turbos has this experience and for all the crap turbos out there, which there are tons, I've never even heard of this particular flavor of junk.

OEM, RB, Hydra, and Pure turbos are the only stock location turbos that will last. Period. It's not worth that much labor to save a few hundred bucks on garbage from a company who makes garbage and inevitably won't stand by their products.

what's funnier is that, I paid like 900$ for Viv turbos in total, but it costed me about 5000$ to find the problem and repair the car. at the end of the day, I have to buy new turbos.

[bimmerwith335]

Originally Posted by oVeRdOsE.

well, have you go online lately, tons of people saying good stuff about unbranded turbos. Mainly those stupid youtubers that do a review after 2 miles .

I dont see a lot of negativity about those turbos, other than they will have same issues as OEM after few thousand miles, which is OK for many people.

Not surprised to see this post, we should thanks OP to report.

Cheapest good turbo is the CTS one, even a shop owner reported here he sold 100s and no returns.

Thanks for the reply guys, I have never read about the case like this anywhere. wanted people to know about this exact situation.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by sparkyte

Maybe you should have got them balanced/tested before putting them on the car, thats the rule usually with chinese turbos or at least that's what i will do if eventually get ones. The reviews are not that bad and they are times cheaper than everything you can get, especially here in Europe, so worth a try.

This is what always shocks me. People will spend $1,000 on junk china turbos, then sent them back out for inspection and balancing...probably $200-$300 when it's all said and done, some will even go through them and replace the bushings and seals with better parts...more $$$....etc.

When you could have spend a few hundred more, got quality made in the USA turbos (RB Turbos), and been done with it......

[konstat]

Originally Posted by bimmerwith335

what's funnier is that, I paid like 900$ for Viv turbos in total, but it costed me about 5000$ to find the problem and repair the car. at the end of the day, I have to buy new turbos.

I’m playing Monday morning quarterback here, but if the car was fine before the turbos and all you changed were your turbos did you really have to go and spend that $5k? I would think it’s the new turbos if the car ran like crap after. Again, hindsight is 20-20 but I had to say it.

As someone that’s considering ViV 19T v4s I do appreciate your post though. Makes me a bit more weary and I may inspect the manifold since it can be removed on the v4s

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by bimmerwith335

Thanks for the reply guys, I have never read about the case like this anywhere. wanted people to know about this exact situation.

General advice, never buy car parts from eBay (unless it's an actual brand). For example VIV website is not a real business or brand. They do not have a location or address.

[oVeRdOsE.]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

This is what always shocks me. People will spend $1,000 on junk china turbos, then sent them back out for inspection and balancing...probably $200-$300 when it's all said and done, some will even go through them and replace the bushings and seals with better parts...more $$$....etc.

When you could have spend a few hundred more, got quality made in the USA turbos (RB Turbos), and been done with it......

this is my point, why this is shocking people when most n54 ebay turbo got great reviews?

I dont argue against the fact that those are probably 100% shit, but people dont report long term use. So how to know.


I bought tons of what people call ''ebay'' branded stuff, and I rarely have issues. Since I chose NON-critical item, like catch cans, lights, interior trim, etc.

[Gemini562]

Reading this feels like watching someone try to fix a leaky boat with duct tape....

[SlowE92]

If i remember correctly they come with a generic sheet claiming they are balanced but definitely are not. I had to get mine balanced and they lasted me around 25k miles. If you do the work yourself, an argument can be made that its worth it, but they definitely will not last as long as a set of Rb’s or pure.

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by sparkyte

Maybe you should have got them balanced/tested before putting them on the car, thats the rule usually with chinese turbos or at least that's what i will do if eventually get ones. The reviews are not that bad and they are times cheaper than everything you can get, especially here in Europe, so worth a try.

No, they're not worth a try. ALL of the good reviews are done right after install--of course they're going to make more power but they never, ever last.

Being how labor intensive it is to replace them, plus new tune, plus potentially other things they'll take out on their way it's absolutely not worth it.

Buy quality the first time and this sort of thing won't happen.

[bimmerwith335]

My guy, u should have been there, before throwing the turbos, I balanced the wheel, wastegate. when the first turbo broke I thought that car had gotten turbine particles inside the engine. believe me when u investigate turbo and it seems fine, when u get them balanced, u will never think that Turbo Manifold is blocked with cast iron. Anyways I didn't have fun doing 6 months of labor, paying this amount of money. I just tried to share my experience here, I think it will be helpful for someone, because those Viv 17 turbo s and the others on the market are just trying to screw people. Thank u all for reading my post.

[bimmerwith335]

Originally Posted by konstat

I’m playing Monday morning quarterback here, but if the car was fine before the turbos and all you changed were your turbos did you really have to go and spend that $5k? I would think it’s the new turbos if the car ran like crap after. Again, hindsight is 20-20 but I had to say it.

As someone that’s considering ViV 19T v4s I do appreciate your post though. Makes me a bit more weary and I may inspect the manifold since it can be removed on the v4s

the thing is u cannot inspect manifold without boroscope if it is intact with the housing. but another thing is, very cheap quality of cast iron that is used to build cartridge and shaft. I have never even heard that manifold could have such problem, but I am the one who had it. Good luck with your build, hit me up if you have any questions, since I almost defended phd degree