[AlanYoro35i]

Well recently we had a downpipe topic and it got me searching and looking at dp's again , so I recently purchased a set of VSRF downpipes from the USA because it had lots of good review and the price was very cheap £240 delivered + £20 pound tax.

Anyway old Steve popup and offer us a forum discount to fit the downpipes and i really don't want to drive to Darren woods in Manchester so i arranged to get it done at a1bnspecialist Stevenage, i cannot thank steve enough for his effort to getting this all right, and went out of his way to take photo to show me as i am very paranoid with works being done not right.

see link


Ok so when i picked up my car i had some fault code relating to the O2 sensors, after doing much research from the US side , i have come to an conclusion that it was the pre-cat o2 sensor being too old and needed replacing because they are very sensitive (mines 80k miles and 6 year old car).

Steve and his boss went out of there way to help me fix this issue without charging me and this type of manner you will not even see elsewhere so i am very thankful for them, they clearly demonstrate the care to look after customers cars.

So picked up the car no codes then i loaded up Cob stage 2 +FMIC aggressive map...

Start it up and WOW much louder on start up and the note seems to be much deeper.

I rev it abit after it has warmed up and YOU WILL love the engine ROAR and you can hear the turbo spool, the exhuast note is deeper but when driving normally you can't hear any increase in sound. Motorway i notice you will get a tiny bit of drone at 2600 rpm when sat on the motorway (85mph)

The downpipe has change the car so much , it feels like the engine is so much lighter, pedal input becomes more sensitive and power comes on much earlier, i guess this is because the catted downpipes were very restrictive.

Powerwise, i don't feel too much increase ( from my stage 1+ FMIC aggressive map) but the way it delivered full torque right from 2.5krpm and holds out until the end has changed the car into a monster with so much power available.

I think this map shows more or less what i am expecting




I will update once again with a proper dyno soon.

[gaza01]

Brilliant!
Love the write up Yoro! Thanks!
Defo Steve and his guys are the place to take yr car!!

Cant wait to fit my dps!!

[old grey steve]

Ah evening all. Yes we did have some or shall we say one issue with poor Alan's car, which got us scratching our heads as there was nothing obvious, Alan very kindly supplied me a bit of info which helped a bit, but at the end of the day we could only really grasp the situation with the car in front of us and it's that difficult phone call that has to be done that had to take place by yours truly.

As Alan's not exactly local we were conscious of the upheaval of having to drive an hour and a half to get to us sadly that ones one I couldn't fix.

But what we could do is wheel the car in and see what the issue was/is more importantly how we could resolve the issue that was for us the only thing that was on our mind. We'd of loved to of solved it there and then, sadly wasn't possible so I laid on another courtesy car for Alan(no cost) so that he could at least remain mobile. We were 50/50 re the bank 1 o2 sensor oddly the unit wasn't faulting yet the Cobb system(still can't get my head around it I'm afraid)wasn't happy with what was going on yet as Alan would conquer it seemed to drive OK. So what to do well Alan before he set off disabled the Cobb and we spoke to Autologic re what the Cobb was reporting(Autologic USA are familiar with various issues re using the Cobb where as over here it's a item that comes up all the time but their info helped us)but at the end of the day we could only really look at how the cars was reacting with Cobb installed so that's the route we took

So one o2 sensor from BMW fitted(which as you know isn't a ten minute job)and some time/test drives later we were happy that the issue had gone away. We kept the car overnight and re run the diagnostic from cold, first thing in the morning with the diagnostic connected to watch the values and everything stacked up(on the initial prognoses my car was used as a basic comparison to help) then it was time to let her spread her wings and go back to Basingstoke.

The result was that something that didn't show as a direct fault(hard to believe I know)but the Cobb wasn't happy with and that was an O2 sensor. The decision was as you can gather was to fit a £165 sensor(I showed Alan the invoice)

The cost well a day Alan could of been doing something else like sleeping(as you did look knackered when I saw you the following morning and Vishal said thanks for the return of his lighter)

The cost financially to Alan.. Nowt.

We're so glad the cars spot on Alan, yep it did sound a bit fruity, Ed said it felt nice'n'strong best thing is you're happy.

All I can say is enjoy and see you when you get the Bilsteins sorted

[Ajs_435d]

Never trust US figures they are always inflated, their WHP is almost the same as our BHP.

I'm a tuner myself but primarily jap stuff.

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by ajs_335d

Never trust US figures they are always inflated, their WHP is almost the same as our BHP.

I'm a tuner myself but primarily jap stuff.

our bhp is calculated at the crank and WBHP is not soley used on US side, if you went to dyno you get 2 print outs one is engine bhp at the crank which i got 306bhp then another print out for power at the wheel which was 250.

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by old grey steve

Ah evening all. Yes we did have some or shall we say one issue with poor Alan's car, which got us scratching our heads as there was nothing obvious, Alan very kindly supplied me a bit of info which helped a bit, but at the end of the day we could only really grasp the situation with the car in front of us and it's that difficult phone call that has to be done that had to take place by yours truly.

As Alan's not exactly local we were conscious of the upheaval of having to drive an hour and a half to get to us sadly that ones one I couldn't fix.

But what we could do is wheel the car in and see what the issue was/is more importantly how we could resolve the issue that was for us the only thing that was on our mind. We'd of loved to of solved it there and then, sadly wasn't possible so I laid on another courtesy car for Alan(no cost) so that he could at least remain mobile. We were 50/50 re the bank 1 o2 sensor oddly the unit wasn't faulting yet the Cobb system(still can't get my head around it I'm afraid)wasn't happy with what was going on yet as Alan would conquer it seemed to drive OK. So what to do well Alan before he set off disabled the Cobb and we spoke to Autologic re what the Cobb was reporting(Autologic USA are familiar with various issues re using the Cobb where as over here it's a item that comes up all the time but their info helped us)but at the end of the day we could only really look at how the cars was reacting with Cobb installed so that's the route we took

So one o2 sensor from BMW fitted(which as you know isn't a ten minute job)and some time/test drives later we were happy that the issue had gone away. We kept the car overnight and re run the diagnostic from cold, first thing in the morning with the diagnostic connected to watch the values and everything stacked up(on the initial prognoses my car was used as a basic comparison to help) then it was time to let her spread her wings and go back to Basingstoke.

The result was that something that didn't show as a direct fault(hard to believe I know)but the Cobb wasn't happy with and that was an O2 sensor. The decision was as you can gather was to fit a £165 sensor(I showed Alan the invoice)

The cost well a day Alan could of been doing something else like sleeping(as you did look knackered when I saw you the following morning and Vishal said thanks for the return of his lighter)

The cost financially to Alan.. Nowt.

We're so glad the cars spot on Alan, yep it did sound a bit fruity, Ed said it felt nice'n'strong best thing is you're happy.

All I can say is enjoy and see you when you get the Bilsteins sorted

Many thanks steve, this is something I've never would expected, such a great company and big thumps up for you guys !!

Yes , once my show is finish i be bringing in the b14 kit for you guys to fit!!

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by ajs_335d

Never trust US figures they are always inflated, their WHP is almost the same as our BHP.

I'm a tuner myself but primarily jap stuff.

plus one.

[Ajs_435d]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

our bhp is calculated at the crank and WBHP is not soley used on US side, if you went to dyno you get 2 print outs one is engine bhp at the crank which i got 306bhp then another print out for power at the wheel which was 306.

Any 'BHP' is calculated at the crank, fly - its the same thing - it is typically less accurate than WHP as drivetain loses are applied ontop of the BHP figure.

Impossible, you got 306 fly (or crank for you ) and 306 WHP, by that statement you are saying there a no drive train losses. BMW's are good but they are not 0% LOL.

For example typically on a RWD its around 13-15% for BMW's some other cars around 15-17.

306*0.87 = 266BHP
306*0.85 = 260BHP

However there are varying designs of dyno's, coast down, internia etc and work purely on WHP.

My comment was don't base your power gains etc by the US side figures or you'll be disappointed, sure you'll get gains but not to the high extent of US figures. COBB are yank IIRC.

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by Yoro35i

our bhp is calculated at the crank and WBHP is not soley used on US side, if you went to dyno you get 2 print outs one is engine bhp at the crank which i got 306bhp then another print out for power at the wheel which was 306.

i don't think you got the figures right Alan.

[AlanYoro35i]

Originally Posted by ajs_335d

Any 'BHP' is calculated at the crank, fly - its the same thing - it is typically less accurate than WHP as drivetain loses are applied ontop of the BHP figure.

Impossible, you got 306 fly (or crank for you ) and 306 WHP, by that statement you are saying there a no drive train losses. BMW's are good but they are not 0% LOL.

For example typically on a RWD its around 13-15% for BMW's some other cars around 15-17.

306*0.87 = 266BHP
306*0.85 = 260BHP

However there are varying designs of dyno's, coast down, internia etc and work purely on WHP.

My comment was don't base your power gains etc by the US side figures or you'll be disappointed, sure you'll get gains but not to the high extent of US figures. COBB are yank IIRC.

Opps , i ment i got 250 at the wheels