04-11-2014, 01:35 AM | #1 |
Private First Class
36
Rep 104
Posts |
Er Downpipe Install Diy (sorta) And Pics
So with being pointed in the right direction with the help of fellow member Justin, I made contact with Christine over at Evolution Racewerks which has a down pipe for our car available (Possibly sold out) as of right now. Now I apologize for some gaps of photos and quality, we were using Rhino Ramps and the space below the car is pretty compact to say the least.
Let us begin, shall we? ---------------- PREP ----------------- Tools/abilities required: - Rhino Ramps(or equiv) or special jacks/adapters that fit into the side holders of the car, no real safe place to jack the car up traditionally. - Metric driver set - E10/E12 EXTERNAL torx bits (if you don't have these, usually your local auto store/sears etc has them) - O2 socket removal tool. - Screwdriver hook tool. - Some patience. Optional: - Anti-Seize - A friend - Captain Morgan (The 3rd friend) Difficulty of install out of 10: 3 Time required with lift: 45 minutes / Without Lift: 1 1/2 hours. --------------- Removal ------------------------------ 1. Let the car cool, burning yourself isn't fun. This seems obvious but still, the transmission and the brackets surrounding and oil pan will be piping hot long after the exhaust cools down as well, be careful. While waiting for the car to cool down, pull off the top of the engine cover and near the back left you will find a Black and Grey O2 sensor wire, remove both of these wire connectors by pressing in and having them completely unattached for the work ahead. It is much easier this way and they snap right back in when ready. Sorry for no pics on this at the moment. 2. Remove the underbelly protector from the car which is about 22 small bolts, this is relatively easy and fast. There are 4 bolts facing the front of the car that hold some sort of protector flaps that you will not have to remove for the underbelly cover to come off. Pics of this below with the cover off. 3. There is a small exhaust hanger (not pictured) behind the flex pipe on the 6th picture down, it literally says exhaust on the bracket. It has 2 torx bolts that you should remove to gain some play in the mid pipe back to the exhaust for removal. The instructions state to drop the exhaust fully. I have the M Performance exhaust already installed here which is essentially one piece all the way back, by loosening this hanger you can let the mid pipe safely rest on a cross support brace on the car to gain play to remove the stock DP. Full removal is really not required here. 4. Next there are two main bolts for the stock DP that need to be removed that flare off on a brace of the stock DP that you can see on both the old and new one that are attached to a transmission bracket take these out and save them for later. There are also 2 additional bolts attached to where these bolts go that you can remove for the installation portion. 5. The V-Band clamps have 1 bolt/nut combo that are on the lower end attached to the mid pipe and the upper attached to the turbo charger itself, these bolts are very easily removed and BMW seemed to use good quality bolts. The V-Band clamps are TIGHT, we used a screwdriver hook to separate the clamps, they take some effort and then snap free with some extra pressure. Once both are removed the Down Pipe itself will fall. ------------ Installation -------------- 1. Swap the O2 sensors to the new DP, Black wire is UPPER on the DP, and Grey wire is LOWER on the DP. These need to go back in their same place if not unicorns may burn your house down, or your car will run shitty. Neither of which you want to deal with after everything is done. 1. This is pretty much everything in reverse, with a few tips that will literally save you probably 30 minutes, Place the Downpipe up and LINE IT UP, DO NOT PUT ANY BOLTS IN OR ANYTHING. Hold it in place and get a visual representation of the upper and lower portions of the DP, the upper will line up easily but if you start putting bolts in you will not close the gap to the lower portion with the V-Band at all and you get to start all over again like we had to. 2. Now that you see how it should line up, place the V-Band upper clamp in place first on the turbo charger and tighten this about 1/2 way to where the clamp is closing the gap but not removing play in the new DP. 3. Do not put the brackets back on the new DP yet, you can line them up but keep the actual bracket off the transmission until you place the lower V-Band on the DP and meet it up with the mid pipe. This is the most difficult part, if you tighten all those bolts and brackets first your V-Band will have a gap to the mid pipe. If you do the V-Bands first and give the bottom portion a good tighten first you will be in great shape. After you tighten the bottom V-Band, then do the upper portion. Take your finger nail and try and poke it in the small opening in the V-Band (or something small and thin) if it fits in, you may have an exhaust leak back it out a little and have a friend push to make sure there is a proper seal. I'm super anal about taking your time on this portion I would highly recommend it. 4. After your V-Bands are tight and clean bolt up the exhaust hanger torx bolts then the 2 bolts on the new DP to the transmission bracket and the supporting bracket. 5. Rewire your O2 sensors in the engine bay. Don't worry about swapping the O2's in the wrong place here, they can only go in certain plugs, meaning if you didn't suck at Legos as a kid you'll probably surive this step. 6. Replace all 9 thousand bolts on the underbelly cover and make sure you have nothing left over, double and triple check your work. All factory bolts and nuts are used in this installation so nothing OEM has to be replaced other than the DP itself of course. 7. Cold start that mofo and listen to how mean she is, a fire breathing dragon is an understatement. ------------------------------- Small initial review ---------------------------------- The Good - The overall quality for the DP is outrageously good, the welds and quality of the metal and the O2 bungs are just top notch, honestly if you're planning on doing a down pipe stop looking and buy the ER DP, it has a true 4" pipe. the Super Sprint is priced much more and doesn't look nearly as high quality. If anyone needs help getting in contact with them I'll give you their direct number if you have any questions, great customer service and fast shipping and packaging. Couldn't be happier in this aspect. The sound is absolutely fucking amazing, it sounds like a really angry exotic car with the M Performance exhaust, it has a loud pop and nice gargle, when getting on it the sound is smooth and aggressive but not overtly loud to be loud. The sound has a purpose and it isn't annoying or droning. If you're in Sport+ and moderately accelerating the car garners a lot of street presence with the sound it emits with the DP just like any other video you have to hear it in person, even though I may post a video on this later. One of the absolute best things about this car and the DP is, light cruising has a fantastic tone to it, but if you want to make this car super quiet with a similar exhaust note that Infiniti cars seem to have, you can actually throw the car in ECO mode and you wouldn't know you're driving relatively on straight pipes. The Bad - CEL after 25mi (duh) cleared with JB4 or deal with it Internal housing has a rough patch near the ER logo weld, overall cleaned up but a minor gripe. ---------- DYNO NUMBERS TO COME ------------------ Last edited by cmkde; 04-11-2014 at 02:36 AM.. |
04-11-2014, 02:36 AM | #3 |
Private First Class
36
Rep 104
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-11-2014, 03:09 AM | #4 |
Second Lieutenant
47
Rep 287
Posts
Drives: '15 GT-R, '02 996TT
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Las Vegas, NV | San Diego, CA
|
Good job and great write-up! I'm glad I could help you out on this .
Last edited by JustinCredibleM; 04-11-2014 at 05:18 AM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-11-2014, 03:41 AM | #5 |
Private
0
Rep 80
Posts |
Thanks, that's really useful
__________________
M235i Auto: Alpine White / Black Dakota Leather, Brushed Aluminium / High-gloss Black Interior, Driver Comfort / Professional Media / Sun Protection Packages, Harman Kardon Hi-Fi, Enhanced Bluetooth, Lumbar & Heated Seats, Adaptive M Sport Suspension
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-11-2014, 06:50 PM | #7 |
***** noob
1373
Rep 10,479
Posts
Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Boston
|
Nice writeup
Can admins make a DIY section???
__________________
2006 325xi (Sold)
2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB) |
Appreciate
1
|
12-28-2014, 12:25 AM | #8 |
Private First Class
35
Rep 139
Posts
Drives: Mineral White BMW M235i, X5
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lacey, WA
|
Just installed my Meisterschaft Turbo Cat-less downpipe! Used this post a lot to reference off of thanks a lot! Definitely feeling the improvement!
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2014, 11:54 AM | #10 |
Joint Chiefs of Staff
24358
Rep 191,163
Posts |
Thanks for the write-up
These DP are not sold out btw
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435 |
Appreciate
0
|
12-30-2014, 05:08 AM | #13 |
Joint Chiefs of Staff
24358
Rep 191,163
Posts |
Yes.
When it is time to return your car, you can install the stock DP back.
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435 |
Appreciate
0
|
01-08-2015, 01:19 AM | #14 |
Private
3
Rep 54
Posts |
After you reset the CEL with jb4, will it pop back on then you have reset it again? or will jb4 suppress and hold the CEL off for that o2 code? COBB would suppress the CEL when installing downpipes. Im hopping jb4 will do the same cuhz if not, that is very annoying.
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-08-2015, 01:47 AM | #15 | |
Joint Chiefs of Staff
24358
Rep 191,163
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
|
01-21-2015, 04:07 PM | #16 |
Private First Class
33
Rep 180
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-21-2015, 04:16 PM | #17 | |
Joint Chiefs of Staff
24358
Rep 191,163
Posts |
Quote:
It works on all catless DP
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435 |
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-08-2015, 12:22 PM | #21 | |
Lieutenant
164
Rep 573
Posts
Drives: 2013 F30 335i 8SA M-Adaptive
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Dallas, Tx (Frisco)
|
Quote:
I was like hell yeah |
|
Appreciate
5
Powaup1255.00 |
05-08-2015, 12:52 PM | #22 |
Private First Class
36
Rep 104
Posts |
Yeah the 235 is a great sounding car, I remember shocking quite a few people on the street when slamming the gas pedal. Just picked up an m4 and does it ever need down pipe treatment.
|
Appreciate
1
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|