Test pipes or no?

maesd74 · 12-05-2012, 10:42 PM

This has been talked about over and over again, but I'm on my iPhone and you can't search. Is it worth the smell and sound to save a few bucks and get test pipes? I have a 2011 E90 ZCP DCT....thoughts? I've heard plenty of YouTube sound clips and they only confuse the issue. Just your thoughts please...thanks for your help.

D.

mkPOTO · 12-05-2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maesd74

This has been talked about over and over again, but I'm on my iPhone and you can't search. Is it worth the smell and sound to save a few bucks and get test pipes? I have a 2011 E90 ZCP DCT....thoughts? I've heard plenty of YouTube sound clips and they only confuse the issue. Just your thoughts please...thanks for your help.

D.

It depends on what your looking to do. I want catless for the power, and honestly the smell doesn't bother me much. It also can change the sound of your exhaust note. All depends on what your looking to do.

Ezio · 12-05-2012, 10:52 PM

i am new to this engine. but know a lot about Lsx engines. It will for sure smell more, specially if you are not tuning. If you stand behind your car you would probs smell it more. after a WOT run you will smell it.

overall its not THAT BAD, but on a BMW i would go high flow cats.

tom @ eas · 12-05-2012, 10:55 PM

Yes, yes.............................yes. Get them

maesd74 · 12-05-2012, 11:29 PM

Yes, want the power AND will get a tune from Mike Benvo. I have a two year emissions window so I think it's the best economical and quickest way to add power.

kaiv · 12-06-2012, 12:37 AM

This should answer all your questions:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756575

Cliffs:

_more power
_no smell
_minor increase in volume

rjd598 · 12-06-2012, 12:44 AM

You save more than a few bucks

Top_Gear · 12-06-2012, 01:51 AM

Wondering the same thing.

But this mod appears to be irreversible as it requires cutting the OEM exhaust. I am sure that at some point I will want to return the car to stock with no visible signs of "surgery" showing underneath

carter2 · 12-06-2012, 04:12 AM

I was looking for the same question and now got the answer!

Dovetonsils · 12-06-2012, 06:26 AM

It will for sure smell more, specially if you are not tuning. If you stand behind your car you would probs smell it more. after a WOT run you will smell it.

Munit · 12-06-2012, 11:11 AM

There is virtually no smell since you have your secondary cats in place. Alternatively get a Xpipe and high flow cats which replace both sets of OEM cats and also has minimal smell.

Only time it really smells if you delete both sets of cats

M3PO · 12-06-2012, 04:33 PM

It's a lot of bucks saved, not much smell (secondaries still in), and the same or more power than x-pipes costing more than 5x as much.

IMO, I don't know why you wouldn't unless you have ~$1500 burning a hole in your pocket and you just gotta have shiny pipes where you'll never seem them.

anacondatp · 12-06-2012, 05:46 PM

for guys with test pipes, what do you do when it comes time for smog test?

aus · 12-06-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top_Gear

Wondering the same thing.

But this mod appears to be irreversible as it requires cutting the OEM exhaust. I am sure that at some point I will want to return the car to stock with no visible signs of "surgery" showing underneath

I would imagine you could clamp the stock cats back in place for the smog check? And hopefully they won't be too careful with the visual inspection.

Also, any decent exhaust shop could weld the stock cats back in. Shouldn't be more than an hour of weld time if you bring it into them.

aus · 12-06-2012, 07:19 PM

Has anyone had any problems with leaking at the clamps? Someone mentioned it about the Turner pipes, but I think he was talking out of his ass since he didn't own them?

.

dunocarmet · 12-06-2012, 09:16 PM

It will for sure smell more, specially if you are not tuning.

W Cole · 12-06-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anacondatp

for guys with test pipes, what do you do when it comes time for smog test?

I think in CA they are getting rid of the "sniffer" test so as long as you have ODBII readiness you may be ok?

There is the visual inspection but a lot of places only look under the car with a mirror and may not notice..

binky · 12-07-2012, 12:49 AM

Test pipes and K&N filter, great cheap mods.

e92livin · 12-07-2012, 01:00 AM

I have some questions about this myself if i were to get test pipes and delete the secondary cats and resenators also would the gains b the same as a catless x pipe ?

aus · 12-07-2012, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92livin

I have some questions about this myself if i were to get test pipes and delete the secondary cats and resenators also would the gains b the same as a catless x pipe ?

The question you should be asking is, what kind of gains will you REALLY get by deleting the secondary cats???

M3GTC · 12-07-2012, 10:29 AM

Pondering doing the same and getting test pipes my question is how will a BMW dealer react to this? Warranty issues?

ERinEC · 12-07-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anacondatp

for guys with test pipes, what do you do when it comes time for smog test?

I'm interested to know this as well. Do you just have the cats welded back on prior to the test?

12-05-2012, 10:42 PM	#1
maesd74 Private Drives: 2011 M3 sedan comp package Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 65 iTrader: (0)	Test pipes or no? This has been talked about over and over again, but I'm on my iPhone and you can't search. Is it worth the smell and sound to save a few bucks and get test pipes? I have a 2011 E90 ZCP DCT....thoughts? I've heard plenty of YouTube sound clips and they only confuse the issue. Just your thoughts please...thanks for your help. D.
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12-05-2012, 10:55 PM	#4
tom @ eas BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 8,842 iTrader: (12) Garage List 2008 ESS VT2-525 Z4MC [0.00] 2011 ESS VT2-625 M3 [0.00]	Yes, yes.............................yes. Get them __________________ Tom G. \| european auto source (eas) email: tom@europeanautosource.com web: www.europeanautosource.com tel 866.669.0705 \| ca: 714.369.8524 x22 \| fax: 714.908.1796 Blog \| Facebook \| YouTube \| Flickr \| Twitter

12-06-2012, 12:44 AM	#7
rjd598 Brigadier General Drives: 10' M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Diego,CA Posts: 3,180 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW M3 [4.50] 2000 Nissan Maxima SE [0.00]	You save more than a few bucks __________________ 10 E90 M3/dct/ztp/zpp/heated seats/eps/19'/iPod retired- 08 535i/nav/prem./L7/ipod retired- 06 325i/nav/prem./sat/xenons/style 128

12-06-2012, 04:33 PM	#12
M3PO Colonel Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC Posts: 2,176 iTrader: (6)	It's a lot of bucks saved, not much smell (secondaries still in), and the same or more power than x-pipes costing more than 5x as much. IMO, I don't know why you wouldn't unless you have ~$1500 burning a hole in your pocket and you just gotta have shiny pipes where you'll never seem them. __________________ 2008 IB E92 M3\| BBS \| KW \| Arkym \| Platte Forme A.G. \| Active Autowerke \| K&N \| Fabspeed \| Dinan \| Evolve-R

12-06-2012, 05:46 PM	#13
anacondatp Private First Class Drives: 10' E92 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 170 iTrader: (2)	for guys with test pipes, what do you do when it comes time for smog test? __________________ 10' E92 M3 6MT

12-05-2012, 10:52 PM	#3
Ezio Private First Class Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: MI Posts: 186 iTrader: (0)	i am new to this engine. but know a lot about Lsx engines. It will for sure smell more, specially if you are not tuning. If you stand behind your car you would probs smell it more. after a WOT run you will smell it. overall its not THAT BAD, but on a BMW i would go high flow cats.

12-05-2012, 11:29 PM	#5
maesd74 Private Drives: 2011 M3 sedan comp package Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 65 iTrader: (0)	Yes, want the power AND will get a tune from Mike Benvo. I have a two year emissions window so I think it's the best economical and quickest way to add power.

12-06-2012, 12:37 AM	#6
kaiv Major Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,117 iTrader: (12)	This should answer all your questions: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756575 Cliffs: _more power _no smell _minor increase in volume

12-06-2012, 01:51 AM	#8
Top_Gear Enlisted Member Drives: M3-E90 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 32 iTrader: (0)	Wondering the same thing. But this mod appears to be irreversible as it requires cutting the OEM exhaust. I am sure that at some point I will want to return the car to stock with no visible signs of "surgery" showing underneath

12-06-2012, 04:12 AM	#9
carter2 Registered Drives: bmw 5 series Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: usa Posts: 4 iTrader: (0)	I was looking for the same question and now got the answer!

12-06-2012, 06:26 AM	#10
Dovetonsils Banned Drives: nice Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: baode Posts: 62 iTrader: (0)	It will for sure smell more, specially if you are not tuning. If you stand behind your car you would probs smell it more. after a WOT run you will smell it.

12-06-2012, 11:11 AM	#11
Munit Banned Drives: m3 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: CA Posts: 220 iTrader: (0)	There is virtually no smell since you have your secondary cats in place. Alternatively get a Xpipe and high flow cats which replace both sets of OEM cats and also has minimal smell. Only time it really smells if you delete both sets of cats

12-06-2012, 07:19 PM	#15
aus Major General Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 6,164 iTrader: (5)	Has anyone had any problems with leaking at the clamps? Someone mentioned it about the Turner pipes, but I think he was talking out of his ass since he didn't own them? . __________________ Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by some of the top engineers in the world because some guys sponsored by a company told you it's "better??" But when you ask the same guy about tracking, "oh no, I have a kid now" or "I just detailed my car." or "i just got new tires."

12-06-2012, 09:16 PM	#16
dunocarmet New Member Drives: bmw Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: forum Posts: 7 iTrader: (0)	It will for sure smell more, specially if you are not tuning. __________________

12-07-2012, 12:49 AM	#18
binky New Member Drives: 2013 BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 23 iTrader: (0)	Test pipes and K&N filter, great cheap mods.

12-07-2012, 01:00 AM	#19
e92livin Second Lieutenant Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto Posts: 259 iTrader: (2)	I have some questions about this myself if i were to get test pipes and delete the secondary cats and resenators also would the gains b the same as a catless x pipe ?

12-07-2012, 10:29 AM	#21
M3GTC Private Drives: BMW e92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 95 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW M3 [5.00]	Pondering doing the same and getting test pipes my question is how will a BMW dealer react to this? Warranty issues?

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