Varis diffuser situation from hell

[M_Adaptive]

I wanted to share my experience and issues ordering a Varis diffuser. I ordered my first varis under tray back in 2018 with a shop called Sonic Motorsports in San Jose CA. I was told by a good friend this was a very reputable shop and they swore by their work. So I ordered some parts from them along with a varis under tray. The minor parts I ordered from them were installed a week later but being a varis diffuser I was told the lead time was at least six months since they are made to order from Japan and they also take forever. Over the next six months I occasionally ask for updates and was told it was coming. Nine months from ordering the part and the owner of the shop is nowhere to be seen, a bunch of other clients begin to complain about the same issues with the shop and all I want is my varis diffuser we ordered. Then I begin to ask for proof that the order was placed to varis. Mind you this is coming up to a year now of being told “don’t worry its coming” and what am I to do when the so called reputable shop requires the $2500+ the part be paid for at the time of ordering. The shop could offer me no proof of the order to varis but only assurances it was ordered so I took matters into my own hands and found the direct distributors of all Varis products in America. The main one is bulletprooof automotive in So Cal, I gave them a call and verified that they had no varis under tray order even on the books. Luckily the shop sonic motorsports went under new management and after another few months back and forth I was finally refunded my money for the first varis diffuser. Now that I had direct contact with the distributor of varis parts I ordered a diffuser through bulletproof automotive. Again I knew the lead time was six months so I ordered a second diffuser that would arrive around February 2020. It was unfortunately a little late and then COVID hit. Everything shut down. I was actively tracking my package and I watched it arrive at the carrier in the Bay Area warehouse only to be deliver ten miles away to the shop but instead it sat for about six months in a warehouse. I called FedEx but their was nothing they could do. Finally I got an alert that it was being moved and it had arrived at its final destination. I was so excited I immediately contacted the shop to check on the part but they said they received nothing. I contacted bulletproof to see if they knew anything and they said it for some reason was sent back to them but they would send it back up immediately. I asked them to check it for quality since it sat for so long. Good thing I did because their was a huge crack in the center of the under tray and need to be sent back to Varis. They apologized even though it was not their fault at all. It sucked but I had to wait another six months but with shipping it took about eight but I finally have a varis diffuser. After about three years and three varis under trays later I finally have the look I wanted to achieve so long ago. It was a very frustrating experience and I hope no one ever has to go through what I went through. And after everything Varis also forgot to send out my hardware and the VRSF sticker that goes in the middle. It’s being taken care of but man was this a headache.

[alex@misshift]

Glad you finally got your diffuser though! Man, that's a long wait.

[STONEDM3]

Good to know this. I just purchased mine from bulletproof about 2 months ago an I hope things go better for me! Glad to see you finally got what you paid for. Almost like the commercial hamburger versus the real one😅

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by AdM1nsarEas$

Surprised you waited 3 years and tried multiple times…hard pass on any companies that take 6months to ship a product

It was a hard choice to make the first time for the wait. I was so pissed and determined to get my part I thought ordering directly from the distributor nothing could go wrong. It if wasn’t for the perfect timing of Covid everything would have been fine. What can you do during a pandemic when the world pretty much stopped.

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by STONEDM3

Good to know this. I just purchased mine from bulletproof about 2 months ago an I hope things go better for me! Glad to see you finally got what you paid for. Almost like the commercial hamburger versus the real one😅

Bulletproof is solid. No complaints about them and they apologized so much for what happened and none of the bad was because of them. They were so good about making it right. 5 stars cannot recommend more. Everyone should go through them for Varis supplies. Cut out the middle man since they are the direct distributor for North America

[SAMM3Y]

Can you post some more pics of the diffuser please?

[Not Sure]

wow crazy story but on the positive side, it looks fantastic.

[reidetailing]

Great story! Glad you got it, and welcome to the VRS diffuser crew! It truly changes the look of the car in a positive, aggressive way!

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

Can you post some more pics of the diffuser please?

I’ll post some more pics soon. Just waiting for the smoke to clear up more here in CA. Also gotta make sure I have the correct lighting cause it’s tough to really capture the Varis with the Jerez black combo. I was hoping to get my new camera as well but iPhone pics might have to due for now.

[Blindside_137]

Holy hell. Was worried this post wasn't going to have a good ending.

I have always been a big fan of the full varis setups. Yours looks killer

[e92e93]

Fellow bay area owner! Do you think this diffuser would work with a meisterschaft gt2? I know the super gt works with it, but that is because it does not have a muffler. I wonder if the gt2 mufflers are too big to fit above the undertray...

[STONEDM3]

Good question I'm curious as well. Does muffler size matter? I have Armytrix

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by e92e93

Fellow bay area owner! Do you think this diffuser would work with a meisterschaft gt2? I know the super gt works with it, but that is because it does not have a muffler. I wonder if the gt2 mufflers are too big to fit above the undertray...

Probably not since they are about the same size. The only option I will most likely have is go with the super gt. The problem is how big the muffler is on the GT system. It didn’t clear so I had to switch exhausts.

[M_Adaptive]

Another photo of the rear

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by STONEDM3

Good question I'm curious as well. Does muffler size matter? I have Armytrix

Muffler size does matter. That’s why I went with a two muffler system. It’s pretty much the only way it would guaranteed fit.

[e92e93]

Originally Posted by M_Adaptive

Probably not since they are about the same size. The only option I will most likely have is go with the super gt. The problem is how big the muffler is on the GT system. It didn’t clear so I had to switch exhausts.

Thanks! Is the upper piece without the undertray finnicky or would it work with most exhaust systems? I might just eventually go for the varis upper half only

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by e92e93

Thanks! Is the upper piece without the undertray finnicky or would it work with most exhaust systems? I might just eventually go for the varis upper half only

I have a Arkym diffuser. I had to shave off a little bit of the blades on it but you can’t see it which the undertray. No issues and I might even replace it with the actual varis one down the line to match the weave.

[nyc_dude]

I think Justin @AutoTalent in SoCal has some connections in Japan to help smooth out the Varis E9X M3 Undertray + Rear Diffuser ordering process.

About to place an order for XMAS 2021, for install in Spring 2022 for my ///M.

I have a BMW e90 M3, so I might have to mix and match the VARIS Undertray with a different a CF rear diffuser. The VARIS pieces are only for a BMW E92/93 fitment.

I am doing a front/rear control arm suspension refresh first, before the undertray is fitted. Evolve Automotive - UK is currently doing a great BMW E92 M3 suspension refresh series.


Cheers