M3 E92 ESS VT2-625 Kit with stock cats

[Blingo]

Hey guys,
I'm going to install an ESS VT2-625 kit next year on my stock 2008 M3 E92. I still have all the oem cats and i want to keep them, because i live in Germany. According to ESS it would be possible to drive this kit with the stock cats and that i could expect around 580 to 590 hp.
Do you guys have some experience with the kit + stock cats? Are 580-590 hp realistic? And how is the burden on the stock cats, can they get damaged over time? I don't do trackdays with the car, just backroads and highway driving.

[Longboarder]

You should be fine. I did this for a few months while I was waiting for my exhaust to arrive. I even did a dyno at EAS and it layed down a respectable 521 rear wheel HP on their dynojet back in 2013. Car had 1,100 miles in it and the only mod was the ess600.

https://youtu.be/5rFyj7ZnCFs

[alfalfa]

Long time high loads on the Autobahn is the worst thing you can do. It's not comparable to a pull on a dyno.
When you are in Germany your only address to get this street legal is Faulke. With a smaller kit it's possible to keep all 4 cats but not with this one.

[Blingo]

@Longboarder
Nice, 521 rhp sounds great with stock cats.

@alfalfa
I did ask Faulke in Germany (ESStuning) and he said that you could drive the 625 Kit with the oem cats, but with 580-590 hp.

[alfalfa]

Sure you can do it but its far away from being "safe". Your egt will end up way to high caused by the precats (not the one you can read with several dispays cause they are not measured even if you think so) You will get problems short term or long term with it. With problems I mean a blown engine referring to your aimed driving profile.
Ask Faulke if they guarantee that's its safe and if they will pay the new engine when the old one melted the precats and/or your piston 3 or 7 say "hello world". If they do so, go with it. ;-)

[Blingo]

Originally Posted by alfalfa

Sure you can do it but its far away from being "safe". Your egt will end up way to high caused by the precats (not the one you can read with several dispays cause they are not measured even if you think so) You will get problems short term or long term with it. With problems I mean a blown engine referring to your aimed driving profile.
Ask Faulke if they guarantee that's its safe and if they will pay the new engine when the old one melted the precats and/or your piston 3 or 7 say "hello world". If they do so, go with it. ;-)

Thanks, i'll think about removing the precats. I don't think Faulke will pay me a new engine in case of a damage

[M_Torx]

remove precats and replace your normal cats with race cats it will reduce smell so only way they could tell is a full on inspection... if race cats are not allowed then... pay off the police if they try and tow your car for inspection 😂

[Blingo]

I've got news: I bought empty precats and went for the ESS G1 instead of the VT2-625. Do you guys recommend the do88 cooler package? I don't do trackdays. Would that be enough for street driving?

[alfalfa]

It depends on you. The cooling package will help to reduce the temp. Is it for simple street driving a must have: no it's not.

[Blingo]

Originally Posted by alfalfa

It depends on you. The cooling package will help to reduce the temp. Is it for simple street driving a must have: no it's not.

Thats exactly what i want, to get lower temps.
Is there a better alternative than the do88 package?

[Longboarder]

Exactly what temps are looking to drop? Oil? Water? IAT?

[Blingo]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

Exactly what temps are looking to drop? Oil? Water? IAT?

I want to drop oil, water and if possible iat. But i couldn't find an iat cooler for the M3 E92.

[WeekendWarriorz]

Originally Posted by Blingo

I want to drop oil, water and if possible iat. But i couldn't find an iat cooler for the M3 E92.

To drop IAT look into a 5 gallon trunk mounted ice tank setup and DIY upgraded heat exchanger. I’d do the heat exchanger first then trunk mounted tank 2nd if you do not reach your desired goal.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1531485

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1184125