So ive been wanting to a downpipe on my lCI 320D for quite some time now, just the current going price of R3000 + for one has kept me away untill now.
i Saw Powerflow Randburg was running a November special and decided to take the plunge. I woke Saturday morning and almost decided not to go as i started thinking "what if being a bmw it actually doesn't like the change, will it smoke to much, what if the workmanship is crappy and then its to late, i need shocks, maybe rather get Koni shocks instead etc etc"
Regardless i went ahead and went for it.
The workshop is a major improvement over the old one.
It is spotless and more waiting areas (as it is always a looooooooong process, left there with a hell of T shirt tan lol) arrived at 7:30 left at 12:00.
The customer service is very good and professional, they were very hospitable and called me to show me the downpipe once finished and once installed to inspect the fitment etc. Glad Sanjeev hasnt changed the level of work since i was last there 6 years ago for my Audi's downpipe.
I was stressing of shoddy workmanship or welding, due to mixed reviews on different forums. Sanjeev called me to check the finished downpipe and i was more than happy with the work. they used the original inlet part of the original cat to ensure a perfect, airtight fit. the welding was smooth, inside too.
Now for the downpipe:
Is worth it, hell yes! If you are skeptical as i was, dont be!
Sound
I wasn't expecting any sound difference at all, possibly just more the usual turbo whistle that is normal with tdi with downpipe. dam was i pleasantly surprised. After the installation the one owner takes the car around the parking lot to test for rattles etc. he floored it and wow! Its actually gruff. The nice guys i met there who were having there polo gti' and golf R done all looked at me and laughed because they were suprised at the sound. Under normal acceleration there is no difference in sound. Slightly more turbo noise but barely noticeable. only at about over 60% throttle from 1800 revs does a gruff, almost "braaa sound" sound emerge up till about 2500, then it just sounds completely different. I still cant get over the sound and cant wait to leave work to drive the car again. its so cool being excited to drive your ride again.
Drive/Engine Characteristic
It took about 100km of driving to really feel the adjustment in drive.
at 1800rpm there used to be a bit of a lag till 2100. That is now gone. Its smoother, and i actually need to check the top end. been loving the sound in the lower rev range to actually focus on the upper end of the rev range.
It definitely spools quicker and feels, lighter and smoother to rev. more natural if you will. It definitely feels like its making more power now. Im keen to dyno the car now to actually see if released a bit more torque or if it is just a mind thing.
Consumption
They disconnect your battery for the safety of the ecu, so my avergae was reset. after leaving the workshop my average was 12.0 lol. that was obviously checking how much more she smokes and trying to hear the sound and feel etc. I then had a family braai so jumped on the high and reset the average. by the time i got home it settled to 4.4L/100.
I need at at least 2 weeks to check the real life average. before it was always 8.0, so im keen to see if it will improve after the downpipe.
Smoke
Does it smoke more, yes. My car is mapped. normal driving not more smoke than normal. when you accelerate hard, there is now a constant trail of smoke. not sportline or cupra thick, but just a small trail. i kept my droopy tail piece so it helps that it points down. the back of my car is not covered with soot at all, so its not that bad.
As i was hoping to find no one actually has posted before and after dyno readings after downpipe, so im hoping to go to kar or h&m and doing a run to see what actual power difference does a downpipe make on our little 320D's
Before:
After
so next is dyno test, very interested to see what difference it makes in power.
i Saw Powerflow Randburg was running a November special and decided to take the plunge. I woke Saturday morning and almost decided not to go as i started thinking "what if being a bmw it actually doesn't like the change, will it smoke to much, what if the workmanship is crappy and then its to late, i need shocks, maybe rather get Koni shocks instead etc etc"
Regardless i went ahead and went for it.
The workshop is a major improvement over the old one.
It is spotless and more waiting areas (as it is always a looooooooong process, left there with a hell of T shirt tan lol) arrived at 7:30 left at 12:00.
The customer service is very good and professional, they were very hospitable and called me to show me the downpipe once finished and once installed to inspect the fitment etc. Glad Sanjeev hasnt changed the level of work since i was last there 6 years ago for my Audi's downpipe.
I was stressing of shoddy workmanship or welding, due to mixed reviews on different forums. Sanjeev called me to check the finished downpipe and i was more than happy with the work. they used the original inlet part of the original cat to ensure a perfect, airtight fit. the welding was smooth, inside too.
Now for the downpipe:
Is worth it, hell yes! If you are skeptical as i was, dont be!
Sound
I wasn't expecting any sound difference at all, possibly just more the usual turbo whistle that is normal with tdi with downpipe. dam was i pleasantly surprised. After the installation the one owner takes the car around the parking lot to test for rattles etc. he floored it and wow! Its actually gruff. The nice guys i met there who were having there polo gti' and golf R done all looked at me and laughed because they were suprised at the sound. Under normal acceleration there is no difference in sound. Slightly more turbo noise but barely noticeable. only at about over 60% throttle from 1800 revs does a gruff, almost "braaa sound" sound emerge up till about 2500, then it just sounds completely different. I still cant get over the sound and cant wait to leave work to drive the car again. its so cool being excited to drive your ride again.
Drive/Engine Characteristic
It took about 100km of driving to really feel the adjustment in drive.
at 1800rpm there used to be a bit of a lag till 2100. That is now gone. Its smoother, and i actually need to check the top end. been loving the sound in the lower rev range to actually focus on the upper end of the rev range.
It definitely spools quicker and feels, lighter and smoother to rev. more natural if you will. It definitely feels like its making more power now. Im keen to dyno the car now to actually see if released a bit more torque or if it is just a mind thing.
Consumption
They disconnect your battery for the safety of the ecu, so my avergae was reset. after leaving the workshop my average was 12.0 lol. that was obviously checking how much more she smokes and trying to hear the sound and feel etc. I then had a family braai so jumped on the high and reset the average. by the time i got home it settled to 4.4L/100.
I need at at least 2 weeks to check the real life average. before it was always 8.0, so im keen to see if it will improve after the downpipe.
Smoke
Does it smoke more, yes. My car is mapped. normal driving not more smoke than normal. when you accelerate hard, there is now a constant trail of smoke. not sportline or cupra thick, but just a small trail. i kept my droopy tail piece so it helps that it points down. the back of my car is not covered with soot at all, so its not that bad.
As i was hoping to find no one actually has posted before and after dyno readings after downpipe, so im hoping to go to kar or h&m and doing a run to see what actual power difference does a downpipe make on our little 320D's
Before:
After
so next is dyno test, very interested to see what difference it makes in power.
raise:
