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      10-13-2019, 05:54 PM   #23
jfandl
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I ended up going with the VRSF pipes with the Ceramic coating. Removing the BMW down pipes with the CAT was not fun, the hardest part was removing them after everything was unbolted. they have to be turned and twisted to get them up through the engine compartment. Would have been easier with a helper I'm sure.

I've had the new pipes in for about 3 weeks now. There was a little performance difference but since I had already done the Stage 2 Bootmod, the change was minimally noticeable. The sound, however totally changed. You can really hear the turbo's spool up but then the exhaust overpowers the sound (Stock behind the down pipes). I am sure there was a performance boost but I didn't do any kind of timing tests with it.

My friends all call my X5 "The Beast" , when you drive it, it's no wonder why...it's a beast.
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      10-13-2019, 06:37 PM   #24
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Thanks for the update! I think I'm going to keep the oem down pipes. I don't want to deal with the smell and the gain doesn't seem to be worth it. I will try the Stage 2 flash as well. The jb4 definitely isn't as smooth as flash only. Thanks again!
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      12-03-2019, 08:14 AM   #25
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I wanted to find out the install cost before I bought any downpipes and I just got a quote around $1600 just for the install! Is this normal?
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      12-03-2019, 03:12 PM   #26
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how many miles have you been tuned for? I just installed the ESS stage 1 93 octane tune and its a totally different car. I'm wondering the reliability of tuned 50i m sports.
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      05-27-2020, 11:06 AM   #27
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Originally Posted by hufington View Post
I wanted to find out the install cost before I bought any downpipes and I just got a quote around $1600 just for the install! Is this normal?
That sounds like a lot for the install. I received them via UPS at 4:45 PM. I decided to install them starting at 5:30 PM and had the car back together by 10:30 PM. Working in my driveway with nothing but jack stands and a jack. If I would have had a helper, I could have shaved 45-60 minutes off the install time to remove the CATs. That said, total time for install around 4-5 hours tells me that 1,600 is way too high!

If you decide to do it yourself (without a helper), connect a bunji cord from the hood latch to the top of the CAT pipe to keep light tension on it, then push and turn it from the bottom of the car to get it out through the top. The bunji cord really made a big difference. If you have a helper, they can help to gently pull it up while you turn it and push it from the bottom.

One other gotcha, you are removing a ground strap from the block. Once you do this, you will get a variety of electrical errors and low voltage warning. Your parking break will error and click on and off. Once you connect this ground wire, it goes back to normal.
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      05-27-2020, 11:14 AM   #28
jfandl
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Originally Posted by smashe View Post
how many miles have you been tuned for? I just installed the ESS stage 1 93 octane tune and its a totally different car. I'm wondering the reliability of tuned 50i m sports.
Based on oil change history, I have put roughly 15K-18K miles on the full tune and still feel it's one of the best investments I've ever done in tuning my cars.

One thing I recently changed to though is getting away from the Mobil1 0w40 and switched to Redline 15w50. It has much higher ZDDP anti-wear additives and will seal the rings tighter for less oil blowby. Everything I read about higher HP motors indicate you should not ignore this detail. The stock oils are designed for the best gas mileage, wear and tear are an afterthought. Do not use full race oil on a street car either.
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      05-27-2020, 09:26 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jfandl View Post
Based on oil change history, I have put roughly 15K-18K miles on the full tune and still feel it's one of the best investments I've ever done in tuning my cars.

One thing I recently changed to though is getting away from the Mobil1 0w40 and switched to Redline 15w50. It has much higher ZDDP anti-wear additives and will seal the rings tighter for less oil blowby. Everything I read about higher HP motors indicate you should not ignore this detail. The stock oils are designed for the best gas mileage, wear and tear are an afterthought. Do not use full race oil on a street car either.
15w50 seems really heavy. I'm currently on 5w40 and have some consumption issues.
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      06-12-2020, 10:36 AM   #30
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I guess you ordered them ceramic coated from a vendor. Which one? Did you have to loosen the entire exhaust to make removing the stock pipes easier?
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      06-18-2020, 12:32 PM   #31
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Originally Posted by smashe View Post
15w50 seems really heavy. I'm currently on 5w40 and have some consumption issues.
I live in South Florida where it's hot so a heavier oil is recommended, however because of the high horsepower it generates now (630 HP), it is recommended to go with a 50 weight with high ZDDP to reduce blow by on the rings which will happen due to the positive pressure from the turbos.
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      06-18-2020, 12:39 PM   #32
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I guess you ordered them ceramic coated from a vendor. Which one? Did you have to loosen the entire exhaust to make removing the stock pipes easier?
I went with the VRSF pipes (upgrade to ceramic) from Extreme Power house. Link below. Yes, I had to loosen the entire exhaust but that was a piece of cake. Removed the mounting bracket from the trans and loosened (maybe removed, I don't recall) the one at the rear (before the muffler), you have to do both or the exhaust won't move enough. Should take less than 10 minutes to do this. Then I wedged it back using a 2 x 4 which made installation of the new pipes easy once they were in.

https://x-ph.com/vrsf-stainless-stee...x5-x6-x5m-x6m/
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      08-13-2020, 02:00 PM   #33
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So I recently purchased a set of VRSF catless DPs and been busily educating myself on removing and installing DPs on the N63. I've replaced them on a couple N54s but by all online accounts I might get a shop to install these ones. Not going to ask my wife to lend a hand because I want to stay married.

On a side note, I'm taking my Dinan piggyback tune out and replacing it with my new BM3 since my factory warranty ends this month. I understand that these are going to through a CEL. @r33_RGSport thanks for debunking limp mode, but are there any side effects other than an annoying CEL light? I'm curious if anyone has encountered this and what the solutions might be. I am eyeing up the e70 x5m brake retrofit so I'm going to need to get my programming feet wet sooner or later.
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      08-20-2020, 02:48 AM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jfandl View Post
I ended up going with the VRSF pipes with the Ceramic coating. Removing the BMW down pipes with the CAT was not fun, the hardest part was removing them after everything was unbolted. they have to be turned and twisted to get them up through the engine compartment. Would have been easier with a helper I'm sure.

I've had the new pipes in for about 3 weeks now. There was a little performance difference but since I had already done the Stage 2 Bootmod, the change was minimally noticeable. The sound, however totally changed. You can really hear the turbo's spool up but then the exhaust overpowers the sound (Stock behind the down pipes). I am sure there was a performance boost but I didn't do any kind of timing tests with it.

My friends all call my X5 "The Beast" , when you drive it, it's no wonder why...it's a beast.
Hey thanks so much for the info , I have a 2015 f15 5.0 m sport , since I’m also ordering from VRSF website I was wondering which version downpipes did you get since they give you two options 2 bolt flange or slip fit. I have stage 1 burble tune can’t wait to order these and put them on and do stage 2 with flames , does your tune have you blowing out flames from the mufflers?
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      08-23-2020, 06:14 AM   #35
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FYI these fit the x5. I didn’t bolt them up to their bracket. Didn’t really line up for that and no room really. Also used OEM clamps onto the exhaust. But they work and have been making a wonderful noise.
https://www.armmotorsports.com/products/bmw-650i-n63-n63tu-3-catless-downpipes

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEF6oROJZib/?igshid=19w0puntsd2ym
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      08-26-2020, 10:28 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by willzpatron View Post
Hey thanks so much for the info , I have a 2015 f15 5.0 m sport , since I’m also ordering from VRSF website I was wondering which version downpipes did you get since they give you two options 2 bolt flange or slip fit. I have stage 1 burble tune can’t wait to order these and put them on and do stage 2 with flames , does your tune have you blowing out flames from the mufflers?
The F15 N63 takes the "slip fit." I just had mine installed a couple of days ago and flashed BM3 stage 2 with mild burble last night. Today I put in the X5M air filters and plan to replace the OEM plugs with the NGK M5 plugs this weekend. Then I will be ready to test some WOT. I'm curious to see how it compares to Dinan stage 1.
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