Hector...
In previous threads (multiple vehicles over the years), I've heard that wrapping an already ceramic coated DP is usually a bad idea; it decreases the longevity of the coating. I claim not to be an expert at this and have heard the debates over the years.
What are your thoughts on this? It was asked a couple posts up as well: Is the wrapping really necessary given the ceramic coating, even when tearing up the heat shield? You have far more man hours doing this stuff than many of us.

 

The truth of the matter is that i offer the wrapping because some customers are concerned when they dont reuse the loser heat shield again so I offer this for that reason.

Now what most people dont understand is that there is a curing process usually needed when you have an item coated by a professional coater. You need to take the pipe up to temp then let it cool down so that it gives it a final cure.

If you buy a new manifold, you want to wrap it out of the car not installed because its easier that way. However when you do that you dont let it cure.

Im offering both of my DP setups with a wrap. Ill leave it to the customers descretion if they want to remove it or not. Its cheaper on me to do it with out because the wrap can be expensive at time but i prefer to give the customer that option.

 

Thanks for the response, Hector.

I know there are more folks now with these things installed... lets get some more feedback given we have more than a single day's worth of driving behind em; so close to pulling the trigger.

richi0207?
D-Unit?
MiniManiac74?

 

Driven over 1k miles happily CEL-free with the extra oomph from the DP
It is just like the factory DP in terms of being covered with the heat shield and no CEL. Couldn't be any happier with my DP, one of the best investments I have made in the car considering all the mods I have.

If you are worried about anything regarding the DP, don't be, I waited over a year for a downpipe I would enjoy problem free and my wish finally came true! GO FOR IT!

 

Except the lower heat shield, i now set it up with a heat wrap on the lower one.

Mini has his on. He had some difficulties installing it at first and had some leaks. At first when he told me of the leaks i thought it was the DP! It was his miltek leaking at the slip fits. He had a buddy help him realign his miltek, once he did he addressed the leak issues he had and he was also able to connect it to the DP easier. So that deserves a nice woot woot!

Poktrockt was suppose to get his yesterday/today and my guess he installed it just fine cause i gave him my number to call if he had issues.

The miami guy (not rich) who had the r55 is cel free too. He posts on here but i forget his screenname.

 

Fedex didn't deliver my DP until 7:30 last night, when I was out to dinner Needless to say, I didn't put mine on yet but will hopfully Fri after work. It sure looks pretty though

 

Do you think I could might be able to pass a CA smog test?

 

Honestly I think it would. Infact in my own opinion, i think this cat filters out more than the stock cat, thats why its actually bigger than the oem one. The reason it makes more significant power is because it has a 300 cel count. Not to mention you still have your second cat in the catback system.

If you want to play it safe, you can always reinstall your stock one for smog test day. It should take you about an hr the second dance around.

 

I do not think anyone would notice from the visual inspection that it was not stock. Would you ever make a Catback system for the Clubman S?

 

No you cant tell its not stock when you look at it because the cat i use is larger then the OEM one but dont let size fool you cause it flows bad ****!

THere are tons of minis in orlando but i cant get any to come to the shop. I mainly see the supercharged ones. The DP will fit the clubman however as soon as i get a clubman to come in or if you find me one to come in ill make a system.

 

OK so I got my downpipe on and it adds a deeper tone to my Invidia. With the Invidia, just past the mushroom section that connects to the downpipe some of the pipe had to be cut off. And I see now that exhaust depot includes heat wrap now, because the stock heatshield will not fit. Other than that it is sweet!! No CEL's and it runs nice!

 

Hector, I have a Alta catback I am interested in a DP that will not throw cells. I also dont care about the cat because as you said I can always switch it back. I went to your site but Im not sure witch one is best for me. I love the price of the cheap one, but it doesn't say cell free. I know that my alta catback is making it harder, but im sure you have had this issue asked about before.

 

Thanks for the 411! You are the first to install it on the invidia i believe. The Dp are now addressed for the little nipple that the OEM/invidia etc have.

So you like the added power huh? I think it does much more than a catback for sure as far as how it pulls in the upper RPM band. Nice!

 

The cheap one is no cel free! Its an off-road downpipe. I put one of my spacers in it so you dont trigger a cel as often but you will still trigger it.

 

OK but since the alta catback is 3 inch should I do a 3inch cell free, if there is such a thing. Or should I get the standard one you are offering?

 

You should go with the standard one because you will not notice a difference between the 3" and the 2.5" and also you live in natzi ville. If some one takes a peak and sees 3" then your done. My 2.5 system looks like an OEM piece and the untrained eye wont catch it.

 

So you cut off part offthe Invidia piece? Can you estimate how much and what did you use to do it? I'm about to do it this weekend.

 

You should be good lance, i had like 3-4 leave with out the inside of the flare being expanded so they had to bend in the nipple or cut it.

 

cool

 

Ya, it def added a deeper tone to my Milltek. I am not going to take it off and wrap it. Hopefully nothing melts

 

Ah ok, now i know why some of you are paranoid. Because of this whole hood vent thingy thing melting with the upper shield off. lol. you should be good to go.

Thanks for the support!

Hec

 

Mine melted once with a stock set-up, so I won't be too surprised if it melts again.....


BTW - I am going to put it on a Dyno the first week of May. Of course, I don't have a base run w/o mods, but it will be fun to see what numbers I am putting to the wheels.

 

Just finished instaling the Exhaust Depot DP. Haven't drove it yet as I have to finish a few things in the morning. It was a bit of a ***** to install but I think I got it leak free. My concern however is not replacing the lower heat shield. Just letting it idle tonight it got pretty hot on the lower section. Even the wrap got hot. My AC hose metal housing rubs up against the wrap and the rubber hose is only inches away. Plus other parts are 4-6 inches away. Obviously the heat shield was there for a reason, and I assume to protect all that stuff. Just wondering if I am setting myself up for big trouble down the road with parts getting too hot?? Any opinions welcome. thanks

 

https://www.shopatron.com/product/pa....27420.0.0.0.0

Ill be sending this with the new DP from now on just to offer a better piece of mind.

You can wrap the line up with it.

 

So far with my DP I've driven around 1500 miles with no CEL and the AC hoses look the same as before I installed the DP. They all look mint condition, the stock DP with the heat shield produces a whole lot of heat anyways.