I took a good look at it when I removed it from the shipping box. It looks like the others I have seen in pictures. I missed that bung and yeah those welds do not look right. I do not know what is up with this DP. Could it be counterfeit? is there such a thing?

The guy I bought it from even provided the name of the retailer he bought it from along with a phone # and a contact there.

I am going to write back to the seller and ask for my money back. This whole thing is fishy.

 

Well I think it is time I chimed in here. I am the one who sold the down pipe to onefish2. For everyones information this pipe WAS purchased from Eric at Supreme Power on the recommendation from killerfox. I wrote to killerfox back in March of last year about who he had purchased the pipe from and that is when he gave me Eric's contact information. I contacted Eric and purchased the pipe in March of last year. My mini was tuned by Jan last year on a dyno in Texas. Since the pipe was installed I had only put around 6000 miles on the mini.

I have already been in touch with Eric at Supreme Power about this issue and he wants the pipe sent back so they can inspect it. I have asked onefish2 to send the pipe back to me and plan to refund his money once the pipe has been returned and I have a chance to inspect it myself. I just want to make sure nothing has been altered on the pipe such as any additional welding, etc. I am completely willing to work with onefish2 to resolve this issue.

Thanks

 

I have had my DP for a long time and have had zero issues with it and am also tuned by Jan. I also installed the DP myself. Maybe you just got the one bad item. I would also guess that since Way is now selling them, I would imagine he finds the build quility acceptable.

Hopefully Eric from Supreme Power can get the pipe replaced assuming there have been no modifications/repairs to the pipe.

 

Thanks David. I appreciate the update on your pipe. That is what I hope too is that I just got a bad one. It always worked great on my mini with no issues. It would still be on there if I hadn't put the mini back to stock. It does happen even with new parts. Eric has been great already and has already let me know he will work hard to make this right. He has always been great to work with.

 

Not to hijack this thread, but it involves the possible purchase of one of these DPs. Where can I find info about RMW's tune? Is there a website, or a link on NAM that I just haven't found yet?

Also, Way if you could chime in here. Without being biased, which DP is working better overall between yours and the Ak system? When I say working better overall, I mean power wise and does yours produce a CEL?Either one is going to be purchased from your shop still.

 

some hero banned RMW from this forum but just google them and they have their own forum and i got my tune via their website.

 

Thanks turtle343. I'm on their site now. Why would they get banned?? They seem like the go to guys for tuning when it comes to aftermarket DP and exhaust performance.

 

Jan pissed off a few people. He is a great guy in person. Very friendly and talkative. He is always traveling and tuning race cars, Porsche's BMWs etc so he is a busy guy... his customer service via email and posts on NAM left something to be desired.

 

This is the new Akrapovic DP I just got from Way. Its serial number is # 149. This is a pic of the Lambda sensor bung just like the others I posted. With regards to the spot welding... Not quite the work of art I was expecting. As a matter of fact it looks just like the old one still on my car.

 

Definitely odd. My catless Riss has the bungs molded into the pipe instead of welded on. I thought Akrapovic did it the same way.

Maybe it was just a fluke leak on the old one. Feedback on Akrapovic that I've seen has been universally good.

 

I think they just tack weld the outside and then completely weld the bung on the inside of the pipe, I don't recall seeing any gaps in the weld on the inside. Maybe take a look.

 

I inspected the whole thing inside and out. You are correct the outside is tack welded. The inside is nice and smooth.

My thought was that the exhaust was leaking from the gasket as I am sure it was not replaced when the new DP was installed. I spoke with the MINI tech again and he said he was sure that the scorch marks on the underside of the turbo heat were from the area around the bung not from around the gasket.

I am going to send the DP back to Futuremini and he can return it to the retailer he got it from. Hopefully they can see what is going on and if its bad they can warranty it.

 

FWIW, my o2 bung was welded around the perimeter. I do NOT have this "newer" version of the pipe. I wonder why they changed the process? I am willing to bet that you were leaking from the gasket as well. So much for the dood who installed the downpipe. I know that I would not re-use a steel gasket like that.

 

my riss never came with a gasket so i just used the stock one but have had no probs. i only did this because i didn't even know you had to change it. poor research by me.

 

I spoke to the tech at the MINI dealer again. He says that the area of the heat shield that was scorched was not the area above where the DP and turbo mate up but above the lambda sensor bung.

Now that I had a chance to look at a brand new pipe, I find it hard to believe that the exhaust leak was coming from a crack near the lambda sensor bung.

Who knows??

My mechanic is installing the new exhaust on Wednesday. He has installed most of my aftermarket bolt on mods. I have never had an issue with any of the work he has done for me in the past 12 years.

I am looking to put this incident behind me and start driving my car again.

Just to play it safe I picked up a new gasket, 3 new bolts and nuts where the DP and turbo mate up. As well as a new clamp where the DP attached to the rest of the exhaust.

 

I think there's also a gasket that goes between the downpipe and exhaust where they meet under the car. When I was putting in my short shifter I saw one in there that looks like it should also be replaced.
Under heavy acceleration I seem to have a small leakmtheremthat I can smell. I can't seem to find the part number for it though.

Did your system come with such a gasket?

 

I do not have the exhaust yet just the DP. I also looked on RealOEM and did not see a gasket for where the DP and exhaust meet up under that car.

When my car was at the dealer I was going to have them put the stock DP back on. Of all people my SA advised me to leave the Akrapovic DP on and get it taken care of... meaning have it welded at the exhaust shop. She made no mention of a second gasket. Just the clamp.

 

I can't find a part number either. There was a gasket in there though. I assume it's stock since I only had the upper gasket.
If you do see a gasket for that area when your exhaust arrives post back here again. I really suspect there's one there that should also be replaced as well.

 

Yes,
I have looked for this gasket and I do not believe it's available as a detail part. I believe it's part of the v-band clamp sold as an inseparable assy. The gasket wraps around the lip of the flange section via a set of small, square-like tabs. It's worth asking the dealer if this is available or if it, in fact, only comes if you purchase a brand new clamp. This will be good for future reference as well...

 

i don't think that's so much a gasket, but rather a piece that allows rotation....

 

Yep, that's it exactly. The tabs on that thing are extremely flimsy so it doen't take much before they're all bent out of shape.

I think it's definitely good to replace it as it seems to play a part in sealing the exhaust from leaks at that connection point.

 

Does anyone know if your able to buy just the carbon fiber tips off of the cat back system?

 

Yes. You can purchase just the CF tips. I was on the phone with Way last week when he got confirmation from Akrapovic that selling just the tips without the full exhaust was OK.

 

Are they still around?

 

yes