[MiamiM235iEstorilBlue]

Hi,

I have a stock 2016 M2.

First I'm wondering about sport cats vs down pipes. Install one or the other or both? Benefits with both installed or just get an SC and skip the DP?

Second, which are considered the high quality brands to get?

Third, added hp usually means added heat and stress. Anyone familiar with impact a SC and/or DP have on a car like an m2?
- I've done hours of research and only found mention of CEL lights and not much else. Figure many of you might have firsthand knowledge and may recommend going for it or not.

[Anthony1s]

Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue

Hi,

I have a stock 2016 M2.

First I'm wondering about sport cats vs down pipes. Install one or the other or both? Benefits with both installed or just get an SC and skip the DP?

Second, which are considered the high quality brands to get?

Third, added hp usually means added heat and stress. Anyone familiar with impact a SC and/or DP have on a car like an m2?
- I've done hours of research and only found mention of CEL lights and not much else. Figure many of you might have firsthand knowledge and may recommend going for it or not.

I really doubt you did enough research because all the answers to your questions are in various threads on the first page here. And even more insight to be had if you search this subforum for keyword "downpipe"

[///M²]

Might as well install both

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue

Hi,

I have a stock 2016 M2.

First I'm wondering about sport cats vs down pipes. Install one or the other or both? Benefits with both installed or just get an SC and skip the DP?

Second, which are considered the high quality brands to get?

Third, added hp usually means added heat and stress. Anyone familiar with impact a SC and/or DP have on a car like an m2?
- I've done hours of research and only found mention of CEL lights and not much else. Figure many of you might have firsthand knowledge and may recommend going for it or not.

Bro, the sport cat and down-pipe are the same thing, it either has a cat in it or it doesn't, same piece of pipe.

Before you get a down-pipe, catted or not, you need to ask yourself if you're going to get a tune, like the Bootmod3. If you are, then you have the luxury of getting the Wagner catted DP over the Fabspeed because you can clear the CEL.

If you're not getting a tune, and that would be pretty foolish really, then you'll need the Fabspeed catted DP so you won't get a CEL (99% chance).

A: Neither requires a tune to give you hp/torque.
A: You'll get a bit more hp/torque with catless.
A: A CEL won't hurt anything, but it's annoying.
A: The CEL can be cleared with a tuner, like Bootmod3
A: The catless will be quite a bit louder, and a brighter sound.
A: If you would possibly care about smelling fuel/exhaust at stoplights, choose the catted DP.

[MiamiM235iEstorilBlue]

Originally Posted by VisualEcho

Bro, the sport cat and down-pipe are the same thing, it either has a cat in it or it doesn't, same piece of pipe.

Before you get a down-pipe, catted or not, you need to ask yourself if you're going to get a tune, like the Bootmod3. If you are, then you have the luxury of getting the Wagner catted DP over the Fabspeed because you can clear the CEL.

If you're not getting a tune, and that would be pretty foolish really, then you'll need the Fabspeed catted DP so you won't get a CEL (99% chance).

A: Neither requires a tune to give you hp/torque.
A: You'll get a bit more hp/torque with catless.
A: A CEL won't hurt anything, but it's annoying.
A: The CEL can be cleared with a tuner, like Bootmod3
A: The catless will be quite a bit louder, and a brighter sound.
A: If you would possibly care about smelling fuel/exhaust at stoplights, choose the catted DP.

Thanks so much! You confirmed alot of what I was reading but still unsure about. Why do you feel I must get a tune? Im trying to preserve reliability and it seems fast enough already. Im going for the catted DP mostly for the great sound I've heard in videos and cheaper price than all those fancy valved exhausts. The hp bump is just a bonus really.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue

Thanks so much! You confirmed alot of what I was reading but still unsure about. Why do you feel I must get a tune? Im trying to preserve reliability and it seems fast enough already. Im going for the catted DP mostly for the great sound I've heard in videos and cheaper price than all those fancy valved exhausts. The hp bump is just a bonus really.

The factory tune was made for compliance for all kinds of things you may not want or need, and leaves a lot on the table. It's not so much about making your car faster, it's more about smoothness and better driveability.

And yes, it's always smart to get a DP before an exhaust, as you might then no longer want or need an expensive exhaust after getting the DP. But the DP you choose is crucial.

[MiamiM235iEstorilBlue]

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

I really doubt you did enough research because all the answers to your questions are in various threads on the first page here. And even more insight to be had if you search this subforum for keyword "downpipe"

No reason to doubt. I did. But when you're new to this much of what I read simply didnt make sense to me. People exchanged terminology often or just referred to things differently in the many posts so I wanted the community's help for some clarity.

I think I get it now. A Sport Cat and a Catted downpipe are essentially the same thing. A downpipe is essentially the "sport cat" but without the cat, so just a free flowing pipe as I now understand it. Certainly seems like a reliable and fun mod, I'm leaning towards doing it.

My main concern is always to only do mods that are safe ie not detrimental to longevity or exceed the cars engineering limits. It doesn't seem that just adding a sport cat will do that. I dont need a much fast car, just looking for a cooler experience via a better sound. When I added the M sport exhaust to my m235i it transformed the car for me. The sound never got old and I absolutely loved the added pops and bassy exhaust note.

[Fabspeed Motorsport]

Phil from Fabspeed here. You will not get the CEL with our sport cat downpipe. We have a lifetime warranty on our pipes and cats. I would love to talk to you if you have any questions about our downpipe.

[Drop the hammer]

I run a Fabspeed sportcat. Excellent product, no cel when I was stock tuned. And sound is pretty much perfect with stock exhaust. However, I eventually ended up going bm3 tuned to stage 2 with csf Intercooler, so my plans changed a bit over time (looking for more power and all the bm3 customization - got rid of cold start for example). If I had known I was going to tune it I wouldn’t have paid the additional money for the sportcat. The sportcat adds a lot of cost. But if not tuning then it’s worth it IMHO. The sound is pretty intoxicating and I find I drive it a lot harder now just to hear her sing.

[mike@x-ph.com]

If you are getting flash tune, any downpipe will work (No CEL)


If your car is stock or you are using a piggyback, get Fabspeed catted

[skiparock]

Have a fabspeed sport cat only, 15k miles so far an no issues with anything but expensive tires.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by skiparock

Have a fabspeed sport cat only, 15k miles so far an no issues with anything but expensive tires.

[digimattic]

Originally Posted by Drop the hammer

I run a Fabspeed sportcat. Excellent product, no cel when I was stock tuned. And sound is pretty much perfect with stock exhaust. However, I eventually ended up going bm3 tuned to stage 2 with csf Intercooler, so my plans changed a bit over time (looking for more power and all the bm3 customization - got rid of cold start for example). If I had known I was going to tune it I wouldn’t have paid the additional money for the sportcat. The sportcat adds a lot of cost. But if not tuning then it’s worth it IMHO. The sound is pretty intoxicating and I find I drive it a lot harder now just to hear her sing.

Same boat here. I will get a tune this upcoming spring. However, I'm still glad I got a catted DP - there is no fuel smell coming from the car, and it's not as loud as cattless DP. I'm very pleased and the extra few hundred dollars in getting a cat is not much over the life of the car, or compared to the total amount going into it.

[CalAcacian]

I'm in a similar boat to most posters here. Fabspeed sportcat for the last 5,000 miles on the stock tune. No CEL, fantastic sound and volume.

Now I'm moving to stage 1 tuning, I'm keeping the fabspeed sport cat and getting rid of the cat heating on cold start (the only downside to a sportcat or non-catted DP).

[McGary911]

I have 25k on my Fabspeed sportcat. Zero issues. It was kind of a pain to install for the usual reasons: not enough hands, hands too big, need one more elbow between my wrist and regular elbow.

Bought mine from x-ph. Mike is always helpful.

When you get it and see the little dent, chill. It’s supposed to be there.

I got mine for the power bump (no tune), which I think is noticeable bait that’s subjective. Then I heard the sound (stock exhaust). I decided that was pretty cool too.

[Dabozo]

Originally Posted by CalAcacian

I'm in a similar boat to most posters here. Fabspeed sportcat for the last 5,000 miles on the stock tune. No CEL, fantastic sound and volume.

Now I'm moving to stage 1 tuning, I'm keeping the fabspeed sport cat and getting rid of the cat heating on cold start (the only downside to a sportcat or non-catted DP).

Same. Stock tune and no issues with fab speed catted with 10k plus on it. Only smiles.
Cold start is brutal though lol. Neighbours no likely lol. Whole street knows what car I'm driving on any given day..

[ZM2]

Most all the power gain, but a decent bit quieter than the 200-cell DP: https://www.fabspeed.com/bmw-m235i-f...tted-downpipe/

Extremely loud cold starts in my neighborhood are a no-no, and I can leave cold start enabled with this one (stock exhaust) to warm up the cat and get rid of the smells much quicker. Plus, the catalyst design should last longer than the 200-cell fabspeed.

They’ll give you a forum deal if you reach out to them, and it’ll drop ship from Germany.

[XutvJet]

Originally Posted by ZM2

Most all the power gain, but a decent bit quieter than the 200-cell DP: https://www.fabspeed.com/bmw-m235i-f...tted-downpipe/

Extremely loud cold starts in my neighborhood are a no-no, and I can leave cold start enabled with this one (stock exhaust) to warm up the cat and get rid of the smells much quicker. Plus, the catalyst design should last longer than the 200-cell fabspeed.

They’ll give you a forum deal if you reach out to them, and it’ll drop ship from Germany.

I've had the HJS Euro 6 DP installed for a bit over 2 years. It's been flawless, installs perfectly, and looks OEM (if that matters to you). It's never thrown a code. There is a notable increase in power between 2,500rpms and 5,500rpms and some additional power above that. The sound with the M Performance exhaust (I have an M235) is so damn sexy. No drone, completely tame on the inside. If you really want to hear, roll the windows down and enjoy. The DP greatly increases the sound of the OEM exhaust over-run tune (burbles). I have a Dinantronics Stage 2 piggyback so I have no control over the burbles.

Here's my review of it: https://www.2addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1592348

[flyingsheep]

if you replace the intercooler, charge pipe and down pipe, how do off the shelf tuners know what components have been replaced to get the most out of the improvements?

[CalAcacian]

Originally Posted by flyingsheep

if you replace the intercooler, charge pipe and down pipe, how do off the shelf tuners know what components have been replaced to get the most out of the improvements?

They don't, that's why they're off the shelf. If you have only done those mods (similar to what I have done), it's up to you if it is worth paying the premium to have a BM3 approved tuner adapt the tune to your specific setup.

[akkando]

What's the drone like on a sport cat downpipe?

[CalAcacian]

Originally Posted by akkando

What's the drone like on a sport cat downpipe?

Totally depends on your setup.

I had the fabspeed sport cat installed with the Dinan resonator delete and the stock muffler. Zero drone, great volume, aggressive sound and pops. The only downside was the cold start, cat heating was embarrassingly loud and sounded like a tractor unless you did the light throttle trick for about 30 seconds.

Now, I've added the Dinan muffler to this setup. The valve was installed wrong and it is currently stuck open. The drone is embarrassingly bad and actually hurts my ears between about 1700-2000 RPM and 2500-2800 RPM. The car is so loud it is insane. The OTS pops on stage 1 ACN 91 are downright anti-social.

My hope is that getting the valve fixed will both quiet it down and take care of some of the drone.