[photos_by_ronnie]

As the title states, I installed a VRSF downpipe on my 2016 M2 over the weekend, and I am code free without having to tune my car. I used a mini cat from Big Daddie's garage, so there was no splicing of wires or anything permanently modified on my car. Best of all, the mini cat was only $50. So far I've put 200+ trouble free miles on the car since installing the downpipe. Total install time was 1 hour and 50 minutes from the time I drove it into the shop until the time it was ready to leave, clean up included.

Now for those of you thinking, why even bother with a downpipe if you aren't going to tune the car. Well, I simply don't want to risk tuning the car. Sure, there's a slight possibility of warranty work being more difficult with a downpipe, but tuning the car takes that risk to a whole other level.

My only reason for wanting the downpipe is for more volume. The tone of the car is perfect from the factory, but with so much sound insulation, it was too quiet inside car. I come from a history of vehicles with N/A V8s with longtube headers and straight pipe exhausts. I don't have $3k lying around for an MPE exhaust, but I wouldn't want that anyway because I really love the functionality of the valves being programmed into SPORT and COMFORT modes.

VIDEO:

[LBBDrew]

Awesome. Do you still get the catless smell?

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by LBBDrew

Awesome. Do you still get the catless smell?

Unfortunately so, I would say that is the only downfall of the catless downpipe, nothing you can do about it. But luckily you can't smell it in the car.

[Orange fever]

Woohoo!!! Thanks for the info

[shemeld_135]

Originally Posted by photos_by_ronnie

As the title states, I installed a VRSF downpipe on my 2016 M2 over the weekend, and I am code free without having to tune my car. I used a mini cat from Big Daddie's garage, so there was no splicing of wires or anything permanently modified on my car. Best of all, the mini cat was only $50. So far I've put 200+ trouble free miles on the car since installing the downpipe. Total install time was 1 hour and 50 minutes from the time I drove it into the shop until the time it was ready to leave, clean up included.

Now for those of you thinking, why even bother with a downpipe if you aren't going to tune the car. Well, I simply don't want to risk tuning the car. Sure, there's a slight possibility of warranty work being more difficult with a downpipe, but tuning the car takes that risk to a whole other level.

My only reason for wanting the downpipe is for more volume. The tone of the car is perfect from the factory, but with so much sound insulation, it was too quiet inside car. I come from a history of vehicles with N/A V8s with longtube headers and straight pipe exhausts. I don't have $3k lying around for an MPE exhaust, but I wouldn't want that anyway because I really love the functionality of the valves being programmed into SPORT and COMFORT modes.

VIDEO:

Can you post link or pm me the mini cat u purchased? Looking to try the same.

[BimmerSpain]

Sounds good!!

[Fab_R]

Sounds really good.

[Yellowflash21]

So photos_by_ronnie how do you like it performance wise?

Was it worth it, and can you feel the difference in response?

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by shemeld_135

Can you post link or pm me the mini cat u purchased? Looking to try the same.

http://bigdaddiesgarage.com/mini-cat...di es%20Garage

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by Yellowflash21

So photos_by_ronnie how do you like it performance wise?

Was it worth it, and can you feel the difference in response?

Definitely not what I would consider to be a performance mod. But to be honest I haven't actually tested the car's performance yet, I'm still in my break-in period. The car only had 85 miles on the odometer when I installed.

In my opinion, for straight line performance you need a JB4, or maybe just buy an M4.

[Franklin Joseph]

i assume u mounted the mini cat on the back o2 sensor?

waiting to see you put a few more hundred miles before i decide on this. thanks!

[mike@x-ph.com]

Awesome!!

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by Franklin Joseph

i assume u mounted the mini cat on the back o2 sensor?

waiting to see you put a few more hundred miles before i decide on this. thanks!

Yes it was mounted by the rear o2 sensor. Came with instructions on how to put it on, super easy. Big Daddy's has been around for as long as I can remember and I've heard lots of good things. Some say that the mini cat will eventually get clogged, and at that point I will try to get a free replacement or just buy another one for $49. Either way its better than risking voiding my warranty for a $400 tune that adds hardly any performance. But that's just my personal opinion, each to his own.

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Awesome!!

Thank you for the great deal on the downpipe and the good customer service!

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by photos_by_ronnie

Thank you for the great deal on the downpipe and the good customer service!

You are welcome

[FSociety]

Would sound better when the engine is over the warm up period takes about 30seconds to a minute in my X4 M40

[J.M]

I've bought and installed these spacers in the past in several cars and I never paid more than 10€ for them! 50 bucks sounds like a definite rip-off man. Plus, a lambda o2 sensor spacer does exactly the same (eliminate the cel) and costs a fiver.

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by J.M

I've bought and installed these spacers in the past in several cars and I never paid more than 10€ for them! 50 bucks sounds like a definite rip-off man. Plus, a lambda o2 sensor spacer does exactly the same (eliminate the cel) and costs a fiver.

This is not a spacer bro, it's a miniature catilyc converter. Not even remotely the same thing. Besides, I'm not going to buy some Chinese made eBay junk, I've done that before with terrible results. I paid $56k for this car, I was thrilled to pay $49 for this.

[J.M]

Originally Posted by photos_by_ronnie

This is not a spacer bro, it's a miniature catilyc converter. Not even remotely the same thing. Besides, I'm not going to buy some Chinese made eBay junk, I've done that before with terrible results. I paid $56k for this car, I was thrilled to pay $49 for this.

Not even remotely the same thing? Do you even know what you're talking about? A so called mini-cat is indeed a spacer, applied between the socket and the lambda o2 sensor, and the only difference is that it has a ring inside it that, putting it in layman's terms, further reduces the gas flow and tricks the lambda sensor a bit more. I am happy to discuss how the aforementioned ring does that, and what's it's composition.

I'm sure you are a most valued customer and am also sure that they were also thrilled with having you pay $49 for it. I paid $96k for my car and still refuse to be ripped off.

[photos_by_ronnie]

Originally Posted by J.M

Not even remotely the same thing? Do you even know what you're talking about? A so called mini-cat is indeed a spacer, applied between the socket and the lambda o2 sensor, and the only difference is that it has a ring inside it that, putting it in layman's terms, further reduces the gas flow and tricks the lambda sensor a bit more. I am happy to discuss how the aforementioned ring does that, and what's it's composition.

I'm sure you are a most valued customer and am also sure that they were also thrilled with having you pay $49 for it. I paid $96k for my car and still refuse to be ripped off.

I'm getting tired of your insults. Before you continue to make a fool of yourself, please take the time to research before you $hit all over someone else's thread. Big Daddy'a Garage sells a $14 O2 spacer made with T304 stainless steel. Sure it's a bit more expensive than Chinese spacers that rust in a few weeks. Link here: http://bigdaddiesgarage.com/straight...ddies%20Garage

^^That is NOT what I bought, I repeat...I BOUGHT A MINI CAT. I wish I had taken pictures before installing, it's literally a tiny catilyic convertor. I don't trust just putting a spacer on it, I wanted a little extra security so I paid $49. That is my money that I worked for. Now if I didn't think it was a bargain in comparison to cheap Chinese spacers that may or may not work and are guaranteed to rust, I wouldn't be recommending this to other users.

[photos_by_ronnie]

Just to put this into laymans terms so everyone understands the difference...a spacer moves the o2 sensor further away from the exhaust gasses, giving you a better chance of the sensor not causing a CEL. A mini cat not only acts like a spacer, but it also cleans the exhausts gasses before they reach the O2 sensor, just like an OEM cat. Being that it's difficult to reach and I don't like crawling under my car all the time, I paid the extra money to buy a mini cat, as it is going to have a much better chance of not throwing a CEL.

[J.M]

I apologise if you felt insulted as it was not my intention at all. Sometimes when writing you pass the wrong idea. Also keep in mind that English is not my first language and maybe at times my choice of words or expressions is not the best.

And your explanation is absolutely correct by the way.