335i downpipe installation in Christchurch

[blake12 23]

Anyone had this done locally? Looks like abit of a nightmare with a lift

[Ninjaspartan 23]

I've done it a couple of times, on my car and on my brothers. It is a nightmare even with a lift. Doing it the first time takes a while, took me several hours to just remove them.

If you do try remove them I would drop the power steering. Don't need to disconnect the lines just take if off the sub-frame and tie it up. Gives you a lot more room and makes it much easier. 

 

[blake12 23]

Guaranteed it'll take me over a day. It took me 4 hours just to do chargepipe. 
By the time I buy some suitable ramps/jacks and whatever other tools I end up needing, I thought I might as well pay someone. 

On hold for now anyway. I flashed stage 1 MHD and car is going limp mode from wot pulls if I hit 6k+ rpm's. 
Will sort this before I do the dp's. 

 

[Herbmiester 923]

Snap, I am looking for someone who has done it before in Wellington. The lack of space is my concern.

[blake12 23]

For anyone wondering/finding this through google, Acton Auto will be installing my pipes this week and I will report back. 
Not cheap, but the mechanics there very familiar with n54's, rattly wastegates etc. so I feel safe using them.  Quoted $600 give or take if it goes smoothly or if there are issues. Painful because I paid nz $400 for the pipes XD 

And on a positive note, providence mechanical insurance happy to cover me still with the pipes on, and will even still cover other parts of the exhaust etc. I thought that was very reasonable service. 
They were happy to cover my custom built 4-2-1 headers on my last car also after my mechanic rang them. 

[mosen 2]

@blake12 Which pipes did you get/where'd you get them from?

[blake12 23]

@mosen http://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-3-stainless-steel-catless-downpipes-n54-07-10-bmw-335i-08-10-bmw-135i.html

[blake12 23]

Update, downpipes in, ended up using auto authority (porsche specialists) because they are closer to my work. 
Took the guy 6 hours  from start to finish including testing for leaks, road test etc.  - $630 + GST
 

If anyone else in CHCH wants them done, I would presume they would be faster next time. 

Pipes sound a little throatier, went to test them properly last night but noticed my temp rising higher than normal. 
Got a low coolant warning this morning, felt for leaks and one of the coolant hoses snaped right off in my fingers, right where it's connected to the drivers side of the intercooler hosing. Was incredibly brittle. Sprayed everywhere and burnt my hand a little. So it's back at autothority today, getting the part and coolant replaced. 

Also I can hear slight wastegate rattle now that I have the downpipes on........ feels like this is going to be the start of never ending repairs XD Hopefully not. 
 

Edited August 30, 2018 by blake12

[Matth5 471]

35 minutes ago, blake12 said:

Got a low coolant warning this morning, felt for leaks and one of the coolant hoses snaped right off in my fingers, right where it's connected to the drivers side of the intercooler hosing. Was incredibly brittle. Sprayed everywhere and burnt my hand a little. So it's back at autothority today, getting the part and coolant replaced. 

 

Common failure. Some people rig up a brake line hose as an upgraded replacement. Assuming you're talking about the thin one going across the radiator fan. 

Edited August 30, 2018 by Matth5

[blake12 23]

Yup, that long thin one going across, but the actual break is the nipple that it sits over ont he large pipe going from the intercooler. So had to replace that whole piece. It's in now anyway with an oem replacement so hopefully it's good for a few km's. I had intercooler o-rings replaced two weeks ago and I am guessing it got cracked/damaged during the movement.