Downpipe pros and cons
What characteristics to consider when installing the downpipe on your Bmw
Installing a downpipe is one of those things that a motor enthusiast should always keep in mind and evaluate.
Obviously we are biased, but installing a Downpipe is one of the "basic" improvements that a self-respecting car must have.
Even if it's a €180,000 M8 , it's undeniable that downpipe + map, even on this kind of car, are like cheese on macaroni, the icing on the cake.
You can see the pros and cons of installing the Downpipe in detail in THESE ARTICLES that we have prepared for you.
While in this article we will analyze the differences between the various downpipes and how you should choose it, with the pros and cons on the various solutions.
It is a great help, because the market is full of proposals, but very few are valid.
So if you think about leaving it to the mechanic, well I'm sorry to tell you but you make a mistake, so let's see the pros and cons of this choice.
Let's start by saying that as an advantage you certainly have the factor of not having to understand anything. No online research, no information, you leave all the responsibility to him.
But this choice brings with it 3 big "cons".
The mechanic/preparator you trusted could be poorly "prepared" in reality.
It seems absurd, but it's a common rule, out of 10 professionals you meet, 8 are poorly prepared. The sad thing is that it also applies to doctors or lawyers, but that's not the point.
You must have talked to incompetent people all the time, so you have a good idea of what I'm telling you.
We ourselves, for example, are BMW experts, but come and ask us for information on an Audi or an Abarth and we are in trouble because our specialist skills are dedicated to BMWs.
Ok, we know something, but we certainly can't give a professional opinion (according to the standards with which we give it for BMW).
Now, placing yourself in the hands of someone who makes all kinds of cars is certainly not synonymous with extreme specialization.
But let's also assume that he's a good one... in the world of mechanics, for the sake of simplicity we tend to always buy from the same supplier and for (his) convenience you could end up with a component that isn't up to the task (and we'll see later) .
As a last case, the most serious I would say, the mechanic could buy the cheapest parts to increase his margins. This is obviously an edge case, but it happens more often than you think. And the less the customer is informed, the more likely it is to happen.
Note well, no one says that mechanics automatically cheat customers, but it is one of the possible hypotheses and it is something that unfortunately happens, so it should be kept in mind.
For this reason it is good that you choose what to install on your car, and whoever carries out the work thinks only of this part, without selecting the spare parts/accessories for you.
The selection and research work is up to you, because I can guarantee you that you are more thoughtful and attentive than anyone else. The car is yours, and if you're here reading this text I'm sure you're a true enthusiast :)
Not all Downpipes are the same
I admit that it is not easy to navigate the jungle of downpipes. There are a thousand proposals and on average nothing is understood.
So why choose one Downpipe instead of another?
The choice is obvious, not all downpipes are created equal.
Here again we see the pros and cons of choosing a downpipe
Above you can see 3 images of Downpipes...mind you, what you will read will help you make the right and informed choice to have the best downpipe for your car.
Let's start by saying that the downpipes you see are in order from top to bottom for: B48, B48 (FWD car), N55
These codes are the abbreviations of the engines on which they fit. So they can go on different BMW models (ps. read even if you don't have a BMW, the rule is the same).
Obviously the models with the InoxPower brand underneath are InoxPower, while the models without anything are from the "competition".
Now, it doesn't take a lot of experience or even an engineering degree to see right away that something is wrong between these comparisons.
You might think that they are different Downpipe models, but let me assure you that they are for the same cars. They are interchangeable.
Take the last photo for example, our Downpipe is clearly different from the one examined. But I assure you that they are both suitable for the N55 engine.
If they are so different aesthetically it is due to only one thing...
The InoxPower downpipe is designed to help you achieve better performance, it has specific measurements, shapes and features that improve efficiency and performance (all other things being equal, of course).
The other Downpipe is simply a connecting pipe to replace the original catalytic converter.
The InoxPower model starts wide on the turbine side, connecting to the pipe flange, without impediments, and then gradually narrows down to the size of the exhaust manifold. We therefore have a balanced structure, created by hydroforming.
The alternative downpipe, on the other hand, is a small pipe welded to the turbo flange, which, being much larger, immediately creates an impediment.
Do you understand the difference?!
Both seem to fit, but if no one tells you these things how do you know?
Let's also examine the first and second photos (B48 downpipe), note how the InoxPower downpipe is balanced in shape. It has a shape that tapers progressively, making it possible to optimize flows and greatly increase the outflow of exhaust gases.
The other Downpipes, on the other hand, close immediately, narrowing just below the turbine.
In the central photo you can even see that the pipe used has a smaller section than the InoxPower model, it is noticeable because our direction towards the exhaust is constant, while the other model is enlarged to adapt to the standard exhaust.
You are basically spending money on a smaller sectional exhaust. It does not make sense!
There are therefore 2 ways to make a downpipe. The first is to weld a certain number of pipes to fill the space of the original catalyst.
This is the most used procedure, the one they do in China or the simple mechanic/welder who: "I'll do the donpaip for you with 100 euros".
And that's also what most exhaust companies do, they have thousands of codes in their catalog and they simply clone the component, without studying and without a project.
This is the economical solution to make these components.
The best downpipe for your BMW
The alternative is to choose InoxPower, as we only specialize in BMW engines. And believe us, it's hard enough to get it right for just one brand, let alone hundreds of models and brands!
As you could see above, we have developed downpipes which have a performance enhancing function.
But there are other aspects to consider in order to make a correct choice of downpipe.
So let's see the pros and cons of installing a cheap and cheap downpipe.
The only pro is the price, which is low and attractive. This is the only advantage you can have.
The disadvantages are many. Starting from the performance, which is lower than an InoxPower downpipe.
But it doesn't end there, because to make a cheap downpipe you can use another trick. That is, the thickness and type of material.
Metal is bought by weight, whatever the type, the parameter is total € per kg.
And what trick can you use to save money? Simple, the first way is to reduce diameters and thicknesses.
Using a pipe with a smaller diameter reduces the cost of the exhaust by up to 25%, but it is the thickness that plays a lot.
In fact, using a 1.15 mm thick steel compared to 1.5/1.6 reduces the cost by 40%. It looks similar to the eye, but the durability, and resistance to heat, deformation and vibration change dramatically.
Finally there is the last step, the material used.
Without going into the details of the technicalities, it is good to know that there are various types of steel, and that these steels are often used in combination to work differently in various parts of the exhaust.
Making a "mixed" exhaust with different steels requires more effort, and I don't need to tell you, making them with a high quality steel has totally different costs compared to using lower quality materials.
We ourselves propose for some downpipe models, a "luxury" model and an economic model. We do it because unfortunately there is so much ignorance about this component, and often the price attracts certain customers like fireflies.
We know the tricks to reduce the price well, and we implement them on the economic model, obviously offering it at a competitive market price.
But for those who want the best, there is a "cool" version where we don't pay attention to savings but to the pure quality of the product.
In summary then, choosing a cheap downpipe only ensures you a negative result.
You find yourself a downpipe with low performance that tends to break over time, perhaps in an awkward place, such as the motorway, or on the day you paid €500 to ride on the track.
You are lucky, if you have a BMW, to be able to install the best downpipes for your car, why not take advantage of it?!
By choosing InoxPower you are sure that you are assembling a product that:
- improve performance
- improve the sound
- lasts over time
- is designed for your BMW
So if you want to get maximum performance and superior reliability from your BMW, the BEST solution is to install the InoxPower downpipe.
DISCOVER THE DOWNPIPE FOR YOUR BMW
