[FirstBMWLA]

I had heard VRSF was coming out with a set of 3" downpipes so I messaged
Tiago here on E90post about it. Once I saw the pics of them I was ready to give them a shot. VRSF was very open their downpipes. He informed me they had tested up to 5 different vendors downpipes while developing their own. I believe their goal is to fit somewhere between the ebay junk and high end of AR design etc.

Background:
I've been on the forum for quite a few years now since getting
my first 335i back in 2007. This was my FIRST time ever installing downpipes.
Mods are: Procede Rev 2.5 V5 11-01 Aggressive Maps Stg 2, BMS DCI, Eisenhaus(fake Eisenmann) Race exhaust muffler only, 91 AZ craptane gas

Ordering/Packaging:
My order was shipped in probably less than 8hrs after making payment for the downpipes. Downpipes arrived packaged very well. All necessary hardware bolts/gaskets were included.


Qualty/Initial Impressions: Immediately upon looking at them I was impressed with how good they looked. Welds looked clean. Flanges appeared to be true and flat. No dents(ala PLM). Inside of pipes were also clean and smooth. O2 bung threads were also clean. These pipes are 3" for nearly the full length and only taper right near the 2.5" flange. Sadly I forgot to take pictures of the inside of the pipes but the looked great to me.




Installation/Fitment:
Install was truly fun lol. I had read numerous threads about DP installs and knew this would not be an easy task. I'm quite the motivated DIY'er though so I wanted to give it a shot.
Truly my only problem with the install had nothing to do with VRSF. The band clamps were truly hell to get back on for me anyway. In reading people had advised putting the clamps onto the turbo side first then slipping over downpipe. That worked for me on the rear turbo but I found it basically impossible to do that on the front turbo. I had to remove the downpipe and start with the clamp on the downpipe and try to slip it over the turbo housing instead. I've also read numerous notes about removing/bending of heatshields but I never had any issue. Maybe I just worked around it and made it harder for myself. Not sure.

The fitment/alignment of the pipes was truly SPOT ON! I had read of issues with inferior pipes tending to run close to one another and rattle but I had none of these issues. The downpipes slipped right into the turbo no problem. For alignment, all I did was align the flanges to the stock catback and the rest fell into place. With the flanges aligned to the catback, the downpipes had ample separation with no chance of rubbing/rattling. That part was truly easy. Upon first startup all was well. No rattles no leaks.

Total install time from jacking the car up to finish including breaks 4.5hrs. All an all it was tough but I would do it again knowing the 2nd time would be much easier.




Performance/Driving Impressions:
The very first thing I noticed was the reduction in lag which was dramatic IMO. Before install I could probably count "one one thousand, two one thousand" before seeing the boost gauge hit full boost. Post install that was basically cut in half. The throttle response now is very immediate. Hard to quantify actual HP gains in real numbers but the HP/Tq gain is noticeable. The car just seems much more responsive now and pulls harder/faster to redline. I definitely notice the DSC light flashing a bit more now. These paired with the new 11-01 aggressive maps from Vishnu(thanks Shiv!) make for a very exciting drive!!
One concern I had was would would the addition of the downpipes make my exhaust OMG loud since I already had the Eisenehaus Race which is regarded as one of the loudest setups outside of straight pipe. Opinions differ of course but I for one think that if you like the sound of your current setup downpipes won't affect it that much. It seems the addition of the DPs actually lessened my 2.5k drone issue. Idling/crusing the exhaust sounds basically the same. However under heavy/full throttle the exhaust does have a different more aggressive tone to it now that I like. It definitely sounds far from stock. I still have secondary cats so that probably eliminates some issues of fully catless setup.

Conclusion
I'm very much into performance/price ratio. These DPs seem to maximize that.
Verdict??? A definite BUY

[Focus]

Nice. If i didn't pick up my MS DP's off someone selling them here for $200 box i woulda definitely picked up these. I don't care what anyone says about these, their SOLID looking. Props to another vendor bring out a quality product w/o raping the community.

[dbjb]

Looks good. Nice touch including the hardware too.

[FastBimmerN54]

These look promising.

[thebigragu99]

They don't don't have the nicest welds,but then again nobody is going to be hovering under your car to speculate them.I guess if I didn't buy my coated m.s d.p's ,maybe I would have bought these and had them sent of to get hot jet coated!!Glad to hear your happy,that was a brave move.

[Tiago@VRSF]

Thanks for taking the time to post the review. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Lifetime warranty for anyone worried about build quality or welds

[vasillalov]

Should have used Anti-Seize on those bolts. In just 1 year those suckers will start rusting like crazy...

[BrokerE93M3]

Tiago could you shoot me a PM with BEST price shipped to 17036? Thanks.

[Naptime]

Originally Posted by broker335xi

Tiago could you shoot me a PM with BEST price shipped to 17036? Thanks.

Same here please

[Tiago@VRSF]

PM's sent!

[thebigragu99]

Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF

PM's sent!

Whats the best price on a Cobb acess port shipped to 11358.My buddy wants one asap

[FirstBMWLA]

Originally Posted by vasillalov

Should have used Anti-Seize on those bolts. In just 1 year those suckers will start rusting like crazy...

Being in AZ I'm not overly concerned with rust. Car is going on 5yrs old and stock bolts came out np. Not sure if they had anti-seize or not.
Thanks though.

[mpower3o2]

Tiago,

Could you PM me best price for the downpipes and Cobb Accessport shipped to 97232?

Car: 07 335i Sedan 6mt

[tscdennab]

Those are definitely ar design copies, I can see from the long downpipe near the turbo flange. All other 3" downpipes are different in that area. I don't like this design, seems too "flat" in that area.

Also they are a bit too close to each other near the exhaust.

But if they don't touch in any conditions, I guess they are the best bang for the buck right now.

[FirstBMWLA]

Originally Posted by tscdennab

Those are definitely ar design copies, I can see from the long downpipe near the turbo flange. All other 3" downpipes are different in that area. I don't like this design, seems too "flat" in that area.

Also they are a bit too close to each other near the exhaust.

But if they don't touch in any conditions, I guess they are the best bang for the buck right now.

Hopefully I'm understanding what you meant correctly.

Maybe some of the angles of the pics aren't the best. These are pics from my 4S. I was so greasy I didn't bother trying to get out a nice camera for under the car. I assure you though there was as much separation as stock downpipes or more in all areas.
Also I'd think it's almost a necessity that the pipes come nearer each other at the exhaust as that separation is set by the flanges on the catback not by the downpipes.

[merchomini]

i dont want to see anyone getting on and littering this post with "ar copies or knockoffs" BS.........these look great, and they just got a great write up and review from the op.


im just sayin......

[Hellrot Sachin]

Any increased vibrations? I've heard that there may be some vibrations without the flex joint - a supposed non-issue with AA..

HRS

[FirstBMWLA]

Originally Posted by Hellrot Sachin

Any increased vibrations? I've heard that there may be some vibrations without the flex joint - a supposed non-issue with AA..

HRS

Guess I'm not aware of that issue.
No vibrations issues noted for me anyway. I already have a particularly loud exhaust setup and I actually prefer the sound change since the addition of the downpipes.

[taylors335]

im excited to recieve my set , although i ordered them tuesday or wed and havent shipped yet damn holidays

[Tiago@VRSF]

Originally Posted by tscdennab

Those are definitely ar design copies, I can see from the long downpipe near the turbo flange. All other 3" downpipes are different in that area. I don't like this design, seems too "flat" in that area.

Also they are a bit too close to each other near the exhaust.

But if they don't touch in any conditions, I guess they are the best bang for the buck right now.

Not quite sure what you mean by "flat". There's not a flat section on these and the shape of the first few pieces on the longer pipe is in fact different than the AR in that ours maintains a smoother radius. While I'm sure the performance gains are negligible, it is different in comparison..

Each downpipe clears the other as well as subframe and motor perfectly. No fitment issue, rattling or scraping. They may appear "close" but they are as far as they need to be considering the amount of room you have to work with.

Originally Posted by Hellrot Sachin

Any increased vibrations? I've heard that there may be some vibrations without the flex joint - a supposed non-issue with AA..

HRS

No increased vibrations, haven't seen it on one car with solid downpipes. The exhaust hangers provide more than enough movement/flex in the system.

[taylors335]

if people keep saying these pipes are ar copies then ar should have put a pat on 3" DP's , all the 3" pipes out there look similar , are they all copies ? yes they are i guess there all 3" Dp's rite .... how the eff else are you goin to make a 3" pipe differently given the space thats provided ... i gues in other words im sayin' STFU about that subject !!!!

[OG Ryder]

Originally Posted by FirstBMWLA

Guess I'm not aware of that issue.
No vibrations issues noted for me anyway. I already have a particularly loud exhaust setup and I actually prefer the sound change since the addition of the downpipes.

Can you describe the change in sound for someone who hasn't heard it before? Thanks