Difference between downpipes?

[fackamato]

It appears that any vehicles newer than 2009 does not need to be emission tested in my state. So I figure, why not go with catless downpipes together with the JB4 on the F80. As far as I'm aware this is not illegal?

However, there are like 15 different downpipes out there from $299 up to $2499. Most of them hover around 800 - 1500.

What are the differences? They're all (claimed to be) made of the same SAE 304 steel.

Thanks in advance

[AhsanU]

There's been much discussion on this very same topic.

General consensus - there's very minimal and negligible differences between all of them. The sound differences would be very difficult to hear, especially from inside the cabin.

I went with VRSF personally. Great reputation, great price, and excellent construction.

What downpipes do you see for $300? If it's not a well known brand, I'd stay a bit away honestly.

[fackamato]

Originally Posted by AhsanU

There's been much discussion on this very same topic.

General consensus - there's very minimal and negligible differences between all of them. The sound differences would be very difficult to hear, especially from inside the cabin.

I went with VRSF personally. Great reputation, great price, and excellent construction.

What downpipes do you see for $300? If it's not a well known brand, I'd stay a bit away honestly.

That's what I thought, thank you. Here's one example for $364 (not that I would buy it!)

[mike@x-ph.com]

If you want something that fits and work, VRSF is the way to go.
It is also a very high quality pipe

AR design is very popular option as well, it is fabricated in the US. Finish quality and wielding on the AR design is second to none.
It also comes in resonsated or catted version

Active Autowerke offers downpipes with flex section

Evolution Racewerks is another very popular option made in the US

No matter which option you go with, pick a proven brand.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by fackamato

That's what I thought, thank you. Here's one example for $364 (not that I would buy it!)

You get what you pay for.

We've used ER downpipes and never had a single issue.

[fackamato]

Thank you for the recommendations.

VRSF - the ones I found go for $499. That seems super cheap. Are those the ones you refer to?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by fackamato

Thank you for the recommendations.

VRSF - the ones I found go for $499. That seems super cheap. Are those the ones you refer to?

Correct

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by fackamato

Thank you for the recommendations.

You'll find a lot of vendor Bias on this forum, so take that with a grain of salt.

The truth is all the popular choices fit and work just fine and the quality is there.

If price is the most important to you, then go with a less expensive option from a proven brand like VRSF. If you like a particular brand (for whatever reason) then choose that one.

Know there really isn't much difference aside from minute details like flex pipes vs no flex pipes and that's pretty much it. They all go from A to B. Finishes on the welds may differ slightly on higher quality brands but fitment seems to be a non issue on the proven brands regardless of price - which is good.

[BoxKing]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Finishes on the welds may differ slightly on higher quality brands but fitment seems to be a non issue on the proven brands regardless of price - which is good.

Fitment on a more expensive "proven" brand is currently suspect per recent thread/posts on the AR Resonated Pipes. There has yet to be any conclusion or feedback from AR so it would be best to stay away from their DP's until its resolved; unless you want to drop $1000+ and roll the dice....?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by BoxKing

Fitment on a more expensive "proven" brand is currently suspect per recent thread/posts on the AR Resonated Pipes. There has yet to be any conclusion or feedback from AR so it would be best to stay away from their DP's until its resolved; unless you want to drop $1000+ and roll the dice....?

I dont think that is the case... Thats the first issue we had with AR M3/M4 DP

1 "bad" product happens with all brands

[RACEM4TE]

Akra dp?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by RACEM4TE

Akra dp?

Just installed another set yesterday, fit perfectly.

[schnell325]

VRSF fit perfectly on my F80 ✔️

[Soofy]

I would do SSR performance downpipe, good price, fits good and made is USA

[M4 GTS]

Originally Posted by schnell325

VRSF fit perfectly on my F80 ✔️

+1

[-JLT-]

Eisenmann

[M3anPower]

Owner of akrapovic downpipe here, fits like OEM. No hammering, grinding, or even denting. Best of all it comes with OEM style flex.

[HighlyMedicated]

Im using an ebay downpipe i bought for $360 shipped. Didn't take pictures before shop installed but it looked like any other downpipe and works just as fine. The money I saved I got bootmod3 stage 2 and glad i did! Car runs super smooth and fast as a mofo. No problems other than install took an hr longer according to shop but eventually fit and installed no problems since. It's just a name for the higher priced ones, already have an M4 so didn't need anything just for the name! If your installing yourself you probably should get a better one but honestly mine was 360 compared to 1000 and install was only 200. To each their own, cant see downpipe under the car and im sure they used a name brand one to copy. If it wasn't metal or more technical I would have got a better one but not spending money is saving money! Just couldn't pay over 700 for a pipe...

[Tiago@VRSF]

We've sold hundreds of sets of F80/F82 downpipes without one complaint from our customers. We offer a cast v-band flange to pipe transition which aids both fitment and flow due to the lack of step from the turbo to the downpipe along with a lifetime guarantee against fitment and defects

[gonoyaro11]

The best VRSF!

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by HighlyMedicated

im sure they used a name brand one to copy

Kind of unethical don't you think?

You dont have to spend thousands of dollars on downpipes if you dont want to. You have options like VRSF that are not copies of any other brand offered at a very reasonable price.

[HighlyMedicated]

Everybody copies each other, business is very cut throat and nasty...unethical , no morals, just profits. Thats why business schools offer such a class at universities. Why wouldn't you copy one of the best fitting if it was VRSF. Real question is who spent real R and D money and brought out the first downpipe?? I just gave the OP a choice if doing himself good quality brand name, if not installing go cheap as you can! If your so into brands then thats up to you, everyone has a choice and everyone will be happy. I told installers if doesn't fit then i would buy what they had in stock, but it works and they installed it, just required little more elbow grease! If you wanted to make a downpipe better maybe try different pipe sizes are areas where it gets larger, coat the downpipe with heat resisting coatings, and or port and polish it smooth !

https://www.usnews.com/education/bes...o-study-ethics