Downpipes With Heat Shielding vs Ceramic Coating Which Is Better?

03Saleen · 02-27-2016, 01:34 PM

Hey guys I'm planning out my future mods and I really want a DP with a built in flex (Even if its not needed). So the two I have narrowed it down to are the Zima MotorSports and Akrapovic SS. The Akra has heat shielding and the Zima is Ceramic Coated. Which one is better for less heat transfer into the cabin?

Akra

Zima

Mike@N54Tuning.com · 02-27-2016, 01:41 PM

There should be no heat transfer into the cabin with any catless downpipe. The pipes don't trap any heat as the cats are removed (the cats are a huge heat sink). Unless this is a track car stick with regularly SS finish or choose whichever brand you prefer. There will be very little if any difference between them.

Mike

BuLoOoSki · 02-27-2016, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike@N54Tuning.com

There should be no heat transfer into the cabin with any catless downpipe. The pipes don't trap any heat as the cats are removed (the cats are a huge heat sink). Unless this is a track car stick with regularly SS finish or choose whichever brand you prefer. There will be very little if any difference between them.

Mike

+1

CCPcoatings.com · 02-27-2016, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03Saleen

Hey guys I'm planning out my future mods and I really want a DP with a built in flex (Even if its not needed). So the two I have narrowed it down to are the Zima MotorSports and Akrapovic SS. The Akra has heat shielding and the Zima is Ceramic Coated. Which one is better for less heat transfer into the cabin?

Akra

Zima

Not sure where you're trying to reduce radiated temps from, but any SS pipe is going to hold a lot of heat at its surface while running and some time after shut down as well unless its super thin material. That said, ceramic coating the pipes will reduce heat radiated through the pipes as well as dissipate any surface heat faster than that of the raw substrate.

As to the Akra pipes you have shown, I've never seen a skin / wrap like that before. It appears to be a thin corrugated SS or alum skin. Not sure how effective it would be without a non conductive base material under it. Also, there are large portions of pipe with no wrap at all. Maybe someone on here that's run them before would have more insight as to what they consist of.

iuhutch · 02-28-2016, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCPcoatings.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03Saleen

Hey guys I'm planning out my future mods and I really want a DP with a built in flex (Even if its not needed). So the two I have narrowed it down to are the Zima MotorSports and Akrapovic SS. The Akra has heat shielding and the Zima is Ceramic Coated. Which one is better for less heat transfer into the cabin?

Akra

Zima

Not sure where you're trying to reduce radiated temps from, but any SS pipe is going to hold a lot of heat at its surface while running and some time after shut down as well unless its super thin material. That said, ceramic coating the pipes will reduce heat radiated through the pipes as well as dissipate any surface heat faster than that of the raw substrate.

As to the Akra pipes you have shown, I've never seen a skin / wrap like that before. It appears to be a thin corrugated SS or alum skin. Not sure how effective it would be without a non conductive base material under it. Also, there are large portions of pipe with no wrap at all. Maybe someone on here that's run them before would have more insight as to what they consist of.

I just had my downpipes ceramic pro 9h coated while having my car done...I'm wondering if it'll have any positive impact?

Fast4d · 02-29-2016, 12:44 PM

I don't think any DP will hold as much heat as the OEM CATS

mike@x-ph.com · 02-29-2016, 01:55 PM

03Saleen Why arent you considering the Active Autowerke with swain coat?

ricerx1 · 02-29-2016, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03Saleen

Hey guys I'm planning out my future mods and I really want a DP with a built in flex (Even if its not needed). So the two I have narrowed it down to are the Zima MotorSports and Akrapovic SS. The Akra has heat shielding and the Zima is Ceramic Coated. Which one is better for less heat transfer into the cabin?

Looks like the Akra comes with an inconel heat shield.

In my experience with rotary engines that generate a lot of heat. inconel heatshields do a better job of keeping heat out of the cabin then coatings because of the air gap between heat shield and and downpipe.

tom @ eas · 02-29-2016, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03Saleen

Hey guys I'm planning out my future mods and I really want a DP with a built in flex (Even if its not needed). So the two I have narrowed it down to are the Zima MotorSports and Akrapovic SS. The Akra has heat shielding and the Zima is Ceramic Coated. Which one is better for less heat transfer into the cabin?

You cannot feel any heat generated by catless downpipes in the cabin area.

Stick with the Akrapovic. Both will perform similar once installed, but the Akrapovic has much better fitment and will be much easier to sell when it's time to part out.

SflBimmer8484 · 03-01-2016, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

03Saleen Why arent you considering the Active Autowerke with swain coat?

+1 Swain coating is one of the highest rated coatings for exhaust components and even with the coating the price will still be well under the Akra's.

Info on swain coatings- http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/r...aust-coatings/

03Saleen · 03-02-2016, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew@ActiveAutowerke

+1 Swain coating is one of the highest rated coatings for exhaust components and even with the coating the price will still be well under the Akra's.

Info on swain coatings- http://swaintech.com/race-coatings/r...aust-coatings/

They look great, I will consider them. Thanks!

edwinm3 · 03-02-2016, 05:57 PM

If willing to pay a little more, Akra fitment is spot on, everything lines up like factory, no need to zip tie anything down there. Another option would be Eisenmann.

ShePearl · 03-03-2016, 06:54 AM

Overall exhaust temp is considerably lower with catless DP due to removed cats. Car breaths so much better.

SflBimmer8484 · 03-04-2016, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwinm3

If willing to pay a little more, Akra fitment is spot on, everything lines up like factory, no need to zip tie anything down there. Another option would be Eisenmann.

Ours fit like factory. They include a factory style flex section and retain all brackets. Doesn't get any more factory fit than that.

mike@x-ph.com · 03-04-2016, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew@ActiveAutowerke

Ours fit like factory. They include a factory style flex section and retain all brackets. Doesn't get any more factory fit than that.

We sold a good numbers of AA downpipes, never had a problem with fitment

02-27-2016, 01:34 PM	#1
03Saleen First Lieutenant 178 Rep 365 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M4 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (0)	Downpipes With Heat Shielding vs Ceramic Coating Which Is Better? Hey guys I'm planning out my future mods and I really want a DP with a built in flex (Even if its not needed). So the two I have narrowed it down to are the Zima MotorSports and Akrapovic SS. The Akra has heat shielding and the Zima is Ceramic Coated. Which one is better for less heat transfer into the cabin? Akra Zima
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02-27-2016, 01:41 PM	#2
Mike@N54Tuning.com Joint Chiefs of Staff 5292 Rep 116,288 Posts Drives: 2007 335i, 2015 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: N54tuning.com iTrader: (89)	There should be no heat transfer into the cabin with any catless downpipe. The pipes don't trap any heat as the cats are removed (the cats are a huge heat sink). Unless this is a track car stick with regularly SS finish or choose whichever brand you prefer. There will be very little if any difference between them. Mike
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02-29-2016, 12:44 PM	#6
Fast4d Captain 272 Rep 884 Posts Drives: 325 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: So cal iTrader: (0)	I don't think any DP will hold as much heat as the OEM CATS
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02-29-2016, 01:55 PM	#7
mike@x-ph.com BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 32890 Rep 206,292 Posts Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (23)	03Saleen Why arent you considering the Active Autowerke with swain coat? __________________ Check out our current sale by clicking on this link! https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 725-221-5267
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03-02-2016, 05:57 PM	#12
edwinm3 Brigadier General 1053 Rep 4,035 Posts Drives: F82 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Broward iTrader: (32)	If willing to pay a little more, Akra fitment is spot on, everything lines up like factory, no need to zip tie anything down there. Another option would be Eisenmann. __________________ Grigio Telesto M4, 6MT. Coyote 5.0 F-150 991 GT3
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03-03-2016, 06:54 AM	#13
ShePearl Private First Class 140 Rep 103 Posts Drives: F82 M4 & F10 M5 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Seoul, Korea iTrader: (0)	Overall exhaust temp is considerably lower with catless DP due to removed cats. Car breaths so much better.
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