Midpipe reality check

[m4dbimmer]

Read so many threads and still not able to confirm it will add power if I have a downpipe installed.

What say this group as of December 2019? Any proven gains from adding a single mid-pipe after a downpipe, drop in filter, and stg2+ e85 tune?

[Groganrocket]

No power, more for sound.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

some more torque...does it even matter? just tune the car if you want power

[m4dbimmer]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

some more torque...does it even matter? just tune the car if you want power

Yeah, if it gives you the power claims shown on AA/VRSF's product page. peak 18hp/30tq or something.. and boost hits 300rpms sooner.

Car is tuned, just trying to get the most I can from bolts-on's until I upgrade the turbos one day.

[sicck_m4]

Just installed VRSF midpipe this week. Definitely more raw tone and smell. Can't really tell with any performance gain with midpipe. Downpipes makes a world of difference.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by sicck_f82

Just installed VRSF midpipe this week. Definitely more raw tone and smell. Can't really tell with any performance gain with midpipe. Downpipes makes a world of difference.

You should not have any smell with a midpipe.

[behindthen0thing]

Honestly I did not notice a power increase from the midpipe but it is much much louder. You can hear the turbos spooling which is nice. The power might be there but I didn't feel a difference

[bracer]

Auto talent did a dyno back to back on Justin’s car if I remember right and it added 4hp maximum. It’s not going to add anything, but will change the sound.

One 3.5” pipe will flow slightly less than the stock exhaust so that shouldn’t be a surprise. A dual 3” from the down pipe back may be a different story.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Active Autowerke midpipe

[M3nmotion18]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

You should not have any smell with a midpipe.

After installing the AA mid-pipe (I already have the Catless DP), I've noticed more fuel smell.. maybe leaking somewhere?? Thanks!

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by M3nmotion18

After installing the AA mid-pipe (I already have the Catless DP), I've noticed more fuel smell.. maybe leaking somewhere?? Thanks!

Double check your install

[behindthen0thing]

of course you will notice a smell increase, you just got rid of 2 cats

[drgmt]

Makes the car sound like a 4 stroke mower rather than a 2 stroke mower.

[chetrickerman]

Originally Posted by behindthen0thing

of course you will notice a smell increase, you just got rid of 2 cats

Exactly

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by behindthen0thing

of course you will notice a smell increase, you just got rid of 2 cats

There is no smell increase with secondary cat removal. Well, none that my big nose could detect!

[m4dbimmer]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Active Autowerke midpipe

The dyno says full exhaust, so is it safe to assume this is also comparing stock dp to AA downpipe?

Seems that's where all the power is picked up, and the mid pipe is mostly just sound according to the first hand experiences here.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Very helpful!

[behindthen0thing]

Originally Posted by drgmt

There is no smell increase. Well, none that my big nose could detect!

I had the primary cats already removed when I got the car.
I ran it like that for over 6 months.
Put a catless midpipe on and I get fumigated at stop lights every time now.
Before it wasn't like that.
The cats are gone and no longer cleaning the air.
The car always smells like a car does when it first cold starts but the cold start rich gas smell never goes away after you get rid of the cats in the midpipe.
It's not an exhaust leak as there are 4 giant leaks at the rear bumper at all times.

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by behindthen0thing

I had the primary cats already removed when I got the car.
I ran it like that for over 6 months.
Put a catless midpipe on and I get fumigated at stop lights every time now.
Before it wasn't like that.
The cats are gone and no longer cleaning the air.
The car always smells like a car does when it first cold starts but the cold start rich gas smell never goes away after you get rid of the cats in the midpipe.
It's not an exhaust leak as there are 4 giant leaks at the rear bumper at all times.

Secondary cat removal doesn't cause any increase in smell.

Primary cars for sure increase smell.

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by drgmt

Secondary cat removal doesn't cause any increase in smell.

Primary cars for sure increase smell.

Ok...but if you read his post you'd know that he already had no primary cats so removing the secondaries left him with 0 cats and thus a smelly exhaust.

If you have primary OR secondary cats in your car, you should not have any smell. If you delete one or the other and then delete the other ones and have no cats left, yeah you'll have a smelly exhaust.

[LOW4LYF]

Sure, if you have catless downpipes...lol

There is no smell at all with midpipe only.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by m4dbimmer

The dyno says full exhaust, so is it safe to assume this is also comparing stock dp to AA downpipe?

Seems that's where all the power is picked up, and the mid pipe is mostly just sound according to the first hand experiences here.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. Very helpful!

both have stock downpipe, axle back does not add any power Its the midpipe thats adding power

[m4dbimmer]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

both have stock downpipe, axle back does not add any power Its the midpipe thats adding power

Thanks, Mike. The million dollar question is, would you have the same gains with a catless dp?