CA peeps, is it worth spending $500 labor taking off downpipes every 2 years?

[goto35]

car cant pass smog with the catless downpips.

are the catless downpipes worth $500 every 2 years ($250 to remove, pass smog and then reinstall)?

debating if its worth the hastle.

i have stage 1 bootmod and blown away. i kinda want stage 2 but the $500 every 2 years is stopping me.

thoughts?

my next smog is in 1.5 years

i need to decide tonigth as the car going for work tomorrow.

[Vegetable]

If you’re seeing a big enough performance gain then I would say yes!

[Suds]

Do it once, in 1-1/2 years when you go for smog decide if you want to put the catless down pipes back on. You may be tired of them by then.

[goto35]

Currently car doesn't have down pipes.

Car is stock with stage 1

[SD ///M4]

Ask yourself "Do I really need downpipes to enjoy this car? Am I tracking the car or just driving it on the street?"

Some people mod just because all the cool kids are doing it, so ask yourself why you're doing it. Bragging rights? Personally, while my car was still under warranty (and it's still under an extended warranty), I avoided any engine-related mods that would have voided the warranty. I put my mods into the suspension instead because there is a more noticeable gain on the track. Spend your money on HPDEs to make yourself a better driver, not for some stupid parking lot rev-off or bragging rights.

But I see that you've already done Stage 1, so maybe it's too late...

[goto35]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

Ask yourself "Do I really need downpipes to enjoy this car? Am I tracking the car or just driving it on the street?"

Some people mod just because all the cool kids are doing it, so ask yourself why you're doing it. Bragging rights? Personally, while my car was still under warranty (and it's still under an extended warranty), I avoided any engine-related mods that would have voided the warranty. I put my mods into the suspension instead because there is a more noticeable gain on the track. Spend your money on HPDEs to make yourself a better drive, not for some stupid parking lot rev-off or bragging rights.

But I see that you've already done Stage 1, so maybe it's too late...

my advice to you...get bootmod. it will change your life. lol

[j2dad5389]

Yes. Think of it as a pay to play fine for living in CA lol

[AlterZgo]

Seriously, keep the catalytic converters on the car. It is fast enough without getting downpipes. Besides trashing the environment, downpipes also cause bad exhaust smells and stains your bumper with toxic exhaust fumes. Your mineral gray won't show it as much as a white or light colored car, but know that your bumper is being coated w/ crap.

[guess2098]

TBH, I want to know does dp really makes that much difference on hp/tq. For example, cs stock gives 440hp dyno vs no dp bm3 stage 2 460hp dyno…. If just put dp and flash to bm3 stage 2, what is real hp lost?

[NickyC]

I never could get used to the smell from castles down pipes. Figured others around me had the same feelings so I never run them any longer.

[SMGCFP]

Form an LLC in Montana and register it there. It will cost you more, but no emission or inspection hassles. Plus we have a cool selection of license plates and due to low population, if you want a vanity plate, the odds are better of getting what you want.

[FriedPiston]

I tell all the local aspiring "fast af bois" the same advice: it's absolutely not worth it on a car with stock turbos, OTS tune (under 26 psi boost), and crappy ACN91 fuel.

If you're going fully catless with no factory midpipes, you're going to hate driving with the windows open, let alone with the top down. It'll completely negate the purpose of having a convertible, unless you enjoy inhaling carcinogens while the car is idling.

[goto35]

Thanks everyone. Won't be doing it.

Appreciate all the input!

[HyeM3]

Originally Posted by SMGCFP

Form an LLC in Montana and register it there. It will cost you more, but no emission or inspection hassles. Plus we have a cool selection of license plates and due to low population, if you want a vanity plate, the odds are better of getting what you want.

California launched programs cracking down on people doing that. People have been getting hit with tax evasion so I wouldn't recommend this

[Taco_Bueno]

The question isn't "is it worth it to pay $500 in labor to pass CA emissions"

It's "why am I living in California"

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by Taco_Bueno

The question isn't "is it worth it to pay $500 in labor to pass CA emissions"

It's "why am I living in California"

Wrong thread man, we get it though, you don't like california.

OP, Downpipes sound like a$$ anyway, save your time and efforts. That and 91 gas = stock DP wins

[AlterZgo]

Originally Posted by Taco_Bueno

The question isn't "is it worth it to pay $500 in labor to pass CA emissions"

It's "why am I living in California"

For the bueno tacos?

[Nativetexan]

Originally Posted by SMGCFP

Form an LLC in Montana and register it there. It will cost you more, but no emission or inspection hassles. Plus we have a cool selection of license plates and due to low population, if you want a vanity plate, the odds are better of getting what you want.

I thought Montana clamped down on out of state LLC registrations for vehicle purchases…

[TractionControlDelete]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

Wrong thread man, we get it though, you don't like california.

OP, Downpipes sound like a$$ anyway, save your time and efforts. That and 91 gas = stock DP wins

Stock DP. This is the way.

[6spd4lyfe]

So then how to make the stock exhaust sound better? That is my only complaint about my M4. The bootmod stage 1 sounds tempting too

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by 6spd4lyfe

So then how to make the stock exhaust sound better? That is my only complaint about my M4. The bootmod stage 1 sounds tempting too

I’d say go with either an equal length or single mid pipe. Both will remove the stock secondary cats and resonator, neither are required to pass SMOG unless you get flagged by failing OBD scan and get sent to a state ref (neither have sensors so they wouldn’t cause an OBD failure). It’s up to you which tone you like more:

EL = Traditional 6 Cylinder, top end screamer
UEL/Single = “Normal” F8X sound, a bit smoother and deeper

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by goto35

Thanks everyone. Won't be doing it.

Appreciate all the input!

The new AA downpipe with GESI cats will pass emissions. Just make sure you go to a smog place that doesn't care that you have aftermarket cats (even though they are 49 state legal - just not for CA).

They are good for around 600 hp per downpipe. This is the setup I am planning to go with once I am due for smog.