[thatryan]

Total noob.

This is my first turbo car, as well as first BMW.

2013 335i M Sport, relevant mods are: MPPK, MPE

1. Is a charge pipe and a downpipe the same thing?
2. Does upgrading this increase performance at all, or placebo?
3. Are any of them street legal in CA?
4. Is there any sound enhancement that is noticeable?

Thank you!

[Buckeyes]

I have the same car estorial blue II

a charge pipe goes from the intercooler to the throttle body and the stock cp is plastic and prone to break under increased boost from a tune. Having said that, I'm running a jb4 on map 2 and 5 for almost a year with the stock charge pipe. No performance gains and more just insurance you don't get stranded with a blown charge pipe. A downpipe is part of the exhaust right after the turbo. It contains the catalytic converter and is the most restrictive aspect of the exhaust system by far. A catless downpipe is basically a straight pipe and with no converter its free flowing and allows the turbo to spool faster and does add hp and torque. The downpipe will change the exhaust note somewhst dramatically especially with the mpe and Mppk. You will feel the difference with a downpipe and matched with a tune it's a beast.

Most mods are "off road only" in all states, especially California.

[Chicken_Joe]

Charge pipe is from intercooler to throttle body and does not really enhance performance. Mainly a direct replacement for factory pipe with added bung for meth etc.

Downpipe is from turbo to midpipe and does increase performance of upgraded. Either with or without a cat.

Charge pipe does not really offer sound gains that I know of.

Downpipe will off increased sound with the performance.

[Chicken_Joe]

Originally Posted by Trcb777

I have the same car estorial blue II

a charge pipe goes from the intercooler to the throttle body and the stock cp is plastic and prone to break under increased boost from a tune. Having said that, I'm running a jb4 on map 2 and 5 for almost a year with the stock charge pipe. No performance gains and more just insurance you don't get stranded with a blown charge pipe. A downpipe is part of the exhaust right after the turbo. It contains the catalytic converter and is the most restrictive aspect of the exhaust system by far. A catless downpipe is basically a straight pipe and with no converter its free flowing and allows the turbo to spool faster and does add hp and torque. The downpipe will change the exhaust note somewhst dramatically especially with the mpe and Mppk. You will feel the difference with a downpipe and matched with a tune it's a beast.

Most mods are "off road only" in all states, especially California.

You beat me lol

[soundwave9]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Total noob.

This is my first turbo car, as well as first BMW.

2013 335i M Sport, relevant mods are: MPPK, MPE

1. Is a charge pipe and a downpipe the same thing?
2. Does upgrading this increase performance at all, or placebo?
3. Are any of them street legal in CA?
4. Is there any sound enhancement that is noticeable?

Thank you!

As far as I know the only CA legal mode right now is the BMS F30 n55 stage 1 pnp. Charge pipe you can probably get away with during a smog test but if you put in a DP I would def swap the stock cat back before smogging. Highly unlikely you'll get ticketed for any of those things though. Haven't installed my DP yet but from what I've read you will get a better sound. You'll get a little hp improvement but to really take full advantage you need a JB4.

[thatryan]

Awesome info thanks for explaining it everyone!

I have seen down pipes with cats I believe are those not CA legal also?

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Awesome info thanks for explaining it everyone!

I have seen down pipes with cats I believe are those not CA legal also?

It's only legal if it passes smog and there has been a debate on whether a catted one will pass. You have a 2013, like me. I went with a catless because I have 3 years before a test, so I figure I might as well enjoy the car and then swap in a few years. All the info above is good--your really not going to just go DP...get JB4, DP. CP.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Awesome info thanks for explaining it everyone!

I have seen down pipes with cats I believe are those not CA legal also?

Some pass emission, others dont
Even if it passes emission this year, you are not guarantee to pass emission next year with that same downpipe

So i would say downpipes, Catless or high flows catted are not emission legal in CA

[thatryan]

What does a downpipe do to emissions to make it not CA legal, if it has a cat?
Example, http://www.evolutionracewerks.com/node/269
I mean that looks like I couldn't even buy it if I wanted to lol. Stupid CA...

Same with a charge pipe.. http://www.evolutionracewerks.com/node/236

Note that those two are just examples I found while Googling, I do not know the company or what brands are good to get, or possible. Would love recommendations there

For those that mention JB4, is this what you are talking about?
https://www.x-ph.com/burger-tuning-b...eries-n55-jb4/

I am assuming that voids warranty stuff yeah? Any dangers?

Thank you for helping a noob modder!

[eluded]

All down pipes or high flow cats are illegal on the car in the peoples Republic of California.

If the tech notices it during the inspection The car will fail.

Cars are not required to be omissions test in California for the first six years. The new emission test is visual + ODB2 log thing they have (I have no details on this except they put some device into the port)

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Technically any modification that is not CARB legal will not pass inspection in CA.

Whether the tech missed something at inspection is up for interpretation.

When in doubt stay stock. If you frequent road side inspections, stay stock.

If you have a year inspection, return to stock.

[thatryan]

Ok, so do any of you live in CA and did it anyway?

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Ok, so do any of you live in CA and did it anyway?

We have plenty of customers in CA that mod their vehicles. Some get around it by other means and some go back to stock when necessary.

It's up to you what you decide to do and the end of the day.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Ok, so do any of you live in CA and did it anyway?

Yep.

[thatryan]

Hey all sorry to resurrect this, but reading more stuff I have a few more questions on tuning

I have 2013 with MPPK, so the HP gain on that one is only like 20 I read?

Also, it appears that JB4 cancels all that out, correct?
Will that kill my cool sound from MPPK and MPE as well?

Thanks!

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by thatryan

Hey all sorry to resurrect this, but reading more stuff I have a few more questions on tuning

I have 2013 with MPPK, so the HP gain on that one is only like 20 I read?

Also, it appears that JB4 cancels all that out, correct?
Will that kill my cool sound from MPPK and MPE as well?

Thanks!

It should not cancel the cool sound, only override the boost settings of the MPPK.

[Buckeyes]

A bms stage 1 will stack with the Mppk