[pkiledj]

Why is there such an extreme price difference in the various catted downpipes? VRSF $400, Fabspeed $1400! $1000 price difference for the same part. Is there really that much of a difference in quality?

[UCLABruins]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

Why is there such and extreme price difference in the various catted downpipe? VRSF $400, Fabspeed $1400! $1000 price difference for the same part. Is there really that much of a difference in quality?

Catted FabSpeed is guaranteed to not trigger any check engine lights. I believe all other downpipes (Catted or Non-Catted) will trigger a check engine light.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by UCLABruins

Catted FabSpeed is guaranteed to not trigger any check engine lights. I believe all other downpipes (Catted or Non-Catted) will trigger a check engine light.

$1000 so I don't have to see a light I can make go away with coding? That seems excessive.

Fellow Bruin here too by the way.

[sean2648]

So just don't buy it?

People buy the catted version if they don't want to bother with swapping out their stock downpipe come emissions inspection time and/or don't want to throw a CEL.

Everyone else who doesn't care about those things buys a catless version and saves money.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

$1000 so I don't have to see a light I can make go away with coding? That seems excessive.

Fellow Bruin here too by the way.

I think emissions readiness is more of the concern than the CEL. If you are in a strict emissions state, paying the extra cash might be worth it rather than dealing with swapping the stock DP back in, or paying for other means of passing smog checks.

Also, i am not sure if there is a quantifiable difference in flow/performance between the cheap/expensive catted DP. Fitment and build quality may be a consideration as well.

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by sean2648

So just don't buy it?

People buy the catted version if they don't want to bother with swapping out their stock downpipe come emissions inspection time and/or don't want to throw a CEL.

Everyone else who doesn't care about those things buys a catless version and saves money.

I don't understand your comment. I'm comparing catted to catted. Not catted to catless.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

$1000 so I don't have to see a light I can make go away with coding? That seems excessive.

Fellow Bruin here too by the way.

Some dont have a tune or have a piggyback. piggybacks do not hide the CEL, only flash tune

Catless downpipe product a fuel smell, good catted downpipes do not

catless downpipes are loud, not everyone like that

[johnung]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

I think emissions readiness is more of the concern than the CEL. If you are in a strict emissions state, paying the extra cash might be worth it rather than dealing with swapping the stock DP back in, or paying for other means of passing smog checks.

Also, i am not sure if there is a quantifiable difference in flow/performance between the cheap/expensive catted DP. Fitment and build quality may be a consideration as well.

I've got the Fabspeed HJS catted downpipe. Purchased it over others for the various reasons already stated. (Wagner & Evolution Raceworks were the other two high quality catted DPs that I would have considered.)

In terms of performance, Fabspeed has dyno tested and found their catted downpipe to have 93% of the flow of their completely catless downpipe. Pretty amazing! Tremendous performance, no Check Engine Lights and passes emissions too! HJS makes the best cats in the world and Fabspeed is the sole source for them in North America.

Hope this helps!

[sean2648]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

I don't understand your comment. I'm comparing catted to catted. Not catted to catless.

Oh, that would make more sense then.

Ya other than that it's just the other points people have made, they are one of the few companies to guarantee no CEL. That and obviously there are the reputations of some companies to have poor quality control compared to others, not naming anyone (you can search easily for that)

It's just paying for a brand a lot of times.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Catless Pros:
Performance
Sound (Volume)
Less Cost

Grey Areas:
More Rasp
Less Clean Sound

Cons:
Smell
Emissions Testing

Catted Pros:
No Smell
Smoother Sound
Emissions Testing (Depending on Brand/Quality of Cat)

Cons:
Less Performance Gain
Less Sound (Volume)
Higher Cost

I'm sure there is more but these are at least the basics. Also I'm sure it's subjective as some people may not find louder volume a "pro" or vice versa.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Also regarding high flow cats in general. Good cats cost a lot of money. No, it's not a sales pitch. It's possible to make cats cheaper and cost less for the consumer, what's the downside? They may not work and/or last as long. That's why you may see large discrepancies in price. As always there is a brand tax but more times then not, it cost more for a reason. Not sure which to pic? Ask your favorite vendor for unbiased advice.

[ceedawg]

Fabspeed ftw

[lemonchicken]

Originally Posted by pkiledj

Why is there such and extreme price difference in the various catted downpipes? VRSF $400, Fabspeed $1400! $1000 price difference for the same part. Is there really that much of a difference in quality?

Where can you currently buy vrsf catted. Can’t seem to find on their site

[pkiledj]

Originally Posted by lemonchicken

Where can you currently buy vrsf catted. Can’t seem to find on their site

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-vrsf-par.../10302011~vrf/

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by lemonchicken

Where can you currently buy vrsf catted. Can’t seem to find on their site

It on our website as well, website link is in the signature

[435gc]

I am really wanting a catted dp. My state does yearly obd emmissions checks so I don't want the hassle of swapping every year.

Obviously the Fabspeed is the best choice, but the price has me balking. The 1400 plus the price of install is alot. I have contemplated doing it myself but I have found no videos of the install on a xdrive, not sure if there is a difficulty difference? Any thought there?

I have also been looking at the Wagner downpipe. It says euro 6 so I assume it would have a decent chance of getting through the obd check? Any experience here from anyone?

I am also confused about the cat on the Wagner. For a 2015 ewg N55 Extreme Powerhouse and Topgear Solutions has it listed as having a 200 cell, but the Wagner site says it is 300 cell. Which is it?

[Derekrpd]

Originally Posted by 435gc

I am really wanting a catted dp. My state does yearly obd emmissions checks so I don't want the hassle of swapping every year.

Obviously the Fabspeed is the best choice, but the price has me balking. The 1400 plus the price of install is alot. I have contemplated doing it myself but I have found no videos of the install on a xdrive, not sure if there is a difficulty difference? Any thought there?

I have also been looking at the Wagner downpipe. It says euro 6 so I assume it would have a decent chance of getting through the obd check? Any experience here from anyone?

I am also confused about the cat on the Wagner. For a 2015 ewg N55 Extreme Powerhouse and Topgear Solutions has it listed as having a 200 cell, but the Wagner site says it is 300 cell. Which is it?

Originally Posted by 435gc

I am really wanting a catted dp. My state does yearly obd emmissions checks so I don't want the hassle of swapping every year.

Obviously the Fabspeed is the best choice, but the price has me balking. The 1400 plus the price of install is alot. I have contemplated doing it myself but I have found no videos of the install on a xdrive, not sure if there is a difficulty difference? Any thought there?

I have also been looking at the Wagner downpipe. It says euro 6 so I assume it would have a decent chance of getting through the obd check? Any experience here from anyone?

I am also confused about the cat on the Wagner. For a 2015 ewg N55 Extreme Powerhouse and Topgear Solutions has it listed as having a 200 cell, but the Wagner site says it is 300 cell. Which is it?

I'm in the same boat. Looking for a catted down pipe and going stage 2. I'll probably wait until the spring at this point. Another alternative maybe the catted DP from CG Precision. It's around $1000 and claims no CEL. A little cheaper than the Fabspeed. I need a pipe that will pass Massachusetts emissions and not break the bank.

[435gc]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

It on our website as well, website link is in the signature

Hoping to get vendor feedback on the above comments.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by 435gc

Hoping to get vendor feedback on the above comments.

Same. Has the VRSF O2 wire length issue been resolved?

[Randy Johnson]

Personally I just bought a VRSF Catted downpipe and the quality looks very good. I haven't installed it yet but I can tell it is quite a bit smaller than oem even with the cat inside. Oh yeah and by the way I received a 90 degree angled defouler/ extender. I already have BM3 so if I get a cel I can remove it. Now to find time to install and upgrade my tune. Time to take some sick days!!!

[435gc]

Originally Posted by Randy Johnson

Personally I just bought a VRSF Catted downpipe and the quality looks very good. I haven't installed it yet but I can tell it is quite a bit smaller than oem even with the cat inside. Oh yeah and by the way I received a 90 degree angled defouler/ extender. I already have BM3 so if I get a cel I can remove it. Now to find time to install and upgrade my tune. Time to take some sick days!!!

Please report back on the fitment. Also on if and how many miles it takes to get a CEL and what code is thrown before you block it with bootmod. Curious to see if there is a code if it is cat related or related to the extender.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by 435gc

Please report back on the fitment. Also on if and how many miles it takes to get a CEL and what code is thrown before you block it with bootmod. Curious to see if there is a code if it is cat related or related to the extender.

If you got the extender with your order, you go the "pre-revision" batch, so you will need that to make the O2 wire reach.

+1 for the info request. I would like to know how it fits (aside from O2 issue) on both connection points with the clamps, how it lines up with the catback, and what codes you get and how long it takes to get them. Oh, and changes in sound - before/after clips if it's not too much to ask?