[drive_to_survive]

Hi Everyone, first post on this portal.

This thread so far was like, you bought a tape to watch a documentary, but the middle of it was overwritten with a presidential debate. :P (Still informative in its own way)

I have a 2021 540i Xdrive and looking forward to start my journey with mods, with an AA catted Downpipe, in the near future.

Glad to see so many positive experiences with the AA downpipe.

Any recommendations for shops near the Atlanta area and also if any dealership that is tuner friendly with these "mild" modifications?

Thanks

[BG42]

Originally Posted by drive_to_survive

Hi Everyone, first post on this portal.

This thread so far was like, you bought a tape to watch a documentary, but the middle of it was overwritten with a presidential debate. :P (Still informative in its own way)

I have a 2021 540i Xdrive and looking forward to start my journey with mods, with an AA catted Downpipe, in the near future.

Glad to see so many positive experiences with the AA downpipe.

Any recommendations for shops near the Atlanta area and also if any dealership that is tuner friendly with these "mild" modifications?

Thanks

The guys at AA told me to check out A&A performance in norcross. Otherwise I have used eurofed a few times for different stuff and had good experiences.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by BG42

The guys at AA told me to check out A&A performance in norcross. Otherwise I have used eurofed a few times for different stuff and had good experiences.

[Coconut]

Exactly 1 year later with about 5k miles on the AA DP and no issues. No codes, no smell and still loud at startup even with valves closed on stock exhaust.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Coconut

Exactly 1 year later with about 5k miles on the AA DP and no issues. No codes, no smell and still loud at startup even with valves closed on stock exhaust.

[PNTDG42]

Installed today and put maybe 90 min road time on it, after sitting on it for over a year I think. Fitment was as good as the original part that came out. Had no issues. 10/10. It could have come with a new gasket but whatever. Just have to be careful extracting the original, the material is a little brittle. No problem. The fitment into the stock catback is very snug, so it takes some gentle work with a rubber mallet from a few angles to get it all resting perfectly at home.

No leaks anywhere. Initial cold start was significantly louder and had me concerned with “what did I just sign up for?” (this is supposed to be the smooth quiet daily). But once up to temp and driving it’s not much louder at all through the stock catback.

While in cold start I could smell just a very very faint raw fuel when standing behind the car, which I never noticed with the stock cat. Of course this isn’t alarming at all being a higher flow cat. Never again smelled anything after warmed up or at all from inside the car windows down etc.

So overall, got what I wanted and didn’t get anything I don’t want.

I will definitely Dragy test it this weekend to see if the car gained power from it. Vehicle otherwise stock besides a Dinan intake.

[PNTDG42]

Results are in. I was not expecting much if anything, so I’m a little surprised. I just went for a 4am session with empty roads so I could really try it out.

First thing I noticed playing around in the roundabouts by my house, the turbo comes on a little harder.

I went to my spot and did some runs in the 1/4. I have done maybe 25 previous runs in this car, and it had never run an 11 not once. Just did it 3 times (one invalid though).

Really the car has shaved 2 tenths and picked up about 3.5mph in the 1/4.

I have attached what I feel are realistic representations of before and after this AA GESI catted downpipe. Neither are cherry picked highlights… but what the car usually did and what I think the new typical run is. But there might be some more because I had a nearly full tank tonight and usually do pulls below half tank. Also, the DA is 2000’ higher tonight than the before example.

This pipe and Dinan intake are the only engine mods.