[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.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by 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.

Nice!!

[g42xSeoul]

So in my country (South Korea) I believe I have to get a smog check every 2-3 years. Do you think this dp would pass even without the cat?

[Rdurty2]

Originally Posted by g42xSeoul

So in my country (South Korea) I believe I have to get a smog check every 2-3 years. Do you think this dp would pass even without the cat?

The AA has a cat. A very good one which is why it costs so much and also why it doesn’t give a cel.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Rdurty2

The AA has a cat. A very good one which is why it costs so much and also why it doesn’t give a cel.

+1

AA uses the GESI EPA approve cats, which gets you the best of both worlds without a CEL

[g42xSeoul]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

+1

AA uses the GESI EPA approve cats, which gets you the best of both worlds without a CEL

awesome! i know this must have been answered elsewhere, but do you know why it is not street legal in CALI? is it because it cannot pass their tests? because similar to cali, korea has smog checks pretty frequently.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by g42xSeoul

awesome! i know this must have been answered elsewhere, but do you know why it is not street legal in CALI? is it because it cannot pass their tests? because similar to cali, korea has smog checks pretty frequently.

CALI dont strictly follow EPA , they have their own agency with their own laws

[Summeristooshort]

I installed an AA DP about 18 months or 8K miles ago. After I shut the car off, I noticed white smoke coming from my exhaust tips. Now, the car has a strong odor, like rotten food. I have not thrown a CEL code yet. Does this mean my DP is failing and just hasn't thrown a code yet?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Summeristooshort

I installed an AA DP about 18 months or 8K miles ago. After I shut the car off, I noticed white smoke coming from my exhaust tips. Now, the car has a strong odor, like rotten food. I have not thrown a CEL code yet. Does this mean my DP is failing and just hasn't thrown a code yet?

not necessarily, you need to first investigate the cause of the smell and smoke

[Summeristooshort]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

not necessarily, you need to first investigate the cause of the smell and smoke

Thanks, Mike. Do you have any suggestions on where I should start my investigation? I can't think of anything else that smells like a failing CAT. The car has 8,000 miles and I have a Dinan Axle Back, JB4 on level 1, and Dinan CAI, Otherwise stock

Thanks, Brian

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Summeristooshort

Thanks, Mike. Do you have any suggestions on where I should start my investigation? I can't think of anything else that smells like a failing CAT. The car has 8,000 miles and I have a Dinan Axle Back, JB4 on level 1, and Dinan CAI, Otherwise stock

Thanks, Brian

I'd take it to a mechanic to check on what is going on. White smoke can be due to oil/coolant leak or a bad turbo

[viperx100]

Quick question for y'all. I had the AA DP installed and when I added the Dinan exhaust, the drone between 1.5K-2.5K was too much for my daily livability, so I went back to the stock DP and sold the AA. After a recent visit to my dealer, they made some adjustments to the Dinan exhaust (it was emitting a squeak when opening/closing the valve between Sport+ and Comfort/Eco). They ordered a part from Dinan, had to drop the exhaust and reattach it. As a result, the exhaust sounds more refined and no drone at all in the cabin (the drone remained even with the stock DP in that RPM range, but a lot less pronounced). The dealer didn't install my Dinan exhaust originally, it was one of Dinan's local shops around me. So I decided to give the AA DP another shot. Having lost some $ buying new and selling it on here, I found a used one. I just wanted to see what y'all thought about the look and whether I should have any concerns other than it not having a warranty because I am not the original buyer of a new one. Attaching a few photos. It came off a GR Supra and has about 15K on it.

I appreciate any and all input.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by viperx100

Quick question for y'all. I had the AA DP installed and when I added the Dinan exhaust, the drone between 1.5K-2.5K was too much for my daily livability, so I went back to the stock DP and sold the AA. After a recent visit to my dealer, they made some adjustments to the Dinan exhaust (it was emitting a squeak when opening/closing the valve between Sport+ and Comfort/Eco). They ordered a part from Dinan, had to drop the exhaust and reattach it. As a result, the exhaust sounds more refined and no drone at all in the cabin (the drone remained even with the stock DP in that RPM range, but a lot less pronounced). The dealer didn't install my Dinan exhaust originally, it was one of Dinan's local shops around me. So I decided to give the AA DP another shot. Having lost some $ buying new and selling it on here, I found a used one. I just wanted to see what y'all thought about the look and whether I should have any concerns other than it not having a warranty because I am not the original buyer of a new one. Attaching a few photos. It came off a GR Supra and has about 15K on it.

I appreciate any and all input.

I do not recommend getting a used active autowerke downpipe.

Active Autowerke has made a few updates over the years to improve on the CEL. When you are getting a used one, you dont know which version you are buying.

And most importatnlty, you lose your AA warranty when buying it used. So if you get a CEL, you are on your own since you are not the original owner.

Invest in a new Active Autowerke downpipe instead, and if you run into any issues, you know Active will replace it with the newest version without any hassle.

[viperx100]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

I do not recommend getting a used active autowerke downpipe.

Active Autowerke has made a few updates over the years to improve on the CEL. When you are getting a used one, you dont know which version you are buying.

And most importatnlty, you lose your AA warranty when buying it used. So if you get a CEL, you are on your own since you are not the original owner.

Invest in a new Active Autowerke downpipe instead, and if you run into any issues, you know Active will replace it with the newest version without any hassle.

Thanks, Mike. I totally get that it's always better and safer to buy a brand-new part over a used one. As I mentioned, I've sold my originally purchased new AA DP here on the forums and haven't heard about any issues with it from the buyer. I don't run any crazy burble tunes that can damage the catalytic converter. I was more interested if there are any visual cues from the photos that I posted that could potentially show a "damaged" in some way DP. Since AA warranties their DPs for 5 Year / 50,000 Mile Warranty (on shell and tube ends) and 2 year / 25,000 Mile Warranty on the Catalytic core when new (to the original purchaser), 15K on a well taken care of DP shouldn't be a scary idea as far as being used, correct? I realize that there's no warranty.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by viperx100

Thanks, Mike. I totally get that it's always better and safer to buy a brand-new part over a used one. As I mentioned, I've sold my originally purchased new AA DP here on the forums and haven't heard about any issues with it from the buyer. I don't run any crazy burble tunes that can damage the catalytic converter. I was more interested if there are any visual cues from the photos that I posted that could potentially show a "damaged" in some way DP. Since AA warranties their DPs for 5 Year / 50,000 Mile Warranty (on shell and tube ends) and 2 year / 25,000 Mile Warranty on the Catalytic core when new (to the original purchaser), 15K on a well taken care of DP shouldn't be a scary idea as far as being used, correct? I realize that there's no warranty.

The downpipe does not show any physical signs of triggering the check engine light; it's completely random. There have been numerous CEL reports that Active Autowerke had to address by replacing the downpipe on this forum.

This issue is not rare, especially with older versions, and if the downpipe is used, there's a significant chance you could lose all the money you spent on it. I recommend getting a new one, but as long as you're aware of the risk, the decision is yours. Good luck either way

[VegasG42]

Just curious viper, how much is he selling it for anyway? 5 or 600? If that's the case then I could understand possibly taking the risk. But honestly, with a check engine lights, and emission systems issues with the check engine lights and everything else, I would sleep better at night by just starting over with a brand new AA downpipe.

I got my down pipe from Mike, and if I remember correctly it was two or $300 cheaper than I could find it listed anywhere else online.