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Weistec c450/c43 downpipe ****! (anyone install these yet?)
I'm very VERY happy with these units. Right off the bat, I'm guessing I'm going to save ~40lbs with these but I'll get exact numbers once I weigh the stock cats. The quality is on par with something I'd expect to pay $1,600 for. But to only pay $800?? Hell yes! I can't believe there's a company not gouging our eyes out with 400% markup simply because it's for a Mercedes. Kudos Weistec
I'm going to be installing these myself at the same time I ship my ECU to OE Tuning, hopefully no later than next weekend. I threw the car up on the lift the other day and poked around to see what it I'm getting myself into and it doesn't look too bad. I'm sure it shouldn't take more than two hours for even stumbling through the first time. I plan on taking a lot of pictures and probably even putting together a DIY write-up. But for anybody that has already installed these, or any down pipes on the 3.0L for that matter, any pointers? All work from the bottom, or a little bit from the top and most from the bottom? If you work from the top at all did you remove the air boxes on each side of the heads closest to the firewall? Not a big job by any means, but I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions to make it a smoother process.
I'm hoping I can streamline the process down to a 1HR job so people won't think running these things is such a big deal. Maybe people don't think these are a big mod (in terms of dealer/warranty/emissions/smog issues) but that's what I conclude seeing that I haven't seen or heard of anyone on the forums running DP's.
Anyways, I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking:
Subscribed! Great to see positive feedback on these. I have my eyes on these and was also thinking of trying to install these myself. I would very much appreciate a DIY. I know there's some guys running these on Instagram and they sound awesome when paired with an aftermarket exhaust. I already did a tune from AMR, so i'm hoping if I add DP's I wont need to resend them the ECU for a different tune to handle the DP's.
Subscribed! Great to see positive feedback on these. I have my eyes on these and was also thinking of trying to install these myself. I would very much appreciate a DIY. I know there's some guys running these on Instagram and they sound awesome when paired with an aftermarket exhaust. I already did a tune from AMR, so i'm hoping if I add DP's I wont need to resend them the ECU for a different tune to handle the DP's.
The install isn't hard at all. You'll need to remove the air boxes and a small heatshield from the top of the turbos to unbolt the front of the downpipes, the rest is done underneath and is pretty straight forward.
Subscribed! Great to see positive feedback on these. I have my eyes on these and was also thinking of trying to install these myself. I would very much appreciate a DIY. I know there's some guys running these on Instagram and they sound awesome when paired with an aftermarket exhaust. I already did a tune from AMR, so i'm hoping if I add DP's I wont need to resend them the ECU for a different tune to handle the DP's.
I was between OE Tuning and AMR so I did my due diligence on both before deciding. But yes, you'll need to refresh to take advantage of the DP's but mostly I think you'll need to re-flash with their stage 2 software for the o2 related CEL you'll get by not running proper cats. For power, they told me that since their stage1 tune is "so efficient" (AKA: rung out to the max) that stage 2 w/DP's is only about 10-15 additional hp/tq.
That last part being why I went with OE Tuning. AMR's got OE beat in power @ stage 1. But it all evens out by stage2 w/DP's. Plus with OE's xmas special, I was able to get the tune and DP's for the same price as AMR was charging for just their tune.
You have any of those clips handy by chance?
Originally Posted by off_the_ciling
The install isn't hard at all. You'll need to remove the air boxes and a small heatshield from the top of the turbos to unbolt the front of the downpipes, the rest is done underneath and is pretty straight forward.
Awesome! Thank you for confirming what I was thinking
I'm very VERY happy with these units. Right off the bat, I'm guessing I'm going to save ~40lbs with these but I'll get exact numbers once I weigh the stock cats. The quality is on par with something I'd expect to pay $1,600 for. But to only pay $800?? Hell yes! I can't believe there's a company not gouging our eyes out with 400% markup simply because it's for a Mercedes. Kudos Weistec
Thank you for the praise Sean.
Thanks to our in house CNC mandrel pipe bender, we are able to offer these downpipes at a very attractive MSRP with out cutting any corners or skimping on the quality, as your pictures show.
Enjoy the downpipes. Please send us some pictures or video of your car after the install and we'll post them on our social media
What was your reason for not choosing an exhaust suite like AWE?
Does downpipe give a better gain when you tune the ECU?
How do these two exhausts differ? AWE full exhaust vs Weistec downpipes
What was your reason for not choosing an exhaust suite like AWE?
Does downpipe give a better gain when you tune the ECU?
How do these two exhausts differ? AWE full exhaust vs Weistec downpipes
Yeah i remember on the Audi's putting a BOV was not good. I wonder why there would be a kit on the C450/43.
The older audi's were cars equipped with mass air sensors that measured how much air the intake was sucking in to calculate fueling. Having a BOV that vented to atmosphere resulted in metered air being vented and at times created a temporary rich condition. Also, if for some reason the valve was not adjusted properly, it could partially open at idle and cause the engine to run rough or stall
The C400/C450/C43 are all speed density based, which means air volume is calculated(in part) by taking manifold pressure and air temperature rather than using a MAS sensor. Unless the air is already in the intake manifold, it has no effect on fueling.
Speed density cars typically have no issues with BOV's that vent to the atmosphere.
The C400/C450/C43 all feature electronic bypass valves. The VTA adapters we offer allow the factory valves to vent to atmosphere creating the "blow off" sound. Being that they are electronic, the ECU controls when they open and close so the ECU already knows that pressurized air in the charge pipes is being released.
Got a vid of how they sound? Haven't found any other downpipes so far and seen very minimal feedback on these, really interested in getting them for my 43
Please Clarify if ECU needs to be tuned again after the install of your DOWNPIPES
Hello,
I am in the process of ordering your downpipes, but are you able to kindly clarify whether the ECU needs to be tuned again (I did my ECU tune several days ago at Eurocharged Canada. Or whether the car/ecu will realize the downpipes installed and offer the same performance and sound improvements as if the ECU tune was done after the installation of the downpipes. thank you!
Originally Posted by Weistec
The older audi's were cars equipped with mass air sensors that measured how much air the intake was sucking in to calculate fueling. Having a BOV that vented to atmosphere resulted in metered air being vented and at times created a temporary rich condition. Also, if for some reason the valve was not adjusted properly, it could partially open at idle and cause the engine to run rough or stall
The C400/C450/C43 are all speed density based, which means air volume is calculated(in part) by taking manifold pressure and air temperature rather than using a MAS sensor. Unless the air is already in the intake manifold, it has no effect on fueling.
Speed density cars typically have no issues with BOV's that vent to the atmosphere.
The C400/C450/C43 all feature electronic bypass valves. The VTA adapters we offer allow the factory valves to vent to atmosphere creating the "blow off" sound. Being that they are electronic, the ECU controls when they open and close so the ECU already knows that pressurized air in the charge pipes is being released.
I'm very VERY happy with these units. Right off the bat, I'm guessing I'm going to save ~40lbs with these but I'll get exact numbers once I weigh the stock cats. The quality is on par with something I'd expect to pay $1,600 for. But to only pay $800?? Hell yes! I can't believe there's a company not gouging our eyes out with 400% markup simply because it's for a Mercedes. Kudos Weistec
I'm going to be installing these myself at the same time I ship my ECU to OE Tuning, hopefully no later than next weekend. I threw the car up on the lift the other day and poked around to see what it I'm getting myself into and it doesn't look too bad. I'm sure it shouldn't take more than two hours for even stumbling through the first time. I plan on taking a lot of pictures and probably even putting together a DIY write-up. But for anybody that has already installed these, or any down pipes on the 3.0L for that matter, any pointers? All work from the bottom, or a little bit from the top and most from the bottom? If you work from the top at all did you remove the air boxes on each side of the heads closest to the firewall? Not a big job by any means, but I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions to make it a smoother process.
I'm hoping I can streamline the process down to a 1HR job so people won't think running these things is such a big deal. Maybe people don't think these are a big mod (in terms of dealer/warranty/emissions/smog issues) but that's what I conclude seeing that I haven't seen or heard of anyone on the forums running DP's.
Anyways, I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking:
how did the install go? Any tips on or trouble you ran into?
Is a tune necessary in order to run these? I understand optimum performance will say yes, but will my car run like crap if I get these? No cel?
You will always need a tune when you remove cats, as you will get a catalyst efficiency code (since they aren't there anymore).
No the car should only run better, you are removing a restriction right after the turbos. You can get more out of it with a tune as you say, but there should be no negative effects aside from the emissions CEL until you get it reflashed properly.
2017 AMG C43, AWE Touring, BMC Air Filters- 2015 BMW X3 3.5i (JB1 Equipped)
I believe you will not need a re-flash if you use spacers to raise the rear O2 sensors out of the exhaust stream. I asked my tuning shop about down pipes and they said I would need O2 spacers in the downstream sensors to eliminate the code issue.
I believe a full tune would give you the maximum bang for the buck out of the Downpipes.
I am not law enforcement agent or any type of authority and not a goody two shoes either, but getting caught with a catless vehicle on the road and you will get some serious fines in the 5 figure range. All someone needs to do inspect your downpipes, to see you are not running cats.
For the extra 10hp it affords I am not willing to take the risk.
What do You catless guys do with state vehicle inspections? Donyou have to reinstall and reflash before the shop plugs into your obd port, or does the tune trick the shops tools as well?
What do You catless guys do with state vehicle inspections? Donyou have to reinstall and reflash before the shop plugs into your obd port, or does the tune trick the shops tools as well?
Leased the car in April 2017 for 3 years, inspection isn't needed until 2022. Car will be long gone by then. But if I did not do this I would assume you have to swap back on the stock DP's to pass inspection or leave them on and duke the guy a couple Benjamins
2017 AMG C43, AWE Touring, BMC Air Filters- 2015 BMW X3 3.5i (JB1 Equipped)
The tune shuts off the rear O2 sensors and no code is thrown to the OBD. On inspections around here they do not put cars on lifts so, they would not know you had catless downpipes. But if the state police or other entity chose to put your car on a lift under suspicion your screwed. Very heavy fines for non emission compliant vehicles, that were knowingly tampered with. Remember the dealers sell the down pipes as "off road compliant only" modifications, meaning they are not legal for daily drivers.
I know most on here are saying " yea but what are the odds of that happening" lol
Back in the day we would just leave the cats in place, hollow them out and be done with it. We always knew though if we got caught we were screwed.
2017 AMG C43, AWE Touring, BMC Air Filters- 2015 BMW X3 3.5i (JB1 Equipped)
Originally Posted by Gary450
with the tune I believe the downpipes add 15-30hp. Butt dyno says the claims are correct
According to one of the major re-flashers, I spoke with it is only a 10whp increase on paper. I suppose there are other factors to installing down pipes like faster turbo spool and louder exhaust. Not worth the $1k for me.
01-11-2017, 07:13 AM
