[autoart]

I was thinking about installing down pipes myself and have been reading-up on it, so my question is:
How long did it take you to do it?
Looking back would you do it again? or just pay someone else.
Thanks for your input.

[07tundra]

do it yourself its easy just take your time

[ksalih]

I would do again, though I did complain. Just have the proper tools and a friend. A lift would greatly help but I did it on jack stands with a friend. Took several hours the first time. Oh and I've got smaller hands.

[Mick J]

I did it and would do it again but I also complained quite a bit. Definitely make sure you have all the correct hand tools like mentioned before. The O2 sensors will be a pain if you don't have all the right combination of wrenches. I think it took me around 6 hrs by myself and that was because I really didn't have the correct hand tools.

[chris23023]

Did mine myself, Will do it again when I stock out for turbo warranty. Get long extensions, rachet w/ bend-able head, sockets and wrenches and I found a small cresent wrench worked well on O2 sensors (It's a tight fit). It's not hard, just time consuming.

It's more rewarding and a lot cheaper when you do it yourself. Good luck

[135Pats]

Just alot of tight spaces, its very frustrating but mechanically very simple. So its more about patience than anything else. A lift will save you alot of anger.

[cwarren]

Yep do it yourself and a short 7/8 open end wrench for o2's think its like a five " or so and some liquid wrench for the the exhaust just in case .
easy job once you have done it a few times .should be some diy's floating around

[Indo Rider]

Did it recently for first time. It was a pain, but next time will be way easier. Very happy to do it myself instead of paying someone. I watched the ar design video as reference and it was really pretty straightforward. The worst part for me was that the bolt for the mid pipe bracket stripped and I had to drill it out!

[BmwECY]

i installed downpipes on my 135i with the help of a friend. it took us the better part of a sunday, and we had a lift.

on my last 335i, i paid to have downpipes installed. on my current one, i'm going to do the same. it's just too much trouble to do yourself, especially if you don't have access to a lift.

[kanecvl]

I did it alone mostly and I think it took me all day(six hours)but i took several breaks and test drives before I was done. I would do it again. If I had a lift it would have saved me at least 2 hours. It sucks using ramps and or jack stands.

[Jeef]

Dp install pretty straight forward. Easily doable with just wrenches and an adjustable wrench for the o2 sensors. Using jacks and ramps isn't bad just have a roller so you can roll under your car.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Took me about 3 hours first time on a lift. I did everything everything wrong the first time.

V Band Clamp Orientation, o2 sensors refusing to come out, downpipes hitting subframe. You name it. They are a real pain. Would have been even worse on my back.

In hindsight I could probably do it again in a couple hours but I believe it took me 3-4 with all the issues.

If your going to pay someone to do it make sure they've worked on this car before. If they havn't just do it yourself cause chances are the will screw it up too.

[akotten]

I installed them on my xi, which requires lowering the subframe. It took me a good half day, using jackstands. Very doable though. Now that I have access to a lift, I'm sure it would be cake.

[bmwm3redblack]

I'm gonna install mine on xi soon!!!

[TeinBMW]

Originally Posted by bmwm3redblack

I'm gonna install mine on xi soon!!!

same here...im gonna install mine this weekend!!

[autoart]

So it sounds like its not THAT hard to do, and I do have small hands. I"ll put it on my to do list. In one video I saw they left the 02 sensors on the downpipe and then took it off, which sounds easier.

[SaviorXi]

I have had a 2008 335xi and I now have a 2009 335xDrive and had AR downpipes on the 08 and VRSF on the 09 and I am lucky enough that my best friend is a mechanic and seasoned on BMW's and he hates doing my downpipes.
It takes him around 3 hours on a lift in his shop. It is time consuming because you drop the exhaust, take off all the panels, drop the subframe and then its a puzzle due to fitment of how to angle the old ones out and angle the new ones in. I would never do it in my driveway on stands. Its doable but damn if I want to do it.

[boom]

I've done numerous times on a lift and once on jackstands. I can do it in under two hours on a lift but the jackstands took me five. It's not rocket science but it's not a lot of fun either.

[napeHbNYC]

^^ second that. Lift is worth renting or whatever other way you cN get your hands on it. Jack stands are doable but takes much more time and very limited on space.

[ChuckD05]

can you access the front turbo downpipe V band from underneath without moving / removing anything but the undertray?

[TeinBMW]

Just installed my vrsf downpipes on ramps on my e92 xi. Hardest thing I've ever done. Took me 10 hours just to take it out and 3 hours to put the new dp in. Yes I know that's a very long time but man those o2 sensors took me half the to take out. I also took some long beer breaks and snack breaks. But it definitely took me a long time to take the o2 sensors off but if the bolts and o2 sensors were easy to bolt off then it would be alot easier.

The xi is defiantly a pain in the ass to do!!!!

[GamecockEsquire]

Question for those who have installed DPs... What is different before and after? Is the power difference noticable? Mainly upon spooling and reduced turbo lag or do you feel it across the power band? Also, is the sound difference substantial if you're still on the stock exhaust other than the DPs? How about smell after having removed the cats? Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks