VSR1 Group Buy Offer on Dual Cat exhaust center section

[Mario L.]

Folks,
VSR would like to extend a Group Buy offer to any and all s38 owners for our SS Mandrel bent dual cat center section exhaust. List price for this is $834 plus shipping, we will offer the system for $714.00 and shared shipping.
We need a minimum of 5 commitments to make this happen.

Next we will offer a US built custom for VSR Bundle of Snakes Euro style header. Unlike other copies, including the repros from BMW, I guarantee ours will fit properly. Our configuration will have end fittings like the US spec headers as these will fit correctly with the exhaust systems readily available in the states.

FOR ANY DETAILS, or to commit to the Group Buy, PLEASE call our office.
Or email us at Mario@VSR1.com

Thank you!
Mario L.

[Da_Hose]

Aww, man! Wish you had put this out last summer. I had to weld up my own. I really like how it turned out, but it was a ton of work.

I highly recommend you use a California legal catalytic. If it has a CARB approval number, you should increase possible customers as E24 M6 owners would be able to use them.

Jose

[Mario L.]

Our cats do have a CARB approval, but it is my understanding that it takes more than this to pass CA laws legally. That said, we sell many to CA folks, I presume for "off road " use . . The cats are extremely effective and even a tired well tuned S38 should pass any tailpipe test . . .

Mario L.

[buzby]

Interested in the S38 Euro headers which will direct fit to US stock cats.

Looking at purchasing a set of BMW Euro headers in Germany (while on business trip) and bring over in suitcase but this might be easier route providing cost less.

Will they be identical to the BMW ones (except for the connection to US stock cats...)?

[Da_Hose]

Oooohhhhh ...... what EO number are they covered by?

Jose

[Drew in NYC]

Email sent for the headers.

Drew

[ronin]

Mario,

Email sent on June 23rd. Let me know if it didn't make it to you.

Thanks,

Eric

[mottati]

I'm interested.

[Mario L.]

Update on the headers.. .
An FYI on the present headers made by BMW.... They are not the same as the early ones! . . flanges are too thick, piping is no where near as nice and of the 2 sets we've installed they do not line up correctly at the exit. One set took us 8 hours to install, required removal of the heat shield on the left fender well for clearance during install. On one car we needed to drop the front subframe to get them installed!!
We will be having a prototype set made from a proper original Euro set from my own M635CSI that has already been modified to fit the US spec center section. Construction is all mandrel bent SS and flanges will be the proper thickness.

We have lately been using the B&B rear section we are a B&B dealer, as the Super Sprint is steel and will rust out, Stebro can't deliver .. BTDT.. and the factory section is much more expensive. If we have folks that buy numerous sections of a system from us a discount will be arranged!

Mario L.
VSR1.com

[buzby]

Sounds good!

If they look like the original BMW Euro manifolds (headers) then hopefully it will satisfy the emission test clowns in CO and CA.

I would rather not bring over from Germany and find they do not fit correctly. My engine is out so no issues with trying to fit while in situ.

Time frame?

[mottati]

We will be having a prototype set made from a proper original Euro set from my own M635CSI that has already been modified to fit the US spec center section. Construction is all mandrel bent SS and flanges will be the proper thickness.

Mario L.
VSR1.com

I would be very interested in the header and the cat section. I just put in a new OE cat back exhaust (B&B was too loud for me), so i'm good there.

[tn535i]

I'll be very curious to hear the price point on the headers which would help with the decision. I would like the Euro headers if for no other reason they are a work of art but can't justify all the work to convert the rest of the exhaust which is still OK on mine. So a quality replica that bolts to my current exhaust... nice. If the price were right I would be in.

So now I think if we had this option...

Isn't the OE cat from a lower mileage car as good as it gets. It lasts almost forever long on most other BMW's ? The e28 5er is the only one I've ever seen start to leak even though it's already mild stainless and that took 200k+ miles on mine and was due to the way it's formed. Would it be a mistake to assume 200k+ on the US S38 cat?

So then is the consensus on the best option in the cat back section BB? I happen to think the BB is a bit boisterous and rather like the mellow sound of OE. Is there anywhere short of custom an all SS like BB but toned down a bit as an option or is OE the only thing out there. I know I'll need a cat back sooner or later but long before I expect the cat itself to fail and have not really looked much.

Are my thoughts incorrect?

[Karl Grau]

I highly recommend you use a California legal catalytic. If it has a CARB approval number, you should increase possible customers as E24 M6 owners would be able to use them.

I think there are a couple of M5s in California too.

Our cats do have a CARB approval, but it is my understanding that it takes more than this to pass CA laws legally. That said, we sell many to CA folks, I presume for "off road " use.

That's good your Cats are CARB approved but on the other hand, I've never once had a smog guy check an aftermarket cat for it. And no, your system would be perfectly legal on or off road here.
I once failed the visual part of the test because of the Euro headers. I now take documentation to show that the headers are a genuine BMW part and haven't had a problem since.

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=107166

[S38Mike]

I'd really like to know the exact CARB number for the VSR center section. Anyone?

[mottati]

That's good your Cats are CARB approved but on the other hand, I've never once had a smog guy check an aftermarket cat for it. And no, your system would be perfectly legal on or off road here.

I had a smog tech spend quite a bit of time reading numbers and looking them up on my last smog check on my 93 range rover. One OE cat, one carb certified replacement from a couple years ago. Never mind it's 2ppm hc..... numbers better be right.

[S38Mike]

I own VSR cats and have been extremely satisfied with them along with the customer service from VSR. The last thing I want to do is talk badly about a product that sounds great, is made very well out of good materials, has nice welds, thick flanges and is very light compared to the stock M5 cats but California buyers beware, your smog tech might want to see the actual CARB number and after reviewing the list of CARB approved systems for M5's you might not like what he has to say. My car just failed with "tampered" cats a few weeks ago so I had to put the stock cats back on in order to pass. Keep that stock catalyst handy for smog time or find a lazy or "friendly" smog tech.

[Karl Grau]

I had a smog tech spend quite a bit of time reading numbers and looking them up on my last smog check on my 93 range rover. One OE cat, one carb certified replacement from a couple years ago. Never mind it's 2ppm hc..... numbers better be right.

My car just failed with "tampered" cats a few weeks ago so I had to put the stock cats back on in order to pass. Keep that stock catalyst handy for smog time or find a lazy or "friendly" smog tech.

This is good information to know. I will continue to go to the lazy guys even though I'm sure that my cats are legit.

[wkohler]

What about a cat that was installed before they did the whole special CA cat stuff? Are they essentially forcing you to buy a new cat even though you might have a fully functional one?

[Karl Grau]

What about a cat that was installed before they did the whole special CA cat stuff? Are they essentially forcing you to buy a new cat even though you might have a fully functional one?

Good point. I happen to have some newer DEC cats in the garage and it looks like they have a date stamp. I don't know about the old ones, but I would go to a referee if I failed my test over it. On the other hand, there probably aren't a whole of lot of still functioning "whole special CA cat stuff" converters out there.

[Da_Hose]

Legislation has recently changed in California. If you don't have catalytics with the EO number for your specific car it will fail.

The header issue is really about function. The euro headers are factory, but what makes them legal is that the S38B35 in the E28M5 and the E24 M6 does not inject air into the header. So any header that does not alter that function is legal for use. Not all smog shops are aware of that, so you can point it out. I have had no issues here in Napa with the two shops I use.

The catalytic absolutely is a problem and they crawl under to look at the EO numbers on them now. I go lucky and passed with a questionable catalytic before the new models had been tagged with the proper EO number. Now, they do an actual lookup of my catalytics at time of smog. I can't find the EO numbers of my cats. in my paperwork, but I plan to work on the underside of the car next weekend and will post up my numbers.

You can lookup numbers at the Ca. ARB site link below.

https://ssl.arb.ca.gov/PartsSearchTool/ ... hTool.aspx

Jose

[Karl Grau]

Legislation has recently changed in California. If you don't have catalytics with the EO number for your specific car it will fail.

I don't know how recent is 'recently' is but my last smog tests were May, July & October of 2014 and they didn't check the cat on any of them.
I would still go to a Referee Station if I failed on just a missing EO number. Also, you could buy a number/letter punch set from McMaster-Carr and have your very own CARB Certification Kit.

I checked the CARB chart and it looks like I'm good though.

[ronin]

Looking for an update on the headers. How are they coming along? What's the ETA on them being ready for production?

Thanks,

Eric

[S14]

Interested in the headers and the cat!

Just re-installed my frank fahey track pipe (to save the stock cat section) and Stebro exhaust... sounds lovely!

[Mario L.]

Euro header estimate of cost ..

Hope you're all sitting down, as these will not be cheap . . $1600.00 per set is our initial estimate.
Lots more that the factory list price, I am well aware, but the factory replicas don't fit and you can't get them here in the USA.
These are hand built, tubing is SS and CNC Mandrel bent, flanges are all SS lazer cut.

For us to proceed, a minimum run will be 10 units, we need a firm non refundable commitment for 5 sets.
Once we have 5 commitments we will proceed, to produce the test fit piece which we will have here to install on an S38 in a chassis and confirm fitment, then the production units will be built.

On a side note, we presently have in process a similar offer for S14 M3 headers, and have used this manufacturer for several other sets of custom SS Headers.

Mario L.
VSR1.com

[ronin]

Well, I'm glad you gave me fair warning to be seated...I wanted to double check, is the $1600 for the headers only or is that for a set of headers and cat section (please say the latter...)?

Thanks,

Eric