Chinese down pipes, charge pipes

Nick9one1 · Post by **Nick9one1** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:21 pm

I'm considering removing the front cats and came across this listing.

MerTop N54 Intake Turbo charge pipe Cooling kit WITH 50mm BOV Port+3'' Catless Downpipe

At £213 delivered its a lot cheaper than what I can find in the UK. - A set of downpipes alone cost more than this whole set.

Has anyone got any fist hand experience with the quality?
They look good from the pics - stainless, nice TIG welds, CNC machined flanges etc.

Also, are the down pipes LHD/RHD specific? I'm sure I saw a set for sale elsewhere and it said LHD only. Possibly to do with the O2 sensors?

The manufacturer 'Mertop', seems to do a few variations of the charge pipe..

The first link I posted appears to have a 50mm BOV port plus ports for the original DV. Presumably so you can choose between two.

This one only has pots for the factory DV

and this one only has a BOV port, no factory DV ports. The BOV port also looks like a different style

Thanks!

willgill · Post by **willgill** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:51 pm

If its too good to be true, it probably is.

Stick to VRSF downpipes, that's my advice.

NeilMick · Post by **NeilMick** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:59 pm

Where are VRSF made?

willgill · Post by **willgill** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:09 pm

NeilMick wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:59 pmWhere are VRSF made?

Hudson, Massachusetts

Nick9one1 · Post by **Nick9one1** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:26 pm

I'm sure VRSF are great quality but thats not what I asked, I wanted to know if anyone had tried these MerTop pipes.

At the end of the day they're only a set of pipes. The TIG welds look great from the pictures and the reviews of MerTop on AliExpress seem good.

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:46 pm

I think the l/h r/h thing is to do with the steering column getting in the way

Rob

Nick9one1 · Post by **Nick9one1** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:15 pm

Smartbear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:46 pmI think the l/h r/h thing is to do with the steering column getting in the way
Rob

Yes I think you're right.. I've just read on another forum a member had trouble fitting the VRSF pipes because the placement of the O2/Lambda probe fouls the RHD steering rack.

Not really a big deal, as long as the pipes physically fit the exhaust. - I can cap the original O2 hole and weld a new one in. They're only a couple of quid.

Gaffa22 · Post by **Gaffa22** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:24 pm

What do you gain by fitting these ?
And are you remapping as well ?

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:30 pm

Gaffa22 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:24 pmWhat do you gain by fitting these ?
And are you remapping as well ?

Boost comes in quicker with catless downpipes (less impediment to exhaust flow) and gives higher bhp as well

Rob

Gaffa22 · Post by **Gaffa22** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:54 pm

I guessed it would improve exhaust flow, but enough to make it worthwhile ?
I'll bet they are fun to fit

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:40 pm

Gaffa22 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:54 pmI guessed it would improve exhaust flow, but enough to make it worthwhile ?
I'll bet they are fun to fit

On the 20i I’ve been told 10/15bhp, on the n54 I should think it’s more than that? They also give the exhaust some more snap,crackle & pop

Rob

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:04 pm

Could take the existing off and just smash out the mesh?

JimsZ · Post by **JimsZ** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:03 am

Smartbear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:40 pm
Gaffa22 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:54 pmI guessed it would improve exhaust flow, but enough to make it worthwhile ?
I'll bet they are fun to fit
On the 20i I’ve been told 10/15bhp, on the n54 I should think it’s more than that? They also give the exhaust some more snap,crackle & pop
Rob

I'd go for it for sure, they are an easy to fit item. I've actually done this to a 4 pot turbo'd car in the past, with other mods for that marque, helped unleash over 60hp combined with the other mods and remap.

Slightly off topic, sorry...
Do you have any links to the 4 pot versions?

willgill · Post by **willgill** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:32 am

Nick9one1 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:26 pmI'm sure VRSF are great quality but thats not what I asked, I wanted to know if anyone had tried these MerTop pipes.

At the end of the day they're only a set of pipes. The TIG welds look great from the pictures and the reviews of MerTop on AliExpress seem good.

rofl, yep, they are indeed only a set of pipes.... knock yourself out :p

I forgot the marque had started to reach such pond dredging levels

Yorkie Z · Post by **Yorkie Z** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:00 am

This could get interesting..

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com