APR Downpipe and cat done.... Car feels rough...

[GTI POLO]

Hi,

Just had the APR downpipe and Cat upgrade and also APR software and diverter valve update..

Previously I had the APR chip only.

Here are my comments below...

- Car feels stronger down low, boost comes on a little harder and sooner
- Exhaust has more of a gruff note to it..
- When at idle, giving it a rev, it has a nice whistle sound when revving up and a popping sound when backing off (diverter valve)

My Questions...

1. From about 5000rpm, the engine now sounds quite rough, the engine note changes somewhat from about 5000rpm. Not sure if its vibration or if there is a leak or something but it sounds very rough. Any idea what it could be..

2. When driving along with even a very light throttle can hear a tinny sound, like a slight exhaust leak or maybe just air passing through the new pipes. Is that normal?? It makes it sound very rough..

3. Considering I paid premium price for this upgrade for what i thought was the premium product, im a little unsure if it was worth the extra $$..

4. When he put the downpipe on, I didnt see him put a gasket on? In saying that I didnt see a gasket come off with the standard downpipe coming off either???

[Blitzen]

Hi,

Just had the APR downpipe and Cat upgrade and also APR software and diverter valve update..

Previously I had the APR chip only.

Here are my comments below...

- Car feels stronger down low, boost comes on a little harder and sooner
- Exhaust has more of a gruff note to it..
- When at idle, giving it a rev, it has a nice whistle sound when revving up and a popping sound when backing off (diverter valve)

My Questions...

1. From about 5000rpm, the engine now sounds quite rough, the engine note changes somewhat from about 5000rpm. Not sure if its vibration or if there is a leak or something but it sounds very rough. Any idea what it could be..

2. When driving along with even a very light throttle can hear a tinny sound, like a slight exhaust leak or maybe just air passing through the new pipes. Is that normal?? It makes it sound very rough..

3. Considering I paid premium price for this upgrade for what i thought was the premium product, im a little unsure if it was worth the extra $$..

4. When he put the downpipe on, I didnt see him put a gasket on? In saying that I didnt see a gasket come off with the standard downpipe coming off either???

Take it back man, and take the guy who did the work for a drive and let him hear it for himself. Like you said, you paid top dollar for a product, you they should sort it out.

[POLARBEAR666]

Rough note at 5000 could well be the wastegate opening.

On my subaru I had an external gate and when it cracked open it made a sound like someone was killing a Harley it was that rough.... so even a muffled version of the same thing should sound rougher.

[DaveMack]

Yup ... as Ryan says ... take it back and get them to fix it. In fact ... with any work you have done that you're not entirely satisfied with ... this forum should really be your second line of defence after you've complained.

If you still don't get satisfaction ... that's when you call in the troops.

Dave

[h100vw]

Got to use a new turbo to downpipe gasket, they compress and can't be reused.

The one I took off my Audi was splitting around the bolt holes. There's no way it would have gone back in for the price of a new one.

Gavin

[Guy_H]

GTI POLO - Just sent you an email to contact Derek @ European Autotech to get it checked out - probably something very simple, not much use guessing ....to check will take a couple of minutes on a hoist.

[Kai]

Im thinking of putting an external gate on. Cause i have one here. But i dont know what spring too put in it. 18psi probably.

Ill try it. Wonder if ill get any error codes :|

[GTI POLO]

Downpipe is being replaced. Just makes an unusually high level of resonance??

Its like driving a jackhammer at certain revs..

Anyhow all sorted by next week..

[jamesatfish]

Seems like you've already got this one sorted by replacing the downpipe, but I just wanted to add my experience.

My APR downpipe also has a bit of resonance - slightly noticable around 2250rpm then a bit louder about 5500rpm. I mentioned this to Guy shortly after it was installed just as an observation - I don't really notice it any more so it's not an annoyance but it is just a different characteristic from the stock parts.

There is certainly an increase in the induction noise you can hear (especially with the windows down) - so whistles, pops etc from the turbo are far more obvious and took me some time to get used to (ie it took some time to realise they were 'normal' noises not signs of something wrong).

The downpipe did come loose from a mount shortly after it was installed, causing an exhaust leak and the change in note was instantly noticeable - obviously it sounds terrible with the leak. Thankfully it was a quick (and no charge) fix and it's back sounding the way it should.