MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: OllieVRS on May 23, 2023, 12:21:59 pm
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Hi,
I want a sports cat for some extra performance and a nicer sound, but 200 cel to remain road legal.
Not looking on keeping the car long term, so longevity isn't really a concern.
Preferably one that ships from EU, but UK is fine too.
Any recommendations? The cheaper I can get away with the better.
Cheers
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When i bought my car it had a decat downpipe fitted. I bought a Magnaflow (Can't remember part number sorry) and had it welded in. About £100 for the cat and £75 for welding. It has passed the last 3 mots so must be half decent.
Edit: Like with everthing prices seem to have increased. Cheapest Magnaflow i can see on ebay is around £150.
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When i bought my car it had a decat downpipe fitted. I bought a Magnaflow (Can't remember part number sorry) and had it welded in. About £100 for the cat and £75 for welding. It has passed the last 3 mots so must be half decent.
Edit: Like with everthing prices seem to have increased. Cheapest Magnaflow i can see on ebay is around £150.
Is there any chance you could go through your eBay account to find exactly which one you ordered? That would be a great help.
The cheapest 3" Magnaflow I see on eBay is €205, which would end up costing probably €300 with postage and import fees to Ireland.
I also found this, which has €15 more shipping cost than that Magnaflow but costs the same, and it's the full downpipe system too. But it's as generic as it gets:
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/390464426028
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When i bought my car it had a decat downpipe fitted. I bought a Magnaflow (Can't remember part number sorry) and had it welded in. About £100 for the cat and £75 for welding. It has passed the last 3 mots so must be half decent.
Edit: Like with everthing prices seem to have increased. Cheapest Magnaflow i can see on ebay is around £150.
Is there any chance you could go through your eBay account to find exactly which one you ordered? That would be a great help.
The cheapest 3" Magnaflow I see on eBay is €205, which would end up costing probably €300 with postage and import fees to Ireland.
I also found this, which has €15 more shipping cost than that Magnaflow but costs the same, and it's the full downpipe system too. But it's as generic as it gets:
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/390464426028
Hi, Just checked and it was a Magnaflow 59959. Not sure on the one you have found there, hopefully someone else can advise if they are generally good for passing mot for a few years.
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I have a HJS 200 Cell sportscat. No complaints yet.
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Magnaflow 59959
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Yeah I imported a big Magnaflow cat from Summit Racing for my Corrado VR6 turbo, and it always got through the smog test with ease.
Roll forward to my ED30 with an APR downpipe, which had a GESI cat in it, which is supposed to a good one......crap. Failed immediately.
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Thanks for the replies lads.
For those suggesting the magnaflow 59959 (@Pudding (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=10733) and @ROH ECHT (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=3794) :happy2:), how is that welded in, just replacing the standard cat on the OEM downpipe? And the pre-cat is left in, so I assume that's something I have to ask the welder to delete as well?
It seems like less hassle getting a whole generic sports cat down pipe off eBay, but if the Magnaflow is really such good value for money I'd like to find out how it's supposed to be installed and also how people deal with the pre-cat too.
Cheers.
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Thanks for the replies lads.
For those suggesting the magnaflow 59959 (@Pudding (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=10733) and @ROH ECHT (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=3794) :happy2:), how is that welded in, just replacing the standard cat on the OEM downpipe? And the pre-cat is left in, so I assume that's something I have to ask the welder to delete as well?
It seems like less hassle getting a whole generic sports cat down pipe off eBay, but if the Magnaflow is really such good value for money I'd like to find out how it's supposed to be installed and also how people deal with the pre-cat too.
Cheers.
Not that i have any experience here, but assuming the mangnaflow is as good quality as the guys are saying, i would be tempted to buy a cheap non cat performance downpipe and weld it into that.
That way youre getting a better flowing downpipe with a better quality cat than you would in most of the off the shelf catted downpipes that wont get you past emmisions anyway
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MP Developments do a good looking DP and sports cat, a few people recommended them to me.
https://mpdevelopments.net/products/mpd-200cell-sports-cat-downpipe-vw-golf-mk5-gti-edition-30?variant=34294522937484
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If I could get that downpipe @FatWelshBoy (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=75735) for the listed price I would jump on it. But that price is before import tax, unfortunately putting out of my budget.
I live in the Republic of Ireland, where we have to pay crazy fees whenever importing something. Look at this for example, £233 base price, £32 shipping and then a whopping £92 import fees. That puts the total at £343 (almost €400 for me) for a generic sports cat down pipe.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1Rw8cy8x/Screenshot-2023-05-30-at-09-46-46.png) (https://postimg.cc/s1ff3dPK)
Whereas if I lived where you guys lived, it would be £279.99. £63 less.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mkCVBKZc/Screenshot-2023-05-30-at-09-49-35.png) (https://postimages.org/)
So please please please, if you have a link to where I can get it in the EU then send it. Or if you know a really cheap one in the UK (like the Magnaflow 59959) then send that on too, as then the import fees substantially less.
Sorry about the price rant. Appreciate your help lads :happy2:
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Did you look at getting it shipped to NI and using any of the forwarding companies? I have used deliverme.ie a few times now. €25 flat fee and they will forward to you in ROI.
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Did you look at getting it shipped to NI and using any of the forwarding companies? I have used deliverme.ie a few times now. €25 flat fee and they will forward to you in ROI.
Actually a solid idea @HughOR (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=7881). Have you even gotten stung by a surprise import fee if you've been doing this after Brexit though?
Using the previous generic downpipe as an example, it's 360 euro sent to NI + 25 euro shipping from deliverme, so ends up being 385, only saving a tenner over shipping directly. But I'm sure it makes more sense for more expensive items.
(https://i.postimg.cc/k423T9Tz/Screenshot-2023-05-31-at-10-33-07.png) (https://postimages.org/)
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I've used it numerous times in the last few months. You won't get caught for customs/vat/etc doing it this way so you're guaranteed to make a small saving (your €10) and potentially make large saving (if you get caught for the customs etc).
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Thanks for the replies lads.
For those suggesting the magnaflow 59959 (@Pudding (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=10733) and @ROH ECHT (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=3794) :happy2:), how is that welded in, just replacing the standard cat on the OEM downpipe? And the pre-cat is left in, so I assume that's something I have to ask the welder to delete as well?
It seems like less hassle getting a whole generic sports cat down pipe off eBay, but if the Magnaflow is really such good value for money I'd like to find out how it's supposed to be installed and also how people deal with the pre-cat too.
Cheers.
If replacing the OE with a Magnaflow 200 cell, 59959 is a 200 cell for a 3 inch pipe, and you would want the Magnaflow 59956; it is 200 cell for a 2.5 inch pipe.
Install requires cutting the original and welding in the new.
As far as doing a pre-cat delete...that would require a skilled tube former and welder to make a replacement section once the pre-cat is cut away. It must have a transition from the turbo outlet plate, then add a bend, and a reduction to match the pipe prior to the flex section. The secondary cat is straight forward...cut and weld.
(https://i.postimg.cc/jqDNFcvF/a.png) (https://postimages.org/)
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Thanks for the replies lads.
For those suggesting the magnaflow 59959 (@Pudding (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=10733) and @ROH ECHT (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=3794) :happy2:), how is that welded in, just replacing the standard cat on the OEM downpipe? And the pre-cat is left in, so I assume that's something I have to ask the welder to delete as well?
It seems like less hassle getting a whole generic sports cat down pipe off eBay, but if the Magnaflow is really such good value for money I'd like to find out how it's supposed to be installed and also how people deal with the pre-cat too.
Cheers.
If replacing the OE with a Magnaflow 200 cell, 59959 is a 200 cell for a 3 inch pipe, and you would want the Magnaflow 59956; it is 200 cell for a 2.5 inch pipe.
Install requires cutting the original and welding in the new.
As far as doing a pre-cat delete...that would require a skilled tube former and welder to make a replacement section once the pre-cat is cut away. It must have a transition from the turbo outlet plate, then add a bend, and a reduction to match the pipe prior to the flex section. The secondary cat is straight forward...cut and weld.
(https://i.postimg.cc/jqDNFcvF/a.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Thank you, that image is perfect to use a reference image when getting a quote for welding. Much appreciated :happy2:
Found a generic 2.5" 200 cel shipped from Poland in stock, €207 shipped: https://inter-rally.pl/product-eng-85642-Powersprint-HF-200-CPSI-sports-catalytic-converter.html
EDIT: Or a locally available one, for €239: https://shop.mcgautostyling.com/browse-by-parts/exhaust/catalytic-converters/srs-exhausts-high-flow-catalytic-converter-200-cell-ss-2-5.html
Do you think the OEM 2.5" downpipe with a 200 cel is much more restrictive than a aftermarket 3" with a 200 cel? Don't really want to lose a couple horses over 100 quid.
I've booked an NCT (Ireland's MOT) for 22nd June, I'll get it installed after ;)
Cheers
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I found a source online the OEM exhaust piping isn't actually 2.5", but 2.36" (60mm)? Would that make the welding work more difficult to adapt it?
2.36" sounds pretty restrictive in terms of airflow, especially at the cats. Maybe @Pudding (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=10733) could chime in on this, he seems to be pretty knowledgeable about this stuff (from previous posts of his I've read).
I'm starting to think just getting that €400 3" sports cat downpipe off eBay is the best option, much less hassle getting stuff to fit and no complex pre-cat weld needed.
Cheers
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I too would opt for a new prefabricated DP over removing sections from an old pipe.
Just wanted to give you an idea of all that would be involved.
Yes, the OE pipe is near 2-3/8 inch...so; 1/16 inch overlap all around when mated to a 2-1/2 inch.
I have a Techtonics Tuning turbo-back. It is 2-1/2 inch, with a K04. With the GIAC K04 tune it makes 340 to 350 BHP on the dyno/RR. "Is the 2-1/2 inch I have restrictive?" I don't know...I'm sure some will say "yes, it must be." And they are likely correct, but without comparing turbo spool up time with both 2.5 and 3.0 inch....we are only speculating on restriction, right?
So in looking at tuner's power figures, one (APR) shows power with the HPFP upgraded, but with unaltered intake and DP only being near 20-25 HP less than what they show for one with the HPFP; and intake and DP but an unspecified diameter. Tuners will always post their max numbers seen. So real numbers may be more like 15 to 20 HP.
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I just measured and can confirm the OD of the stock DP is 60mm.
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60mm :surprised: Jeez, no wonder big bore DPs free of power :grin:
Yeah I wouldn't entertain chopping up the oem DP. Keep it for when you sell the car as they are becoming rare.
I would be tempted by a 3" DP and fit the biggest cat that will fit under there, which will also have better muffling than the tiny sports cats. Some aftermarket DPs can sound really tinny and crap, almost like an exhaust leak. Most lose the deep bassy rumble of the stock DP.
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Just just ordered a vRS-specific downpipe with a 200 cel sports cat (https://mpdevelopments.net/products/3-200cell-sports-cat-downpipe-skoda-octavia-vrs-2-0t-fsi-vrs-2-0-tsi?variant=39334581502092) from MPDevelopments, for £461.50, including a £15 discount code they gave me via email. Very decent of them. Thanks for the recommendation @FatWelshBoy (https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=75735).
MPDevelopments couldn't guarantee I wouldn't get charged customs or duty charges, so I decided to go for the less-dodgy method of shipping the thing to Deliverme.ie's Northern Irish address. And no joke, their warehouse is actually 55 metres from the ROI border :grin:. Now that's what I call proper tax-dodging :grin:
They use a third-party for delivery man for delivery from NI to ROI, who apparently doesn't take responsibility for in-transit damage to parcels, so I'm just gonna take the 1 hour drive up to collect the thing myself. They told me on the phone it's a 20 euro flat fee for collection from their warehouse.
Add roughly 30 euro for fuel, and I'll have a decent brand sports cat for under 600 euro. :smiley:. On their website, total cost of shipping to Ireland was €604, but God knows what Irish customs would extort me for on top of that.