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      10-18-2014, 12:54 PM   #1
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Before I go ballistic on this Cobb charge pipe.....

Trying to install the Cobb Charge Pipe on an 2011 N55 135i. Cobb part # is 7B2210.

Will someone tell me if I'm missing something. This isn't rocket science so I can't imagine it's anything other than the fact that the fitment of this pipe just blows.

Stock charge pipe blew up yesterday. Given the fact that I didn't want to have to worry about when a second BMW stock pipe would fail, and I was in a pinch to get this back up and running by tomorrow, I ordered the Cobb charge pipe now thinking I'd just move on and put this all behind me.

So in a hurry I called Cobb. Cody from customer care was awesome and quickly worked with the warehouse crew to work out a way to get me a replacement pipe with overnight Saturday delivery. I gotta mention this because I've worked with Cobb in the past for my STi and MS3. He was awesome and did the whole thing in minutes. To top it off he even took the box with him to drop it off at Fedex since their guy had already made the stop 2 hours earlier. Not many companies do this type of thing anymore. You order their product and they do what they can to manage the backorder and get it out to you when it works for them.

The pipe shows up as agreed this morning at 10am. So I start digging in thinking this should be a 15 to 20 minute job. After all, I already have the stock pipe off. Just need to pop it in place, tighten everything down and I'm back to normal. Not so fast. It took all but a few minutes to realize this doesn't seem right. So far I'm not comfortable with how this pipe fit. Problem is, it simply doesn't fit without putting incredible stress on the throttle body, the pipe itself, and resting with and insane amount of pressure on the bracket that holds the radiator overfill reservoir. It's almost as if this is designed for a 335i or something. Some car with more space in the engine bay. I mean, I can actually muscle this pipe into place by brute force, but it without a doubt is placing an incredible amount of pressure on the throttle body flange. It takes a herculean effort to rotate it into place and I'd say it probably has over a hundred lbs of pressure resting against the bracket.

Has anyone else installed the Cobb and did they feel half way through the install that they wanted to stop, pull the pipe out, throw it to the ground, and start a violent ghetto stomp in their garage on the unit? I'm half joking, half serious. Who has time for this shit?

I even removed the radiator reservoir bracket that the charge pipe is resting against to see if it fit that way. Barely and it's compressing the radiator lines to about half their normal size.

So I have a few choices at this point.

  1. Just accept the fact that it fits like shit, rests against the radiator reservoir bracket on the side of the engine bay and hope that it doesn't rattle non-stop every time I press the gas and the engine shifts under load. That along with keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't create an issue down the road with the added strain on the throttle body flange or lose boost pressure because all of the pressure on the o-ring inside the charge pipe flange is on one side of the pipe.
  2. I can pay to ship it back and hope to plead my case that this is unacceptable and maybe get my money back for the pipe itself. A little worried as it's all scratched to hell trying to get it in place. I'm fairly sure I'd just be out the $50 shipping to me and $10 shipping back.
  3. Someone can point out my error and let me in on a secret that I may have missed in the instructions on Cobb's site.
  4. Just proceed with the ghetto stomp in the garage to help blow off some steam and frustration.


If you can't tell I'm somewhat frustrated. The overnight shipment was costly as would be expected. Hoping I'm actually missing something and someone can point out my error so I can move on.
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Last edited by wrxified; 10-18-2014 at 01:02 PM..
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      10-18-2014, 01:05 PM   #2
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Doing a google search on the Cobb part number I notice it's a design for all N55 powered cars. That's gotta be part of the issue. I bet if I was doing this on a 335i it wouldn't be an issue.

Applications:
USDM : 135i 2011-2012
USDM : 135is 2013
USDM : 335i, xi, i, xDrive 2011
EDM : 135i 2010-2011

Last edited by wrxified; 10-18-2014 at 07:05 PM..
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      10-18-2014, 01:22 PM   #3
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Can you get the front end of the pipe into the silicone hose and snap another picture?
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      10-18-2014, 03:45 PM   #4
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Yeah. I'll shoot some pics later. I found a way to rig it and get it installed. Basically entailed drilling new holes on the reservoir bracket to move it in.

Back up and running which is a good thing. The pipe definitely isn't ideal and I'll be sharing my thoughts and feedback with Cobb. Without modifying the bracket the banging and clattering would've been relentless. That and the seal between the throttle body and charge pipe would be compromised eventually. I really get the impression that the testing started for this part in another chassis that shared the N55. Some monkey wrestled it into place on the 135i then gave the thumbs up to their boss to list it for our models.
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      10-18-2014, 11:39 PM   #5
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That look about right, Ive just Installed cobb C/pipe and FMIC (now that was hard work)

Try to tuck the bottom hose underneath and push the other hose across as far as possible.

I will post some pic in a couple hours
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      10-19-2014, 01:22 AM   #6
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heres my set up
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      10-19-2014, 08:35 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrxified View Post
Has anyone else installed the Cobb and did they feel half way through the install that they wanted to stop, pull the pipe out, throw it to the ground, and start a violent ghetto stomp in their garage on the unit? I'm half joking, half serious. Who has time for this shit?
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      10-19-2014, 09:46 AM   #8
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you've gotta get the lower coupler in for the correct fitment.
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      10-19-2014, 11:26 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jreynolds View Post
you've gotta get the lower coupler in for the correct fitment.
Understood. I had the coupler fully attached prior to this picture and it didn't fit. I started to pull it out and thought as I was doing it to take a picture at the last minute.

Here is how it ended up after the re-drilling the holes to move the radiator overfill brace in towards the fender. You can sort of see the gap in one of the pictures after moving the bracket 3/8". Without the bracket moved the charge pipe sat firmly against it with a lot of pressure.
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      10-19-2014, 06:40 PM   #10
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Here's how my ER pipe looked when installed just to give you a comparison pic. I had already moved my brake fluid reservoir when I installed my Injen intake.
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      10-19-2014, 08:12 PM   #11
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Cobb CP sure looks nice... hope you figure this out
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      10-20-2014, 02:09 AM   #12
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is this problem at all CP's for the N55??

in the BMW ETK, there is no different part-no. for the E82/88 CP. It's the same as the E9x CP.
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      10-20-2014, 07:14 PM   #13
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I had a cp-e charge pipe and it fit like that too. Needless to say it's gathering dust in my basement. Running ETS now.
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      10-20-2014, 10:27 PM   #14
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I can tell you I didn't have this issue wit the er charge pipe. Have you contacted Cobb about the fitment issue? I would not settle for an item that doesn't seem to fit properly. I can show you pics of the er charge pipe on an n55 If it helps.
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      01-19-2016, 08:39 PM   #15
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Sorry to revive an old thread but it seems like multiple ppl are having these fitment problems with the Cobb CP. I was wondering what the easiest solution would be to get the CP to fit? I'm in the market for a CP and would like to go Cobb cuz of price/finish/manufacturer but if install isn't a simple bolt on then I'd consider others. Please share your input!
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      01-19-2016, 10:52 PM   #16
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Just remove your throttle body (4 bolts) and it will slip right on. The tolerance for the Cobb chargepipe is just really tight, where other are a bit looser. You don't need to remove the bolts all the way although I did. You can just losses them enough to tilt the throttle body up and the Cobb chargepipe will slip right on.
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      01-20-2016, 12:23 PM   #17
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Hi,

judging by the first picture the op has posted, it doesn't seem that the CP is fully latched on to the throttle body, after you move the o-ring from the stock CP, dab your finger in some motor oil and lube the o-ring, after you do you
stand firmly next to the fender, and using both hands, grip that sucker and wiggle it onto the throttle body until you see the C-clip groove in the TB through the CP.

i have the CP-E charge pipe, had the same fitment problem until it went fully onto the TB.

one hand install is a b1tch, grab that sucker and wiggle it
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      01-25-2016, 08:51 AM   #18
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ER install was a bitch to muscle in place but it worked in the end.
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      01-26-2016, 10:49 AM   #19
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For the record we had dozens of customers we know about have problems with the Cobb CP fitment.

Stick with the ER if you don't want any fitment problems.

I know the Cobb price is very tempting but in this case, you get what you pay for.
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      02-03-2016, 09:40 AM   #20
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I'd return the Cobb & go with a reliable/proven CP, they should absolutely provide you with a return label and you shouldn't lose money on a product that doesn't fit well.
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      02-12-2016, 10:59 PM   #21
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You kids dont belong under the hood of a car.....

Power steering reservoir mistaken for an expansion tank and brake fluid reservoir ?

damn never seen such sillyness
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      02-14-2016, 04:23 PM   #22
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LOL. Looks like the Cobb unit has a manufacturing issue. The pipe is just too long.

I bought the VRSF unit almost 18 months ago. Fit like OE, and I haven't had any issues out of it yet. Money spent doesn't always equal a better product. Just saying.
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