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      04-27-2015, 12:58 AM   #1
Jim621
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N55 charge pipe - beef up before it fails

Hey All,

I've been thinking about the charge pipe mod - and it seems there is no performance improvement for the mod, just a reliability improvement.

Has anyway tried to beef up the original charge pipe design before it fails?
It wouldn't be hard to wrap fiberglass strand around the joint where it cracks and use either fiberglass resin or some other plastic glue to strengthen that joint.

Is there another reason I'm missing why you would buy a charge pipe?
(note - I'm not planning to use meth at all).

thanks, Steve
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      04-27-2015, 05:02 AM   #2
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The stock plastic flexes under boost as well. It's so thin you can pinch it with minimal force. Also, for the cost of a replacement (~$200) why go through the effort twice?
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      04-27-2015, 11:47 PM   #3
Jim621
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Thanks for the response Apex - your comment on it being thin, which part of the pipe will get pinched? I assume you are talking about when it gets removed/refitted?

I agree once I start performance mods, and increasing boost a charge pipe is a wise investment, Do you recon for a stock engine I could get away with leaving it standard?

Steve
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      04-28-2015, 04:53 AM   #4
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There is evidence to show that the stock charge pipe can break under stock boost levels. I think it's random honestly.

I meant that you can squeeze the charge pipe with your fingers and see plenty of flex. Mine was so weak i could close it with my hand.
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      04-28-2015, 10:55 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim621 View Post
Thanks for the response Apex - your comment on it being thin, which part of the pipe will get pinched? I assume you are talking about when it gets removed/refitted?

I agree once I start performance mods, and increasing boost a charge pipe is a wise investment, Do you recon for a stock engine I could get away with leaving it standard?

Steve
The stock one will fail even under stock boost.
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      04-28-2015, 07:59 PM   #6
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OP, the location that fails is where the C-Ring connects to the intake manifold. The thickness of plastic at the ends of the ring groove on the charge pipe is way to thin, the plastic shears/tears at these locations. No real way to beef up material that is not there.
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      04-28-2015, 08:05 PM   #7
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The slot in the upper left corner of the picture is what tears out.
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      04-28-2015, 08:44 PM   #8
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Sign me up, on the hunt for a charge pipe!
Pm me if you have one for sale.
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      04-30-2015, 08:20 PM   #9
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We have a few of them available, $195 shipped, isn't getting any less expensive
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      05-01-2015, 08:18 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
We have a few of them available, $195 shipped, isn't getting any less expensive
Make one compatible with stock and Forge DVs!
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      05-01-2015, 09:15 AM   #11
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We already do!
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      05-01-2015, 09:18 AM   #12
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We already do!
WHAT!
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      05-01-2015, 01:17 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
Make one compatible with stock and Forge DVs!
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Originally Posted by Tiago@VRSF View Post
We already do!
We have around 10 VRSF charge pipes compatible with stock DV in stock
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      05-03-2015, 06:41 PM   #14
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I've upgraded for this very reason. Just installed so can't give any opinions other than it fits and looks great. I also recommend getting an Oil catch can. After I took off my charge pipe, there was a significant amount of oil in the charge pipe. The MAF was wet!

Reason's for changing before failure:

1. DD that I take up to the mountains on a routine basis. Don't want to have a failure when least expected.

2. Also have the JB4 stage 1 coming and don't want to deal with a failure after install.
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      06-08-2015, 08:12 AM   #15
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So when it does fail, can you drive the car while waiting for the new part? I ordered one last night, but it will be a few days before I receive it. Can I drive 15 miles tomorrow keeping the car below 35 mph?
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      06-08-2015, 08:50 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by decaturdad View Post
So when it does fail, can you drive the car while waiting for the new part? I ordered one last night, but it will be a few days before I receive it. Can I drive 15 miles tomorrow keeping the car below 35 mph?
I wouldn't, but i didn't buy your car. I can't see how driving it at all would be ok.
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      06-08-2015, 11:36 AM   #17
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Just called my independent shop about whether I should get this mod. They do performance upgrades to many vehicles so I trust their advice.

They said if you are tracking the car get it.

If you are running a piggy back tune ie. JB4, get it because it tricks your ECU into boost levels. With a flash the boost is more controlled and the car is expecting the boost. I can't remember all of what they said but that's the jist of it.

For my application (which will be a flash tune w/ intercooler) they said I would not need it and the stock pipe will be fine.

They have tuned many 535's 135's 335's and have not seen any stock charge pipes fail.

Their advice to me would be that that money is better spent elsewhere for performance mods.
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      06-08-2015, 11:41 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PA135i View Post
Just called my independent shop about whether I should get this mod. They do performance upgrades to many vehicles so I trust their advice.

They said if you are tracking the car get it.

If you are running a piggy back tune ie. JB4, get it because it tricks your ECU into boost levels. With a flash the boost is more controlled and the car is expecting the boost. I can't remember all of what they said but that's the jist of it.

For my application (which will be a flash tune w/ intercooler) they said I would not need it and the stock pipe will be fine.

They have tuned many 535's 135's 335's and have not seen any stock charge pipes fail.

Their advice to me would be that that money is better spent elsewhere for performance mods.
No disrespect, but they are way off on this one.
Your charge pipe will fail sooner or later. How you tune your car is not important , more boost will make the charge pipe fail whether it is flash or piggy ( not sure how they think piggy vs flash makes a difference in this case).
Charge pipe failure is the most common component failure, if they said they have not seen any charge pipe fail then they have not modded as many N55 as they say.
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      06-08-2015, 12:16 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
No disrespect, but they are way off on this one.
Your charge pipe will fail sooner or later. How you tune your car is not important , more boost will make the charge pipe fail whether it is flash or piggy ( not sure how they think piggy vs flash makes a difference in this case).
Charge pipe failure is the most common component failure, if they said they have not seen any charge pipe fail then they have not modded as many N55 as they say.
They have been in business for 11 years and modded many many cars. My car is a N54 but I do respect their opinion. I know you are in the business of selling charge pipes ..correct? Does that factor in?

I did order an intercooler from you guys so I'm not saying you don't sell quailty parts.

If they are the most common component to fail why haven't they had that experience in 11 years?

Every part will fail on a car eventually.

I also called the tuner today about this. The tune DOES make a difference. OE tuning stays within safe parameters. They told me it is not needed for my N54.

Why would BOTH the tuner and the independent shop tell me for my application it is not needed? Why would they care if I bought one or not?
They were just giving me honest advice.

This post does say N55. I have an N54 so if their is a difference between the two then you may be right. But I will be taking the advice of my shop on my car. My comments are related to my car. I wouldn't have posted to this thread, but I assumed the charge pipes are the same on both.
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Last edited by PA135i; 06-08-2015 at 01:14 PM..
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      06-08-2015, 01:14 PM   #20
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I just changed mine and the stock one was already cracked by the c-clamp. I am running a mild tune on Cobb. No way I would leave the stock charge pipe on with any tune. My car was stock for 58k out of its 60k miles fyi. Too much heat under the hood of a turbo for anything plastic to hold up never mind once you crank up the boost.
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      06-08-2015, 01:15 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PA135i View Post
They have been in business for 11 years and modded many many cars. My car is a N54 but I do respect their opinion. I know you are in the business of selling charge pipes ..correct? Does that factor in?

I did order an intercooler from you guys so I'm not saying you don't sell quailty parts.

If they are the most common component to fail why haven't they had that experience in 11 years?

Every part will fail on a car eventually.

I also called the tuner today about this. The tune DOES make a difference. OE tuning stays within safe parameters. They told me it is not needed.

Why would BOTH the tuner and the independent shop tell me for my application it is not needed? Why would they care if I bought one or not?
They were just giving me honest advice.

This post does say N55. I have an N54 so if their is a difference between the two then you may be right. But I will be taking the advice of my shop on my car. My comments are related to my car. I wouldn't have posted to this thread, but I assumed the charge pipes are the same on both.
We are in the business of selling most if not all components for these cars, i dont just go around tell people to change stuff just so i can make a profit.
So no the fact that we sell parts is not a factor.

Stock charge pipe being a weak component and failing even under stock boost is a fact.

I respect their opinion as well, and with all due respect they are wrong.

Another red flag for me is that you mentioned in your first post that they told you a piggy could damage the charge pipe but a flash does not. This shows that they do not have enough experience or knowledge on this subject. The fact whether the ECU knows the actual boost would not have any effects on the charge pipe.
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      06-08-2015, 01:22 PM   #22
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My charge pipe broke on a stock 2012 N55 with 35K 'easy' non-tracked miles on it. Happened when merging into traffic. Seems unbelievable, especially the way this car has been babied but it must be a weak point.
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