[kikuchi897]

Hey guys,

Recently got a Valvetronic catback and decided to put it on with my R44 Downpipe and have had major issues with install. Has anyone successfully done this yet? The midpipe doesn't fully link to the Downpipes and the pipe is so pulled it's touch the trans heat shield. Tried to reach out to valvetronics and they're saying it's the downpipes but the shop is saying the midpipe wasn't cut right.

Any suggestions would be great!

[iviegatron]

Originally Posted by kikuchi897

Hey guys,

Recently got a Valvetronic catback and decided to put it on with my R44 Downpipe and have had major issues with install. Has anyone successfully done this yet? The midpipe doesn't fully link to the Downpipes and the pipe is so pulled it's touch the trans heat shield. Tried to reach out to valvetronics and they're saying it's the downpipes but the shop is saying the midpipe wasn't cut right.

Any suggestions would be great!

Is the R44 downpipe a new install as well or were you running it already with the stock midpipe?

If it paired up fine with the stock midpipe then it's the valvetronic or as the shop said it probably wasn't cut right.

To troubleshoot fitment, loosen the connection between the midpipe and the stock axle back and focus on making a connection between the midpipe and the downpipe, see if you can get it flushed.

[kikuchi897]

Originally Posted by iviegatron

Is the R44 downpipe a new install as well or were you running it already with the stock midpipe?

If it paired up fine with the stock midpipe then it's the valvetronic or as the shop said it probably wasn't cut right.

To troubleshoot fitment, loosen the connection between the midpipe and the stock axle back and focus on making a connection between the midpipe and the downpipe, see if you can get it flushed.

No I was running it with the R44 catback before, I reached out to R44 and the said it would fit stock exhaust so that shouldn't be the issue.

I bought the full catback not midpipe. They tried to loosen the downpipe to see if the extra distance made a difference but no such luck. Wondering if I need to order a different downpipe, this is all getting pricey quick.

[barryc365]

Where are you?

I know some UK guys had trouble with the valvetronic mid pipe fitment and R44 is a UK company so there seems to be differences between the UK/USA exhaust systems with OPF's etc

You could be missing a UK downpipe with a US Cat back and they're incompatible.

I'm just guessing here

[mzcp]

Is your R44 DP with flex joint? Maybe get another shop to take a look at it

[Pantagathus]

My valvetronic midpipe has this issue, and I know of multiple people with the same issue. The angle of the downpipe flanges is fractionally off in some cases. I had to get an exhaust shop to cut and re-weld at a slightly different angle.

Valvetronic is full of it, they claim their system is fine, but the tolerances are very fine, and in some cases it doesn't work. Would be nice if they accepted that and tried to make it right/paid for the extra work, but in every case I'm aware of they've denied an issue and told the customer to pound sand. Love the midpipe, unimpressed with the company.

[M_Adaptive]

Originally Posted by Pantagathus

My valvetronic midpipe has this issue, and I know of multiple people with the same issue. The angle of the downpipe flanges is fractionally off in some cases. I had to get an exhaust shop to cut and re-weld at a slightly different angle.

Valvetronic is full of it, they claim their system is fine, but the tolerances are very fine, and in some cases it doesn't work. Would be nice if they accepted that and tried to make it right/paid for the extra work, but in every case I'm aware of they've denied an issue and told the customer to pound sand. Love the midpipe, unimpressed with the company.

I have heard this sentiment about there customer service and many other threads not just G8X. The sound is good but the customer service is awful and every case I’ve read where there is an issue it’s always the customers fault.

[Nkr15]

Knew the titanium exhaust they were selling was too good to be true

[Fugazii]

This will only benefit AA open up the flood gate.

[kikuchi897]

Well… I'm glad I'm not the only one. I thought it was just me😅

[madmedman]

Man I feel your pain. Took me a month to sort my install out. Finally a reputable exhaust shop was able to do it. From looking at the pics you posted, my finished install is almost similar although yours is not aligned equally. My midpipe does not completely flush against the downpipes. There is a few millimetres gap but no leak. Check my other posts and I have posted a video of the finished install. Take it to another shop who fabricates as well in case you need it.

[BMdoubleUTIFUL]

Check the exhaust thread section. I wrote a full post with my issues during install. You are most definitely not alone, and no one has had good customer service. I checked their terms and policy agreements and found this

[LuckyBrand]

This isn't good for there reputation and possibly sales. I was just about to pull the trigger on this exhaust as they have a sale going on right now and are much cheaper than the next competitor. Maybe not worth it now? Have to think about it again I guess and might just have to spend the extra coin as I haven't heard of the other brands having these issues?

[mike@x-ph.com]

im surprised to hear the feedback about their customer service.

The team has been great; they always have been reasonable and did their best to make customers happy.

If you have not done so yet, I recommend calling them, and maybe you'll have better luck getting them to resolve the issue.

[ROBERT1183]

This is discouraging. I was waiting for some sound clips on their titanium version before pulling the trigger. The recent vid of the stainless install on the G82 looked like they had no issues. I wonder if you put the stock down pipes back on and try it.

[kikuchi897]

Anyone know any shops in Orange County that can fix this?

[Vic55]

This is why I will never mate up non oem parts that are not from the same brand. The level of precision is ever so slightly off.

No offense to the OP and I wish you well but may I ask why you dumped your R44 catback system (I think you sold it in the classifieds) for the Valvetronic version?

[kikuchi897]

Originally Posted by Vic55

This is why I will never mate up non oem parts that are not from the same brand. The level of precision is ever so slightly off.

No offense to the OP and I wish you well but may I ask why you dumped your R44 catback system (I think you sold it in the classifieds) for the Valvetronic version?

Wanted to go for a different sound.

[Pantagathus]

Originally Posted by kikuchi897

Anyone know any shops in Orange County that can fix this?

Any decent exhaust place should be able to do it. I had originally taken mine to a non-exhaust shop who was also installing some carbon pieces, and they identified the issue, sent pics etc. (basically exactly what you have, was impossible to fit without a leak). Also at that point reached out to Valvetronic who said the shop was full of it and I should pound sand. The original shop didn't do welding so couldn't cut/weld. Took it to an exhaust shop, they agreed with the first place (didn't identify the issue to them ahead of time, so they found it independently when they tried to install), but were able to cut/re-weld.

Reached out to Valvetronic multiple times letting them know the second shop had the same opinion, asking if they are prepared to cover some of the cost (effectively had to pay twice to get it installed), and they completely ghosted me

[BIGW0RM]

Ugh that sucks. And that gasket maker stuff is not a good fix either.

[Pantagathus]

Originally Posted by ROBERT1183

This is discouraging. I was waiting for some sound clips on their titanium version before pulling the trigger. The recent vid of the stainless install on the G82 looked like they had no issues. I wonder if you put the stock down pipes back on and try it.

I had the exact same issue on the stainless version. The tolerances are extremely small. It may be that there's enough variation in stock downpipes to cause it, who knows, but we're talking a matter of a couple of degrees between being flush and having a leak

[kikuchi897]

Originally Posted by Pantagathus

I had the exact same issue on the stainless version. The tolerances are extremely small. It may be that there's enough variation in stock downpipes to cause it, who knows, but we're talking a matter of a couple of degrees between being flush and having a leak

But the hangar isn't even close lol.