Do a search for my initial review. This will help you understand what I went through to get the cats installed. "Dyno & Crawford Cats Installed Today (Help!)"


The Sound:

The sound from the exhaust is awesome now! Louder! but no change from the stock tone. More aggressive. When you rev to high rpm's, you feel that there is a lot less restriction. It's great. A little minor rasp when you gun it. Nothing compared the rasp from an M3. Extremely minor.

The Power:

Honestly, I can't believe the difference in power. I mean its very noticable! And the gain is throughout the power band. I did one run (decent but not great) w/ my G-tech pro, just to see if it picked up a difference. Now! Here were the results:

Highest rwhp reading ever (stock) = 196
1 (decent) run after Crawford Cat install = 208

Min. gain = + 12 rwhp


Highest tourque reading ever (stock) = 205
1 (decent) run after Crawford Cat install = 215

Min. gain = +10 ft-lb.

Best ever 0-60 time (stock) = 6.07 s
1 (decent) run after Crawford Cat install = 6.03 s

If you consider that 6.07 s was the best time ever (stock) and the average is more like 6.4 (stock), 6.03 s w/ just 1 run is incredible.

From what my butt dyno is feeling, I think the above is very accurate.

I may re-dyno on the dynapack. I don't what to damage my wheels any further.

The vibration, isn't as bad as I thought. I feel it under 1.5 k and right at 3k. I guess the heat shield needs to be bend. I will get someone to fix it for me.

In the end the whole Cat install will have cost me:

$500 cats shipped
$120 install
$30 to adjust heat shield (if I'm lucky)

Total $650

 

Nice review... I've been debating on whether to get these now or wait till I'm ready to install headers at the same time. Sounds like it's worth it to do now (since I won’t be doing headers for a while).

I have TS ecu full flash - I'll have to get it reflashed for the cats... does anyone think it's worth it to do now or wait and get cats and headers at the same time (since I'll have to reflash each time if I do it separate). Also, has anyone installed cats after TS ecu flash? How much will I lose by not reflashing after cats?

 

How come your stock RWHP was so low, 195? That seems so low, or is it rated different on the dyno you were on?

 

I think those readings are off his G-Tech Pro, not a dyno. Good for relative comparison, but not for strict accuracy. It will vary on the specs you give it, ie. combined vehicle weight, etc.

 

I don't think you stand to gain anything by reflashing after every little mod.

 

Just to make my results clear:

I did a stock Dyno on a dynopack before the cat install (same day). Those results are in my signature.

Now, just before I got the cats installed, 100% stock, I did 8 runs over 2 days w/ the G-tech. 2 weeks prior.

Without removing or altering the G-tech in any way, I did one run the night I installed the cats. Only cats were installed, otherwise 100% stock.

I don't know why the hp numbers are low but it doesn't matter. It was a relative comparison. 230 rwhp on a dynopack may be equivalent to 200 on the G-tech. Maybe there are further loss when you actually put the power to the pavement. It may also be calibration thing.

The gains I posted were somewhat relative. The only difference may have been +/- 10 degrees F. I would say you could count on them to be the minimum to average gains.

 

I don't reflash after every little mod... I've done many "little" mods... but I wouldn’t consider high-flow cats and headers "little" mods. Adding more intake or more exhaust will definitely effect the ecu. The questions isn’t should I reflash, because I definitely would need to - I'm asking for advice as to how much less I will benefit with cats by not doing the reflash until I get headers later.