ecu and exhaust upgrades
 

I have a performance question for anyone has done this. I'm looking to install a cool air intake system, ecu remapping and exhaust upgrade on my 99. I was wondering is all this worth the money or should I just buy an Boxster S. My car is paid for so I don't care about the risk if any.

A friend of mine at Cargraphic put all that in her Boxster S and made about 300HP. She was beating out 3.4L 996's. :)

I saw a video of "Porsche nuts" racing on the track few weeks ago. The guy who made it is attending RIT. Some of the ppl interviewed were from NYC. Where is that track Stryke (if you know)?

What's the name?

Most NYC residents race at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ.

I bought my '01 S recently with a good bit of breathing work done to it. I have a good friend with 996 3.4l and I'd say my car pulls a little better (at least it feels like that)...he even admits, begrudgingly, that he thinks my boxster is quicker. the receipts from the previous owner say that he paid about $7,500 for the work, though...that's pretty steep.

Is your warranty still good furious?

I just had the car in for a rms leak and as the service advisor explained: "if you have a problem with your exhaust, I can't warranty that (since it's a techart exhaust), but if you're starter goes bad, how can I beef you on that?"

I don't think there's a clear cut answer, but I do take it to the same Porsche / audi dealer that I took my highly modified Audi to before I got the boxster and I never had a problem...and I had that car for 6 years...they fixed everything that ever went wrong with it, no problem. The car I just bought only has until oct 05 for warranty anyway (it's got 24k miles on it).

That makes sense, but I wonder if they would have a beef on an engine problem since the upgrades affect engine output.

DMS(http://www.dmsautomotive.com/) in Chicago IL near the Exchange can remap an 986 S ECU to 280HP(and 996 TT to 500+HP) and it will not look any different to a Porsche Dealer's computer. Can't remember but I think it runs around $5K for 986S

Has anyone out there tried out the GIAC chip that replaces the the OEM ECU? GIAC is supposed to be a reputable chip maker for many euro vehicles. I believe the chip runs approx $1,000. Heres the website www.giacusa.com/ 5k just for the remap sounds like alot even if it is undetectable.

Magnuson-Moss act is a law that deals with warranties. They cannot deny you a warranty unless they can prove that your mods caused the failure!

I used a GIAC chip with great success on an Audi 1.8l turbo motor in the a4 I used to have. very solid product.

Good deal. Hopefully the chips box s work well too. I'm suprised that I haven't found one boxster owner with the GIAC chip yet since they do seem be held in such high asteem with the euro car community.

I had my ECU remapped. I looked into the GIAC. My understading is that their chip is remapped based on a stock model. Since I have many upgrades I had to have a custom tune/remap done.I spent about 1500 or a little less to have this done. I went through TTP and they used a tech from Sportech by the name Gunther. I beleive he might have changed companies in the last 6 months to a year so not sure where to find him these days. I am extremely happy with the job he did. I received about 35 more HP because of this. it is an aggressive tuning. I think some others on this board have used him at one point or another too. If I can get some info from my local shop I will try to post some more info.

^ How many dyno pulls did he have to do before he got where it needed to be?

Also, can the GIAC chip not self-adjust or be adjusted by a professional incase serious changes are made? On the website they promote using a higher flowing air intake with their chip for another 15hp or so. They never mentioned headers/cats/ cams and all that:confused:

Well I cant count how many Dyno pulls we did exactly. My car was on the Dyno for about 7 hours while he remapped the fuel using a modulator which he soldered to the board. After completely remapping the ECU he then burned the new program to the chip and works great. I think we ended up in the neighborhood of 20 pulls. I am sure the GIAC chip probably has some adjustment capabilities, but again thier program is really conservative. If you want max HP you need to have a custom tune/remap performed. I would be happy to pass a copy of my file along but I would not recommend using it since it is specifically disigned for my modifications.

I thought GIAC allows you to custom tune? Regardless, a custom tune on the dyno (with the a/f sensor mounted before cats) is the only way to go. I've seen too many aftermarket chips (for BMW) that are too lean up top or pig rich down low and everything in between. I'm guessing the chips for Porsche aren't much better.

Boxster Racing Board generally LOVES Gunther's work.
IMO a chip by itself isn't worth the 1-3HP gain in part of the powerband. Unless you are willing to go at least intake/headers/chip you might as well spend your upgrade money on track sessions:D

I haven't been tempted down the upgrade path yet, but I am watching for the results of the 987 header on a 986.

well I had already been down a long way into the upgrade road with my 986 so remapping the ECU was a must and Gunther was the man! If anyone is interested I took a video of some of the procedures he did while remapping. If anyone is interested I can make these files available.

What about exhaust choice? I know the talk has been about ECU mostly.

Been doing some reading and it seems the one by Fabspeed is supposed to be the one to go for. Fabspeed exhaust look awefully similar to the one offered by Evolution Motorsports (http://www.evoms.com/). I swear the pictures are identical :)

So my question is what's the difference between a 'free flow' and "straight through' muffler? I'm considering the Dansk sports muffler which also looks similar to the one at Fabspeed/Evolution Motorsports... Dansk claims theirs is not straight through but 'free flow'. Used to think they're the same..

The Dansk and fabspeed are the same muffler. Not sure about your other question.

hey guys, where does this Gunther work out of?

Damn! And I would have just paid about $200 more if I just got it from Fabspeed as compared to Mid America who is just selling them for $899!

Thanks for this bit of info :)

Yup, fabspeed just sources out there exhausts from dansk. I got this info from a few people over at ppbb. Just look at them and you can tell. Hope this saved you some money.

Dansk Exhuast
 

Hello everyone. Glad I read this post. I have a B&B exhuast on back order right now that I am canceling. Are you positive that the Fabspeed is the same as the Dansk?;)

Re: Dansk Exhuast
 

I can't comment on whether they're the same but you can get the Dansk for as low as $750 from www.departstop.com. That's a good $150 cheaper than Mid America. But the shipping from departstop is killing me. So I'm still debating who to order it from.

Just interested to find out what is making you cancel on the B&B? They seem to be pretty popular as well.... I was told not all models from B&B for the Boxster will give bhp gain. Some are only to improve the sound over the stock muffler...

This is not the first forum that I have seen someone complain about the B&B exhaust. By their own advertisement they say that their product is made from stainless steel that is not as thick as most other makes. It is probably not a fair assessment, but online the sound from the video sounds too much like vibrating metal rather than a deep throaty sound that I want. But if the Fabspeed exhaust and the Dansk exhaust are the same as everyone says, for my 1999 Boxster we are talking $1050 from Fabspeed or $599. from Mid America and they look identical. The one for $899 just makes it look stock. It is pressed like the original but reportedly the power gain and sound are the same. By the way, Dansk is the OE manufacturer for the Boxster exhaust.

Forget about the OE look then. Probably weighs more as well just to achieve the original look :(

Dansk seems to have the market pretty much cornered as far as Boxster exhaust goes. Quite a few of the German tuning houses (FVD) are also using Dansk instead of developing their own.

Now I only need to decide who to get it from :)

Well I have stayed out of this thread for a while because what people decide to buy for parts is really up to them, but there is something I like to say is ..."You get what you pay for..." When will people understand , if you want a $700 muffler..thats what you get...probably a little inferior, not made as well and probably little to no hp gain. I have seen the Dansk, Fabspeeb, B&B, FVD, Gemballa, RUF and one or two other mufflers probably lessor know. The price range just on those mentioned can range from about $600-1800 and beleive me...you do get what you pay for! I personally have had the B&B...its a crappy muffler with nominal gains. Doesnt sound all that great(more like a honda fart can). The Gemballa was nice, maybe almost too strong sounding. Nice hp gains from it, but the resonance can be anooying to those with the tiptronic. I would only get the Gemballa if you have a standard transmission. The muffler I finally ended up with is the RUF muffler. It has the same gain of HP like the Gemballa, with less resonance. Unfortunatly the mufflers did get more expensive as I moved along, but you get what you pay for!
Stop putting inferior parts in your superior vehicle! Spend the extra money and get what the car calls for. Dont spend less money just to make it sound better if it doesnt actually give you the sound, feeling and gains you are looking for. You are driving a Porsche. Not a honda. The parts are meant to be 4X the price, get used to it, its a Porsche! And in closing....YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! (sorry if I offended some people, but it is true)

So what did you get from your RUF.

In the world of mufflers, my favorite phrase is ... "Show me your dyno"

Not the dyno in the ad ... "Show me your dyno"

Well I dont have a print out ...yet...
While my car was being tuned the printer was dead so we couldnt do any printing, but I will say having 3 different mufflers in the last 2 years that the RUF I am happiest with.
No ads were reveiwed when my purchasing decisionas were made so I had no idea what to expect from each one I have had. But working with Techs in my shop and with Gunther on board several times we saw the most gains using the RUF.
Once his new Dyno is installed later this year or begining of next I promise to show some Dyno results for you.. Unfortunatly they will be with my existing setup. And that includes a whole lot more then just an addon muffler.

I believe in what you had to say and I usually go by the old saying, "buy cheap buy twice" but not looking for a bargin is simply bad business no matter what you drive.

P.S. Why didn't you go for the boxster S instead of the base model?

I would also agree, but If I were content with buying a Fabspeed exhaust and it is the same as a Dansk why would anyone pay $450 more. Granted the Ruf maybe a better built product, but how much more HP are we gaining for another $1200. If Fabspeed and Dansk are not the best built, then I would rather have it fail at the tune of $599 then to the tune of $1050. That's just my math anyway

Bethencorp, I am not proof positive that the Fabspeed and Dansk are identical but I did hear this from some people that are supposed to know what they are talking about over on porsche petes. I would call Fabspeed and more importantly Dansk and see if they will give you a straight answer.

Cheers.

I have a Band B on and I have enjoyed the sounds and loks for over a year. I have to admit , incerase in horses came when I installed evo high flo intake. The growl it makes now scares off most boxster s I come across, little do they realize I have a 98 boxster. Only issues I have had relate to check engine lights. I can't seem to stop faults. They are bull sh-t ones at that. For now I enjoy it for what it is.

It really depends on the situation. The Porsche Tequiment Sport Exhaust I currently have cost a bomb ($1,500?) but apparently does not give much if any bhp gains.

I think Dansk is a credible manufacturer, not some ABC shop off a street corner.

To put all arguments to rest, I'll be putting my car on the dyno before and after so watch out for my report people. Be patient though as it'll probably be another 3 weeks for me to get everything together. I just got my sports cat from Dansk today. My Dansk headers went in 2 weeks ago. Contemplating whether I should put back the stock headers for the before dyno....

My Evo intake is also sitting in my store.... Let's see how much th Dansk headers, sports cat, sports muffler (non-OEM) and intake will yield together :) Only thing I'm lacking is an ECU after that :(

Call GIAC?^

I e-mailed Fabspeed yesterday and got a response from them today. My question was what is the difference between the Fabspeed exhaust and the Dansk exhaust for the Boxster. Their response via e-mail:

" Most probably not much... all the german tuner and others get them from different sources and likely they all come from Dansk"

What is the difference between the Dansk sport and the regular? Looks like it may weigh more. The one that is currently catching my eye is the Dansk Sport with the "Super Sound " tips. Looks like the Tequipment without the bypass pipes.
:D :D :D :D

I guess you know what to do now [:)]

I just got off the phone with Mid America. $627 to the front door. Thanks for the help guys.

Let us know how you like it. I may just have to get one myself for that price.