AR Design DPs

[Vintage]

Does anyone have a good phone number for AR Design. I am trying to contact them regarding DPs I purchased from them for technical assistance and they are not responding? Any help would be appreciated.

[stickshifter69]

Are you not able to pass smog? I thought about getting a set.

[Lambobimmer]

Originally Posted by Vintage

Does anyone have a good phone number for AR Design. I am trying to contact them regarding DPs I purchased from them for technical assistance and they are not responding? Any help would be appreciated.

What is the problem?

[VailM3]

Smog test is reason why I am hesitant on picking up a set, Here in EU its pretty strict and not sure I would pass inspection with catted...def wouldn't pass with catless.

[Vintage]

I purchased ceramic coated DPs with race cats from them about two years ago - I was one of the first buyers for the e89 and in the first group buy when they came out.

No problems and no fault codes tripped until a couple of months ago - it may or may not be the cats. I have had a great mechanic at a BMW only shop go through the entire car and engine exhaust systems. The car has 38,000 miles on it; so, new plugs, new intake (as it had a tiny leak and not pulling enough vacuum, etc.) then reset the engine check light. 21 miles later, same issue. So, it appears to be the cats - but I need AR to contact me and so far, crickets. I am not asking for new DPs for free or anything else, yet - just technical support for my mechanic.

That is why I would like a phone number if possible. I need the car "legal" and I always like warranty service, which is what was advertised when I bought them.

[jyrbba]

Originally Posted by VailM3

Smog test is reason why I am hesitant on picking up a set, Here in EU its pretty strict and not sure I would pass inspection with catted...def wouldn't pass with catless.

Get the DP's from the IS model. They pass with flying colors.

[Vintage]

Good suggestion. However, I would first like AR to have the courtesy of calling me or emailing me back - I am very disappointed.

[Vintage]

Well, its official - DO NOT BUY anything from AR Design as they will not email you, call you, or in any way communicate with you. I also note that on eBay they appear to now be selling their products under the name "alphamotrsprt" or Alpha Motorsports in Denver.

[Gunzaro]

Yeah they never replied me when I complained via website that the bolts they supplied with their DPs were far too long.

[VailM3]

Originally Posted by Vintage

Well, its official - DO NOT BUY anything from AR Design as they will not email you, call you, or in any way communicate with you. I also note that on eBay they appear to now be selling their products under the name "alphamotrsprt" or Alpha Motorsports in Denver.

That really sucks how they haven't got back to you in what is/was a reputable company is strange. AR sells ALOT of product for all ranges of BMWs

[Vintage]

It does really suck - I suspect they do not want to tell me that the cats fail quickly and they do not want to replace them.

[demonlicious]

Fail O2 sensor? Most problem with DP or exhausts is bad O2 sensor. Swap it out to the new one to see if it works.

[jts1981]

Originally Posted by Vintage

It does really suck - I suspect they do not want to tell me that the cats fail quickly and they do not want to replace them.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I frequent e90 post and there is a ton of info regarding hi flow cats not lasting long. Many members end up going straight to catless.

One solution I can offer is adding a spacer at the O2 sensor. My shop suggested this to me as well. It seems to work on a catless M6 he worked on previously.

I myself run a Cobb stage 2+ for daily, and when the time comes for emissions ill go back to stock, and run the wedge dp fix.

Hope this helps, gl!

[Vintage]

THANK YOU guys - I will swap out the 02 sensor.

[jannisa]

It's probably not the lamda sensor, Vintage. Have it diagnosed before you go for a new sensor which is not a cheap bet. Your easiest solution would be to get ess send you another file with post cats sensors lowered or deactivated, they didn't charge me when I went with catless downpipes.

And yes if it's not hjs aftermarket cats like supersprint uses they fail pretty commonly.

[Gunzaro]

After the test just get the cats hollowed out and refit with new ESS catless flash.

[Hujan]

This is the reason I went with catless DPs. I just don't trust Magnaflow ceramic cats to last very long, especially when subjected to the immense heat coming right off the turbo.

[Vintage]

I will call ESS tomorrow! Thank you - once I load the ESS tune, which I own their handheld, will I pass state inspection???

[DKZTT]

Vintage, did you ever get it figured out? I just had my car inspected for emissions (TX requires that now before annual registration) and it failed for emissions, replaced all 4 O2 sensors months ago so I am almost sure they are all good. Not sure why it would fail now, only thing I can think of is AR DPs.

[Vintage]

DKZTT - sorry to hear this; my figure it out is paying another $500 to put the factory DPs back on the car. Another solution, if you do not have the failing race cats that are on my car, is to have catless DPs with a software work around. I am told on this forum and by my mechanic that they exists and it works.

HOWEVER, this has been a big lesson to me: 1) BMW has good reasons for looking cautiously at warranting modded cars, 2) I will never buy another mod from a company that has not been in business for at least 5 years, 3) some other stuff! I love the Eisenmann exhaust, as that mod is still awesome, but no more DPs for me.

[DKZTT]

Yeah, I will probably have to go back to stock DPs too. Don't want to do the catless because the Eisenmann is already loud with the AR race cats. Man this sucks since I've only had the cats on for maybe 1.5 years.

[ttuner]

you need one of these:
http://www.vr-speed.com/vrsf-catless...-bmw-335i.html