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Depo Racing (ebay) catted downpipe review

ALE 5six1

Ready to race!
Location
Florida
I read many reviews of downpipes, expensive and affordable, and the consensus was "a pipe is a pipe, as long as they use good material, it should work fine and last long" and noticed that no one had any reviews on affordable or ebay purchased catted mk7 downpipes. When searching, Depo Racing's offering seemed like a well built product and wouldnt require welding to prevent leaks (has high quality v-band clamp), like I've read some ebay downpipes require. So I sprung the $329.99 for it, as my first modification.

3 month follow up:
No issues at all with the downpipe, I am very happy with my purchase. Still sounds great at start up when cold and no leaks or cracks on metal at all.
Only issue I had was with the factory nut on the top V-band clamp (which attaches to DP inlet to the Turbo). The nut kept vibrating loose. So I put some Loctite Threadlocker "Blue 242" on it and all is well.

3 Year follow up:
All is well, have not had any issues with it, and my CEL is gone now, because I switched to a COBB Accessport with EQT stage 2 tune. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS!

Recommendations:
1. Loctite threadlock the top vband clamp nut with Blue 242
2. After removing the stock DP, attach the inlet of the new DP to the turbo first before trying to attach the hangers down below the car (because it requires a little force to get things to line up).
3. Get a 90 degree o2 spacer and align it facing towards the rear of the car. based on thread https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35051 Most recommend the 42DD http://www.42draftdesigns.com/o2-sensor-spacer/ but some have luck with https://www.amazon.com/Vibrant-11619-J-Style-Restrictor-Adjustable/dp/B00AQ7972O which comes with 3 different sized inserts.


Locations to purchase:
http://www.deporacing.us/product-category/VW/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2018-...=item1eebb6d9ec:g:lcsAAOSwS~FbsqH6:rk:10:pf:0

PROs:
  1. Increased performance (went from 14.59 1/4 mile down to 14.01)
  2. Affordable! half the price of the average catted downpipe
  3. Seems to be well built compared to other bargain downpipes
  4. Perfect fit, No welding required to prevent leaks, or bending of hangers (like other 2 piece ebay DP's)
  5. Has a catalytic converter to avoid unpleasant exhaust smell
  6. 100 cell metal substrate cat which is the least restrictive / best flowing option (from what I briefly researched)
  7. high quality V-band clamp included (12 mm nut to match other bolts on exhaust)
  8. does not require a o2 sensor extension to reattach sensor
  9. Great sound all around, no drone at cruising speeds
  10. 8.2 lb weight savings
  11. 1.7 Highway MPG increase? (this could also be from my tires being incorrectly at 32 psi instead of 37, which I noticed after the install)

CONs:
  1. No dyno proven performance from seller
  2. Will throw a Check Engine Light CEL
  3. Stronger than factory exhaust smell, when standing behind the car during cold starts. However, while in the car you cannot smell it at all.
  4. Louder than stock? (This is expected when you remove restrictions from a car's exhaust. I love the sound, I believe it sounds like the GTI should have from the factory)

Sound: stock downpipe
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vH4AkUbyEi4MHK3M8

Sound: Depo Racing 100 cell catted downpipe
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ypGScvJ6eK1uefuw6

Unboxing




Stock to Depo Racing side by side comparison


Weld quality









Inside of cat


Weight comparison
Me (187.2 lbs) holding Depo Racing Downpipe


Me (187.2 lbs) holding stock downpipe


Feel free to ask any questions
 
Last edited:

ALE 5six1

Ready to race!
Location
Florida
Maybe I overlooked it somewhere, but are you saying you're CEL free without an O2 sensor extension or elbow?

Oh I forgot to list that as a CON, it does throw a CEL after 50 miles.
But what I meant is some require an extension just to get it to reach the sensor location, because of the placement of the cat/02 sensor hole
 

ALE 5six1

Ready to race!
Location
Florida
Spacer time.

That wont eliminate the CEL will it?
I planned to get a JB4 in the near future so was going to use that to clear the code
 

ALE 5six1

Ready to race!
Location
Florida
Yeah it does, it pulls the sensor further away from the "rich" exhaust gas. Stage 2 cars tune it out.

oh! good to know, thanks for the info! Might spring for a cheap one of those if the light starts to annoy me.
Any down side to the CEL, besides light on dashboard?
I know some can hurt performance / gas MPG but so far gas mileage has only improved (on highway cruising)
 

PacDawg

Drag Race Newbie
Location
Gilroy, CA
Nice find op. I was rocking a depo racing FMIC in my FoST and it was a good product with perfect fitment. I actually contacted him to see if he would make an FMIC for the MK7 as well but never new he was going to do a DP. I have a circuit worx DP which was the cheapest catted DP available before but fitment is pretty bad. This would have been my choice if available back then.
 

ALE 5six1

Ready to race!
Location
Florida
How is fit near the ABS controller?

No fitment issues at all, however pro tip:

attach the turbo v-clamp first, before trying to attach the bracket bolts under the car in the exhaust tunnel. I originally did it in reverse and its much harder to line up and tighten the v-clamp then to line up those two bolts below.
 

ALE 5six1

Ready to race!
Location
Florida
Nice find op. I was rocking a depo racing FMIC in my FoST and it was a good product with perfect fitment. I actually contacted him to see if he would make an FMIC for the MK7 as well but never new he was going to do a DP. I have a circuit worx DP which was the cheapest catted DP available before but fitment is pretty bad. This would have been my choice if available back then.

Yeah they seem like a very popular and affordable performance company for the Focus community. I'm glad hes starting to produce for us VW guys now :)

I also asked about an intercooler, but he doesnt seem to be too interested at this time. Hopefully if his Downpipe does well, it will change his mind. As of now, I plan to go with the ebay Magic / Majesty stock location replacement.
 

Hoon

Autocross Champion
Location
Rhode Island
No fitment issues at all, however pro tip:

attach the turbo v-clamp first, before trying to attach the bracket bolts under the car in the exhaust tunnel. I originally did it in reverse and its much harder to line up and tighten the v-clamp then to line up those two bolts below.

Quick guesstimate on the clearance between the DP and ABS shield?

Rev 9 is like 1/4", which sucks.
 
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