Breatheless Performance Exhaust Received

[SmartDE]

Originally Posted by Smartbillet

I can't understand why it took a Certified Smart Technician 2 hrs on a lift, and it only took me an hour laying on my back in the driveway. What did they charge?

I would think, 2 hours labor is not cheap at any dealership.
What is an average cost for dealership labor?

[smart y pants]

Got my exhaust yesterday and installed in the driveway this morning. Only had to remove rear valence (2 screws and 2 push pins) and one bolt from the heat shield (the one attached to the exhaust 1/4 head). Was able to remove exhaust bolts with some lube and a 3/8 ratcheting, box end wrench. The bolts were tight as we use a LOT of salt up here to keep the roads clear. Also one bolt showed evidence of cross-threading (it was a bear to remove) Old exhaust slid right off easily as I lubed everything up early on.
The install was just as easy except for the damaged receiving nut welded to the cat back system (damage from the cross-threaded bolt) that bolt took 2 tries and some grease. Centered paper cutout in back of valance (lots of reference points) and cut a notch in the valence to transfer center line to front of valence, marked with a felt tip marker and cut with a utility knife in the hot sun (like a knife thru butter)
Whole install time from tools out of shed, install and put away everything and clean-up 85 minutes. Could be done in one hour if I weren't fighting rust and a stubborn bolt!
System looks, sounds and performs great! A bit louder than I thought it might be for my Cabrio, but now I don't forget when I left it in 4th gear!

[16d @ 4]

Originally Posted by kwagar

It's an interesting world. My smart technician agreed to helo me with the install then he mentioned it to smart USa and they forbade him from working on it on the clock or at the smart dealership as it was aftermarket, non-authorized and may void the emissions warrenty.

Such remarkable bull***t

I was at the San Francsico Smart Center earlier today to check my tire monitor light and to get my sun shade replace. While I was waiting at the dealer, I was BS-ing around with the Smart Center staff. One of them told me that they will be testing the Doug Thorley cat back system in the next few weeks. In light of this, I think Smart Center SF will be selling this system if the test comes in positive. If this is the case, then I'm getting my exhaust directly from my dealer. This way they PROBABLY / LEGALLY void my warranty.
I hope they will carry the Breathless CES as well.

[tigerwong58]

This was the technician's first install of an exhaust system on a Smart Car. He did it very carefully, he said the next one should be faster.

[TINSEL]

Has anyone installed a Breathless "touring" model? If so, what are your thoughts on how it sounds? Thanks

[diegosilang]

Received mine yesterday. My wife told me that "You got a very large box delivery here from UPS". Took it out of the box, surprise surprise and "happy fathers day" my BPP exhaust has finally arrived.

So I got my tools out, a gear wrench, torx 25 bit, and a torx socket E12. Laid out on the floor without even raising the smart car as suggested by the instructions. Took out my lower rear valence, then the top 2 heat shield bolts, and the other bolt attached to the old stock muffler.

I then proceeded to take out the two flange bolts attaching the muffler to the cat system. Which came out easily with the help of the Torx socket E 12. Lubed the hangers and out came the stock in 15 minutes.

[BreathlessPerformance]

It looks good, glad you all love the system.

Ernie

[diegosilang]

I then got the BPP twin tip exhaust installed by doing a reverse on the removal of the stock and used the 2 new bolts that came with it.

Got the lower rear valence cut out and attached the bezel created by Smartbillet. Hooked it back to the rearpanel of Moose.

After an hour of installation, here is what it looked like. Very nice creation by BPP and lots of credit to him (Ernie)for coming out with this center exhaust and for shipping it out to me sooner than expected (two weeks) despite his backlogs in the orders. Which was complimented handsomely by the bezel created by Smartbillet.


Took it for a ride for about 10 minutes and really did feel the extra pep to it and of course the sound is a bit louder but not annoying. It had that race car feel to it (IMO) with that deep low sound of the exhaust. When I got home, I also noticed some smoke (as described by tigerwong58) coming out from the vent of the rear panel with something like a burned oil or plastic kind of smell, which I realized is normal due to the burning off of the oil residue from a brand new exhaust. I am definitely enjoying my smartie a lot better now!

[BreathlessPerformance]

Can we put your post on our website?

Ernie

[WilyB]

Ernie's exhaust is a work of art. Installation is a breeze and the engine appears to really benefit from the lower restriction.

Thanks Ernie.