Beautiful Audi S3 Sedan Remus Catback Exhaust

Had one of our locals wanting to get some more sound out of the awesome Audi S3 2.0T that he owns.  Without messing to much with the cars warranty, we did a nice catback system from Remus Exhausts.  The Remus system comes with some options from the cat back including a center pipe with or without resonator as well as different tip options.  The tips are available in carbon fiber, stainless steel, chrome, and titanium.  This particular car features the center pipe without resonator and the stainless steel tips.  It gives the Audi S3 a nice rumble compared to stock.  Install is very straight forward down to the factory valve switches to open the exhaust up when in sport mode.  Remus has paid extreme attention to detail on this exhaust knocking it out of the park with a perfect upgrade.

Check out all the Remus Exhausts Here

 

Beautiful Audi S3 Sedan Remus Catback Exhaust

BMW M235i Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust Installed & Reviewed | Video

Our customer just purchased this beautiful Esotril Blue BMW M235i and was seeking a new exhaust that would harvest the potential of the BMW’s N55 engine. He brought it over to Vivid Racing where we set him up with an Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust system that would exceed his expectations.

Since the Armytrix exhaust system is valved it features the ability to change sound characteristics all from the push of a button. One of the other very exciting features that is signature to the Armytrix is their mobile app that connects your smartphone to the vehicle giving you control of your exhaust and access to vehicle data such as trouble codes, boost pressure, air fuel ratio and more!

After we finished the installation and gathered our sound clips and photos we handed the keys back to our customer and this is his review of the Armytrix exhaust:

“I love the Armytrix Super Sport Valvetronic Exhaust installed on the M235i installed yesterday. Great to have the subtle, non-distracting light down near the hood release that lets me know the status of the system at any given moment. Valves closed it is exactly as discrete as the OEM/stock system. Valves open it sounds sublime—I especially love the burble when I back off the throttle & the sound when I tromp it is just gorgeous—loud but only in that great mechanical symphony sort of way. Just wanted you to know how totally pleased I am & I’m also psyched to download the app from Armytrix on-line. Thanks a lot for encouraging me to get a great product that enhances an already kick-butt car.”

Click here for more information

 

BMW M235i Armytrix Valvetronic Exhaust Installed & Reviewed | Video

How Rad is this Mercedes CLA45 Edition 1

Mercedes never fails to amaze us with their insanely powerful AMG cars.  With many supercar builders having special editions, limited editions, or boutique versions, the Mercedes CLA45 Edition 1 is right there with them.  Is it a supercar?  No but when you get to drive one with the VR Tuned Tuning Box Kit, it feels fast as f&ck!  The Edition 1 has minor interior and exterior upgrades to seperate it from the regular CLA45 AMG.  The Edition 1 comes with red detailing on the grille and side mirrors, black 19in alloy wheels with red center caps as well as red and black leather seats.  This particular one featured suede inserts on the seats as well.  It still comes stock with 355hp and 332ft/lbs of torque mated to a very fast dual clutch 7 speed transmission.   With the VR Tuned tuning box, it is now a 400hp monster.  The Tuning Box kit for the CLA plugs into 4 sensors on the engine to take control of the AMG engine.  This includes the Manifold Air Pressure Sensor, Throttle Valve Switch, Camshaft Sensor, and the Boost Pressure Sensor as seen here. The tuning box works great on 91 or 93 octane and has an adjustable dial to better deliver this performance.  Check out the pictures of this local CLA 45 Edition 1 we installed a Tuning Box on and if interested in order a kit, contact our Performance Specialists at 1.480.966.3040.  Order your Mercedes CLA Tuning Box Kit Here.

How Rad is this Mercedes CLA45 Edition 1

Ohlins Coilovers Get Fitted to a Volkswagen Golf R

There are many top names in suspension when it comes to aftermarket coilovers.  The European market has an entire different outlook on suspension tuning and in some cases, design.  Extremely popular in motocross, Ohlins actually has quite a bit of automotive know how when it comes to coilover setups.  In addition to applications for Porsche, Volkswagen, and Audi, Ohlins also has some fitments for the most popular Japanese cars such as the Subaru STI, Mitsubishi EVO, Mazda RX8, Scion FR-S, Nissan GT-R, and more.  We actually included the application list below for reference.

There’s not a lot of user information on the Ohlins Road and Track kit (VMS MI10) for the Volkswagen MK5/6 Golf.  Although Ohlins states that they have not tested the kit on AWD models such as the Golf R, we wanted to give it a try.  We have used the JDM Ohlins DFV kit for a customers 2003 Mitsubishi EVO 8 back in 2006 and found it to be one of the better suspension kits for that car.  Having a look at the Golf R suspension, we know that the kit will fit both the FWD and AWD chassis.  Others suspension companies have shared the strut/shocks and generally, the layout of the suspension parts between the GTI and Golf R are the same.  The following are some installation notes and set-up our customer took regarding this kit.

The Ohlins MK5/6 Road and Track kit comes with 180mm x 70 N/mm Front springs and 200mm x 60 N/mm rear springs.  It’s a straight forward install like any other coilover kit.  Installation in the rear requires the removal of the top and bottom stock rubber spring mounts.  The new Ohlins linear springs sit between the spring preload adjuster and a lower plastic seat.  The standard settings are as follows:

• Front – distance between bottom of threads and lock ring = 7 mm (2mm preload on spring)
• Rear – distance between bottom of threads on preload adjuster and lock ring = 35 mm

This resulted in the following heights on the Golf R (fender to wheel center, ½ tank of fuel):

• Front = 342 mm (no settling)
• Rear = 324 mm

The front spring seat was then lowered 1 rotation (5 mm distance to lock ring, no spring preload) and the rear was increased 5 rotations (42.3 mm distance to lock ring, 14.3 mm spring preload on 200 mm spring) resulting in the following measurements after settling (~1 mm in front):

• Front = 338 mm
• Rear = 333 mm (~332 mm with full tank of fuel)
• Front Camber = -1.0
• Rear Camber = -2.0 L, -1.8 R (-1.8 is stock settings.)
• Toe = 0 front and rear

For comparison, the Stock US Golf R has measurements of 365mm F, 363mm R.  Per VW specs, the Euro R is 358 mm F, 356 mm R.

A note on the rear, the max distance from the bottom of the threads to lock ring is 50 mm, which would theoretically allow you to run the rear height at ~339-340 mm.  So the kit does fit with ~20mm lowering from the Euro R specs, but you need to increase the preload in the rear to compensate for the added weight in the rear for the AWD.

For dampening adjustments, we found that 10 clicks from full stiff in the front and 12 clicks from full stiff in the rear works quite well on the street.  Turn in is much sharper and the DFV absorbs the little bumps very well.

Check out the installation photos below and shop all Ohlins Coilovers Here.

Ohlins Coilovers Get Fitted to a Volkswagen Golf R

BMS MI00	BMW 3-series (E90)	                                        Front: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)    Rear: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)
BMS MI10	Mini (R50/R53)	                                        Front: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)    Rear: 50 N/mm(286 lbs/in.)
BMS MI20	Mini (R56)	                                        Front: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)    Rear: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)
BMS MI30	BMW M3 (E46)	                                       Front: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)    Rear: 110 N/mm(630 lbs/in.)
BMS MI40	BMW M3 (E9x)	                                      Front: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)    Rear: 120 N/mm(686 lbs/in.)
HOS MI20	Honda S2000 (AP1)	                                      Front: 100 N/mm(572 lbs/in.)    Rear: 80 N/mm(458 lbs/in.)
HOS MI30	Honda Civic TypeR (FD2)	Front: 80 N/mm(458 lbs/in.)     Rear: 22~44 N/mm (125~250 lbs/in.) Progressive rate
LES MI00	Lexus IS-F/IS 350/GS 460	                                      Front: 100 N/mm(572 lbs/in.)    Rear: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)
MAS MI20	Mazda Miata / MX5 (NA/NB)	                                       Front: 80 N/mm(458 lbs/in.)    Rear: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)
MAS MI30	Mazda Miata / MX5 (NC)	                                       Front: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)    Rear: 40 N/mm(229 lbs/in.)
MAS MI00	Mazda RX-8 (SE3P)	                                       Front: 80 N/mm(458 lbs/in.)    Rear: 40 N/mm(229 lbs/in.)
MAS MI10	Mazda RX-7 (FD3S)	                                     Front: 110 N/mm(630 lbs/in.)    Rear: 110 N/mm(630 lbs/in.)
MIS MI00	Mitsubishi Lancer, EVO VII-IX (CT9A)	                                      Front: 100 N/mm(572 lbs/in.)    Rear: 80 N/mm(458 lbs/in.)
MIS MI10	Mitsubishi Lancer, EVO X (CZ4A)	                                      Front: 100 N/mm(572 lbs/in.)    Rear: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)
NIS MI00	Nissan 350Z (Z33)	               Front: 100 N/mm(572 lbs/in.)     Rear: 55~70 N/mm(315~400 lbs/in.)Progressive rate
NIS MI10	Nissan Skyline GT-R (BNR34)	                                       Front: 90 N/mm(515 lbs/in.)     Rear: 80 N/mm(458 lbs/in.)
NIZ MI30	Nissan GT-R (R35)	                                       Front: 160 N/mm(915 lbs/in.)    Rear: 90 N/mm(515 lbs/in.)
POZ MI00	Porsche 996 Carrera	                                       Front:  60 N/mm (343 lbs/in.)  Rear: 120 N/mm(686 lbs/in.)  Â
POS MI10	Porsche 996 GT3	                                       Front:  70 N/mm (400 lbs/in.)  Rear: 140 N/mm(801 lbs/in.)  Â
POS MI20	Porsche 997 Carrera	                                       Front:  60 N/mm (343 lbs/in.)  Rear: 120 N/mm(686 lbs/in.)  Â
POZ MN02	Por. 996 Carrera 4/4S/Turbo/TurboS	                                       Front: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)   Rear: 120 N/mm(686 lbs/in.)
POZ MN04	Porsche 997 GT3/GT3 RS/GT2	                                       Front: 90 N/mm(515 lbs/in.)   Rear: 140 N/mm(801 lbs/in.)
POZ MN05	Por. 997 Carrera4/4S/Turbo/TurboS	                                       Front: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)   Rear: 120 N/mm(686 lbs/in.)
SUS MI10	Subaru Impreza (GRB)	                                       Front: 90 N/mm(515 lbs/in.)     Rear: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)
SUS MI20	Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S	                                        Front: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)    Rear: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)
VWS MI10	VW Golf/GTI MkV/MkVI (No AWD)	                                        Front: 70 N/mm(400 lbs/in.)    Rear: 60 N/mm(343 lbs/in.)

Ford Focus ST Better Braking with Brembo Big Brakes

Our Ford Focus ST project car is 1 year old and with under 3000 miles, she is barely broken in.  With the Agency Power widebody flares, 19 inch Niche 3-piece wheels, Agency Power full power upgrades, and a Cobb Accessport tune, this car is dialed.  But with all this perfection, it is missing 1 thing… Brakes!  If I was ok with Grandma’s 1998 Ford Taurus brakes on this 300 wheel horsepower car, this blog would be done now.  We don’t, we aren’t, we can’t allow that.  Going fast and looking good is one thing, but functionality through the turns is always a way to build a well rounded Vivid car.

To be able to go fast in and fast out, you need a good set of brakes.  Sure some upgrade pads from EBC or Hawk with matching drilled rotors would be nice, but we want neck breaking.  Front wheel drive and front engine means 80% of the braking is done in the front!  Its not the amount of pistons you have, but the rotor surface area, the vanes of the rotor, and how that brake system dissipates heat.  Like many times before on past project cars (M3, CLS63, 997TT, 996TT), we have chosen to go with Brembo.  The Brembo brake system for the Ford Focus ST is a massive 365mm rotor.  The 2 piece rotor with patented floating hardware allows the pads to have true even wear under braking.  The drilled rotor design gives it the cool factor, literally, while the extensive vane construction allows for the primary function of heat dissipation to occur.  The 4 piston monoblock caliper offers extreme rigidity and has been engineered to the needs of the Focus ST.   The calipers are supplied with street performance pads that in our experience, take some real abuse.  As with all Brembo brake kits, steel braided brake lines are included which give the pedal a nice firm feel.

Installation on these brakes is quite simple.  Don’t expect to fit these under the stock Focus wheels though.  The rotor size will require 19 inch wheels.  As far as the price, everything has its justifications.  For function, there is no comparison to having a big brake kit on a car over stock.   This kit comes in around $3000.  But if that is to rich for your blood then Brembo still has your back with their 1 piece slotted brake kit at around $1900.  So how does the kit performance compared to stock?  You will just have to wait for the video on our YouTube Channel so make sure to subscribe!

Check out all our Ford Focus ST Tuning Parts Here

View more photos of this Focus ST Project Car Here

Ford Focus ST Better Braking with Brembo Big Brakes