Anybody know what the black coating is on the inside of this sucker? It smelled like melting plastic after I installed it and ran it for the first time. Well, it is a nice piece and helped a good bit I think.

 

How hard was it to install? Do you have to remove your radiator?

 

How does it look compared to the other offerings out there? Price, quality, etc?

 

is it really worth $300?

 

Can you define "helped a good bit"?

 

It wasn't very difficult to install if you have a few hand tools. Only out of the ordinary tool I used was a swivel adaper for the socket wrench to reach one bolt. I took the lower intercooler piping off the turbo to get a wrench in there. No need to remove the radiator. The lower heat shield did scrape a bit getting it out, but I could have protected the radiator with a piece of cardboard or something if I wasn't being impatient.

The piece is nice & comparable to other Helix products in build. Z1 automotive has some good pics of it on their website I think. I only paid $225 from gruppe-s. It looks like it would flow much more efficiently than stock. I switched from an hks dp to the helix o2 and 3" dp, so I can't say to what extent the o2 helped. It all works as a system, so it is relative and up to the individual whether it is worth the money. I'm happy! I just made 288whp and 263tq with a very flat tq curve. I have p2 flash, b&b catback, ur test pipe, cusco turbo pipe/hks filter, and ams lower ic piping with a hallman set to 19.5 psi.

The inside is coated with a black paint of some sort. Much smoother than stock. I was just curious what the stuff was for?

 

car feels like it breathes easier in the upper rpm's