I'm taking delivery of an 07 S60 R . I live in the Columbia Gorge in Oregon and drive by IPD everyday on my way to and from work.

I'm coming from a Subaru WRX which I heavily modified 300 AWHP and 295 ft trq.

My plan is to do the ECU upgrade as well as an exaust, I don't get why the down pipe is so expensive for the R. ?? I had a quality DP "installed" on my subaru for about $600.00 and most vendors I see want over 1K for just the DP. What's the deal?

Any R owners have a DP ? I'd like to know if it's truely worth the money.
My other option is to have a muffler shop buiild a full turboback, but I'm hestitant to take a new 45K car into a muffler shop and say go at it.

Any idea? or other suggestions for upgrades? Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum.

R models are really cool I love the new s60R's.

Anyways...

Why things are so exspensive for Volvo's is because we have Volvo's. Nothing is cheap for them and don't think you will ever really find a cheap modification for the R. Also even though there is a great community of Volvo enthusiasts, there isn't enough to truly mass market items like Honda tuners and others do. Thusly the companies that do make parts must sell them for a higher price. Plus the pieces they sell are quality.

IPD is a great company period. Good customer service too. Also great parts.

If you want a downpipe have it made locally. Look into local places that can mandrel bend and have them make your 3" downpipe for you. Then have them make a 2.5" mandrel bent catback system with a striaght through design muffler like a Magnaflow. This should be way cheaper then $1k. Probably around $800 or so for the downpipe and catback. You will see the most gains from the downpipe.

Also you will want to preform what is called STAGE ZERO.

Full stage 0 list:

Plugs
cap/rotor
oil/transflush
filter (oil)
hoses (the little vac lines) silicone vaccum lines
Silicone turbo hoses
02 sensors
fuel pumps
clean injectors
clean IC/IC plumbing
Air filter
plug wires

I know it is a new car, but the silicone vaccum lines and silicone turbo hoses will be a big improvement over stock. Also your going to want to look into a boost gauge. http://www.egauges.com This is a great place to buy a boost gauge from, great products and good prices. As far as a mounting solution I don't know of any A-pillar pod mounts for the s60R's. You can contact the person at this site for info regarding this, http://www.rodpods.net

As far as tuning goes I would seriously put your car on a dyno in stock form. When dynoing stock get A/F ratios with the dyno. These are important to know. With this dyno you will get a baseline of what you have to work with.

Then after this install your downpipe and catback system. Do another dyno with A/F ratios. See what you have gained from these two mods. This will only give you a better idea of what you have and can do.

After this do the ECU upgrade. Once this is done dyno again and see what you get with all three mods. Do the ECU last because if you do it first the ECU wont take into effect the downpipe and catback exhaust as much as if you did those two first then did the ecu upgrade.

 

Excellent info...Thanks.

Interestingly enough..Theshop thatworked on my Subaru was Rallitek..They have joined forces with IPD. So I now have friends at IPD!!

 

Yeah IPD is good. Prices are high, but quality.

 

As an 04 S60R owner...I can say that S70 is dead on target, however I would detour alot of the things he listed as the R is "above and beyond" most Volvo's. You may want to register with Swedespeed.com as there is a forum specifically for R owners and they can offer great information as well one of the main guys from IPD is a moderator over there.

If I was to mod my R here is the list...

1. Take your trusty R down to your nearest muffler shop and have them remove the resonator/safety bracket - Estimated cost is $50-$60

2. Invest in a CAI and K&N Filter(E-2019), one of the members on SS has designed and distrubted a CAI - Estimated cost is $100 for CAI and $55 for Filter.

3. IPD Softloader - Basically with this new product from IPD you can upgrade your ECU to Stages 1-3 without sending your car or your ECU off to IPD. This tool also allows you to diagnose CELs as well as every sensor in the vehicle, you simply load a program on ur laptop and then hook it up to your R and it takes 15mins to flash from stage to stage. Estimated cost is $1200(includes stage1) + $495 per stage upgrade I believe.

4. If your going with stage 2 and above you will want to upgrade your downpipe and install a cat back exhaust, stage 1 your stock R is quite capable. Estimated cost is $1000-$1600.(depends if you buy it or have your local muffler shop do it)

5. Once you get ur ECU upgraded, grab a boost gage and install it either on the A pillar like S70driver's or use the little cup holder by your stereo.


For an R I would say these are the main things to concentrate on first....anything other than the above is pretty much icing on the cake. If you are driving a GT version more specifically 06 year model and later then your in great shape as the torque limiting of the GT was done away with in the 06-07 models. However the IPD flashes do remove the torque limiter on the GT tranny or give you the option to remove, it also voids the warranty if you choose to remove it.

The resonator removal gives your car the ability to breath alittle better and actually makes it sound quite nice for stock exhaust. The safety bracket is a known issue for all R owners as it is a metal bracket that is used during manufacturing for safety reasons and serves no other purpose once the vehicle is built. This bracket can get caught on the road and twist up which shoves your resonator directly into the driveline, and well you can picture the effect of that happening. You can have these both removed or if your really prestigious about preserving the safety of your driveline, you can purchase a safety cable they've designed to replace the bracket. The resonator leaves very little clearance on top between itself and the driveline and basically just reduces sound....so just remove it!

Hope this helps you alittle bit, I'm still a newb modder but each and every day I improve my knowledge. My name on SS is CaptainKirks_R.

 

I would seriously not dettour from the 3" mandrel bent downpipe or 2.5" catback system. These are a main staple in Volvo performance.

 

evolve i hear is another good company, but fair warning, if you need repairs done under warranty by volvo, Im sure they will deny it with any type of modification like that :/

Did you have the STI model?

 

+1 to that.
---------------------
Also IMO and in a lot of the Volvo tuning community's opinion, EVOLVE sucks. I would not go with them at all.

 

I had already mentioned the exhaust in my post....you can buy a exhaust kit already made or you can have your favorite muffler shop make one for ya. As far as stage 1 the stock exhaust on the R is perfectly fine and handles itself well.

 

Yes you can buy an already made kit. $$$$$ expect to pay out your *** for it though. When most local muffler shops can make you a nice mandrel bent 3" SS downpipe and a nice 2.5" mandrel bent catback for around $800-$1000 total. Compaired to like lets say EST's downpipe for $795 and then their catbacks are $400+. Or go to Viva Performance and their downpipes are $1000+ plus their catbacks are $400+.

I would look into a locally made system if I were you.

 

Viva Performance

- P-073015 S60R/V70R AWD 2004-2007, 3" w/race-cat VOK 70412S Out of Stock $1,049.99
- VP-073105 S60R 6MT/GT, 2004-2007, 2x2" piping, 2x3" tips VOK 60402S 012 $999.99$799.99 VP-073110 V70R 6MT/GT, 2004-2007, 2x2" piping, 2x3" tips VOK 70413S Out of Stock $999.99


EuroSportTuning

-
[color="][font="verdana,arial,helvetica"][size="]Stainless Steel Turbo Down Pipe with Racing Cat - S60R & V70R[/font] Quantity in Basket:none
Code: VLE-465-102
Price:US$1,159.95

Shipping Weight: 55.00 pounds





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[color="][font="verdana,arial,helvetica"][size="]EuroSport Stainless Steel Sport Cat Back Exhaust System - S60R[/font]



Quantity in Basket:none
Code: VLE-365-103
Retail US$899.95
Savings US$300.95
Your Price US$599.00

Shipping W
eight: 65.00 pounds


-
[size="]Heico Stainless Single Sport Exhaust - S60R[/size][/font] Quantity in Basket:none
Code: VLE-365-104
Price:US$1,299.00

Shipping Weight: 60.00 pounds

IPD USA

- S60R turbo2005-07sport exhaust - twin tipWS52520S$1,095.00
70.0000 BUY

- S60RAllwith Volvo body kitsport exhaust w/twin tipsWS52520SBK$1,195.00
40.0000 BUY

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Thanks for the great info guys!!

I did not have an STi , it was a WRX..but I'd thrown everything into it performance wise up to the upgraded transmission..That's where I drew the line.

As for the uploader..I drive by IPD every day..I stopped in yesterday and was told by two of the techs there that if I drive by daily and live nearby there is really no reason for an uploader.
I can probably save a few bills bt just stopping in and having them upgrade the ECU.

I'm kinda torn between going with a proven and tested pre-made exaust and going to a reputable muffler shop that can mandral bend me a turbo back.
What about the 02 sensors? aren't they in bungs in the DP ?
What brand of muffler are people going with? I looked on the Magnaflow site and they don't even list for Volvos.

I think I might make myself a regular at IPD and hopefully get a deal on some of the goodies!

The other upgrade I've been looking into is wheels. Maybe the OZ 35th anniversay editions! Is it better to satick with the 18"s

 

Yes there are bungs and what you do is tell the local place to put the bungs in the new system where they were in the old system, simple as that.

Yeah you get a universial muffler from Magnaflow. They might not have a specific application muffler for our cars. The local place will help you find one that will fit right.

O.Z. 35th Anni will look sweet on the s60R. I would keep the 18" Pegs for Winter rims and use the O.Z.'s has Spring,Summer,Fall rims.