S3 manifold options

Guys - it's a bit of an over-statement to say the v4 prototype we received was "pooh". Well made and interestingly designed, I was thrilled to install it to our test car. But its performance was lacking, and Relentless immediately took our feedback to heart. They didn't push back, they didn't criticize me or my methods.

I know that Relentless has had some issues in the past, but I can tell they genuinely want to produce terrific products. And as a guy who's documented his many mis-steps and bad ideas right here, I applaud them for pushing themselves to do better. If the v4 prototype was "pooh", remember that they didn't inflict it on any unawares customers. They enlisted people to test it and advise them on how to improve. In my book, that makes them all right. And I'm eager to see what they have in store next.
 
m19lte said:
Russwuss you are a legend, are these chinafolds just as restrictive as a standard manni ? And does anyone have any instructions/pictures of a ported one ? Or how to port one effectively !!
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they are Identical, and Extremely restrictive as supplied..
very very hard material to port.
 
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slappy_dunbar said:
Guys - it's a bit of an over-statement to say the v4 prototype we received was "pooh". Well made and interestingly designed, I was thrilled to install it to our test car. But its performance was lacking, and Relentless immediately took our feedback to heart. They didn't push back, they didn't criticize me or my methods.

I know that Relentless has had some issues in the past, but I can tell they genuinely want to produce terrific products. And as a guy who's documented his many mis-steps and bad ideas right here, I applaud them for pushing themselves to do better. If the v4 prototype was "pooh", remember that they didn't inflict it on any unawares customers. They enlisted people to test it and advise them on how to improve. In my book, that makes them all right. And I'm eager to see what they have in store next.
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Unless they fix their apparently Missing QC they remain at the lowest level in terms of Trustworthy.
Lottery when buying a product wondering if it arrived correctly or not is simply not acceptable and personally I have still to see any demonstrable signs that this has improved. Prove me wrong. Please do.
 
when an example piece is sent out from the factory as proof of improved quality control, and said piece arrives with a large hole in it from an area of missed weld, that alone tells you all you need to know....
 
Prawn said:
when an example piece is sent out from the factory as proof of improved quality control, and said piece arrives with a large hole in it from an area of missed weld, that alone tells you all you need to know....
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Sad but true.

dissapointing to say the least
 
So would it be worth buying a jbs/chinafold and porting it ?
Or would similar gains be had on a OEM k04 Mani and port that ?
 
I have recently bought a v3 manifold from xs power and I spoke with them and they stated they did have issues in the past but these have been rectified.
they tell me that the manifold is now overseen by 3 waves of quality control personnel.

I have received the manifold and can attest it is of high standards.im currently running a tubular mani but dont know which one and that has held up so far and the flanges have been dead flat etc and isnt blowing or cracked etc.but i thought i'd upgrade to a v3.
Relentless stated they are coming out with their new schedule pipe , cast collector V4 , with the improved, quality control guidelines implemented as of SEPT 15th, 2013
badger...i thought you tested every version of these manifolds with one or some of the forum member(s) and the v3 was a vast improvement over its predecessors and is pretty good....??
 
HERE IS THEIR V4

It is CAST collector - which we addressed.
It is 48mm Diameter gooseneck to collector - UNHEARD of CAST technology to get the power and
heat band where it needs to be.
It will be 1/2 of what Spiderwork Charged!

It will be LIFETIME GUARANTEE!

It will come with full install kit!

AND .......IF you are not happy , 100% refund!

Our unmatched SHIPPING AND SERVICE.
they have told me:
"we have always stood behind the clients, and behind the community"

now you can't argue with that...... you cant loose....
be nice to see one in the flesh and try it out and see how it performs
B1A1
 
s3dave said:
:lmfao: I think they would be bankrupt if that was the case
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Lol.....yeah I was thinking that tbh after I wrote it.

So that's quiet a big selling point if they are offering life time guarantees with the V4 product.
 
Credit where credit is due, this company have treated this specific market and customers very well, with constant development with data, reviews and feedback coming from the most important source, the customer. To think this all began with welly taking a punt on the V1, they listened to him, and its snowballed into one of the most talked about products for the stock setup.

That extract above is a testiment to their maturity as a company. And with statements and promises lile that, what have you got to lose!
 
Fingers crossed for a change of fortunes I guess.

Who will be the first to take the gamble though?
 
Call me cynical if you want but the 'lifetime guarantee' means nothing to your average buyer, as the cost and hassle of fitting/removing/refitting if it has problems outweighs the cost of the item itself.

Credit to the them for pursuing it and trying to give buyers confidence though, they could have sacked the development off ages ago.
 
I saw a v4 t'other day and wasn't super impressed with the design, fitment looked "easier" but design v flow looked a little suspect to say the least
 
the collector point looks like it has a 'tactical' dent there.. surely that would impact flow?
 
slowcoach3 said:
I saw a v4 t'other day and wasn't super impressed with the design, fitment looked "easier" but design v flow looked a little suspect to say the least
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russwuss said:
the collector point looks like it has a 'tactical' dent there.. surely that would impact flow?
Click to expand...

The only way to get past supposition on these will be to test the next prototype. Relentless caught me at the perfect time to fit the previous one, so we had feedback to them within days of receipt. I'm sure it'll be possible to evaluate the improved one quickly as well. Not on our car, unfortunately. That cockamamie 2L stroker we have fell apart while running some tests on wmi.
 
evening guys, im running a dan hybrid k04 and relentless v4 and upto now the mani has been off the car twice - my car was mapped by bill last year and only made 305bhp

I did think about the life time warrenty but how long will it take ? 1 week - 1 month who knows and i use me car as a daily driver so quicker to get it sorted as welders but its still cracking.

cost me a fortune in garage costs, i must have had a friday batch :(

can anyone else suggest anything better ?
 
tunesguy said:
evening guys, im running a dan hybrid k04 and relentless v4 and upto now the mani has been off the car twice - my car was mapped by bill last year and only made 305bhp

I did think about the life time warrenty but how long will it take ? 1 week - 1 month who knows and i use me car as a daily driver so quicker to get it sorted as welders but its still cracking.

cost me a fortune in garage costs, i must have had a friday batch :(

can anyone else suggest anything better ?
Click to expand...

Badger 5 V2 majorly reworked chinafold, I don't know what the lead time is on the next batch they sell out quick.
They are tough as a tough thing.

Reach out to @sambryant with regards to the V4 cracking twice his support for the community is very good, easiest to get him on the relentless page on FB
 
tunesguy said:
evening guys, im running a dan hybrid k04 and relentless v4 and upto now the mani has been off the car twice - my car was mapped by bill last year and only made 305bhp

I did think about the life time warrenty but how long will it take ? 1 week - 1 month who knows and i use me car as a daily driver so quicker to get it sorted as welders but its still cracking.

cost me a fortune in garage costs, i must have had a friday batch :(

can anyone else suggest anything better ?
Click to expand...

V4 cracked?
Where?
got pictures?
 
@ westcoast i will find out tomorrow when i see me mechanic.
@ bill i will grab some pics once its off AGAIN, i know you have sold your first batch already, when u getting the next lot in :)
@ antwan64og im sure he would get it replaced etc etc but how long is the whole precedure :( sending to him or sending to china or were ever its made, if it gets lost in the post, tbh im struggling to even get something else and i really dont fancy putting on the standard one :(
 
Theres been only one documented failure so far and thats because the lad didn't use a turbo support bracket.

If its a manufacturing defect I'd just expect to be sent a new one....... Lifetime warranty
 
Might be wise to contact them and find out what the warranty procedure is? But then again as you've gone and got it welded elsewhere a few times i'm sure they are well within their rights to say you've voided any warranty.

Still haven't said (unless i'm being blind) did you use the turbo support bracket?
 
tunesguy said:
@ westcoast i will find out tomorrow when i see me mechanic.
@ bill i will grab some pics once its off AGAIN, i know you have sold your first batch already, when u getting the next lot in :)
@ antwan64og im sure he would get it replaced etc etc but how long is the whole precedure :( sending to him or sending to china or were ever its made, if it gets lost in the post, tbh im struggling to even get something else and i really dont fancy putting on the standard one :(
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there will be no more of my manifolds.
 
Hey tunesguy.
You should have contacted me if you had a issue and we could resolve this quickly. The pro4 has been very reliable so far. There can be a number of reasons why any manifold can crack. Worn oem engine mounts/ support bracket/ tuning or even how the exhaust is fitted.
I would be great full if you could pm me some photos of the damage and even the welding that's taken place. I can pass them onto our engineer who might decide to send you a replacement, before we receive the other one back to save you some off the road time.

As I say this is rare! But we understand there will be failures along the way but it's how we deal with them which is important.

As for some of the comments above, there is no tackticle dent, and results all over the world have been very good and have out performed the old versions with a far better reliability rate :)
 
Its probably time and effort vs profit guys

I cant imagine this being easy / interesting to do.
Bet its been hard work and stressful tbh.
 
badger5 said:
nothing to do with profit..
ALL to do with having to deal with the manufacturer. Simply not worth the bother and hassle
Click to expand...

That's the issues we had. Still manufactured in China but now Have a Australian work force which is much better. I can actually communicate with the engineer :)
 
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