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Anyone used Angel for DPF removal ?

5K views 55 replies 21 participants last post by  wattfield 
#1 ·
Finally had enough of the utter mess that is the DPF / EGR on my 159 and considering removal.

Angel are my preferred choice so was just wondering how people, who've used them to remove this nonsense that spoils the 159, found the outcome ?

I realise people only tend to post about -ve experiences as a rule but appreciate all feedback on the DPR remove at Angel

tia,
Mike.
 
#2 · (Edited)
A quick search on here will show that Angel bash out the interior of the DPF. That makes the work cheaper than a replacement straight through pipe. However, those that replace it with the straight through pipe give you the old DPF to keep. You can then either sell it or keep it and change your car back to standard if you want to.

I suggest that there is a small risk that MOT changes may check that the exhaust system DPF is operational and working correctly but that is not a current requirement.

My worry is that DPF removal is becoming more common on ALL makes and as more are removed that increases the likelyhood that the government will legislate against it.

I used Angel to tune my 2.4 10V 156 and that was a rocket ship but it did smoke quite a bit but the 156 10V does not have a DPF.

I have used AHM for the 159 and my DPF is sat in the garage.

The chipped 159 does not feel as fast as the 156 but indicted speeds at known points in the same run show the 159 to have better acceleration.

Feeling slower may be due to:-
the 20V being a smoother engine and the power comes in with less of a bang.
the 20V revs more freely and holds onto it's power into the upper rev range.
it could also be that the better suspension of the 159 makes it feel more controlled and therefore feel slower.
Personally I think it is a bit of all three and not down to AHM being a significantly better chip.

Check the price af a replacement (one day the MOT rules may change) or secondhand DPF (that's what your functioning one is worth) and make up your mind whether having the centre bashed out, selling or keeping your DPF is the right option for you.

Having experienced both would I use Angel in preference to AHM - probably not because AHM also do servicing and maintenance on Alfas and are an Alfa specialist. Angel are first and foremost a chipping company.

It is a close run thing and both have a big reputation to protect so it's really up to you!
 
#5 ·
I don't recall where I saw it but the interior of your DPF is a honeycomb type grid of metal. Angel just smash this to small bits to get it out. The advantage is that the old pipe goes back and the car "looks" unaltered.

But my worry will always be that the MOT rules change and it will need to be refitted and functioning? At that point I suspect any secondhand DPF will double or treble in value. That's for two reasons:-

1. Anybody without one will need one.
2. No one will be removing them anymore and there will be far fewer entering the market.

As said above. You pay your money you take your chance.

Another option is buy a straight through pipe and fit it and have Angel do the tuning.
 
#14 · (Edited)
As of jan next year the mot will check for the dpf and fail if missing. Euro5 standard Came into force in2009 so perhaps pre 2009 cars will not be checked?!? Euro 5 does stipulate the presence of a dpf
I don't think that's right (but stand to be corrected). I've been looking it up and can't find anything that states a Euro 5 compliant car should have a DPF. In fact, I'd be very surprised if it did as the rules are output spec not input spec. In other words, they set the Particle limits (as well as Co etc) and then manufacturers have to meet those limits. It would be very odd for them to specify how manufacturers should do it as it would stop them investigating better ways.

Also, it came in on 1st September 2009 "for the approval of vehicles" and "shall apply from 1st January 2011 for the registration and sale of new types of cars". No mention of it being tested once the car is sold. This would not be part of the emmissions regulations but part of the MOT testing regulations.

New MOT testing regulations are still under discussions for 2012 so no decisions have been made. However, if they align with EC directive 2010/48/EU then for emissions tests a vehicle will fail if "Emission control equipment fitted by the manufacturer absent or obviously defective". However, in the introduction it says "‘Reasons for failure’ do not apply in cases where they refer to requirements which were not prescribed in the relevant vehicle approval legislation at the time of first registration, first entry into service or retrofitting requirements." So I'd say the relevant date, even if Euro5 does specify a DPF, would be 1st January 2011 i.e. cars registered after 01/01/11 would still need to keep the DPF (but as I say, not convinced even that is required).

So, I take it from that to mean that you can remove the DPF if there was no prescribed requirement for it to be there in the first place. In other words, unless the Euro5 emmissions regs say it has to be there then it's fine to take it off, as long as the car still meets the emmissions limits in the MOT. My guess is they have put that in now so that if EU6 requires a DPF then it has to stay on. They wouldn't normally retrospectively make you do something and this seems to back that up.

As I say, I could be wrong and happy to be corrected.

One thing I did find, which might be of interest to those whose DPFs have failed, is that the legislation says "vehicle manufacturers must also ensure that devices fitted to control pollution are able to last for a distance of 160 000 km."
 
#26 ·
Unfortunatly they dont have £100 off the DPF removal, i checked with them today. The £100 voucher that is purchased for £25 (so £75 off then) is for tuning only. If you want the remap, the EGR cancel and DPF removel it is still £370.

This still makes it a good deal and I am soooooooo keen, I just cant convince myself of the combined benefits yet, despite the fact I keep trying.


Help me,:confused: is it really that good??????
 
#30 ·
I'll be happier when I hear of someone having passed their MOT in 2012 without their DPF though.
You could ask why they check for the catalytic converter on as long as it passes the emissions test. I just hope they don't just group the two together i.e. when checking for the presence of a catalytic converter, they see a nice new replacement straight through pipe, and deem it "cat has been removed".

Only time will tell I suppose but maybe I'm being a little pessimistic.
 
#33 ·
To avoid potential MOT failure (and associated costs), I imagine you could potentially leave the DPF housing in place so that everything looks stock and normal, as opposed to replacing it with a highly visible pass-through pipe. So in effect what the tester sees is a DPF still present and correct. What they can't see is the missing innards where the tuner has taken out the honeycomb bits and pieces that trap the carbon (and reduce performance.) As for Angel's 100 quid off remapping only, if you wanted a DPF removal, why would you not want a remap? Then surely the discount would still apply?
 
#35 ·
But the CAT hasn't been removed. Its still there on the exhaust near where it meets the engine, any MOT tester would know that on a diesel.
Or so you would think..... mine had the MOT today and got a phone call asking me about my "de-cat pipe" :confused:, I then had to explain the CAT was still there it was the DPF that was missing.... i then explained it was a 2007 car and so it wasnt required even though it would be Euro 5 compliant with it.

So after a phone call to VOSA they said it was OK at the moment to let it pass although I have an advisory note " exhaust particle filter missing"... they also said there were going to be a few changes next year so could not guarantee it would be ok at my next test. To be fair to them he did tell me to call him at some point after the new changes and check if it would be affected and then they could say whether they would be prepared to MOT it or not or advise I go elsewhere.

Just for the record my Smoke opacity reading was 0.42 (max is 1.5) :thumbs:
 
#37 ·
Just for the record my Smoke opacity reading was 0.42 (max is 1.5) :thumbs:
It does seem that this tester was confused then as the limit for a pre-July 2008 car is 3.0.

This is exactly the kind of things I am worrying about - the testers not fully understanding the new rules and treating a dpf-removal as "no-cat = fail".

Glad you got yours through in the end.
 
#39 ·
I still haven't got my 159, but the solution seems obvious to me.
If you fail an MOT for not having a DPF, put one on for the mot, and change it back later.
They can be got cheap - it doesn't have to be great quality if you only use it once a year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it just bolts in (and back out again!)

First place I found by Googling:
Catalytic Converter | Catalytic Converters | Cheap Catalytic Converters
 
#43 ·
Had an interesting chat with Angel and why they don't remove the DPF (they remove the innards and disable it and the egr valve) + new map

The MOT check will be visual (if at all) for DPF, if the unit is still there albeit not working then it's highly likely to be ticked. If a new pipe exists where the DPF should be the tester may ask why...adding a new pipe is also adding additional unnecessary cost for no gain.

Angel were more than happy to remove it and put a new pipe in - but they couldn't see the point unless u wanted to pay them more money for no benefit.

Mine will be getting disabled very soon i'm sure :thumbs:
 
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