UUC UDP review

[jasonf860]

Full Review as promised!

Product:
1: Original product was damaged beyond useable form.
2: Replacement product had some small dings, scratches but nothing unusable.
3: Mounting face of WP pulley is .113 thicker than original causing WP pulley bolts to strip the holes. (solved with longer bolts, but no mention of this in the product specs)
4: Torque specs for the WP pulley bolts and PS pulley bolts not listed on instructions. (possibly due to the "hard to find" PS torque spec.)

UUC's customer service was TOP NOTCH, and I am VERY pleased with the company as a whole.

First drive and related performance:

1: Engine sounds different, smoother. (like it's free if you get what I mean)
2: Cooling is up to the same as with factory pulleys so no issue there.
3: PS actually feels better, like there is more "feel" for the road.
4: Rev's climb easier, especially noticeable in 3rd.
5: Neutral rev's are quicker, snappier throttle, more responsive to throttle position.
6: Not much "oomph" noticed in the but dyno, but it's "feelable".

Overall I'd give them an 8.5/10.
Definitely worth the trouble I had.

[VTi]

glad your happy with them :)

thanks for the review!

[Pirate_copy]

Nice one mate

MUM...***** THESE!!!

[Vornado]

yeah they are pretty swell. some concerns are your alternator will wear out prematurely though.

[Pirate_copy]

Vornado...is that really your wife? (no bullsh1t, just answer)

[jasonf860]

yeah they are pretty swell. some concerns are your alternator will wear out prematurely though.
Hmm, it will wear out slowly how? The pulley for the alternator has remained unchanged, therefore it's RPM's have remained unchanged. Even if it had been changed, RPM's are a relative thing. The underdrive pulley would make it so the alternator is spinning the same at 1000 rpms as it would at 750 with the factory pulley. So because teh alternator is spinning slower, how would that wear out faster?

[Pirate_copy]

Even if the pulley was chanced, the stock alternator over runs the alternator anyway. In fact you are helping it by reducing the spin!

[Vornado]

yeah they are pretty swell. some concerns are your alternator will wear out prematurely though.

Whats it to ya? :p

Hmm, it will wear out slowly how? The pulley for the alternator has remained unchanged, therefore it's RPM's have remained unchanged. Even if it had been changed, RPM's are a relative thing. The underdrive pulley would make it so the alternator is spinning the same at 1000 rpms as it would at 750 with the factory pulley. So because teh alternator is spinning slower, how would that wear out faster?

I was under the impression you replaced the alternator pulley, which is what some kits include.

[jasonf860]

I was under the impression you replaced the alternator pulley, which is what some kits include.

Nope, that's one reason I went with the UUC pulleys. Even if I'd gone with another brand, I would have opted for the factory size Alt. pulley. I want it to output exactly as the factory recommends mostly because Iwill be adding some decent power to the stereo. Underdriving the ALT would be a stupid idea. (it's a stupid idea anyway based on UUC's research and I am inclined to agree)

[PhilipWOT]

Even if the pulley was chanced, the stock alternator over runs the alternator anyway. In fact you are helping it by reducing the spin!

Ya lost me here Pete. :eeps:

[Pirate_copy]

What the hell was i typing there???

Lets try again!!Sorry guys!!!

Even if the pulley was changed, the stock pully over runs the alternator anyway. In fact you are helping you alternator by reducing the spin speed!

[PhilipWOT]

LoL That makes alot more sense!
Yes, I would have add a +1 to pete's reply now that it is in "proper" English. :D

[Pirate_copy]

I am disgusted with myself for that post, sorry :(

[PhilipWOT]

LoL! We all have "brain farts"
For a second I thought you were drunk or something.

[jasonf860]

What the hell was i typing there???

Lets try again!!Sorry guys!!!

Even if the pulley was changed, the stock pully over runs the alternator anyway. In fact you are helping you alternator by reducing the spin speed!

This is true, but the charging system only really makes the Alt work when it's needed anyway. Plus, I think I may add a VAK to the car.. (Vacuum Accessory Kill) In other words, when the car is at WOT, the vacuum is non-existent and this will trigger the system to kill everything belt driven. The AC works on a similar principle already.

[Vornado]

No, shes blond, and thats a sketch, not a picture. :)

[Pirate_copy]

REALLY???

Pretty good fcuking drawing!!

[efanton]

So these new pulleys are smaller, they improve performance, dont have any special machining or materials. What the hell were BMW thinking of.

Surely there has to be some disadvantage other wise logic says that BMW would have made them smaller to reduce manufacturing costs.

Im slightly confused

[jasonf860]

actually, the pulleys are bigger. They are also lighter (by ounces) than the factory ones.

[xxx008xxx]

i'm going to get the uuc underdrive pulley for my car this winter...i'll let everyone know how i feel about them when i get them

[oakley]

Humm wanna get a set for mine..Can only find RUFF ones tho..anyone have any knowledge of this company? They seem pretty popular/ big company.. Plus still in 2 minds due to soo many scare stories out there and can never tell whether they're just from no brain idiots as opposed to actual knowledgeable people who have actually used them.....

[Pirate_copy]

Nothing here mate? - http://www.ca-automotive.co.uk/products-Y2FyX21ha2U9Ym13JmNhcl90eXBlPWUzNiZjYXRfaWQ9NCZjb2 1wX2lkPTE2.html

http://www.e36coupe.com/Chromeline/cld.htm

[oakley]

Ca-auto do the RUFF ones only for my car..Chromeline no idea coz the website never works!! (although I got a feelin i spoke to Ben a little while ago and it was a no go....)

[greenbeem]

I've seen some kits with a smaller crank pulley and have seen others with larger accessory pulleys, obviously the result is the same but is one setup better than the other?

[jasonf860]

I've seen some kits with a smaller crank pulley and have seen others with larger accessory pulleys, obviously the result is the same but is one setup better than the other?

Do not mess with your crank pulley! it is also the harmonic balancer for the crankshaft. And if you replace that with a lighter, smaller one, then you can't run a lightweight flywheel either.So yeah, there is a better set.... any one that does not involve your crank pulley!

[greenbeem]

thanks, and how old are you going to be...don't say 30.

[Pirate_copy]

Do not mess with your crank pulley! it is also the harmonic balancer for the crankshaft. And if you replace that with a lighter, smaller one, then you can't run a lightweight flywheel either.So yeah, there is a better set.... any one that does not involve your crank pulley!

+5 trillion

[jasonf860]

thanks, and how old are you going to be...don't say 30.
33 actually. Tomorrow (Monday) I already got my UDP's for my b-day so I am happy... Next up is gonna be a Spal electric fan as a back-up. I'm toying with removing the aux fan altogether and just running a 2500 cfm puller fan instead of both.

[greenbeem]

Happy Birthday, I've been 33 for almost a year now and I don't feel old...yet

Actually it's not age that's making me feel old, it's the people I work with.

[Pirate_copy]

Happy Birthday Buddy!!!!! :)

[jasonf860]

Thanks guys! One year older and one year wiser!

[Vornado]

Happy Birthday, I've been 33 for almost a year now and I don't feel old...yet

Actually it's not age that's making me feel old, it's the people I work with.

Nothing like feeling dragged down by old-acting people.. :)

[SewerSideUp]

Or the other way around .

Youre the only one who thinks repsonsibly and they just waste time .
That's when you feel REALLLY old !

[jasonf860]

Well, I don't feel a day over 25! Of course my days of partying/ staying up all night are long gone, but I still have fun, just in a different way. (has a lot to do with having kids)

[xxx008xxx]

wow...i feel young...hahaha