Real rs2 em?

[driftin jo]

Not wishing to be a conspiracy theorist but to me it looks like the pics are not of the same manifold!
The first pic looks like a replica as the colour is very brown and if you look very closely the Audi symbol and the part number is very close together.
The other pic looks different in colour and there is a space between the Audi rings and the part number which is I understand is correct. Search using RS2 manifold and a few threads come up with pics which might help you come to a conclusion.

not only that but have a look at my real RS2 manifold, specifically the machining of the back of the bolt holes, the real one has even thickness between the spot faced holes and the holes that were cut
with a side and face cutter, also the hole is chamfered. In the pic you have face 1 and 2 labelled on the real one are not the same height thus the thickness of flange is not the same, that is not right ! The hole where this is is not chamfered but left sharp, very poor machining and not whet I would expect from Audi and to me this must be a copy just for these reasons.

[twoqu]

For what its worth here is another pic of one I have.
Of course the people who knock these things off have probably revised their products. At one time the DS5 numerals were misaligned with the part number numerals which was another indication.

[konradwax]

i hate copies!

[Ruffiano]

yeah the more pictures coming in the more yours looks like an authentic copy.

[twoqu]

Didn't somebody in the USA copy these first? Intended Acceleration? Might be a domestic knock off!

[konradwax]

so what do we think.......copy or real im still waiting for collector pics

[UrS4boy]

Didn't somebody in the USA copy these first? Intended Acceleration? Might be a domestic knock off!

As somebody who considers Ned Ritchie a friend and true Audi enthustiast, on his behalf, I object to your insinuation. Ned's manifolds were derivative but of his own design and were better than the RS2 manifolds (flowed better). They were made from a high Inconel (high nickel content) alloy. After the limited run, Ned broke the mould. Literally. The manifold in question has nothing to do with IA or Ned so please withdraw the comment.

[konradwax]

[UrS4boy]

Looks very clone-ish to me. (not just where the runners meet, more on the casting imperfections on the wastegate leg and the very poor centering of one of the manifold flange holes.

[konradwax]

So is worth buying and cleaning it up?

[UrS4boy]

So is worth buying and cleaning it up?

For $200 sure. For $800, no. Buy a Wagner RS2 EVO EM through their new American website (if you are really in America that is) (otherwise, change your profile so we know your country).

[driftin jo]

Definitely a copy. I'm not saying it could not provide useful service life but as UrS4boy says don't pay more than $200 for it. At the end of the day you pays your money you takes your chances, I know 2 people who have copies and are OK, but I have also heard of people with copies were a piece fell out of them after 2000 miles ! Caveat emptor !

[twoqu]

As somebody who considers Ned Richie a friend and true Audi enthustiast, on his behalf, I object to your insinuation. Ned's manifolds were derivative but of his own design and were better than the RS2 manifolds (flowed better). They were made from a high Iconel (high nickel content) alloy. After the limited run, Ned broke the mould. Literally. The manifold in question has nothing to do with IA or Ned so please withdraw the comment.

Unfortunately I have only just seen your comments.
As you are such a good friend, post up some detailed pics of his manifold and we can then draw our own conclusions as to whether it is a copy of an RS2 manifold or not!
As I remember it very closely externally resembles an RS2 manifold so see no distinction between it being a copy or a derivative.
I was merely pointing out that before the Chinese copied these manifolds, other people also made copies not withstanding the detail differences. I suppose we could also argue that the Chinese version is not a copy but a derivative due to the detail differences and inferior quality material. Thats what they would probably argue if a copyright infringement was persued!
If this threads OP had one of those IA manifolds and was asking the same question, people would still be posting about the differences between that manifold and a genuine RS2 one.
So I will not be withdrawing my comments. If it looks likes an original RS2 exhaust manifold then its a copy in my book. It was not a clean sheet redesign like a Wagner.

[twoqu]

"For those who aren't aware of what manifold this is, it's a Intended Acceleration RS2 "clone" that was made sometime back in 2000 or so. It is made of high grade metal and was said to outflow the RS2 manifold."

Quote from Motorgeek thread!

[UrS4boy]

Unfortunately I have only just seen your comments.
As you are such a good friend, post up some detailed pics of his manifold and we can then draw our own conclusions as to whether it is a copy of an RS2 manifold or not!

I wish. That was before digital cameras, cell phone cameras, etc. and I never took any film photos when I did have the opportunity.

In looking for photos, I found this: "the part number cast into it (the IA exhaust manifold) is 034 129 591 IA. IA for Intended Acceleration? It also has USA cast into the manifold." So the one we have been discussing is a Chinese/Indian clone and nothing to do with IA or Ned Ritchie.