Darkside Developments

At Darkside Developments, we design and develop a wide range of performance parts for VAG, BMW, and other applications. Each product is developed using our 16 years of hands-on experience in performance tuning, fabrication, and motorsport, with a focus on quality, fitment, durability, and of course performance.

A large number of our products are manufactured in-house by our expert team of fabricators, where quality comes first in every innovation. From TIG welded 316L stainless steel downpipes and custom exhaust systems to CAD-designed induction kits, intercoolers and engine-specific components, every Darkside Developments product is bespoke.

• Designed and developed in-house with 16 years of hands-on experience
• High-quality materials and manufacturing processes at every step
• Extensive in-house fabrication and design capabilities
• Tested to the limit in our own motorsport and project cars

Why We Make Our Own Performance Parts

“A lot of the products we develop come from our own experience working with these cars. We might find there isn’t a suitable part available, or that an existing option could be improved in terms of fitment, material, durability or performance.

Having our own design, fabrication and development capabilities means we can take that problem and create the solution ourselves. We can choose the right materials, design the part around the vehicle and then test it properly before we’re happy with the final product.

That level of control and quality is important to us because if it has the Darkside Developments name on it, it needs to meet the same standard we expect from the parts fitted to our own cars.”

— Rob, Head of R&D at Darkside Developments

What Darkside Developments Offers

With over 60 staff on our premises we cover a huge variety of aftermarket parts manufactured here in the UK including air intake, cooling, exhaust, engine, and turbochargers. Below are just some of the key areas we develop products for, with many more Darkside-designed components available across the full range.

Downpipes & Exhaust Systems

Our downpipes and exhaust systems are fabricated in-house by our experienced team, giving us complete control over the material, construction, fitment, and finish of every component.

We use high-quality 316L grade stainless steel, rather than the lower grades of stainless steel commonly used in aftermarket exhaust systems. 316L offers excellent strength and durability, making it particularly well suited to components exposed to high temperatures, moisture, and road salt.

Each system is TIG welded in-house, with individual bends carefully fabricated together to achieve the routing and fitment required for the vehicle.

While some companies fabricate exhaust pipework from a single bent length of tube, our fabrication method produces the clean welds and high-quality finish our exhaust systems are known for. It takes more time to manufacture this way, but the result is a stronger, more durable and better-finished component that is built to perform and last.

Intercoolers & Pipework

Our intercoolers and pipework are developed around the airflow, cooling and fitment requirements of the individual vehicle. On tuned applications, increased boost and power can place much greater demand on the charge-air system, making efficient cooling and unrestricted airflow increasingly important. Each setup is developed with the complete system in mind, including core size, pipe routing, connections and available space within the vehicle.

Induction Kits

Our induction kits are researched and developed in-house, with 3D scanning and CAD design used where required to create components around the exact layout of the engine bay.

This allows us to consider filter position, intake routing, pipe diameter, clearance, and airflow from the start, rather than adapting a universal intake design to fit. Prototypes can then be produced and test-fitted before the final design goes into production.

Engine-Specific Kits & Components

We also develop a wide range of engine-specific components, manifolds, brackets, adapters, and CNC-machined parts. These products are developed around the individual engine and application, using our hands-on experience to identify where fitment, durability, material choice, or design can be improved.

Hybrid Turbos

With the addition of our new CNC machine and Turbo Development department we now offer turbocharger rebuilds, custom hybrid turbochargers and much more. We develop products for specific VAG and BMW diesel applications, these are mainly developed on our own projects where we are limited by the stock turbo.

Take a look at our latest CNC machine…

What Cars Do We Make Parts For?

Darkside Developments products are available for a wide range of VAG, BMW, and other performance applications, covering everything from daily-driven road cars to heavily modified builds and motorsport projects.

Some of the main vehicles we develop parts for include:

• Volkswagen – Golf, Polo, Caddy, Transporter, Amarok, Touareg and more
• Audi – A3, A4, A5, A6, Q models and selected performance applications
• SEAT / CUPRA – Ibiza, Leon, Cupra and other selected models
• Škoda – Fabia, Octavia, Superb and vRS applications
• BMW / MINI – M47, M57, N47, N57, B37, B47 & B57 engines
• Porsche – Cayenne, Macan & Panamera

If you can’t find an off-the-shelf Darkside Developments product for your vehicle, get in touch. Alongside our existing product range, our in-house fabrication and design team can also produce custom components for more specialist applications, including bespoke turbochargers, pipework, manifolds, downpipes, exhaust systems and one-off fabrication.

Designed, Made & Tested by Darkside in the UK

Our in-house design and manufacturing capabilities allow us to take a product from the initial idea through to testing and final production.

Depending on the component, development can include:

• 3D scanning
• CAD design
• Prototyping
• TIG fabrication
• CNC machining
• 3D printing

Our design and fabrication departments are home to full-time fabricators, CAD designers, Turbo Technicians, CNC Machine Operators and more, working with specialist top of the range equipment and tooling to produce components to a consistently high standard.

Development does not stop once a part has been manufactured. Our products are fitted and tested on our own project, race and off-road vehicles, where they are pushed to their limits in real-world conditions. This allows us to check fitment, durability, and performance, refine designs where needed, and make sure the finished product meets the standard we expect.

Watch us test our products to the limits…

Darkside Developments FAQs

Are Darkside Developments' products reliable?

Yes. Reliability is considered throughout the development process, from the materials and manufacturing methods used through to final testing.

Our products are developed using 16 years of hands-on experience in tuning, fabrication and motorsport, then tested across road, project and race cars where applicable. This allows us to check fitment, durability and performance under real-world conditions before we are happy with the finished product.

Where are Darkside Developments products made?

A large number of Darkside Developments products are manufactured in-house at our UK facility by our own design & fabrication team.

The exact manufacturing process depends on the component, with capabilities including TIG fabrication, CNC machining, 3D printing and metal 3D printing. Where other manufacturing processes are required, the product is still designed and developed by Darkside Developments to our own specification such as silicone hoses found in our pipework kits.

Need Help Finding the Right Darkside Part?

If you’re unsure which Darkside Developments product is right for your vehicle or current setup, get in touch with your vehicle details, engine, turbo, and existing modifications.

If there isn’t already an off-the-shelf product available, we can also discuss custom fabrication and bespoke design for more specialist applications.