Exhaust options: more "growl" but not too loud?

[TonyHayers]

Went to see an exhaust fabricator this morning (Tony Banks in Leeds) - reckons can do an x-pipe crossover in place of the resonators for £180 fitted (welded) or £250 fitted (with flanges). That sounds like maybe a good first option. Something like this...



Not sure if it's worth having the flanges, since if I go for something else, it's likely to involve a fair bit more work anyway.

[sonny]

PG had this done to his system, when I heard it, I was surprised how much it changed the exhaust note. Gives it a very much grunty sound.
Cant remember if there is a power gain or not without a map.

[MartayMcFly]

So gutted pre-cats, centre box/resonator delete and a remap? Sounds like there's a few of us after the same thing - a bit more rumble, but not annoyingly loud or droning. I want oem standard Sport mode sound to be the default (ie sport mode off) and then more of a rumble and growl with the valves open.

[TonyHayers]

So gutted pre-cats, centre box/resonator delete and a remap? Sounds like there's a few of us after the same thing - a bit more rumble, but not annoyingly loud or droning. I want oem standard Sport mode sound to be the default (ie sport mode off) and then more of a rumble and growl with the valves open.

I'm thinking of just doing the x-pipe first and seeing what it's like. I'm not sure what the implications of gutting cats are - I heard some talk that you'd have problems with MOT due to emissions (can't be arsed with that tbh). A remap would be optional i think if I don't mod cats. In terms of power, I believe there would be increased flow compared to the resonators due to the crossover in an x-pipe but any gains would be negligible.

[sonny]

200cell cats will pass MoT no problems. Mines passed 3 years on the trot now.

[MikeFish]

So gutted pre-cats, centre box/resonator delete and a remap? Sounds like there's a few of us after the same thing - a bit more rumble, but not annoyingly loud or droning. I want oem standard Sport mode sound to be the default (ie sport mode off) and then more of a rumble and growl with the valves open.

I'm not sure what the implications of gutting cats are.

Careful, there is confussion here I think with replacing cats and gutting pre-cats. Correct me if I am wrong but the pre-cat is there to make sure it can pass an emissions test within the first 30 seconds or so of starting. Beyond that they do nothing other than choke your engine so a common mod is to gut the pre-cats (and I think a remap is necessary otherwise the car will flag up an error). Gutting them I think involves basically drilling all the material out of them hence the term 'gutting', known in America as piggy pipes or something.
The cats (not pre-cats) are working all the time. Without them (de-cat) you will most likely fail an MOT emmissions test and this is only done by those who have cars less than 3 years old (and therefore no requirement for an MOT), those with a friendly MOT tester who is happy to break the law for them or those who ca nbe bothered to swap exhausts once a year to pass the MOT test. The more common option is to replace the cats with a less restrictive version (sport cat) which are generally quite costly and some people claim that this might fail the MOT but I've only ever seen posts from people saying they've never had any problems with MOTs.

[MikeFish]

BTW, the standard RS4 exhaust has 200 cells cats, like the Milltek ones Sonny has. Milltek also do a less restrictive 100 cell sport cat (as well as a straight through de-cat, for race use and not road legal).

[RIV]

I reckon gutting pre cats and going non res milly for a proper roar, f@@k the neighbours

[TonyHayers]

200cell cats will pass MoT no problems. Mines passed 3 years on the trot now.

BTW, the standard RS4 exhaust has 200 cells cats, like the Milltek ones Sonny has. Milltek also do a less restrictive 100 cell sport cat (as well as a straight through de-cat, for race use and not road legal).

Ah, ok, ta for clearing that up.

I'm thinking of trying this custom x-pipe crossover - if I get it with the flanges, I can put the resonators back in if it's too much. Might be good first step for £250.

[STURS4]

i was at tony banks in leeds today picking up my mates TT and there was a RS4 avant in having a full custom system fitted.price wise it would be around half the price of a milly cat back system for the entire custom system.if i didnt need new sneekers i would have booked it in there and then

[MikeFish]

i was at tony banks in leeds today picking up my mates TT and there was a RS4 avant in having a full custom system fitted.price wise it would be around half the price of a milly cat back system for the entire custom system.if i didnt need new sneekers i would have booked it in there and then

Did you get a chance to hear the RS4 fire up?

[MikeFish]

Niils had a custon exhaust on his B7, can't remember the name of the company though. Ive had several custom exhaust made for other cars, and whilst I've been happy with them, I've never got the actual sound I wanted, which is why I went for a manufactured one this time.

[STURS4]

sadly not he had only done the downpipes.i would have loved to here it.hopefully the guy who had it done is on here somewhere

[TonyHayers]

i was at tony banks in leeds today picking up my mates TT and there was a RS4 avant in having a full custom system fitted.price wise it would be around half the price of a milly cat back system for the entire custom system.if i didnt need new sneekers i would have booked it in there and then

Hehe, small world! Yeah, they were working on that Avant when I went in. Tbh they're not exactly the friendliest bunch there - but on the other hand, being friendly isn't going to make my exhaust sound better

[STURS4]

they seem sound enough to me,the lad i was talking to let me have a look under the car and explained what they where doing.might go for a removable x-pipe when i can.at least you can put it back to stock if needs be.