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Got the Modifying Bug Again!

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:03 pm
by P_G
and I blame all on here for it! :lol:

So after much deliberation I finally took the plunge and got had a x-pipe fitted on Monday by AAS in Newcastle.

I wanted to keep the OEM look of the tips and the valves so I could still control the noise level when the family were onboard, but a little more power and a better exhaust note were the aims.

So I left my car at 8.30 and 7 hours later had a custom made 3" type 304 grade s/s x-pipe fabricated and fitted. As you can see from the rear it looks the same...

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and the x-pipe itself

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Initial impressions is that it gives a far deeper tone at sub 2000rpm and idle with a little drone at 1850rpm although controllable with the exhaust valves but the significant part is that the engine pick up is far more agressive and it revs through the range far more readily because it is freer flowing and I get a great exhaust pop now on throttle lift off in every gear and under throttle load the exhaust note is as good as OEM if a little more of a growl. With sport mode off it is as civilised as the OEM with sport mode engaged.

And the best part, at a fraction of the cost of a Milltek. AAS have kept a copy of it on their jig if anyone is interested in AAS fabricating one for their car and they will ship the part including clamps; PM me for more details as I don't want to breach advertising rights on the site.

However it has given me the urge to mod more, so Goodridge brake hoses next (when they send me the right ones) and possibly 200 CPSI cats and downpipes when my warranty expires in July.

RE: Got the Modifying Bug Again!

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:06 pm
by klauster
looking good Graeme :)

RE: Got the Modifying Bug Again!

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:33 pm
by poon
sorry for being thick but what is does this replace, why and how much?

Thanks

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 4:43 pm
by P_G
It essentially replaces the two separate central exhaust sections that have the resonator silencers in them and merges the two pipes together to improve gas flow and therefore engine breathing = better performance.

Cost circa £300 fitted.

Modifying

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:58 pm
by caldy
Dunno why it took you so long!!!

RE: Modifying

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:54 pm
by Oli
Nice one Graham, all we need now is a sound clip. If your old S4 was anything to go by, this should sound awesome.

Re: Modifying

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:59 am
by P_G
caldy wrote:Dunno why it took you so long!!!
Window of opportunity when wife wouldn't find out; the last AAS system I had was the reason I was granted permission to trade up to an RS4 so as to get rid of and I quote 'that chavvy exhaust'.

Some other halfs just don't appreciate a proper V8 sound.

RE: Re: Modifying

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:30 am
by BlingBling
Technically that is not an X-pipe. An X-pipe in the true sense of the word allows the exhaust gases to mix and balance the two banks of the engine, reducing the pulsing that is felt when you put your hand over the rear exit pipes. This what a proper X-pipe looks like:

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:12 pm
by P_G
Technically it is an x-pipe, just because it doesn't look like your picture it still has the meet chamber to allow exchange of gases between the two exhaust pipes. It has the shape much like an x-chromosome albeit it doesn't look like an x either although we are not talking semantics.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:57 pm
by BlingBling
If the picture quality was better then the I would not have posted my comment. It is difficult see that the pipes or co-joined....

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:00 pm
by jc..
looks like two seperate pipes.
do they merge somewhere that the photo is not showing?

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 1:30 pm
by P_G
On the third picture where you see the weld you should be able to see the pipes pre that kink and the weld section is where they merge together.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:49 pm
by chrissyr32
Wheres ASS?? I fancy this a steal at £300 notes??????? looking good.

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:30 pm
by booski
chrissyr32 wrote:Wheres ASS?? I fancy this a steal at £300 notes??????? looking good.
It's behind you........you sit on it!
But AAS is in Newcastle :lol:

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:48 pm
by P_G
booski wrote:
chrissyr32 wrote:Wheres ASS?? I fancy this a steal at £300 notes??????? looking good.
It's behind you........you sit on it!
But AAS is in Newcastle :lol:
They'll fabricate it and courier it to you if you want to fit it yourself, aas-exhausts.co.uk