'X-Pipe' Mod for Standard 2011 S4 Exhaust

[R1NGA]

Was browsing MRC's site today and noticed they now have an option to remove the centre silencer's and replace with stainless pipe.

Has anyone looked into this or had it done ?

No, but this is exactly what I have been trying to plan using either Supersprint parts or modifying my own exhaust. Trouble is, advice from Milltek suggests that without this OEM X-pipe silencer, the noise is simply too much. But this goes against YouTube clip evidence to the contrary. and of course MRC are unlikely to provide a mod that turns the car into a headache-inducing cruiser. So I really need to hear an MRC-modified exhaust on a car before taking the plunge. I may try to make contact and see what the options are?!

I am keen to add a bit of snarl, rasp and crispness, but WITHOUT the risk of drone. I had a very very long day on Friday and had to drive back to Guildford from Silverstone on a nasty wet night. The near silence of the M40 cruise did not go unappreciated - yet my std (2011, pre-FL) car still monstered the final few miles over the Surrey Hills, when I (eventually...) got there with an almost-what-I-want rasp from the pipes. If only they were a little bit more raspy.....

[Ian_C]

This looks like a very nice mod indeed. That Supersprint pipe isn't cheap though

[R1NGA]

This looks like a very nice mod indeed. That Supersprint pipe isn't cheap though

.... which is exactly why this MRC option sounds so appealing - I just need to hear one before I do anything else. I've parked the Supersprint idea now anyway - too much hassle and uncertainty. If the sound is right, I'd be more than happy to take a trip to see the MRC boys and have the mid-slincer pulled out and replaced.

So who's going to be first then?!

[Kiteral]

In exactly the same sit as you ringa !

The super sprint x-pipe is too expensive, but how loud is the MRC mod, that is the problem.

It will probably be a few weeks before I can do anything....

[Ian_C]

The red MRC S4 saloon sounded horny at ADI, loud when 'going for it', probably too much for the wife and kids etc but I'd love it.

[RS4will]

Getting it done Friday!

[Nickyboy]

Get your thoughts and sound clips up before and after if possible.

[Kiteral]

S4will



Thanks for taking the plunge !

[R1NGA]

Getting it done Friday!

And it sounds like....?!

[RS4will]

Just back from MRC in Banbury. Great bunch of guys. First class service and lots of care and attention given to the car.

Now, this is where it gets complicated. I was down at MRC for wee performance upgrade. This has taken the S4's power from about 350ps / 477Nm to 472ps / 580Nm.

You can find the job here at mrc:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 647&type=1

The actual Supersprint x-pipe exhaust part of these changes fell through. Supersprint in Italy cocked up the order which was supposed to have arrived at MRC last week. The Supersprint rep in the UK, having claimed that the order was shipped, retracted that and stated that the factory cocked up the timing of manufacture. I saw the correspondance for this. It was now due to arrive a few days late.

Given the distance and the travelling arrangements, it was too late for me to cancel the trip. MRC offered to fabricate an alternative - essentially their own X-pipe. (They have a superb fabricator down there). If it didn't work for me, they'd take it off. The x-pipe was nothing to do with gaining more performance, only an improved sound.

The result:
For me, it initially sounded a bit more raspy than I would have liked. Under load, there is a definite presence, with a note which is higher in pitch than a B7 RS4 say, but not as sweet. After a couple of days, I now have to say that driving around town and country roads is a joy. It can be quiet on start up and moving off, or you can make it rumble. On the Motorway though, I'm not so sure. There is a definite drone at 75+. In 6th gear it's not so bad. In 7th, (s-tronic) the lower revs increase the base note to a point which annoys after half an hour. I'm still undecided from a long distance journey perspective. Other than that, it's a joy to drive.

I'll try and get some noise vids together. Meantime, see the image below for the fabrication work.

MRC's B8 S4 centre box delete

[Nickyboy]

That's a big increase in power and torque. You'll be laughing at loads of expensive motors now. How does the power difference feel?

[R1NGA]

Nice update - you must be thrilled with the power and torque changes. Looking forward to hearing more about it after you've lived with it for a while.

Interesting about the drone on removal of that big X-Box from the standard exhaust setup. I was told that this may occur by Milltek, but of course one man's "perfectly reasonable" is another's worst nightmare. Sounds to me as though it sounds much better in many ways, but jury is still out regarding m/way cruising. I have the 6MT, so perhaps that is higher geared?

Good work though!

Video clips always appreciated however

[RS4will]

The performance increase is very very noticable. The torque is just nuts. It's like driving a diesel. Even in high gears at motorway speeds, I can still pull away really quickly.

With the S-tronic gearbox, I was getting annoyed at the fact that I couldn't tell which gear I was in from the engine and exhaust notes alone. That's all changed now. I'm now learning to use the paddles manually without having to look at the revs or the DIS to see where things are at. The stock B8 S4 is way too quiet for a fun drive.

A major spin off benefit is the wee engine blip as the car changes down the gears during braking. It's really neat and now very obvious. Love it!

The next day (Saturday), I took the car to Bedford Autodrome for an open pits day. The car was very quick and easily held it's own against track cars. On the long 1km straight, it manged to get to 135mph before heavy braking - it had plenty more to give. There are numerous comments from track day attendees on Facebook regarding same. Truth is, I'm crap at track driving - not getting the opportunity very often. The car made me look better than I actually was.

Another data point is that all 3 MRC cars and and many others got black flagged that day for being too noisy. (There's a low noise limit at Bedford). This included MRC's red B8 S4 saloon there which has the Miltek. Go figure!

Another data point I discovered when asked to do the noise test at 4500rpm, is that, in S-tronic Neutral, the car is rev limited to about 4000rpm or less. That was weird. I didn't expect that - never tried it either.

[Kiteral]

Does anyone know anything about baffle bypass pipes, it's something the porker lot do on their non sports exhaust 911's to make them sound like a pse, links here http://www.renntrack.com/forums/showthr ... -HACK-quot

[ollys]

Nice update - you must be thrilled with the power and torque changes. Looking forward to hearing more about it after you've lived with it for a while.

Interesting about the drone on removal of that big X-Box from the standard exhaust setup. I was told that this may occur by Milltek, but of course one man's "perfectly reasonable" is another's worst nightmare. Sounds to me as though it sounds much better in many ways, but jury is still out regarding m/way cruising. I have the 6MT, so perhaps that is higher geared?

Good work though!

Video clips always appreciated however

For me any drone on the motorway is a no-no. Has anyone here tried APR's cat back offering - seems they are on the case when it comes to eliminating drone - just wondered if their claims live up?

http://www.goapr.com/products/apr_exhau ... 0tfsi.html