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

[TonyHayers]

Ok, in for a penny, in for a pound. If I'm keeping this bad boy then there are a couple of enhancements I'd like to make, including exhaust.

I think what I'm after is just a bit more growl than is there right now and prob keep valves to have some control over sound level when driving "non spiritedly".

Milltek are a popular/obvious choice but I've heard some people say that the resonated system isn't worth doing compared to stock and it seems like non-res would be too loud for what I'm after.

Would it be feasible to simply replace the back boxes with something meatier and maintain the stock resonated section?

Advice appreciated and pls forgive my ignorance on exhaust systems

[F@tBoyF@t]

I like this one....
http://www.awe-tuning.com/awe-tuning-pe ... ce-exhaust

Regal Motorsport on the South Coast are the agents I believe.

[ROY]

Miltek non valved resonated
I've tried the non res and for an everyday driver it's unbearable 4th and above gears become unusable ticking about town because you're in the 1800k rev drone / boom
You need to be in 3rd all the time tootling about so you get the revs over 2100k
If its a toy though non res will be fine but not for your neighbours LOL

Res system has a very nice creamy deep V8 sound and when wound up really screams

[sutts]

You could start by having the pre-cats gutted, which as well as improving the noise will also give you an extra 10 to 20 bhp. You will need a remap, however, to remove the check light that will appear and to make the most of the free-er flowing exhaust. If you are in the South East then AmD at Thurrock will do this no problems. You'll also get a couple of rolling road runs included as well and they will check/sort out any vacuum issues. 2 weeks later you'll be back for a de-coke! Not sure if AmD are still doing these for £500 or not - good value for the time and effort involved.

I have the above, along with a resonated and valved Milltek and there is a significant difference over the stock system! At the same time it's not offensively loud under normal driving. A mate compared the sound to a Merc SLS...

[sar]

tony if you just want a bit more noise i wonder what it would sound like with just the stock resonators removed and replaced with straight through pipes or an x-pipe?.
keep the standard back boxes so you will still have the valves and leave the cats in?(they can be a <beep> to remove and like sutts said you would also need a remap) plus you could always go down that route at a later date.
i am sure someone on here has done this before but i cant remember who?, must be a bit louder than stock but nowhere near the noise of a non-res milly.

[Noyjatat]

This question seems to come up often. Why not see if we can get a couple of good sound quality videos for each type, set up and manufacturer and add them in a single thread to the B7 FAQ. There may be options that are rare like Bens Scorpion system that give you the sound you wish but you may not find easily on video to listen to as an example.

Just a thought

[sonny]

A Res Milltek valved is louder than the standard system on a saloon (not sure about Avant due to extra sound deadening).

I am running the OEM system with Milltek cats and am happy with that. Maybe replacing the middle silencer in the OEM system will free up more noise but not making it boomy is the answer for you.

[S4Player]

I put sports cats on my car with the standard exhaust and it was too raspy for me I then went for decat DP's and non res non valved that was ehm a little mental to say the least. I then tried res valved I hated it and finished up with non res valved it sounded amazing

[Rick_RS4]

remove centre boxes and fit an X pipe or H pipe, no point in miltec as theyre the same size as stock.

[TonyHayers]

remove centre boxes and fit an X pipe or H pipe, no point in miltec as theyre the same size as stock.

Centre boxes = resonators?

And do you mean no point in Milltek resonator sections instead of stock?

[TonyHayers]

Res system has a very nice creamy deep V8 sound and when wound up really screams

That sounds like what I'm after, a bit of a snarl when I give it some welly. Don't want to annoy neighbours!

[TonyHayers]

A Res Milltek valved is louder than the standard system on a saloon (not sure about Avant due to extra sound deadening).

I am running the OEM system with Milltek cats and am happy with that. Maybe replacing the middle silencer in the OEM system will free up more noise but not making it boomy is the answer for you.

How much louder do you find that Sonny? Do Milltek cats cause any issues with emissions?

[Rick_RS4]

remove centre boxes and fit an X pipe or H pipe, no point in miltec as theyre the same size as stock.

Centre boxes = resonators?

And do you mean no point in Milltek resonator sections instead of stock?

yes resonators, and gut pre cats, standard cats are better quality than milltek ones,

[sonny]

A Res Milltek valved is louder than the standard system on a saloon (not sure about Avant due to extra sound deadening).

I am running the OEM system with Milltek cats and am happy with that. Maybe replacing the middle silencer in the OEM system will free up more noise but not making it boomy is the answer for you.

How much louder do you find that Sonny? Do Milltek cats cause any issues with emissions?

A custom remap will be needed for the downcats. I did not find them raspy.

I have had many exhaust set ups

OEM cats with Milltek non-res

Milltek cats with Non-res system

Milltek cats with Res system

Milltek cats with OEM exhaust system.

Overall I like the Millteck cats with OEM system, its just right, however I did live with a non-res system for over 2 years. I enjoyed the change.

[Brownies3]

I've done the same as Sonny, i did have a non res valved Milltek but it was too Loud and angry sounding, which after a week was enough for me. I now have the Milltek sports cats along with the OEM system, an air filter improved the sound a little more. To my ears the car sounds perfect now, louder than std but not too loud but with a nice metallic growl too it that turns heads. You will of course need a remap. The Cats are where the power is to be had too, i believe.

Paul B