Valved Exhaust Options

[conorw89]

I'm looking for an exhaust for my car, and I'm not seeing too many options that keep the valve system working? Capristo is just too pricey for me, I keep reading bad things about the quality of Milltek, and the only other option I've found is MTM, who seem to just sell Millteks under their brand. Are the MTM exhausts really just Millteks? Does anyone have any other good options for me to consider? I'm looking for something more high pitched and European sounding, I've come from an R8 with a Larini on it, so I probably have too high a bar in terms of sound

Any info greatly appreciated, cheers!

[JRC1]

I swapped my Milltek out for a HMS which is exactly the sound you are describing. High pitched flat plane V8 sound. Absolutely screams and, although I'm now bias, is by far the best sounding exhaust I have ever heard on an RS4. The Capristo sounds ok but the price is crazy, diameter is no wider than stock and also the non oval tips just don't look right on the B7 IMO.

The great thing about the HMS is that it is as quiet if not quieter than stock with the valves closed for any early morning starts, but with them open, all hell breaks loose...

https://youtube.com/shorts/M4Id_ffqNTc? ... 6RFh-UrAWL

Now for the bad news, I got this as part of a group buy so was heavily reduced. I think I only paid about £2.5k. It's usually £3.5k-£4k I think. Plus it's from Germany and the whole process of getting it was a pain in the arse, not to mention the £600 of import fees I had to pay.

There aren't many other options if you want to keep the valves. JHM sounds great and is also better quality than Milltek but isn't valved. The sheep follow Milltek but I have never been impressed with the quality or the sound, on any car. Plus it's nice to be different, right? I think I have one of the only if not the only HMS system in the UK.

Your other, and probably best option is to go custom. Make sure you fit an x-pipe rather than h-pipe. This is what provides the high pitched sound and is also better for the flow of exhaust gases. Milltek uses h, which is more of a deep burble, and way less exotic.

[Mav8]

I had a custom built system by Badger Burton over Aylesbury way
It was a while back mind, but i do remember it wasn’t that much more expensive than a Milltek at the time.
Valves still worked on the s button,and a quality bit of kit

[JRC1]

What are the two pipes pointing down out of interest?
Is that an original Nogaro?!?! Amazing if so, I thought there was only 1 or 2 made in that colour. Sorry to take the thread off topic but would love to see more pics.

[Mav8]

It was the only Nogaro bread van there is a saloon also.
The 2 pipes in question are straight through so when when you put in sport it was loud

[Mav8]

It was the only Nogaro bread van there is a saloon also.
The 2 pipes in question are straight through so when when you put in sport it was loud
I no longer own it sold it a few years back

[JRC1]

It was the only Nogaro bread van there is a saloon also.
The 2 pipes in question are straight through so when when you put in sport it was loud
I no longer own it sold it a few years back

Ah nice. Was going to say if you ever sell it, send me a message!

[conorw89]

I swapped my Milltek out for a HMS which is exactly the sound you are describing. High pitched flat plane V8 sound. Absolutely screams and, although I'm now bias, is by far the best sounding exhaust I have ever heard on an RS4. The Capristo sounds ok but the price is crazy, diameter is no wider than stock and also the non oval tips just don't look right on the B7 IMO.

The great thing about the HMS is that it is as quiet if not quieter than stock with the valves closed for any early morning starts, but with them open, all hell breaks loose...

https://youtube.com/shorts/M4Id_ffqNTc? ... 6RFh-UrAWL

Now for the bad news, I got this as part of a group buy so was heavily reduced. I think I only paid about £2.5k. It's usually £3.5k-£4k I think. Plus it's from Germany and the whole process of getting it was a pain in the arse, not to mention the £600 of import fees I had to pay.

There aren't many other options if you want to keep the valves. JHM sounds great and is also better quality than Milltek but isn't valved. The sheep follow Milltek but I have never been impressed with the quality or the sound, on any car. Plus it's nice to be different, right? I think I have one of the only if not the only HMS system in the UK.

Your other, and probably best option is to go custom. Make sure you fit an x-pipe rather than h-pipe. This is what provides the high pitched sound and is also better for the flow of exhaust gases. Milltek uses h, which is more of a deep burble, and way less exotic.

That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for, nice one! I'm in Ireland so I wouldn't have any import fees, but if the normal price is around 4k then yeah, it's outside of what I want to spend, unfortunately. I've emailed them to get a price so I'll see what they say. I might also just do a centre res delete and get an x-pipe if that will provide something along those lines in terms of sound, I really don't want to lose the valves, so options are limited.

[JRC1]

I swapped my Milltek out for a HMS which is exactly the sound you are describing. High pitched flat plane V8 sound. Absolutely screams and, although I'm now bias, is by far the best sounding exhaust I have ever heard on an RS4. The Capristo sounds ok but the price is crazy, diameter is no wider than stock and also the non oval tips just don't look right on the B7 IMO.

The great thing about the HMS is that it is as quiet if not quieter than stock with the valves closed for any early morning starts, but with them open, all hell breaks loose...

https://youtube.com/shorts/M4Id_ffqNTc? ... 6RFh-UrAWL

Now for the bad news, I got this as part of a group buy so was heavily reduced. I think I only paid about £2.5k. It's usually £3.5k-£4k I think. Plus it's from Germany and the whole process of getting it was a pain in the arse, not to mention the £600 of import fees I had to pay.

There aren't many other options if you want to keep the valves. JHM sounds great and is also better quality than Milltek but isn't valved. The sheep follow Milltek but I have never been impressed with the quality or the sound, on any car. Plus it's nice to be different, right? I think I have one of the only if not the only HMS system in the UK.

Your other, and probably best option is to go custom. Make sure you fit an x-pipe rather than h-pipe. This is what provides the high pitched sound and is also better for the flow of exhaust gases. Milltek uses h, which is more of a deep burble, and way less exotic.

That sounds like exactly what I'm looking for, nice one! I'm in Ireland so I wouldn't have any import fees, but if the normal price is around 4k then yeah, it's outside of what I want to spend, unfortunately. I've emailed them to get a price so I'll see what they say. I might also just do a centre res delete and get an x-pipe if that will provide something along those lines in terms of sound, I really don't want to lose the valves, so options are limited.

The resonators play an important part in keeping a decent exhaust note. Believe it or not, the HMS system is resonated. Resonated, yet sharper, louder and more violent than my non-resonated Milltek. They help the exhaust sound more clean and crisp. The Milltek always sounded a bit raspy and farty to me with the non-res pipes.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, resonators very much depend on the system and the sound you are after. Many people, me included, used to think that non-res = louder and res = quieter and more mellow but that absolutely isn't the case, it's very system dependent - as the HMS proves.

Good luck. If HMS is too pricey or too much of a faff to get, any decent exhaust fabricator should be able to make you something very similar. x-pipe is key, then some small resonators to reduce rasp.

[conorw89]

The resonators play an important part in keeping a decent exhaust note. Believe it or not, the HMS system is resonated. Resonated, yet sharper, louder and more violent than my non-resonated Milltek. They help the exhaust sound more clean and crisp. The Milltek always sounded a bit raspy and farty to me with the non-res pipes.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, resonators very much depend on the system and the sound you are after. Many people, me included, used to think that non-res = louder and res = quieter and more mellow but that absolutely isn't the case, it's very system dependent - as the HMS proves.

Good luck. If HMS is too pricey or too much of a faff to get, any decent exhaust fabricator should be able to make you something very similar. x-pipe is key, then some small resonators to reduce rasp.

Ah right, I didn't realise that, i thought all aftermarket exhausts got rid of the resonator part before the mufflers, so I guess I could fit an x pipe before the stock centre res if there is the appropriate space. Not sure I'd be willing to take the plunge on a fully custom exhaust from someone over here that has most likely never done one for the RS4.

[JRC1]

The resonators play an important part in keeping a decent exhaust note. Believe it or not, the HMS system is resonated. Resonated, yet sharper, louder and more violent than my non-resonated Milltek. They help the exhaust sound more clean and crisp. The Milltek always sounded a bit raspy and farty to me with the non-res pipes.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, resonators very much depend on the system and the sound you are after. Many people, me included, used to think that non-res = louder and res = quieter and more mellow but that absolutely isn't the case, it's very system dependent - as the HMS proves.

Good luck. If HMS is too pricey or too much of a faff to get, any decent exhaust fabricator should be able to make you something very similar. x-pipe is key, then some small resonators to reduce rasp.

Ah right, I didn't realise that, i thought all aftermarket exhausts got rid of the resonator part before the mufflers, so I guess I could fit an x pipe before the stock centre res if there is the appropriate space. Not sure I'd be willing to take the plunge on a fully custom exhaust from someone over here that has most likely never done one for the RS4.

This is an old pic because HMS is single oval exit now, not dual - but you get the idea with the shape of the back boxes and the two resonators that you can just about make out at the bottom of the picture: https://www.tuning-empire.com/blog/anot ... s-exhaust/

The resonators then form part of the centre section which go into an x-pipe join.

Yeah absolutely you could do that first and see how you like the sound. In fact, Supersprint already make this for the RS4 - https://www.supersprint.com/en-ww/audi- ... e--v1.aspx

[conorw89]

The resonators play an important part in keeping a decent exhaust note. Believe it or not, the HMS system is resonated. Resonated, yet sharper, louder and more violent than my non-resonated Milltek. They help the exhaust sound more clean and crisp. The Milltek always sounded a bit raspy and farty to me with the non-res pipes.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, resonators very much depend on the system and the sound you are after. Many people, me included, used to think that non-res = louder and res = quieter and more mellow but that absolutely isn't the case, it's very system dependent - as the HMS proves.

Good luck. If HMS is too pricey or too much of a faff to get, any decent exhaust fabricator should be able to make you something very similar. x-pipe is key, then some small resonators to reduce rasp.

Ah right, I didn't realise that, i thought all aftermarket exhausts got rid of the resonator part before the mufflers, so I guess I could fit an x pipe before the stock centre res if there is the appropriate space. Not sure I'd be willing to take the plunge on a fully custom exhaust from someone over here that has most likely never done one for the RS4.

This is an old pic because HMS is single oval exit now, not dual - but you get the idea with the shape of the back boxes and the two resonators that you can just about make out at the bottom of the picture: https://www.tuning-empire.com/blog/anot ... s-exhaust/

The resonators then form part of the centre section which go into an x-pipe join.

Yeah absolutely you could do that first and see how you like the sound. In fact, Supersprint already make this for the RS4 - https://www.supersprint.com/en-ww/audi- ... e--v1.aspx

Yes, I found that Super sprint resonated x-pipe today! Pricey enough for what it is, unfortunately can't find any videos online of it in use. I might try it if the HMS guys don't come back to me(or if they do and the price is too high ). Cheers