S5 Exhaust on a Budget

[ActivS5]

I replaced the mid resonator with an X-pipe and kept the stock exhaust in tact. $150. For those of you who want a little louder exhaust note from the stock exhaust without spending $1200+ on a full cat back, I'd say this is worth it. No drone at all.

It may be hard to tell the difference in the video.

[bknewtype]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
150$ is very attractive as opposed to 1500$. i will def. look into this. which one did u purchase?
sounds good btw, hope its louder in person!

[ActivS5]

Just a generic x-pipe a muffler shop had on the shelf. I think they're all pretty much the same. I would have just straight piped where the mid resonator would be, but CA smog laws state that the piping must touch each other at some point from the cat back.

[Mops@Nemesis]

Chris, that actually sounds way better than I expected...very throaty! Should be very attractive to some who just want to amplify the stock sound. And honestly sounds louder than I expected as well. Love that "whine" the 4.2 makes.

[TheDapperDriver]

saw this on your channel earlier
sounds really good!

[ActivS5]

Thanks. It just sounds like stock exhaust with wee more "boom"

I recommend those of you who are uneasy about spending the money for a cat back

[younga5driver]

do you have any tips for the 2.0t?

[Papachristou]

do you have any tips for the 2.0t?

sure, sell it and get an s5! you wont ever get sound like that out of a 4 banger. believe me, i know, i have both.

OP, sounds great! especially considering it only set you back $150!

[younga5driver]

papa: haha yea i would if i was old enough im only 18.

[ActivS5]

Ya definitely not bad for $150.

younga5driver: Sorry man, I don't think it's possible to achieve a sound of a 8 cly with the 2.0t's

In the meantime...I know this is off topic, but this was what my buddy and I went to and made a little video last weekend! I wish we could sound like these!

[BlkS5]

I can not wait to hear this when I get home (doesn't show on work pc). IMO, exaust is one of the biggest rip offs out there. The pipes are the pipes. The route is allready dictated by Audi and as long as it is all manderal bent they are the same unless you go bigger like to 3". What are ours stock 2.5"? Then it is just mufflers, and x-pipe or resonators. So when they talk about all this R&D cost I have to laugh. Audi did that allready. Just let it flow out with as little restrictions as possible and then quite it down to a persons liking. It is not a f'n expansion chamber.

[younga5driver]

yeaa i figured but like anything to help it sound a bit more aggressive without spending 1000+

[ActivS5]

yeaa i figured but like anything to help it sound a bit more aggressive without spending 1000+

That's tough with a turbo'd 4 cly. If you're not worried about drone or back pressure...straight pipe!!!!!!! haha

[younga5driver]

any recommendations one where to find quality straight pipes?

[Mops@Nemesis]

any recommendations one where to find quality straight pipes?

Hey bud, did you get my pm from last night?

[younga5driver]

mopsta: nope didnt get a pm last night. pm me again

[ActivS5]

any recommendations one where to find quality straight pipes?

Place's do not sell "straight pipe kits"

If you're going to straight pipe, you don't need any 441 stainless or anything. The shop piping should will be fine. It may sound like one of those ricer's buzzing around though...couldn't tell ya. Have the muffler shop cut right after the cats and see if you like that sound, because that is what the straight pipe will sound like. I wouldn't recommend it though.

[younga5driver]

oh no i wouldnt wanna be rolling around sounding like a ricer. but ill take your advice. ima just stick to awe

[ActivS5]

oh no i wouldnt wanna be rolling around sounding like a ricer. but ill take your advice. ima just stick to awe

Ya man, that's probably your best bet.

[Mops@Nemesis]

mopsta: nope didnt get a pm last night. pm me again

Tried again last night...must not be going through. Give me a call sometime...3364268111

[bhk1004]

Just buy a used exhaust....

[juicyjuice]

ok maybe this is a dumb question, but is the mid resonator that was changed here the same thing as the "downpipes" they sell?

[Audiforumuser]

ok maybe this is a dumb question, but is the mid resonator that was changed here the same thing as the "downpipes" they sell?

No, they're very different. The mid resonator is in the middle of the exhaust behind the downpipes. The factory exhaust has a mid-resonator and so does the AWE exhaust whereas other after market exhausts may not, Stasis for example don't use a mid-resonator but instead use rear mounted mufflers. The mid-resonator reduces drone among other things and is why the AWE exhaust is such a popular choice for S5 owners.

[Beast]

oh no i wouldnt wanna be rolling around sounding like a ricer. but ill take your advice. ima just stick to awe

get AWE for sure. my next mod

[mxrz]

Meh, custom is always best. With a decent shop, you'll be able to work together till you're absolutely satisfied, and it costs about the same.

[juicyjuice]

what would be the difference between replacing the mid muffler with a straight pipe versus an X pipe?

[ActivS5]

For legal purposes, here in CA, if you have a dual out exhaust, both pipes have to connect at some point. Whether that being in the form of a muffler, resonator, x-pipe, or h-pipe, it just needs to connect at some point. The x-pipe is straight through and I would imagine that it would sound almost identical.

[maxi3000]

How do you think it will sound with 3.2 b8?

[lizerd]

Replaced the middle resonator for an X-Pipe. Pretty good $180 spent. Definitely more boom up to 2500rpms, and other than that, it sounds pretty close to stock above 3000rpms, without drone at highway speeds.

[A4-B6]

what would be the difference between replacing the mid muffler with a straight pipe versus an X pipe?

X-pipes can help build HP because they promote better scavenging and usually produce a unique exhaust note since the exhaust pulses are balanced.

[samysam05]

Replaced the middle resonator for an X-Pipe. Pretty good $180 spent. Definitely more boom up to 2500rpms, and other than that, it sounds pretty close to stock above 3000rpms, without drone at highway speeds.

That sounds pretty good. Did you go back for your camera? lol

[lizerd]

moar x-pipe action

- - - Updated - - -

That sounds pretty good. Did you go back for your camera? lol

hahaha of course

[Ccolangelo27]

To those of you who have done this mod, how is the drone at highway speeds (70-85mph), a little concerned because I do a lot of highway driving and don’t want to have bad drone.

[03TLSinCO]

To those of you who have done this mod, how is the drone at highway speeds (70-85mph), a little concerned because I do a lot of highway driving and don’t want to have bad drone.

Check for vids from HazeMyth. He replaced his center res with a Magnaflow non-res x-pipe and has posted videos here. He says there's little to no drone, but I haven't driven in his car yet. (He lives near me so I hope to get a ride in it soon, as I'm planning to do that and have the same concerns as you).

[HazeMyth]

To those of you who have done this mod, how is the drone at highway speeds (70-85mph), a little concerned because I do a lot of highway driving and don’t want to have bad drone.

It's all subjective, but in my opinion the drone is not bad at all, and seems to only occur during certain RPM ranges with certain throttle inputs. We're all capable of hearing different frequency ranges, but for me I don't seem to have an issue with it for any of my typical cruising speeds. I h ave a DSG car, too, which is the one that people seem to be most scared about drone on.

[Sazexa]

Either doing an x-pipe on the center resonator, or removing the two rear mufflers, will both make excellent exhaust mods on a budget.

[fasteddie9]

It's all subjective, but in my opinion the drone is not bad at all, and seems to only occur during certain RPM ranges with certain throttle inputs. We're all capable of hearing different frequency ranges, but for me I don't seem to have an issue with it for any of my typical cruising speeds. I h ave a DSG car, too, which is the one that people seem to be most scared about drone on.

HazeMyth-- Apologies if I missed this prior, but I'm assuming you have the x-pipe with the stock mufflers in the rear? Thanks in advance!

[HazeMyth]

HazeMyth-- Apologies if I missed this prior, but I'm assuming you have the x-pipe with the stock mufflers in the rear? Thanks in advance!

Correct. The entire exhaust system is stock, except for having removed the center resonator (furthest to the back, before the mufflers) and putting the non-resonated X-pipe in its place. I actually get more compliments on my S5's exhaust note than I did with my STI, and my STI had a really dialed in exhaust company to everyone else running around town with their E-bay specials.