B7 S4 guy looking for the best sound out of that V8 possible!! (legally)

[wolfetone]

Hey all,

So my 2006 AT B7 S4 Avant is all stock, apart from the tint I added.

I am considering making some mods, mainly, I would love to hear more sound from the V8. I am pretty sure the manufacturer has to tame down the sound for all the legal reasons out there!

I am not looking to have anything illegal, I want to be able to change out whatever it take, but still pass state inspections without having to change things out every year to pass the inspection.

I am by no means a mechanic or complete guru, but to get the best sound out of the car, what parts would I need to change out?
For the best sound, what parts do I need? And what manufacturer do you all recommend?

For sound, what parts are the main players? I hear all this stuff about the muffler, downpipes, piggies, cat less, etc etc.....but dont know enough about all these bits and pieces to be perfectly honest.

Also, will the airbox need to be changed out or is the stock fine, just wondering will that also affect the sound?


WHAT I WANT?
An awesome angry aggressive sound that will turn heads and let people know its an S4 not some family wagon
Legal - will pass the inspection without putting on and off parts every year
No drone, if possible.....I hate driving with a constant humm in the cabin

Removal and Install
Is this something I can do myself? If not how much should installation be?

Looking forward to the advice!!!

[seanj130]

Legally? Nothing will technically be legal once anything that has to do with emissions is altered.

If you want a bad ass sound, get a set of cutouts with a nice motor on them, have them installed and you can switch between normal noise, and REALLLY awesome SOUNDING PURE SEX madness. With that being said, everyone will tell you to go with Magnaflow or some other 1,500$ exhaust.

[rocket5979]

With that being said, everyone will tell you to go with Magnaflow or some other 1,500$ exhaust.

I recently ordered my Magnaflow exhaust from a place and only paid $643 shipped to my door for the entire catback system after a coupon code discount and additional 5% offering. Normal MSRP on these is $1095. Gosh I hope no one pays full price for these!

[seanj130]

I recently ordered my Magnaflow exhaust from a place and only paid $643 shipped to my door for the entire catback system after a coupon code discount and additional 5% offering. Normal MSRP on these is $1095. Gosh I hope no one pays full price for these!

Magnaflow OR a $1,500 exhaust meaning Milteck or something from APR

[MattboyR32]

Corsa exhaust sounds the best IMHO. :)

[rocket5979]

Magnaflow OR a $1,500 exhaust meaning Milteck or something from APR

Whoops. Reading comprehension got the better of me. Got it.

[S4sha]

in a nutshell just doing a catback exhaust should be all you need to get the sound you want. Dont worry about intake or airbox. audis stock one is more than adequate and it will have little effect on sound.

take a look at the classifieds on here too, maybe you'll get lucky.

As for the type of sound youre looking for,google or youtube b6 s4 exahust and there will be tons of videos giving you a good idea of what manufacturer with what 'options' like resonators will get you.

that being said there is nothing like hearing it in person so try and find some people in your area and maybe youll be lucky enough to find someone close enough with that sound youre looking for already on their s4.

as for self install, i did my downpipes (pain in the ass) and rest of my exhaust (cake walk) with access to a lift and all the tools i needed (ended up buying even more to get those damn downpipes off) but all in all youre not doing much more than taking off bolts, removing the exhaust and bolting the new one on so you dont have to be a master mechanic or anything of the like, just patience.

Installed catbacks on my A5 and old and new s4 myself so i cant tell you what itll cost to get done at a garage, but doing just catback and not downpipes it can be done in maybe 2 manhours, so whatever hourly rate at your nearest trusted garage use that as an estimate maybe?

[Slow4]

Boom.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...st+compilation

[jeffrey146]

Just don't get APR. I have APR full exhaust. Everyone who rides in it tells me it sounds super charged and sure its great for road trips but its just not loud enough. Ill be adding a wot box sooner or later at witch point ill be gutting the cats.

[wolfetone]

Awesome guys....

This site is unbelievable, within a minute of me putting this up after midnight someone commented lol and I think he knew exactly what I meant....

As for the above.....

So it sounds like I just need the CatBack Exhaust.....and basically just pick whatever exhaust I find to my taste??

So why when people are changing exhausts etc do they change the downpipes etc if they are not needed?

Will just the CatBack change out be all I need to get the best sound?
And will changing just that part have any affect on the inspection every year or should I be fine?

For just the CatBack change out I will use the 2 hour rule, I dont have the tools or equipment/lift

Thanks guys

[troyguitar]

So it sounds like I just need the CatBack Exhaust.....and basically just pick whatever exhaust I find to my taste??

So why when people are changing exhausts etc do they change the downpipes etc if they are not needed?

Some people care more about power than sound. Still others (me for example) want the most power with the least noise.

I like getting zero attention from people, especially law enforcement.


Sent from S4 in my S4

[erode]

I recently ordered my Magnaflow exhaust from a place and only paid $643 shipped to my door for the entire catback system after a coupon code discount and additional 5% offering. Normal MSRP on these is $1095. Gosh I hope no one pays full price for these!

Thanks buddy, you saved me $450 today.

[Slow4]

Still others (me for example) want the most power with the least noise.

I'm curious, how does this concept work, Piggies + OEM?

[dparm]

I'm curious, how does this concept work, Piggies + OEM?

Proper tubing size + largest mufflers/resonators possible. Loud != fast.

[troyguitar]

I'm curious, how does this concept work, Piggies + OEM?

It is quiet but still pretty slow, that is what I have now since it is free to DIY.

Sent from S4 in my S4

[Slow4]

Proper tubing size + largest mufflers/resonators possible. Loud != fast.

Basically 2.25" straight pipes with resonators fitted to the OEM header flanges, correct!?

[audiandy]

I have no mufflers on my s4 with JHM downpipes. I could not ask for a more aggressive sounding car. If you want to remove the drone you can always have high flow mufflers welded on.

[xX_Audi_S4_xX]

Here's my setup. Sounds so awesome. And surprisingly not too loud either. stock downpipes, 2.5 in cat back, x pipe, no resonators and no mufflers.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...tom-exhaust!!!

[ProgMetalHead]

Regardless of emissions, I believe all car modifications are technically illegal, though that could depend on state/province.

[useridnotvalid]

I have the stasis catback and love the sound. And its sounds exactly like the fast intentions which both I think are the most aggressive sounding systems

[wolfetone]

So....

If I am just concerned about the sound, which I am, do I only need to order a CatBack exhaust?

Will I need to change downpipes or anything else?

Will it still pass the state inspection with the catback change if nothing else is done to the car?

[rocket5979]

Regardless of emissions, I believe all car modifications are technically illegal, though that could depend on state/province.

Not true. As long as said modifications meet certain emissions requirements, for example such as C.A.R.B for Cali compliant cars, then you are mostly ok as long as your exhaust note does not exceed any local noise ordinances. There are some other specific modifications that are illegal to have installed onto a DMV registered car for open road use (nitrous oxide for instance), but those are few and far between. Most of the time, you are fine.

[rocket5979]

So....

1) If I am just concerned about the sound, which I am, do I only need to order a CatBack exhaust?

2) Will I need to change downpipes or anything else?

3) Will it still pass the state inspection with the catback change if nothing else is done to the car?

1) If you want to, the only thing you need to order is a catback exhaust. That will replace everything from behind the catalytic converters on back to the tailpipes. However, if you want more sound and more performance gain, then changing to aftermarket downpipes does help. But if you are searching for the perfect sound, which is highly subjective from person to person, then it is best to do your mods in increments. Change catback (CB), see if you like it, if so then you are good, if it doesn't sound mean enough for you then start messing with the downpipes (DP's).

2) Only if you want even more gain in power and sound level. Keep in mind that this may exhibit too much sound for some people's preference. I suggest that unless you are really dead set on the maximum, to just get the CB for now, install it, and if you end up wanting more then you can do the DP's too.

3) You will pass state emissions inspection just fine with only a catback exhaust as it does not modify or even touch anything having to do with emissions. All emissions cleansing operations and monitoring are already done by the time the exhaust gets to the catback section. If you do the piggies or full aftermarket DP's then there is more of a chance of possibly throwing a trouble code; however if you only guy pre-cats and leave primary cats alone then most people seem to be just fine with this and do not throw an emissions code. In states that do both a visual and diagnostic emissions test, as long as they see cats under the car (one per bank of the engine) and the diagnostics come through good, then you are fine.

There are a few options that you have ahead of you here. CB only, CB with Piggies, CB with full aftermarket DP's, etc. Either way you go, there are ways to ensure that your car "appears" emissions compliant at a minimum, or truly passes full emissions test with flying colors. I hope I helped more than confused.