Another Magnaflow 11385 Review

[AerotusX]

I know many have done this exhaust mod before and lots of threads on this topic, but I want to share my recent switch for others that are still on the fence. I always wanted the AWE Touring + Res DP or ECS Valve (not anymore due to quality issue), but both are quite expensive for just sound mod. This mod is simple: Cut off baby resonators to replace with Magnaflow 11385 (resonated X-pipe) and cut off center resonator to replace with straight pipes.



First sound impression: The exhaust note has much deeper bass than stock. There is no drone, not raspy and sound is very OEM+ like. The sound volume is quite subtle enough while in normal driving and cruising it's close to stock with a deeper note. I would say volume increased only about 10-15% over stock in normal driving. At WOT the volume is maybe 20-25% louder than stock (nothing crazy), but with a nicer/deeper tone throughout the powerband. Highest volume peaks between 2500~2900 RPM. See the video below to hear for yourself. Note: I did turn off the Soundaktor.



Overall, I'm very happy with this cheap ($250) mod. This is how our S4 should sound like from the factory. This mod is for anyone that wants a little more sound with deeper exhaust note. It's very daily driver friendly and doesn't scream in others' faces. I would highly recommend this mod to those that don't want to spend $1.5K to $2.5K for a complete cat-back system.

While I was at the muffler shop, I had them cut off my OEM tips and welded in some nice 4" tips. These tips I got are from Different Trend (item#: DT-25101), stainless steel, double-walled, slant cut. They fill up the stock valance nicely. I'm thinking the tips should be a little more flush (about 1" forward) but since they are welded on now, re-doing them will be a pain because getting them lined up correctly with the stock muffler is time-consuming. The tips coming out a little bit makes them more aggressive. What do you guys think? One thing I do notice is that these tips get dirty and turn black within hours of driving, so it's a chore to keep them clean (think daily cleaning).

[dimonblr]

I'd say that sounds pretty damn good.

[ArgCarp83]

Sounds good, I went with replacing the baby resonators with a borla x pipe and leaving that middle resonator in the car. Then I replaced the rear mufflers with straight pipe and for new 4" tips. My total was around $300.
I am pleased with the sound. I went with Borla X pipe instead as I read some things about the MF not lasting very long so decided to give Borla a try instead.

[jsh139]

Sounds good! What was that ticking noise when you were braking?

[hberg002]

Sounds good, I went with replacing the baby resonators with a borla x pipe and leaving that middle resonator in the car. Then I replaced the rear mufflers with straight pipe and for new 4" tips. My total was around $300.
I am pleased with the sound. I went with Borla X pipe instead as I read some things about the MF not lasting very long so decided to give Borla a try instead.

Got any sound clips?

[AerotusX]

Sounds good! What was that ticking noise when you were braking?

Thanks! That sound was actually from my tran belly cover that was ripped apart, so it occasionally flaps. I need to replace it with the ECS metal plate next along with the skid plate.

[agentsmith988]

Funny you posted this thread.. I just finished throwing my mid-muffler back in after having it straight piped with the baby resonators replaced with a 11385. I started to get super annoyed by the sound at 2-3k RPM when I'd get on it. It was like a loud G35. I also didn't like how the volume was so disproportionate to the rest of the RPM range.

[AerotusX]

Funny you posted this thread.. I just finished throwing my mid-muffler back in after having it straight piped with the baby resonators replaced with a 11385. I started to get super annoyed by the sound at 2-3k RPM when I'd get on it. It was like a loud G35. I also didn't like how the volume was so disproportionate to the rest of the RPM range.

Interesting. The sound does peak around 2500~2900 RPM before dropping down, but it's not annoying to me. I kinda get what you are saying tho. Just curious, did you turn off your Soundaktor? The fake sound may interfere with the real sound, like they are out of sync.

[MKGIY]

Sounds good, I decided to take the plunge.

Thanks,

[Turbocoop]

Nice writeup and thanks for taking the time to do the video!! If I saw something like this before I went through 4 iterations of exhaust setups I would've saved a ton of time and money... I've still got the 11385 but I paired it up with a CTS turbo exhaust. Yours sounds very similar at 1/4 of the cost

[agentsmith988]

Interesting. The sound does peak around 2500~2900 RPM before dropping down, but it's not annoying to me. I kinda get what you are saying tho. Just curious, did you turn off your Soundaktor? The fake sound may interfere with the real sound, like they are out of sync.

Soundaktor is disabled. It's probably worse having a manual transmission though. I'm guessing the DSG shifts anytime you get on it helping to stay out of the annoying RPM range.

Also, it definitely got louder after everything broke in as well. After 3 months I couldn't take it anymore.

[ArgCarp83]

Not yet not really, it's winter and not having an assistant to record sucks lol

Got any sound clips?

Sent from Audizine mobile app

[m1k3d3]

Interesting write up and thanks for the video.

What sort of camera are you using? Videos of my stock exhaust from a go pro 7 sound nothing the video of your stock exhaust.

[AerotusX]

Interesting write up and thanks for the video.

What sort of camera are you using? Videos of my stock exhaust from a go pro 7 sound nothing the video of your stock exhaust.

I'm using my Sony A7ii camera on a tripod. On the "after" video, I accidentally left my exposure compensation at -3EV, that's why it was so dark. Yeah, I thought the sound was pretty accurate.

[Method]

Interesting. The sound does peak around 2500~2900 RPM before dropping down, but it's not annoying to me. I kinda get what you are saying tho. Just curious, did you turn off your Soundaktor? The fake sound may interfere with the real sound, like they are out of sync.

This is the exact reason why I settled on the 11385 in place of the baby resonators, with the briefcase resonator put back in. The sound peak at 2500 drove me nuts on the freeway.

I'm old, so the current setup is perfect for me.

[Burndrum]

This is the exact reason why I settled on the 11385 in place of the baby resonators, with the briefcase resonator put back in. The sound peak at 2500 drove me nuts on the freeway.

I'm old, so the current setup is perfect for me.

Do you have any sound clips your setup?

[jsh139]

Thanks! That sound was actually from my tran belly cover that was ripped apart, so it occasionally flaps. I need to replace it with the ECS metal plate next along with the skid plate.

Ahh, that makes sense. I was like, WTF is that?

[doughboy17]

That sounds really good for the price! Do you do much highway driving? What is the drone like at 65 - 80 mph?

[AerotusX]

That sounds really good for the price! Do you do much highway driving? What is the drone like at 65 - 80 mph?

I do about 50/50 (hwy/street). I would say the sound peaks between 2500~2900RPM, but I wouldn't call this drone. There is no drone anywhere else in the powerband. I typically cruise around 75-80mph on freeways when possible, there is zero drone.

[Method]

Do you have any sound clips your setup?

Not handy - It sounds like stock when cruising around (nice and quiet), but gives a bit of extra growl when you get on the throttle. I've found it to be too subtle for most on here.

[tourbillonnaire]

Did you need to alter the rear muffler in any way to accomodate the 4'' tips side-by-side, or they simply slip on the existing flange?

[AerotusX]

Did you need to alter the rear muffler in any way to accomodate the 4'' tips side-by-side, or they simply slip on the existing flange?

The shop added an extension so that the larger tips can move outward from center slightly to provide room and then the end tips would bend slightly back toward the center to align them parallel to each other. Here is what they look like from under.

[tourbillonnaire]

The shop added an extension so that the larger tips can move outward from center slightly to provide room and then the end tips would bend slightly back toward the center to align them parallel to each other. Here is what they look like from under.

Thank you for the follow-up, much appreciated!

[S4laef]

I’m behind on this but, nonetheless, I appreciate the info due to the fact that the drone from my resonator delete is maddening and a solution minus the battle is a relief.

[Nillamb]

This is the exact reason why I settled on the 11385 in place of the baby resonators, with the briefcase resonator put back in. The sound peak at 2500 drove me nuts on the freeway.

I'm old, so the current setup is perfect for me.

So help me, I thought I was done with exhaust mods, I never found one that actually didn't drone (and it's SO subjective, got the OP saying 'no drone' and other posters saying it got so annoying they changed it back...) but this one sounds like it could work for me.

With just the 11385 replacing the baby resonators, there really is no increase in sound in the 2-3k range? A 10% bump in volume and a slightly deeper sound I could certainly enjoy. I really like the sound of the OP's setup but couldn't handle the 2-3k volume bump and I think avants 'echo' more.

Would love a sound clip if you could manage :)

More on topic, how easy is the baby resonator change over for an exhaust shop? What if I didn't like it and wanted back to stock? Seems like a lot of welding (I've zero experience of getting a shop to weld me something).

[AerotusX]

A decent muffler shop should be able to weld back to stock in 30-min. Very simple job for them.

[Fresh.S4]

nah. should of added a normal xpipe in the middle instead of the individual straight pipes.

[fowl]

nah. should of added a normal xpipe in the middle instead of the individual straight pipes.

Could you please elaborate why he should have do this?

[xpoloniusreapx]

The purpose of an x-pipe (that he is getting inside the 11385) is to balance the exhaust from both banks of the v6... adding another one doesn't seem to be necessary.

I have only the large suitcase resonator removed from my wife's S4 and would like to mirror the OP's setup myself but the mrs. likes the exhaust as it is... everyone is different right?

[Skynet3132]

did this mod about a year ago. 11385 in place of baby res, straight piped to the stock muffs, added 90mm tips. works great for me. adds a nice subtle growl when getting on it, but quiet when normal driving. absolutely no drone at hwy speeds, but you can still hear it's there. not sure how the Red Star HFC will affect any drone or rasp once installed, but ive been very happy so far. took a couple months for it to finally break in and the sound to fully change to what it is now. well worth the $400 total that it cost to make it happen.

[natesB8]

Been trying to find a forsure answer what’s the inlet on the tips?

[AerotusX]

Been trying to find a forsure answer what’s the inlet on the tips?

These are the tips I got. 2.5" Inlet.

https://www.carid.com/different-tren...-dt-25101.html

[thadcollier]

What size piping is your 11385? Looking on amazon vs magnaflow im seeing multiple sizes but listed as the same item name/number

[Caffeen]

What size piping is your 11385? Looking on amazon vs magnaflow im seeing multiple sizes but listed as the same item name/number

11385 uses 2.25" piping, the 11386 uses 2.5" piping