Interchangeable exhaust.

[1stRaven]

For those that might be interested in doing the same, I have recently modified the exhaust on my D3 A8 to give the car more of a V8 growl but with the option of going back to stock when I wanted a quieter ride for a long trip. The idea for this came from this vid :


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9Yv1o7AFqE

So, after purchasing 2 magnaflow Resonator tips (P/N #35174), 3 sets of vband flanges, 2 meters of stainless 2.25 inch diameter pipe and 2 x 45 degree bends, I created the following.

The stock setup.
http://www.ryanniblett.co.uk/images/audi/05-10-13/exhaust_1.jpg

I then split the stock pipe just before the silencer, and welded on a vband flange on each side of the pipe.

http://www.ryanniblett.co.uk/images/audi/05-10-13/exhaust_2.jpg

http://www.ryanniblett.co.uk/images/audi/05-10-13/exhaust_3.jpg

A bit of measuring, bit of welding and lot more measuring and this pipe was produced. This pipe used the same stock hanger on the rear bumper.

http://www.ryanniblett.co.uk/images/audi/05-10-13/exhaust_4.jpg

and once fitted. Takes about 10 mins per side to swap the pipes around by myself with no lift or jack. Would take 5 mins with two people.

and from the rear bumper. I left the pipe work with a bit more of a visual impact than the stock one but easy to change with more welding.

http://www.ryanniblett.co.uk/images/audi/05-10-13/exhaust_6.jpg

[1stRaven]

and the final sound....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7779qnv3Zw

[1stRaven]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73rGg7MlHU0&feature=youtu.be

[Micha_elD]

I love the way that sounds.

Do the magnaflow tips do anything, or are they just a random tip that looks good?

How much louder is it when you're driving (motorways particularly). I mainly use my A8 for long trips across Europe, and enjoy the relaxed quiet in there, but round town I'd love to be able to hear that V8

[1stRaven]

The tips are an additional resonator so they do add to the sound. It is louder in the cabin and a drone around the 1.8-2k mark so right on the 70mph rev band hence I wanted the interchangeable exhaust. That said, I normally have the stereo on and I don't hear it over that.

Cheers
R

[Micha_elD]

Thanks thats really useful to know. Maybe some sort of bypass valve would be the answer then.

For about 15 years I drove TVR, which sounded fabulous, but long journeys always took too long because I had to stop for paracetomol!

[1stRaven]

An electric cutout valve would work really well but I have no idea how you would design the tailpipes to work either both rear exhaust systems. The cutouts are quite common on the 300c V8's so they could be a good place to start.

[Micha_elD]

The easiest way to go would be to use 4 pipes, two running through the silencer as at present, and two that just exit before then, probably pointing downwards and out of sight. Wrapping round the silencer and exiting alongside the existing pipe would be a lot more work, but would look better.

I do love that V8 sound

[The_IMF]

Sounds beautiful.

I had a 1998 328i about a decade ago and went for a straight through exhaust with interchangable cat/straight through pipe (for the MOT). Got it done from a company called xtreme I think in Harlow.

They said it would sound beautiful. In the 1 year I owned that car after that; I had received 8 noise complaints from neighbours in the cul de sac I was living in. The gits at xtreme made the exhaust way too loud and refused to change it once they had welded it on.

Safe to say; I would never change an exhaust again! :)