thefleshrocket
03-03-2023, 01:48 PM
My S4 had the factory cats, resonator-delete mid-pipes, and an AWE touring exhaust, all installed by a PO. I wanted to proactively get rid of the factory cats out of fear of them failing. Back around Black Friday, I ordered JHM's catted and resonated mid-pipes https://jhmotorsports.com/exhaust-high-flow-cat-downpipes-with-integrated-baffle-system-jhm-for-the-b8-s4-s5-q5-sq5-c7-a6-a7-3-0t.html to go along with some CAP cat-delete pipes with the O2 spacers that have catalyst material in them. I did some Googling and could have sworn that the AWE touring exhaust was 2.5", so that's the version of the JHM pipes that I ordered.
My mechanic couldn't get me in until early February to install the exhaust parts, and when he did, he notified me that the AWE was 2.25" and that it wouldn't mate with the JHM mid-pipes. He had already installed the cat-delete pipes. Fortunately the PO of my S4 gave me the factory resonated mid-pipes so I had my mechanic install those as I figured the exhaust would be wrath-of-God loud with no cats and no front resonators. Even with the front resonators back in place, it was still REALLY loud. Like borderline too loud, and I am pretty tolerant of noisy exhaust. I felt sorry for anybody I passed, getting an earful of the 3.0T at full chat.
I reached out to JHM, and Jonathan was kind enough to sell me the correct mid-pipes, and give me a credit upon return of the original order, despite it being more than two months since the initial order. So that was great--much better than trying to resell the wrong pipes myself or something like that.
Side note, I have not gotten a CEL (for catalytic converter efficiency, or whatever Audi calls it) despite the factory cats being gone. Presumably the catted O2 spacers are helping, although maybe there's something in the APR tune (also PO installed) that's causing it to not throw a CEL.
The new pipes arrived last night and I got them installed. Aside from having to fight with a couple of bolts on the OEM mid-pipes, the install went smoothly. And, man, the car sounds GREAT! The exhaust has about the perfect level of volume--the temporary setup was so loud that the exhaust drowned out the sound of the blower completely, but with the JHM mid-pipes, I can now hear the exhaust and the blower about equally. And the tone is really flattering, too--aggressive without being raspy. And if there's any drone, I don't notice it.
So, a double high five to JHM for working with me to correct my mistake, and for making such a great product!
My mechanic couldn't get me in until early February to install the exhaust parts, and when he did, he notified me that the AWE was 2.25" and that it wouldn't mate with the JHM mid-pipes. He had already installed the cat-delete pipes. Fortunately the PO of my S4 gave me the factory resonated mid-pipes so I had my mechanic install those as I figured the exhaust would be wrath-of-God loud with no cats and no front resonators. Even with the front resonators back in place, it was still REALLY loud. Like borderline too loud, and I am pretty tolerant of noisy exhaust. I felt sorry for anybody I passed, getting an earful of the 3.0T at full chat.
I reached out to JHM, and Jonathan was kind enough to sell me the correct mid-pipes, and give me a credit upon return of the original order, despite it being more than two months since the initial order. So that was great--much better than trying to resell the wrong pipes myself or something like that.
Side note, I have not gotten a CEL (for catalytic converter efficiency, or whatever Audi calls it) despite the factory cats being gone. Presumably the catted O2 spacers are helping, although maybe there's something in the APR tune (also PO installed) that's causing it to not throw a CEL.
The new pipes arrived last night and I got them installed. Aside from having to fight with a couple of bolts on the OEM mid-pipes, the install went smoothly. And, man, the car sounds GREAT! The exhaust has about the perfect level of volume--the temporary setup was so loud that the exhaust drowned out the sound of the blower completely, but with the JHM mid-pipes, I can now hear the exhaust and the blower about equally. And the tone is really flattering, too--aggressive without being raspy. And if there's any drone, I don't notice it.
So, a double high five to JHM for working with me to correct my mistake, and for making such a great product!