Thermal R&D Street Installed

[/\G]

Thanks to Dave at ECode! I couldnt be more pleased. The exhaust is great. I am so glad I went with the street version. Its just the sound I was looking for. Nice and deep but refined. I had a BMW race shop install it and the complimented it every step of the way, from looks to ease of install. Everything lined right up and bolted in.(Thanks Jeff@AutoTechnic) I was in and out in 30 minutes and they charged me $35. They even explained that the exhaust may shift so stop back by if you want to adjust it. The only thing I am unsure of is the tips seem to be sticking out a little far. I am not sure if this can be adjusted. Anyone have any idea? Here are the pics. I will post up the pics of the NEAUDI Event tomorrow and I get a nice test ride for the exhaust.

[S-PILOT]

I have the Milltek (Non-Res) Exhaust and also very pleased. I too was wondering about the way the exhaust tips stick out. I was told that is the way it fits right. As long as they are both lined up the same, I'm cool with it. Congrats on the exhaust. I am installing my Hyperflow Induction Kit tomorrow, looking forward to the next test drive :)

[astris]

Time to get some audio of that system. Love to hear what it sounds like.

[G_A4]

exhaust looks good. i have milltek on my car and it too sticks out. i like that look though...

[madrussian]

Mine came today but no one was home so they come again tommorow, hope I don't miss them. But unfortunately, I can't install for some time... I'm moving houses :x

[/\G]

i can take a quick mpg from my camera but where can I host it? is it possible through the AZ picture poster?

[neoprufrok]

Nice! I love my Thermal! Looks so nice.

[npb]

Is it possible to get a thermal and put on different tips? imho, those tips are ugly and stick out way too much.

[madrussian]

i think having tips like that will drive you to an aftermarket rear valence sooner...

[neoprufrok]

Originally posted by npb
Is it possible to get a thermal and put on different tips? imho, those tips are ugly and stick out way too much.

Didn't your moms ever tell you that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all?

A good muffler shop can move the tips for like 30 bucks. They look a lot better in person.

Hard to see from here, but you get the idea:

[foofighter]

i still they protrude a bit too much...

[madrussian]

W00t, mine just arrived... too bad install won't be for at least a week or so ...

neo, are your tips the way they came or did you have your adjusted by a shop?

[neoprufrok]

Originally posted by enjoiweb
W00t, mine just arrived... too bad install won't be for at least a week or so ...

neo, are your tips the way they came or did you have your adjusted by a shop?

I had the muffler shop make custom hangers for the back which limits the movement and also lets them tailor how I wanted the tips to look.

The tips are perfect for me. Symmetrical on both sides and sticks out about perfect. The pass tip is adjustable, so that it can be adjusted to stick out just as much as teh driver tip.

A good dedicated muffler shop should be able to use all their tricks to get it to fit perfectly.

Cost of install = 130 + 40 for custom hangers.

Not bad for the perfect fit.

The only issue I've had is that their is more vibration through the cabin than normal, as the custom tips are not hanigng by rubber but is connected by a metal rod. I'm going to see if I can mod the hangers a little to remove some of that vibration.

[QuattroCoryG]

i like how they look, cant wait to hear what they sound like..

[foofighter]

from my point of view i just dont think it is justified to spend that kind of money on an exhaust and STILL have to do some "customizing" for that kind of money i would expect that they would have it right. I'm sure Daryl (A4NCAR) can attest to this as he's probably tried every exhaust out there on the market for our car. There is a level of detail that is to be expected when one drops that kind of change for an aftermarket part.

On a side note, i'm really inclined to think that the Avant's rear bumper is euro spec as it does protrude out more than on the US Spec sedan...however i've seen this on the ultra-sport where they use euro spec bumpers and that sticks out further than the regular US spec bumper.

[npb]

Are Thermal exhaust systems exclusively and only available for Quattro equipped cars?

[neoprufrok]

Originally posted by foofighter
from my point of view i just dont think it is justified to spend that kind of money on an exhaust and STILL have to do some "customizing" for that kind of money i would expect that they would have it right. I'm sure Daryl (A4NCAR) can attest to this as he's probably tried every exhaust out there on the market for our car. There is a level of detail that is to be expected when one drops that kind of change for an aftermarket part.

On a side note, i'm really inclined to think that the Avant's rear bumper is euro spec as it does protrude out more than on the US Spec sedan...however i've seen this on the ultra-sport where they use euro spec bumpers and that sticks out further than the regular US spec bumper.

I've yet to see any B6 A4 exhaust kit fit perfectly on every car without some sort of customization to make it fit. The only perfect ones I've seen are mine and John's, but he had a complete custom job done, I had custom adjustments.

[A4 - Oh Snap]

The tips sticking out definitely looks a little excessive. If this was an Ultrasport bumper, the tips would stick out ridiculously far. Thanks for everyone that posted pictures. As for a muffler shop adjusting the tips...if you're going to spend $600+ on an exhaust system, you shouldn't have to spend another $50 to get it to look the way you want it to. But that's just my opinion.

Having those tips stick out as far as they do...it's like walking around with a hard on all day long.

Sorry for the negative post, but I'm sure just as many people like the sticking out look as those who don't.

[Foos Girl]

Originally posted by A4 - Oh Snap
The tips sticking out definitely looks a little excessive. If this was an Ultrasport bumper, the tips would stick out ridiculously far. Thanks for everyone that posted pictures. As for a muffler shop adjusting the tips...if you're going to spend $600+ on an exhaust system, you shouldn't have to spend another $50 to get it to look the way you want it to. But that's just my opinion.

Having those tips stick out as far as they do...it's like walking around with a hard on all day long.

Sorry for the negative post, but I'm sure just as many people like the sticking out look as those who don't.

I absolutely agree.

When I had the Neuspeed exhaust installed on my 02....it was a perfect fit without ANY extra adjustments.

On a side note Chris....congrats on your new toy!!

[neoprufrok]

Man, I'm a little amazed at how many people think that modifying is just a set it and forget it hobby.

If you've been modifying your car as long as I have with different types of cars, you know that unless you start spending 1.5k and above for super high quality exhausts, fit is never going to be perfect to the exact millimeter.

The only exhaust I know of that fits perfect every time has been MTM.

Most every other exhaust I've seen requires some sort of knowledge of how to adjust hangers or fabricate hangers to fit the exhaust perfectly. Most of these exhausts are made by hand, and thus, can't be manufactered to exact specs everytime. To me, 60 extra dollars to get the perfect look is nothing, especially when shipping costs more. Its very much like engine tuning. Most people require some extra dyno time to get their tuning just right for higher hp applications. You could run your car with a 45hp gain, but when you can tune it to get a 55hp gain, wouldn't you?

My tips were pretty close to perfect. They sat out maybe 2mm and the pass side sat to the right 3mm. I had this adjusted and fixed so it wouldn't move again.

[madrussian]

What neo said... I too find it kinda retarded to hear people keep bitching about exhaust fitment being slightly off, but no one gets this pissed when a turbo kit doesn't work right or a little extra tweaking is required for a bodykit...

I highly doubt that all of the mods you guys have on your ride are perfect fits right out of the box, almost every single mod requires a lil adjustment here and there...

[Foos Girl]

Originally posted by enjoiweb
What neo said... I too find it kinda retarded to hear people keep bitching about exhaust fitment being slightly off, but no one gets this pissed when a turbo kit doesn't work right or a little extra tweaking is required for a bodykit...

I highly doubt that all of the mods you guys have on your ride are perfect fits right out of the box, almost every single mod requires a lil adjustment here and there...

Nobody said ALL of their mods were perfect "out of the box" , just speaking of exhausts on this post

And yeah people are gonna bitch about fitments because in their minds if you are spending a large amount of money on a product, you expect it to be damn near perfect as possible....oh and actually there have been a couple of people on here that have been pissed when their turbo hasnt worked correctly.

[HICK]

Nothing is perfect, except me. Just kidding, look at our 30.000 dollar cars even they have issues at times. I am with neo , shit happens and if you want it right them you might have to adjust fire a lil bit. If anyone is not happy with their products please send them to me!!! I am looking at the same exhaust, but I know I don´t want it to stick out that far, but for the $$$ I will deal with it and adjust. Most other systems are about another 200 bucks. That is just me speakin though..

[foofighter]

The opinion i express are my own personal opinion. A lot of us on here have been modding w/ various cars for a long time and some of us have a higher tolerance for things. I do not have a high tolerance for things that do not fit perfectly or need a little bit of tweeking (ie spending more money to get it just right) especially for BOLT ON products.

With that being said, all cars are not the same and i'll give you that, there will be variations from car to car...but when you're making an exhaust system on a jig you should be able to account for heat expansion, growth and accounting for various models. There are some manufacturers in the past that have made exhaust apps for sedans and avant because of the fact that the avant bumpers are shorter. That's the attention to detail that i expect out of a company when i'm dropping that kind of money. So why can't Thermal make the rear tips adjustable? Or some section of the rear exhaust be adjustable so that you can fine tune it? That's all i'm saying...because like oh snap said that would really bother me to walk up to my car and see that "dog in heat" look.

As for turbo upgrades, that is an art form in and of itself. software tuning is not an exact science and i dont expect that to be the same as hardware fitment.

***and thanks for keeping things intelligent and not a flame war***

[npb]

Originally posted by npb
Are Thermal exhaust systems exclusively and only available for Quattro equipped cars?

[foofighter]

not sure what the application is for...i know that fwd the dp is different than on quattro cars.

[A4 - Oh Snap]

I think you guys have to realize that modding is a hobby and everyone has a certain level of tolerance for how far you have to go to make a mod complement your car. Some of us have more time than others to dedicate to our cars. I think that is great. Its enthusiasts like you that make it worthwhile for people who don't have that extra bit of time to look into and explore whats new, whats hot, and whats not.

Having owned an Acura Integra at one point in time, and having installed numerous exhausts, I can say that, for the most part, there is a certain level of quality control and consistency applied to anything that is produced in quantity. I know not all imported parts fit perfectly without a little TLC. At the same time, these brands that we speak of... Neuspeed, Thermal, Milltek, etc. They are not mom-and-pop organizations and I expect a certain level of R&D to go into the product that I am buying.

Today, modding is mainstream enough that you should be able to find a bolt-on part and apply it without much need for concern. I don't expect all mods to be easy or work perfectly. But come on guys...this is an exhaust we are talking about. It is really hard to mess up manufacturing an exhaust. If you're comfortable spending an extra $50 bucks to bend hangers the right way, or adjust your tips to just the right length, then that is just your complacency.

I didn't mean to take this thread and turn it in the direction that it ended up going, but to /\G, props on your new exhaust. The tips coming out a little bit makes the system look more aggressive.

I hope you're happy with it.

[Vanimaniac]

I have an avant and my Thermal fits perfect. No professional adjustment or help needed. I'm sure maybe one side is off a mm or so but to me that's negligable. Doesn't stick out and isn't sucked in.

Van

[Foos Girl]

Originally posted by Vanimaniac
I have an avant and my Thermal fits perfect. No professional adjustment or help needed. I'm sure maybe one side is off a mm or so but to me that's negligable. Doesn't stick out and isn't sucked in.

Van

Werd!! thats how my neuspeed was.

Seriously though Chris....congrats on the new mod/toy. If anyone deserves it...its you

[SoCalAgentMSK]

Love to hear a clip of the street version... I am debating between the Race and Street and have heard all the sound/vid files of the race, but none of the street.

[/\G]

*blows whistle*

hold on a sec brothas

the tips sticking out about an inch too far is simply having to adjust the first connection up towards the motor.(my car is a tip = no downpipe) All I have to do is loosen it and jam the exhaust farther foward. I did some research at the NEAUDI Event and had it explained to me by someone who installed it themselves. Also said it could go almost flush with the bumper if I wanted. Its a simple as a minor adjustment. I think NEO's mod was to raise them up tighter to the cutout.

I an not sure what the argument is about but I will repost it when I fix it. No problem

For those wanting a Thermal, I wouldnt let my picdture turn you off on the product. There is alot of adjustment in the system to make it look however you want.

Sorry if you dont like it, but I do.

[foofighter]

and that's all that matters...good to see that there are adjustments in the system...a few people must not know bout this as i've seen some sit out.

your post cleared the air...so life can go on now

[oatzel]

Originally posted by /\G
*blows whistle*

hold on a sec brothas

the tips sticking out about an inch too far is simply having to adjust the first connection up towards the motor.(my car is a tip = no downpipe) All I have to do is loosen it and jam the exhaust farther foward. I did some research at the NEAUDI Event and had it explained to me by someone who installed it themselves. Also said it could go almost flush with the bumper if I wanted. Its a simple as a minor adjustment. I think NEO's mod was to raise them up tighter to the cutout.

i was about to post the same info. also was the pic taken when the system was hot or cold? my system expands when it gets hot and the tips probably come out about an inch. cold they are actually just barely tucked.

[/\G]

thats good to know. i am not sure if they were hot or cold.

Foo - I was not directing anything at you so I hope you dont take it the wrong way.

here is a pic of what I was talking about. This was the guy that gave me the info...

[saejin]

Why don't we think of it this way:

All exhausts are perfectly made, it's our cars that are each different.

I'm sure that everytime an OEM exhaust is bolted on in Germany it doesn't fit perfect and the guy installing it has to adjust it to look good.

[/\G]

here is another pic...

[B.Rasta]

My thermal exhaust is coming this week.

/\G - so you are saying that its possile to shorten the amount of tip sticking out by jamming the exhaust further up..would this affect the performance?

thx

[/\G]

Originally posted by B.Rasta
My thermal exhaust is coming this week.

/\G - so you are saying that its possile to shorten the amount of tip sticking out by jamming the exhaust further up..would this affect the performance?

thx

the way it was explained to me was that the person who did the install may have not slid the two pipes together as far as they could. I did not install it so maybe the info is wrong. I am going back to see what they can do. Dave at ECODE also said there are many adjustments that can be made and to just give him a call when I am under it looking at everything

[foofighter]

^^^^ werd

[FINA4]

Here're a couple of Thermal Race pics of my 2004 A4 1.8TQM with US. I don't think that they stick out THAT much ]











I have also a couple of video clips (taken with my digital camera). 5 clips, about 3-4 MB each. Thermal R&D Race sound from outside and inside. Who wants to host?