Just got my Magnaflow 2.5" custom exhaust in!

[joeya103]

Finally decided to get an exhaust system. Since I'm FWD and tiptronic, there weren't too many options. I chose not to get the DP for now, since it's a lot more expensive and people say you lose your low end power.

The total cost came out to $557 installed, and from my first test drive I must say that I'm happy with the results! It is a bit loud for my taste at about 2800 RPM, but otherwise it sounds great and deep. Definitely sounds expensive.

I went with 2.5" piping, and stainless steel mufflers. The tips are 3", double-walled (thanks to those who recommended that). I got an 18" center resonator to try to cut down on the noise, and I'm glad I did. It would've definitely been too loud without it. Performance-wise, it feels good but I haven't had a chance to really punch it yet. It was rush-hour, so there was traffic.

ANYway, here are some before/after shots =)

BEFORE:





AFTER:





Tips definitely are a lot bigger in real life than they appear on internet pictures. Oh well, aggressive is good sometimes =)

[awahl63]

Tips look far out

[3M0RT4L]

Yo man I live in VA and am planning of getting a custom exhaust. Can you meet up with me so i can see how yours is in person?

Also i just debadged my car, the part i took off is a lighter colornthan the rest of the car... will it go away after time? If not what should i do?


Talk to me on aim at r0ofdizza420 or email me at [email protected]

Thanks, looks nice

[joeya103]

"Tips look far out"

Yea I know...but it doesn't bother me. It actually looks a lot worse from that semi-high angle shot. Overall, looks great but not perfect =)

[Mike~p]

congrats man...enjoy

[awahl63]

As long as your happy...They look good though a major improvement over stock

[jesseahhstyle]

take a side shot. looks great the tips look agressive, are they kinda crooked? Or is that just the angle on the car?

Other wise I hear magnaflow is a great choice!! Looks nice, did you get stainless steel piping? Mandrel bends or crush bends?

[DDQ]

Nice!

They look a little long on the tips, but not too bad. I think it would help some if it was "pushed" up a bit, for a tighter fit.

Your car is looking great though.

[joeya103]

Yea I wish I could push it in an inch, and up an inch...but I'll live =) with a smile on my face.

If it bothers me, I'll just go back and have them make adjustments. I should've told them ahead of time, urgh =/

[azndrunk74]

Is that a magnaflow muffler? Looks better than my stupid Borla V1 hehe.

[a4sport]

not bad...here's my custom setup...









replaced the crappy supersprint i had...

[azndrunk74]

Originally posted by a4sport
not bad...here's my custom setup...
replaced the crappy supersprint i had...

What muffler did you use? I'm looking to replace my crappy Borla V1.

[a4sport]

magnaho

[azndrunk74]

Originally posted by a4sport
magnaho

cool, I was looking to get one of those. Can you describe the sound at cruising and WOT? I'm sure it beats my sandblaster noise..

[LA JOLLA 1.8T]

those tips look sweet, did those comw with the muffler? if so what magnaflo muffler # is that?

[Kurzer]

Pick your look

I have the 14816 but will most likely soon change to the 14862

[zoey]

I have the custom 3 inch cat back with the magnaflow and the sound level drops a bit....at first it is pretty loud.

[azndrunk74]

Originally posted by Kurzer
Pick your look

I have the 14816 but will most likely soon change to the 14862

Want to sell me your 14816 muffler? Where do you usually buy magnaflow mufflers from? Thanks.

[SilverA4Fun]

azndrunk74, just go with the borla v2. No fitment issue and it sounds/looks very nice. I'm running it with a full 2.5 catback system. Its a simple plug-n=play. If you log onto borlas site you might find a local reseller or you can just order from AWE and get your blow-pop

[Jon_Rhea]

looks good man!! I would like to do a custom exhaust too. Did you go with high flow cats??

also, what is the difference between crush bending and mandrel?? I assume crush is when they put the pipe in a pipe bening machine, but how do they do mandrel, and which is better??

[a4sport]

the setup was done through a friend's shop

www.teamspugen.com in whittier, ca.

feel free to contact them and ask for Duc (562.577.7247), tell him krist or a4sport sent ya.

my setup was a muffler w/ separate tips.

they can custom any size piping mandrel bent for u!

[pigliiit]

what is the size of the stock piping for a 1.8tqm? if i wanted to put in a magna do you have to replace both cans or just the back one to get the nice sound?

[joeya103]

Originally posted by zoey
I have the custom 3 inch cat back with the magnaflow and the sound level drops a bit....at first it is pretty loud.

Well that's a relief. I thought it'd be the opposite, people saying that it gets louder once you break it in.

Maybe yesterday was kind of like.. a shock value kind of thing, but when I started my car up today and drove around a bit, it didn't seem as surprisingly loud.

Either way, I'm happy with it =)

And for whoever asked about the crush bending vs mandrel, mandrel is better. Basically, it's harder/more expensive, but it makes the piping the same diameter throughout even through crazy bends. Crush bending is kind of like it sounds, and for very angled turns, can restrict the pipe diameter a bit. If you go crush, it's good to get one size up. I couldn't find a mandrel bender around here, so I just went crush. I originally meant to get 2.25, but went 2.5 instead. The guy that worked on my car is supposedly really good though and bends it really well. I can vouch for this when I took a peek under my car (one of the worst bends is right vefore the rear muffler...he did a good job).

[zoey]

oh yeah and where can you guys get a 3 inch downpipe (DP)? I have been tryin to find a place to buy a 3 iinch DP but to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated....TIA!