Testpipe: Wrapped, Installed, Smelling Great --> Pics

[kwimberly]

ETA installed my testpipe yesterday. After reading about what's involved in removing the cat, I figured it was well worth the hour of shop time. I also got the APR test pipe file.

I love it - it's like the engine is more free or something - it pulls quicker after engaging a gear - more responsive.

It does kind of stink though - not really exhaust smell - I can't describe it. I felt bad about global warming and all, but the extra ponies mean that I'll get to my destinations faster, and that's actually LESS destructive...

I bought it from an AZ member who bought it "from some guy who was making them and selling them on eBay." Can anyone who has a Jeff Lee pipe tell if this is one of his?

I could have done a better wrap job, but it'll do.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

where to buy wrap?

[kwimberly]

where to buy wrap?

The seller included it with the pipe. It's Summit brand - I think you can get it right off their website. Just Google "summit exhaust wrap."

[got boost.]

how much did it cost to install?

[kwimberly]

how much did it cost to install?

$75 (one hour of shop time). I was having some other stuff done, so I don't know if I got a break on the shop time.

[a4wd]

how much did it cost to install?

Hey bud I got mine installed @ EIP racing in SJ for $100. They had to modify the Jeff Pipe a lil bit as the gaskets did not match up for some reason....Totally worth the $100IMHO

[kwimberly]

Hey bud I got mine installed @ EIP racing in SJ for $100. They had to modify the Jeff Pipe a lil bit as the gaskets did not match up for some reason....Totally worth the $100IMHO

Can you tell if mine is a Jeff Pipe? And I agree - I would have paid 100 for the install.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

how does it sound? loud? not loud?

[kwimberly]

^^^^

There's a very minimal increase in the sound out of the exhaust - just a tad more rumble and a more aggressive note under WOT. The biggest sound difference is that I can hear the turbo spool up very clearly. There are also occasional instances when I hear a slight rasp - I'm trying to pinpoint when it occurs. It's kind of a hollow metallic sound that lasts for a few second, usually under acceleration.

I'm planning on getting some Magnaflow 14829's in the next month or two - that should bring out some better sound, albeit subtly.

[illaudiill]

^^^^

There's a very minimal increase in the sound out of the exhaust - just a tad more rumble and a more aggressive note under WOT. The biggest sound difference is that I can hear the turbo spool up very clearly. There are also occasional instances when I hear a slight rasp - I'm trying to pinpoint when it occurs. It's kind of a hollow metallic sound that lasts for a few second, usually under acceleration.

I'm planning on getting some Magnaflow 14823's in the next month or two - that should bring out some better sound, albeit subtly.

Nice like the idea of the wrap.....ive never actually seen 14823 though

[Alphazuzu]

I just spent 4 hours of my own time putting in my VMR pipe. I would have paid 200 to get out of it. The job went smooth up until the down-pipe/cat-pipe joint. the bolts where all stuck. Became a chop job after that. Love it though even the smell. The smell BTW is the wrap burnishing. Did you notice smoke coming out of the engine bay right after? the wrap has to burn off some additives before it stops smelling. Have fun with it.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

^^^^

There's a very minimal increase in the sound out of the exhaust - just a tad more rumble and a more aggressive note under WOT. The biggest sound difference is that I can hear the turbo spool up very clearly. There are also occasional instances when I hear a slight rasp - I'm trying to pinpoint when it occurs. It's kind of a hollow metallic sound that lasts for a few second, usually under acceleration.

I'm planning on getting some Magnaflow 14823's in the next month or two - that should bring out some better sound, albeit subtly.

that's right u don't have an exhaust, when u get one ur ears will bleed haha

[Charlescrs6]

now a picture of the CEL.

[VAG_4ever]

more info on the gains it had??

Just got exhaust- with downpipe however, thinking about doing a testpipe but don't know if its all worth it.

[A4SoftWalker]

Lookin good u are getting closer to being able to check mark the "Modified Turbo-back Exhaust" box.

[kwimberly]

I just spent 4 hours of my own time putting in my VMR pipe. I would have paid 200 to get out of it. The job went smooth up until the down-pipe/cat-pipe joint. the bolts where all stuck. Became a chop job after that. Love it though even the smell. The smell BTW is the wrap burnishing. Did you notice smoke coming out of the engine bay right after? the wrap has to burn off some additives before it stops smelling. Have fun with it.

Yeah - I had some smoking. I think part of that was some oil burning off, too - I had my VCG and cam tensioner seal replaced at the same time.

I can smell an "organic" smell of the wrap fusing together and burning, but there's also a distinct "you are killing the environment" smell coming out of the exhausts. The funny thing is that I just watched a show on the Science channel about how catalytic converters work. It was fascinating - toxic molecules bumping into platinum and then palladium to become harmless.

[kwimberly]

now a picture of the CEL.

I got the APR test file, so I shouldn't get a CEL related to the o2 sensors.

[absolutegtr]

The rasp you are hearing is most likely the second that you let off the throttle after going WOT.

I have a TP and thats the sound you get with a stock exhaust.

[B6Lovin]

I just spent 4 hours of my own time putting in my VMR pipe. I would have paid 200 to get out of it. The job went smooth up until the down-pipe/cat-pipe joint. the bolts where all stuck. Became a chop job after that. Love it though even the smell. The smell BTW is the wrap burnishing. Did you notice smoke coming out of the engine bay right after? the wrap has to burn off some additives before it stops smelling. Have fun with it.

sorry i couldn't help you out with that - i warned you that those bolts are an absolute BITCH. when i sold my cat i had to impact/torch/PB blast the bolts to get them off without cutting (one STILL had to be cut). glad you like it though

when you going stage 2 jared?

OP - that rasp is just the by-product of a stock exhaust and no cat.... get used to it. if you take out your center muffler that's basically all you'll hear all the time. i know it sounds excessive, and a lot of people don't like the look - but my single 3" has given me the best sound out of the 4 types of exhaust systems i've tried... ask alpha to describe mine, all i know is that it's not quite as loud as my 14851's and 2.5" dual.

[B6Lovin]

more info on the gains it had??

Just got exhaust- with downpipe however, thinking about doing a testpipe but don't know if its all worth it.

if it's worth anything to you -- i actually lost a VERY small amount of power over stock when going to a full turbo back (i had no chip or anything else..) but my torque shot up about 15ft/lb peak, and i had a much broader power range even though my peak numbers were a little bit shy of what they should have been...

on a chipped car running more boost you'll see the same effects except i doubt there will be any loss of power. i couldn't even feel my overall loss of peak power . (it actually felt stronger, and the graphs showed why... wish i could find them)

[Charlescrs6]

I got the APR test file, so I shouldn't get a CEL related to the o2 sensors.

Very nice, I was unaware that APR had a test file.

[VAG_4ever]

if it's worth anything to you -- i actually lost a VERY small amount of power over stock when going to a full turbo back (i had no chip or anything else..) but my torque shot up about 15ft/lb peak, and i had a much broader power range even though my peak numbers were a little bit shy of what they should have been...

on a chipped car running more boost you'll see the same effects except i doubt there will be any loss of power. i couldn't even feel my overall loss of peak power . (it actually felt stronger, and the graphs showed why... wish i could find them)

Thank you. You made up my mind.

[Agro]

^^^^

There's a very minimal increase in the sound out of the exhaust - just a tad more rumble and a more aggressive note under WOT. The biggest sound difference is that I can hear the turbo spool up very clearly. There are also occasional instances when I hear a slight rasp - I'm trying to pinpoint when it occurs. It's kind of a hollow metallic sound that lasts for a few second, usually under acceleration.

I'm planning on getting some Magnaflow 14823's in the next month or two - that should bring out some better sound, albeit subtly.

I had a weird metallic rasp sound that was occurring between 2000-2500 rpm. It turned out to be 2 missing bolts in the heat shield under the test pipe, that covers the axles or something.

[a4husslin]

Yeah the test-pipe is sweet,I love the sound. I just have to wrap it now. Have fun with it.

[Trev]

Fold the back seats down, go for a rip and listen to those stock mufflers rasp like there's no tomorrow

[Papachristou]

that's right u don't have an exhaust, when u get one ur ears will bleed haha

why would his ears bleed? i have a neuspeed and test pipe and got tons of compliments on how my car sounds.....

[illaudiill]

why would his ears bleed? i have a neuspeed and test pipe and got tons of compliments on how my car sounds.....

LOL

[Papachristou]

Very nice, I was unaware that APR had a test file.

ive had my apr 1+ with test pipe file for 1.5 years.. where you guys been? i was very specific about it and called apr beforehand to make sure i could get it and even had to have apr call the shop and update the file but it is out there if you push hard enough. several apr shops told me they wouldnt do it because it wasnt legal or soemthing

[SoFresh]

I do all my own installs on everything I do, I love DIY projects... however the DP, testpipe install is my least favorite on an Audi... I've done a few, however if ever had to be done again, I'd pay for someone else to install that, lol, not enough space to work with when installing those = headaches, few beers, and bloody hands... never again.

Is the heat wrap needed?

[A4PLAY805]

ive had my apr 1+ with test pipe file for 1.5 years.. where you guys been? i was very specific about it and called apr beforehand to make sure i could get it and even had to have apr call the shop and update the file but it is out there if you push hard enough. several apr shops told me they wouldnt do it because it wasnt legal or soemthing

do you happen 2 have a video clip of how ur exhaust sounds w/ a test pipe??

[Charlescrs6]

ive had my apr 1+ with test pipe file for 1.5 years.. where you guys been? i was very specific about it and called apr beforehand to make sure i could get it and even had to have apr call the shop and update the file but it is out there if you push hard enough. several apr shops told me they wouldnt do it because it wasnt legal or soemthing

you still fail emissions with the file right?

[B6Lovin]

you still fail emissions with the file right?

if there's a sniffer.

if it's just OBD and you can get past visual you pass. i'll put it this way.... my car passes inspection... with no CEL, no failed readiness, and no problems.

(no sai, evap, pcv, cats, intake, crash bar, modified intercooler, tint, etc etc etc)

it's all who you know, and who did your programming