Best exhaust for a 1.8T

[ghostteck]

Hey guys im just debating on what to do im selling my E55 Soon so im planning to start modding this car alittle more, I was going with...... dont kill me a cherry bomb exhaust. Wanted to replace the resonator with a cherry bomb and pipe it with blacked out tips, I've heard this exhaust on youtube by b6driver sound pretty good, alittle bit on the loud side but i think its ok i've talked to him and asked if it becomes annoying and he told me it becomes basicly a stock exhaust after 2.7k rpm or the normal magnaflow everyone does but im not sure how it sounds in person, some videos some louder some sound to quiet. I just wanted to get some options before i decide on what to do, let meknow guys thanks i've listened to miltek remus corsa, but nothing is like hearing this stuff in person

[nikkobdenis]

I just went the custom route. You can usually have a muffler shop build you a custom cat back for cheaper than buying one online. I am straight piped turbo back with two magnaflows and I like the way it sounds, a little loud around 2.5-3.3 rpm's. I would expect to pay somewhere around $500 plus for a (good) custom cat back. Obviously you can spend a lot more depending on material ect.

[ghostteck]

I just went the custom route. You can usually have a muffler shop build you a custom cat back for cheaper than buying one online. I am straight piped turbo back with two magnaflows and I like the way it sounds, a little loud around 2.5-3.3 rpm's. I would expect to pay somewhere around $500 plus for a (good) custom cat back. Obviously you can spend a lot more depending on material ect.

Im debating that i want to go the custom route but not trying to have it to loud and annoying you know? Everyone does the magnaflow and it is the safer route but i wanted to try something different just wanted to get some opinions of the audiziner's with more experiences with these cars thanks!

[7speed]

The best off the shelf exhaust for the b6 A4 is the Thermal Race - Race. I don't care what anyone says.

[dubgli]

i got the apr stealth and never regretted it.. never looked back. its got a rumble to let people know your not stock, but its not loud enough to mistaken you for a honda.

[spector]

Are you looking for sound or performance? Changing the stock exhaust after the DP won't improve performance. If you're looking for performance, swap the cat and the downpipe and you can leave the rest of the exhaust stock. If you just want a sound and you want to spend 1k on that, then it's a matter of aesthetics. I have heard good things about APR stealth in that area.

Adding a DP and a HFC will give you 99% of the gains that you'd get with a full turbo-back exhaust and will deepen the exhaust note enough to sound good. Imo, of course. You may feel differently.

[Tgr_Clw]

I like my Milltek exhaust and Milltek HFC combo. Milltek exhaust w/o an HFC/TP is a tad too quiet.

[ghostteck]

Are you looking for sound or performance? Changing the stock exhaust after the DP won't improve performance. If you're looking for performance, swap the cat and the downpipe and you can leave the rest of the exhaust stock. If you just want a sound and you want to spend 1k on that, then it's a matter of aesthetics. I have heard good things about APR stealth in that area.

Adding a DP and a HFC will give you 99% of the gains that you'd get with a full turbo-back exhaust and will deepen the exhaust note enough to sound good. Imo, of course. You may feel differently.

makes perfect sense, i'll think about it agn but this car is more for aesthetics then performace because i know its not going to be a E55 or M5 or close unless i drop some serious $$$. This is my Daily driver and i just want it to look and sound nice, I'm going back to BMW after i sell the E55 im going for an E60 550i becuase i loved my e60 530i just wish had more power.

-to everyone else im going to check those exhausts tonight thanks!

[1ScientisT]

Im running an 034 hfc and an AWE exhaust. . like 7 speed said about thermal... has a nice deep rumble. Very high quality sound as well as fit and finish. They're expensive but I'm happy to hear mine every morning when I fire it up...

[tapA4]

i got the apr stealth and never regretted it.. never looked back. its got a rumble to let people know your not stock, but its not loud enough to mistaken you for a honda.

[pondside36]

AWE with AWE HFC, love the sound and extra pep it provided. Looks great too, it is certainly subjective and everyone is going to say they love their respective setups. Getting to hear them in person will probably yield the best results.

[Staz]

i love my magnaflow 16601

http://www.magnaflow.com/04sound/sportsound/audil.htm

http://www.magnaflow.com/04sound/sportsound/audid.htm

[CoreyRS]

In my opinion...magnaflow had the best sound/price ratio

[jmw241]

Are you looking for sound or performance? Changing the stock exhaust after the DP won't improve performance. If you're looking for performance, swap the cat and the downpipe and you can leave the rest of the exhaust stock. If you just want a sound and you want to spend 1k on that, then it's a matter of aesthetics. I have heard good things about APR stealth in that area.

Adding a DP and a HFC will give you 99% of the gains that you'd get with a full turbo-back exhaust and will deepen the exhaust note enough to sound good. Imo, of course. You may feel differently.

Who told you this haha, maybe if your staying on the stock turbo, maybe. But a full 2.5-3 inch exhaust flows a lot more than that stock exhaust bud.

[BAB1990]

MTM...

[Dolphin18T]

This is all personal preference. I don't think anyone has done any comprehensive dyno comparisons, so no one can even really tell you what will perform the best.

[kneel]

NEUSPEED!!! w/034TP

[boostedAvant]

This is all personal preference. I don't think anyone has done any comprehensive dyno comparisons, so no one can even really tell you what will perform the best.

This...

This is a video of my custom Thermal set up before I removed the resonators... I have an 034 test pipe as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5RLY5MXTJ8

Keep in mind I'm in Denver as well so it'll be a little louder at lower elevation.

[ghostteck]

thanks for all the replies guys so far the thermal and magnaflow 16601 sound pretty good.. why is it when you just cut off the stocks and put magnaflows 14851 the sound is completely different? just a question because of the down / test pipes?

[SPEEDBUILT]

APR stealth ftw!
plus its on sale now!!!

[Tgr_Clw]

MTM...

Sure. If you have the coin to go with the full MTM turbo back setup.

[texasboy21]

for less than $100 you can get a testpipe used in the classifieds. It will deepen the exhaust tone a lot, everyone asks me or assumes I have an exhaust.

[Blitzkrieg989]

Im running an 034 hfc and an AWE exhaust. . like 7 speed said about thermal... has a nice deep rumble. Very high quality sound as well as fit and finish. They're expensive but I'm happy to hear mine every morning when I fire it up...

AWE with AWE HFC, love the sound and extra pep it provided. Looks great too, it is certainly subjective and everyone is going to say they love their respective setups. Getting to hear them in person will probably yield the best results.

For the guys with AWE set ups,how is the drone? I have heard for the B7 it's not that great but I am really leaning on the AWE or APR Sport.

[black99.5a4]

Out of all the ones that I have heard, the Thermal sounds the best so far. My Magnaflow was a tad bit higher on the medium pitch of the scale. full throttle (test pipe, no cat, milltek res) had a very honda sound to it (not the bad honda sound, but i didnt like it)

[pondside36]

There is some drone with the AWE in the mid RPMs, but over all it has a great sound at idle, accelerating and cruising IMHO. I had it with the stock cat before the HFC as well. It is top notch and the tips are adjustable as well. They now offer the diamond black tips and some drone reducing tips as well. I don't think the drone reducing tips are on the site, but you can email them about getting them. I'm slightly biased when it comes to AWE as I am running a full AWE setup... :)

[NickS4power]

thanks for all the replies guys so far the thermal and magnaflow 16601 sound pretty good.. why is it when you just cut off the stocks and put magnaflows 14851 the sound is completely different? just a question because of the down / test pipes?

I bought the 16601 for my stock Avant and it doesn't sound like that. It's false representation. That A4 in the video isn't stock. If you want to know what that catback will sound like, go in the FWD A4 1.8t sound clip. I was so pissed when i left the shop cause my car didn't sound like the one in that clip! I was a noob back in that day!

[rbj325]

Be aware that the APR Stealth exhaust + salt = holes and a rotted flex pipe after ~2 years or so.

[Prospect25]

Jace is gay...

Do 3" all the way back. No regrets

[spector]

Who told you this haha, maybe if your staying on the stock turbo, maybe. But a full 2.5-3 inch exhaust flows a lot more than that stock exhaust bud.

We've discussed this in other threads. BUD.

A TP/HFC gives about 15hp (dyno proven) and a DP gives another 5-9. There is NO WAY a full turbo-back exhaust gives you 25+ whp. When people mention that our stock exhaust is 1.75", they leave out the fact that it is DUAL 1.75". There is plenty of cross-sectional area to flow just fine from a 2.5" DP out to DUAL 1.75" pipes in all but perhaps the largest turbos.

If your car is putting down 300+whp, then perhaps replacing the dp-back portion of the exhaust will give you a couple more ponies. Otherwise, 99% of your gains will come from a TP/HFC and a DP. This has been shown on dynos and makes perfect sense when you do a little math.

[$teve]

i went with the AWE kit with downpipe. its a good system but if i could do it over again i would just go get a custom one built at an exhaust shop.. would have been cheaper and i could have built exactly what i wanted

also AWE kit drones BADLY. has a great sound though

[manhertm]

The Unofficial B6 Exhaust Thread

[dubgli]

Be aware that the APR Stealth exhaust + salt = holes and a rotted flex pipe after ~2 years or so.

I think i remember this incident from another thread.. I really think it's a hit or a miss just like many other products. I live in new england where salt is plenty.. As my daily driver, I've never had an issue with my apr stealth in 2 years.. I even scratch it on speed bumps from time to time.. and its still holding up.. of course, i also haven't taken a look in a while to see the condition of the exhaust.. but it does sound normal.

[04_a4_quattro]

i have awe very impressed just took them forever to ship also have the RAI tp and i love this setup wouldnt change anything about it

[KPC1.8TQuat]

The Unofficial B6 Exhaust Thread

I forgot I made that thread, wow.

[ghostteck]

I forgot I made that thread, wow.

I saw that thread super helpful and very informative, +)

[acgonzalez]

Hey guys so I currently have a 2003 a4 1.8t, automatic & was wondering what a good exhaust was for my car? I don't want something super loud or super expensive I want something you can hear and can tell I have an exhaust and sounds nice. I went to a shop & they told me to go with a straight pipe for like $100-something but I honestly don't even know what that is or how it will sound I'm a girl so I don't really know about cars or exhausts! I've looked threw some of these exhausts you guys have mentioned but I am not sure

[MattRS6]

Hey guys so I currently have a 2003 a4 1.8t, automatic & was wondering what a good exhaust was for my car? I don't want something super loud or super expensive I want something you can hear and can tell I have an exhaust and sounds nice. I went to a shop & they told me to go with a straight pipe for like $100-something but I honestly don't even know what that is or how it will sound I'm a girl so I don't really know about cars or exhausts! I've looked threw some of these exhausts you guys have mentioned but I am not sure

If you're not looking to add any modifications on your car than basically any exhaust would work. Borlas are quite cheap you can get them for around $630 shipped to your door, but than you'll have to find someone to take the old off and install the new one. It's not that big of a deal but I doubt that you could do it by yourself

I hope I could help.

And straight pipe means that there is no muffler on the end of the exhaust what could reduce the noise of the engine sound. I would not recommend that for sure.

[Josh/AWE]

There is some drone with the AWE in the mid RPMs, but over all it has a great sound at idle, accelerating and cruising IMHO. I had it with the stock cat before the HFC as well. It is top notch and the tips are adjustable as well. They now offer the diamond black tips and some drone reducing tips as well. I don't think the drone reducing tips are on the site, but you can email them about getting them. I'm slightly biased when it comes to AWE as I am running a full AWE setup... :)

i have awe very impressed just took them forever to ship also have the RAI tp and i love this setup wouldnt change anything about it

Glad you guys are enjoying it!

[fyremanpat]

Billy Boat stealth full exhaust with test pipe here...I heard its the exact same as APR's stealth... I love it! I ordered it for $800 shipped. Only drone is at cold start. I installed it a few moths ago. Went together with no issues.

[PreciseD]

Billy Boat stealth full exhaust with test pipe here...I heard its the exact same as APR's stealth... I love it! I ordered it for $800 shipped. Only drone is at cold start. I installed it a few moths ago. Went together with no issues.

Hopefully it doesn't crack like all the APR ones do.