Quick Review: Milltek Non-Resonated (non-Valvesonic) Exhaust on 2013 S6

**Brooklyn** · 11-23-2015 02:12 PM

This is a quick review of subject exhaust. Specifically, the Milltek SSXAU372 system which is described as follows on Milltek's site:

Cat-back
Non-resonated (louder) with Polished tips
System Number: SSXAU372

Consists of:

Tailpipe Style:
1 x LH Front Pipe Assembly
1 x RH Front Pipe Assembly
1 x Centre Silencer Assembly
1 x LH Non-Resonated Rear Assembly
1 x RH Non-Resonated Rear Assembly
4 x Polished Trims

Background: I have a 2013 S6 with APR's Stage 1.1 tune. Factory exhaust was modified by removing the center resonator and replacing it with straight pipes; rear tips were replaced with AWE tips, with valve functionality retained. My modified factory exhaust had zero drone, and was moderately louder inside the car than the non-modified version. Similar increase in volume outside the cabin. Having heard eyeloveteeth's AWE resonated system on his S7, I would say the modified factory exhaust fell between stock and the AWE system, and probably closer to the stock side. I wanted it louder, without drone. I purchased the Milltek for the low price of $1150 shipped from bdoconne. Excellent dude to deal with, btw. Answered all questions promptly, cleaned the exhaust up to like-new condition and had it in the mail to me within a few days of me indicating interest. Hat tip to Pandi who gave me the heads-up on the advert. Exhaust came with all of the above parts. To that, I added the resonator delete modules, which I purchased from Griffin Motorwerke. Solid experience with those dudes. For some reason I thought they were in Cali. With the exhaust scheduled to arrive my location by Thursday of last week, I'd already booked an appointment with Induktion for the next day. Paid extra for Griffin to get the modules to me by Thursday. Don't like codes, soft or hard, thus the modules. Plus, while I may not agree with all functionality, if it ships with the car, I try to retain it, and the cylinder on demand apparently requires such a module to continue working if you unplug the valves or some such business. Greg at Griffin pinged me via e-mail the next day to confirm the modules worked with my car, and offered to refund the extra I paid for fancy quick shipping, since based on shipping times from their location on the east coast, they would arrive in plenty of time. That good shit. I'd do business with them again.

Install: roughly 3 hours by one tech at Induktion. No issues encountered according to tech. Fitment appears to be fine based on alignment of the tips. Induktion has always done me solid, and at $279 and on short notice, they did nothing to sully their good standing in BK's short list of people who can touch my car.

Review: Equal parts awesome and loud. This is a NO COMPARISON situation when compared to the stock exhaust or the center resonator delete mod. I have sensitive ears - I'd be curious to hear the resonated or valved version. Might be perfect for me. This is almost too loud under certain circumstances. which I will explain shortly.

Good: At idle, a nice rumbling growl. Under hard acceleration, volume cranks up significantly. Lift off the throttle and it is almost stock quiet. It doesn't sound cheap, beats my fleeting moment of pain that was a Milltek non-res mounted to factory downpipes on a B8 S4 (so loud, that upon arriving home from the install, I called Induktion to schedule the appointment to remove it), and overall probably sounds a lot like a louder RS7 exhaust. I can't wait to find a long ass tunnel to do some proper grinning.

Bad: There is drone - or at least what my ears perceive as drone. Under moderate throttle, the sound is not entirely pleasant and bounces around in my ears. The main problem is the low "booming" like sounds that even the factory exhaust makes when backing off the throttle, shifting, or under several other different scenarios. It's not unpleasant at the lower stock exhaust volume, or even with the resonator delete mod. But with the non-resonated system, that booming sounds is like a small cannon going off in your ear constantly. If there was a way to silence that shit, while maintaining the otherwise perfect growl that you get on hard acceleration, this thing would be unicorn tears. Under moderate to light throttle that sound comes and goes, and it's accompanied by what feels like a tiny amount of vibration throughout the car. I may have Induktion check to make certain the exhaust isn't vibrating against the body of the car, but I'm not so sure it is.

Overall, the exhaust is typical Milltek quality in construction. I've had three of their systems on three different cars. Two brand new to me on my B6 and B8 S4's, and now this used one. The sound under acceleration is perfection, if a bit loud for those of us with sensitive ears. The downside is that drone-like sound, which is present with the stock exhaust, but magnified with the non-resonated Milltek. I'm not tempted to remove it, but if I can come up with a solution down the road to knock the decibels down just a skosh, I'll investigate it. I'd love to hear a resonated version. If that's just a little quieter than what I'm getting here, I might even explore a trade for someone with a resonated version who finds it too quiet. But like I said, that issue isn't enough for me to take it off the car. In the summer, with the windows down, I'll be grinning ear-to-ear listening to this thing.

***: Got the exhaust installed on Friday and put about 60 miles or so on the car after the install. Car sat in the garage all day on Saturday. Sunday I gassed her up with Shell 93, before getting it washed at the local paint killer. Got in the car when they were done and my check engine light was on. Remained on that evening after multiple trips. Re-tightened the gas cap last night before racking out, and as of this am, the light was gone. Will monitor to see if it comes back. May have just been a gas cap issue, but I'd like to think after 17 consecutive years of Audi/VW ownership, I know how to secure a gas cap. Thought about hooking up my VAGCOM, but the whole setup I have going on my Macbook is pissing me off. I've got an early Black Friday cheapo Windows laptop on the way and will check the code on Friday when it gets here. Someone will ask for videos. I think that's pointless since you'll never really get a sense of the volume without hearing it in person. That said, I'll fire up the iPhone one of these days and give you guys a sense of how loud it is, using the Bose volume level as a reference point. More to follow.

**hubris** · 11-23-2015 04:47 PM

Thanks for your honest review. I'm familiar with those bubbling/booming noises that you referenced and I'm not sure I would like them any louder, either. Just in case you're tempted to switch to Valvesonic, it's just the rear muffler part that is different:

Hi,

A friend is selling his Milltek Audi 4.0T S6/S7 exhaust. It was before the days of ValveSonic. I want to convert the last set of mufflers, just before the tips, to use the new ValveSonic technology. My understanding is that the rest of the piping is teh same. Is this possible, and if so, at what price? I have attached a picture of his current exhaust.

Kind regards,

..

Nov 12 (11 days ago)

to me
Hi hubris,

Yes this is possible, you would need to purchase just the rear silencers from any Milltek Sport dealer, the parts are MSAU627 and MS628, any Milltek Sport dealer can also give you a price for these parts on their own.

Thanks,

Steve Pound
Milltek Sport

**Brooklyn** · 11-23-2015 05:25 PM

Aha! Good to know brother!

**Brooklyn** · 11-27-2015 12:21 PM

Quick Update:

Individual setting with everything on dynamic, except engine noise which is set at comfort is turning out to be a winning combo. Perhaps I'm just getting used to the sound, but the slight vibration I mention above is only really evident now at startup. Once RPMs settle, that seems to dissipate. Traffic has been relatively light, which may mean that I'm able to climb above resonance/drone-prone RPMs, but the booming sounds also seem to have died done. Switched to Dynamic today for engine sound and will run that for a week to see if anything changes significantly. Cost for me to switch the rear section to the valvesonic setup would be about $1400. Not sure that's necessary based on where my tolerance is now to the sound. I still think it may be touching the heat shield or something else, but I won't be able to confirm that until the next time I find myself near Induktion.

Check engine light came back on randomly two days ago. About 24 hours later it was gone. Going to hook up the vagcom this weekend and see what the code is. I had an issue with my gas light coming on and off when I first got the car, but that went away for a good 10k miles. Not sure if it's related and has reappeared, or if this is somehow related to the exhaust.

Manual mode, holding it in 2nd while driving through my neighborhood...the awesomenees!

**aohare37** · 11-27-2015 12:29 PM

Guys I just did one on a friend of mine's S6 with the Milltek non resonated valve sonic!! I have some great clips that I can send over.

PM me your email and I would be glad to share these with you.

Adam O'Hare
Brand speclist GMP Performance
www.gmpperformance.com

**aohare37** · 11-27-2015 01:06 PM

I have added this to youtube now as well.

**Brooklyn** · 11-27-2015 01:08 PM

PM sent. On a related note, is it possible to transfer the valved setup from the factory exhaust to the Milltek non-res? Doesn't the Akrapovic exhaust require you to do that?

**aohare37** · 11-27-2015 01:10 PM

Here is the second Clip.
Please feel free to PM me with any questions.

You can order this HERE

We are offering an additional 10% OFF UNTIL 01.04.15! Gotta love the holidays :)

**aohare37** · 11-27-2015 01:19 PM

The valves are built inside of the rear section so I do not believe so. However, I surely can look into this for you!

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

PM sent. On a related note, is it possible to transfer the valved setup from the factory exhaust to the Milltek non-res? Doesn't the Akrapovic exhaust require you to do that?

**Brooklyn** · 11-27-2015 01:35 PM

Thanks brother. I'm guessing the Akra is built to accept the factory parts, whereas the Milltek is manufactured differently. Got the clips. Sounds pretty damn nice. About where I am with the non-resonated non-valvesonic, but with seemingly a little more crackling and popping when lifting off the throttle. Very nice.

**aohare37** · 11-27-2015 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by Brooklyn

Thanks brother. I'm guessing the Akra is built to accept the factory parts, whereas the Milltek is manufactured differently. Got the clips. Sounds pretty damn nice. About where I am with the non-resonated non-valvesonic, but with seemingly a little more crackling and popping when lifting off the throttle. Very nice.

Awesome! yes the Milltek has it's own valves built inside the exhaust I can send a pic of that as well here.