AWE Touring exhaust: Does it mellow with age? If so, how?

**SportVier** · 01-12-2016 03:02 PM

So only a couple of hundred miles into my Touring system with stock DPs, and the low-end sound is a bit much for me. Not really droning (been there), but just a lot of bass/boom and related cabin "pressure" at lower-revs and partial throttle.

So, for those who have had this system for a while, can you report whether this aspect actually "mellows" over time?

Funny incident to report related to the exhaust... Had a guy in an M4 come racing up behind me as I exited the highway and pass me with what I assume was intended to be an impressive-sounding downshift. It was not very impressive. Pulled up beside him at the next light, caught his eye and motioned for him to roll down his window.

Once he did, I leaned over and said, "Too bad man. Those turbos really kill the exhaust note." He had no audible response.

**creativecody** · 01-12-2016 04:01 PM

I've had mine for awhile now and I don't notice any "mellowing" over time.

**14S4GWM** · 01-12-2016 04:04 PM

Might try turning off your sound aktor for the car. I can't say my exhaust has mellowed.

**SportVier** · 01-12-2016 04:26 PM

Ok, thanks.

Does not Mellow: 2
Does Mellow: 0

Soundaktor fuse removed with no discernible impact on the low-rpm exhaust boom.
That did expose the SC whine a bit more, which is nice.

**B8_Jim** · 01-12-2016 04:41 PM

Put me in the "does not mellow" camp. The tone might have changed a very slight bit, but the "boom" stayed the same as far as I could tell.

After having to run with the stock downpipes for a little bit while my resonated downpipes were replaced, I can say there is slightly less "boom" with the resonated pipes, but it's pretty minimal - the tone is a bit different (better in my opinion) but it's a fairly minor change in the big picture.

**tgsweat** · 01-12-2016 04:41 PM

I have about 1500 miles on mine and it has mellowed some. Still kinda boomy in the low rpm range under load but not as much as day one.

**garynagra** · 01-12-2016 05:07 PM

I have put about 3-4k miles on mine touring with stock dp's and I think the drone has decreased somewhat from before(or I'm used to it now) but the deep bass noise is still there at low rpm's, especially on highway with partial throttle. I always put my keys in the cup holder and they shake and rattle when I give it gas on freeway. But I always get compliments on how nice it sounds, even my friend with M4 Ipe exhaust admitted the 3.0T sounds way nicer. IMO the new M4/M3 sounds like a riced out honda civic, even if it is faster but I wouldn't enjoy driving it daily.

**mmm def** · 01-12-2016 05:25 PM

Mine mellowed a little bit. Good thing he didn't ask you to race in return.

**SportVier** · 01-12-2016 07:52 PM

Really appreciate all the feedback. Current tally:

Mellows not: 3
Mellows a little: 3
Mellows: 0

Not sure I can live with this system day-to-day unless there is a significant reduction in sealed cabin "boom" on partial throttle at low revs. And from reactions I've been getting, I think it is borderline obnoxious for anyone outside the car, other than the rare gear-head freak. Definitely not a "subtle upgrade" in sound. Fun to hear it howl running up to red line, but for the other 95% of daily driving... maybe a bit much. And from B8_Jim's experience, it sounds like the AWE resonated DPs don't make much of a difference.

So options would seem to include...

- Back to stock

- Go Milltek

- Add custom resonators in the stock DPs

- Add custom resonators to AWE non-res DPs

- Stuff the trunk with acoustic foam

- Hack the Soundaktor to generate noise-cancelling anti-boom

Thanks again for the input.

**14S4GWM** · 01-12-2016 08:01 PM

I think it's perfect for daily driving.

You need to go back to stock

**SteveYem** · 01-12-2016 08:06 PM

I ran the AWE Touring on my car with stock downpipes first, and now with AWE resonated downpipes. I know exactly what you mean by the "boominess" at part throttle and certain engine speeds with the stock downpipes. The resonated downpipes do help with that issue but do not eliminate it entirely.

**LINDW4LL** · 01-12-2016 08:10 PM

The Touring is pretty mellow as far as aftermarket exhausts go, IMO.

Some form of resonated downpipes would be the next thing to try.

**SportVier** · 01-12-2016 08:22 PM

Thanks Steve and Hayden.

**Dakkath** · 01-12-2016 08:40 PM

my buddy has the system with the res DP's and its not boomy at all. Sounds great. BTW I'm post 30 so, I am not into the drone either.

**waxxonMTL** · 01-12-2016 09:18 PM

I think it's a bit weird you dropped 1k used or 1.5k+ new without even doing some slight research about this exhaust. and truth it, it seems the awe touring is one of the ''quieter'' aftermarket exhaust so if you don't like this one. might as well sell it back and revert to stock.

**4RingRook** · 01-12-2016 09:29 PM

8k miles on my Touring setup and the note sounds the same to me. No mellow.

**will13k7** · 01-12-2016 09:38 PM

turbos do kill exhaust sound

... there's a nice spooling sound at least

m4 guy: "too bad you drive a s4!, damn, too late, I should have said that."

**pwhaakej** · 01-12-2016 09:40 PM

I put a Touring exhaust on maybe ~500 miles ago, running stock downpipes and I was surprised by the amount of drone/bass noise there is on the low end. Don't think it's mellowed, but I've also stopped upshifting earlier and have been keeping my RPMs up more. Figure I didn't exactly buy the car for the mpg, and it definitely sounds better.

The only time I really notice it is if I'm cruising in 6th on the expressway or downshifting at low RPMs. I've considered adding on the resonated downpipes, but I don't think any amount of drone/bass reduction would be worth it I had to give up noise higher in the RPM band.

**mavz** · 01-12-2016 09:50 PM

sounds the same to me... i have about 3-4k miles on mine. I was debating whether or not to get resonated downpipes as well except I'm not sure if the extra money will make a big enough difference.

**Szemenyei** · 01-12-2016 10:22 PM

My current setup is with the unresonated downpipes.. I have had both on the car for about 15,000 miles.. It doesnt mellow you just get used to it.. Granted I dont think its that loud, before this I had a loud 335 and subie.

**s4bw** · 01-13-2016 12:05 AM

I went through the same thing, had the awe system with stock downpipes for a while,couldn't handle the boom/drone at lower rpm higher load situations. Added the resonated downpipes and now it's perfect. Civilized for daily driving and screams when you want it to. Much more refined now

**bpang1** · 01-13-2016 12:25 AM

Originally Posted by B8_Jim

Put me in the "does not mellow" camp. The tone might have changed a very slight bit, but the "boom" stayed the same as far as I could tell.

After having to run with the stock downpipes for a little bit while my resonated downpipes were replaced, I can say there is slightly less "boom" with the resonated pipes, but it's pretty minimal - the tone is a bit different (better in my opinion) but it's a fairly minor change in the big picture.

This might be one of the most informed posts about the value of the resonated DPs...since he went from having them to not having them to having them again and only noticing a small difference. Either that, or his ears aren't sensitive :)

Place me in the "Does Not Mellow" group as well. Have had it for about 8K miles or about a year. Am on the fence on whether to try resonators in the downpipes OR going back to stock. Really wish there was a nice middle ground between these and stock but it seems like no company wants to corner that market.

**KRS Aaron** · 01-13-2016 12:55 AM

I think mine broke in more than mellowed and I do wish it was a bit louder. I miss my FI/Milltek franken-exhaust on my B6.

**RyanJon** · 01-13-2016 01:51 AM

Seems that the only aftermarket exhaust in the world that doesn't drone or boom is the scorpion I have on mine, shame it's not available in the USA yet although I believe their working on getting a supplier.

It seems unbelievable that nobody else has managed to achieve what they have!

**KRp220** · 01-13-2016 06:45 AM

i bought a barely used AWE track edition exhaust with about 1000 miles on it. i almost put the exhaust up for sale the day after i had it installed, but the more i drove it, the more it mellowed out.

not exactly apples to apples, but would give it a little more time before deciding to make a change

**tgsweat** · 01-13-2016 07:27 AM

I definitely think you should give it more time before jumping to the resonated DPs. I was in the same boat when i first had mine installed, didn't know if i could deal with it daily and considered getting the DPs but now i'm happy i didn't.

**SteveYem** · 01-13-2016 08:05 AM

Fwiw, if you bought the system brand new from an authorized AWE vendor, I believe you can upgrade to the resonated downpipes at the "package" price.

**XLR8 Craig** · 01-13-2016 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by SteveYem

Fwiw, if you bought the system brand new from an authorized AWE vendor, I believe you can upgrade to the resonated downpipes at the "package" price.

you certainly can if you are the original purchaser of the exhaust and it is within a year of purchase.

**SportVier** · 01-13-2016 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by tgsweat

I definitely think you should give it more time before jumping to the resonated DPs. I was in the same boat when i first had mine installed, didn't know if i could deal with it daily and considered getting the DPs but now i'm happy i didn't.

Thanks for the advice.

That's the current plan.

**SportVier** · 01-13-2016 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by waxxonMTL

I think it's a bit weird you dropped 1k used or 1.5k+ new without even doing some slight research about this exhaust.

Finally! Was waiting for that first snarky comment.

**SportVier** · 02-15-2016 10:39 PM

Back to report my findings after more than 2k miles...

The verdict: It does indeed mellow.

Not much change at all for the first 1k (70% highway) but it definitely began to mellow out as I approached 1.5k and seems to have plateaued. Less cabin booming at lower revs and partial throttle (which is what was annoying me initially) and overall a bit softer and deeper tone. Definitely more civilized for daily driving now, but still epic when you get into the revs.

That is all.

**GT-R & S4** · 02-16-2016 07:34 AM

I had the AWE Touring exhaust with resonated downpipes installed a couple of months ago, and haven't noticed any, "mellowing". It's not obnoxiously loud, nor is the drone bad. It finally gave my S4 some sound to accompany the Stage II tune.

**fisky84** · 02-16-2016 07:42 AM

Here are some clips from my AWE Resonated setup... No Drone, which i love.

Sorry for the crappy video quality, but wanted to upload something for you.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iDRfJbogrKc

https://www.youtube.com/embed/hnE59t5JO8I

**GT-R & S4** · 02-16-2016 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by GT-R & S4

I had the AWE Touring exhaust with resonated downpipes installed a couple of months ago, and haven't noticed any, "mellowing". It's not obnoxiously loud, nor is the drone bad. It finally gave my S4 some sound to accompany the Stage II tune.

I would add to this that when I had the stock exhaust and downpipes, I could drive up my driveway and into the garage, and my wife wouldn't hear me. Now when I'm coming up the driveway, she can hear me. :)

**golfinz** · 02-16-2016 08:20 AM

I bet the "mellowing" is just people getting used to the exhaust note. I don't have an exhaust on my S4 yet, but I've had plenty on other cars and the note never change but my ears got used to the new sounds over time.

**SportVier** · 02-16-2016 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by golfinz

I bet the "mellowing" is just people getting used to the exhaust note. I don't have an exhaust on my S4 yet, but I've had plenty on other cars and the note never change but my ears got used to the new sounds over time.

Nope, it definitely mellows. Occasional passengers have noticed as well. Going from clean bare metal to having a layer of carbon over all the surfaces and edges has to make a difference.

**SportVier** · 02-18-2016 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by s4bw

I went through the same thing, had the awe system with stock downpipes for a while,couldn't handle the boom/drone at lower rpm higher load situations. Added the resonated downpipes and now it's perfect. Civilized for daily driving and screams when you want it to. Much more refined now

Wanted to update this thread once again. I finally bit the bullet and added the resonated DPs to the Touring system and for me also it is now perfect. s4bw nailed it above.

**roadawg** · 02-18-2016 06:37 PM

Not being a kid anymore, I'm 36. I have grown to appreciate a refined car that is comfortable.

Having said all that, even I have an AWE exhaust. It won't mellow over time, it doesn't need to in my opinion. It's very tame.

^^ try resonated DP's maybe but if you think this touring exhaust is too loud its not for you either way.