Exhaust and General Info

[Samr131313]

I'm new to the forum, I currently have a 2010 GTI and I am looking to get a B8.5 s4 in the coming months. I have driven a bone stock one and liked it, but my plans for the s4 would include exhaust and pulley upgrade for sure. So I have a few questions.

Do the B8 s4s gurgle and pop on overrun at all with a catback (if not downpipes and catback)? If yours does would you mind sharing your setup? Videos of the car don't really highlight this sound, the supercharger whine seems to get very loud.

Also, can anyone that's running stage 2 with a pulley on a MT s4 talk about the durability of the clutch? In MK6 GTIs going stage 2 almost surely means getting a new clutch, but I haven't seen any info about this for the s4.

I have searched both questions and haven't found much information, thanks everyone!

[jimrobbington]

The clutch really is the Achilles heel for the S4. The stock clutch is super weak, and the slave/Master/push to start system is poorly over engineered.

I bought mine with 27k on the clock, and was already slipping the clutch with normal aggressive driving and stock power levels. 100% be prepared to upgrade the clutch. I have JHM STAGE 3 plus LWFW and love it.

I get some pop/gurgle action with just xpipe/straight pipe cat back and stock tuning.

https://youtu.be/QYulV_6domU

[Samr131313]

Thanks for all the info, I was hoping the clutch wasn't major weak point in the s4 like it is in my GTI.

Your exhaust sounds good, I appreciate the feedback!

[The Fat Kid]

You really won't even notice the supercharger whine without an aftermarket intake.

[jimrobbington]

You really won't even notice the supercharger whine without an aftermarket intake.

Also this, the engine is super quiet in stock form. I had an intake after 1 week of ownership.

[MRPANDA]

I'm new to the forum, I currently have a 2010 GTI and I am looking to get a B8.5 s4 in the coming months. I have driven a bone stock one and liked it, but my plans for the s4 would include exhaust and pulley upgrade for sure. So I have a few questions.

Do the B8 s4s gurgle and pop on overrun at all with a catback (if not downpipes and catback)? If yours does would you mind sharing your setup? Videos of the car don't really highlight this sound, the supercharger whine seems to get very loud.

Also, can anyone that's running stage 2 with a pulley on a MT s4 talk about the durability of the clutch? In MK6 GTIs going stage 2 almost surely means getting a new clutch, but I haven't seen any info about this for the s4.

I have searched both questions and haven't found much information, thanks everyone!

Went with a custom 2.5" exhaust, removing the resonators on the DP's and went with X-pipe in their place, with an aftermarket center resonator and mufflers. The gurgle and pop is definitely there now. Custom exhaust with parts and labor is around $1k - can get decent sound on the cheap with putting a resonated X-pipe in place of baby resonators, straight pipes or H to replace the center resonator. I'd expect that would run about $400 with parts & labor. Ebay aftermarket tips would add around $200 to that. Can remove the mufflers if you want it louder with less rasp. From what I understand an aftermarket or 2.5" catback doesn't do much in term of performance... so it's really just a sound improvement.

As for 6mt - slower as I can't shift nearly as fast as the automatic S4's I test drove prior to purchasing the 6mt - but the funfactor is increased with the 6mt imho. Clutch feel is improved significantly with removal of the pressure valve on the clutch line and replaced with a SS line. There's a thread about that - line with install is around $400 - install yourself and save around $300. Clutch itself - haven't had any issues in 35k, but I rarely launch and I don't abuse it. Intake sound and performance can be improved on the cheap. A few well placed holes in the stock airbox with a new filter and intake tube... approx $150 all said and done. You'll hear the SC loud and clear. Aftermarket is pricy - Audi tax.

[Samr131313]

I figured, thanks!

[Samr131313]

Went with a custom 2.5" exhaust, removing the resonators on the DP's and went with X-pipe in their place, with an aftermarket center resonator and mufflers. The gurgle and pop is definitely there now. Custom exhaust with parts and labor is around $1k - can get decent sound on the cheap with putting a resonated X-pipe in place of baby resonators, straight pipes or H to replace the center resonator. I'd expect that would run about $400 with parts & labor. Ebay aftermarket tips would add around $200 to that. Can remove the mufflers if you want it louder with less rasp. From what I understand an aftermarket or 2.5" catback doesn't do much in term of performance... so it's really just a sound improvement.

As for 6mt - slower as I can't shift nearly as fast as the automatic S4's I test drove prior to purchasing the 6mt - but the funfactor is increased with the 6mt imho. Clutch feel is improved significantly with removal of the pressure valve on the clutch line and replaced with a SS line. There's a thread about that - line with install is around $400 - install yourself and save around $300. Clutch itself - haven't had any issues in 35k, but I rarely launch and I don't abuse it. Intake sound and performance can be improved on the cheap. A few well placed holes in the stock airbox with a new filter and intake tube... approx $150 all said and done. You'll hear the SC loud and clear. Aftermarket is pricy - Audi tax.

Great write up, thanks for all the info! I'm really torn because everything about my GTI is great (minus FWD but with my work schedule I don't get to toss it around much so the understeer isn't a huge deal anymore) besides the sound. I have tried every exhaust set up imaginable (catback, catless turboback, catted tb, straight pipe) and it sounds good outside but still like a 4 banger... The s4 sounds great but I haven't heard pops and gurgles in videos so I appreciate your comments about your set up.

And that's good to know, 95% of the miles I put on my cars are highway so launches are pretty rare for me. Thanks for the intake info too!