X-Pipe on 2014 S7

[V8audihere]

Just picked my 2014 S7 a couple of months ago. By the far the nicest car I've ever owned. One thing that I don't like is how quiet it is. The setting for dynamic vs comfort is like quiet and quieter.

I order a roc euro intake (who knows if I'll ever get it) and now I'm considering an x pipe. For guys that have done this to their s6 or s7, what do you think? Is it too loud now? My worry is that this is such a classy ride and I don't want to screw it up. I'm leaning towards just putting it on and if I don't like it I could always go back to stock.

I found this at Summit racing:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/jex-sxp4ss/overview/

They also have this in 2.25" and 3". Does anybody know the correct size? I stopped by a shop yesterday and they told me 60-70 bucks to put it on if I get the part and they will you use stainless pipe. We didn't put the car on the lift to check the pipe size because I had pictures from this forum for the before and after for them to give me an estimate.

Thanks for your help!

[V8audihere]

Just got a tracking number from Roc Euro. My intake is being delivered tomorrow.

[MikeDwerks]

I would recommend waiting on getting your Roc euro installed before making any other changes to the sound of the car

I love turbo noise as much as the next guy, but geeezzz, the sound after installing the Roc Euro intake is almost a bit too much, especially after the increased boost pressures from a stg 1 tune and in dynamic mode. Really have to drive it like a carefully in comfort mode to not be whooosing like crazy loud every time you touch the throttle. never thought it would bother me, but I seem to be constantly be scarring grandparents and small kids in parking lots.

[Djpeaksd]

but I seem to be constantly be scarring grandparents and small kids in parking lots.

Hahaha, thats my favorite part! It does Whoosh pretty loudly though, not gonna lie.

But to the OP since your car is a 2014 you can just do straight pipes to the mufflers. You only need to add an X or H pipe to a 2016 or newer because of exhaust valve location. Now you can add an X pipe if you want but since you need to take it to the exhaust shop anyway just have them cut out your resonator and straight pipe it! The resonator delete is one of my favorite mods to date. It costed me about $250 bucks but they did fab up an H pipe for me as mine is a 2016.

[V8audihere]

I had the x pipe installed today and I'm surprised at how little a difference it made. The car is still very, very quiet. So now I'm wondering if my car is stuck in comfort mode. I can not tell any difference from comfort sound and dynamic sound but now I don't know if that's because I went with the x pipe.

Can you guys give me some feedback if you notice a difference in the sound switching between the settings and do you know what it is switching? I want to check if it is working properly but I don't even know where to start looking. Again, I have a 2014 S7.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Clipse3GT]

I had the x pipe installed today and I'm surprised at how little a difference it made. The car is still very, very quiet. So now I'm wondering if my car is stuck in comfort mode. I can not tell any difference from comfort sound and dynamic sound but now I don't know if that's because I went with the x pipe.

Can you guys give me some feedback if you notice a difference in the sound switching between the settings and do you know what it is switching? I want to check if it is working properly but I don't even know where to start looking. Again, I have a 2014 S7.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Who did your X pipe install. I am in NE Ohio and have been looking for a place to do it properly. Any pictures of how they did it?

Thanks!

[V8audihere]

Juds in Brunswick. I was a little nervous because they were working on a bunch of old cars (which I should expect for a muffler shop) but they did a great job.
They used jacks to hold everything in it's current location, cut out the resonator, welded the x pipe in place, measured, cut, and bent new stainless to tie it in, and then welded on a new hanger. The guy pulling the car in and out even went and washed his hands before pulling the car out. I didn't take a picture but everything looked very clean. I think they went over and above at being respectful because it's such a nice car. These guys appreciated it and respected it.
$60 plus tax. Quoted me 60 to 70 bucks.

What year is yours? I would love to hear how it sounds when you're done.

[Djpeaksd]

Made a huge difference in my car! Mine is a 2016 with sport exhaust though. I have heard other pre face lift owners complaining about the same thing as you, that it's not that much louder.

[Chris Morales]

Did you keep or have a look at the suitcase resonator? I wonder what the architecture is in there - can you see through or see light from one side to the other?

Strange that the opinions seem to come back 50/50 that this makes a big difference and that it does not. I've been considering what to do for my way-too-quiet stock S8 exhaust. A $3000 exhaust makes me scoff, so I'm thinking of having some magnaflows put in to replace the two back mufflers. I've read that on the A8/S8 platform, removing the suitcase resonator does next to nothing for sound. It's those back two mufflers doing the work. You can check to see that the butterfly valves in the pipes exiting your mufflers are opening, but I would assume they are. Those rear mufflers are still putting in work.

[V8audihere]

I still have the resonator but I didn't try to look through it. The entrance/exit are not straight through but I'll check it out later today when I'm home.

[achan]

Removing the front resonator or getting the APR downpipes will give you more sound. The non-sport valved mufflers are very quiet...

[scott99c2]

I'm not sure I understand the wisdom of adding an X-pipe to a turbocharged car. The reason they do it on normally aspirated cars is to scavenge exhaust that "pulls" the bad air out of the engine. A turbocharged car doesn't need that, in fact the most effective exhaust on a turbo is none because it's already it's own choke point to the engine. Is there empirical evidence out there that suggests this is a good idea on these cars?

[achan]

I'm not sure I understand the wisdom of adding an X-pipe to a turbocharged car. The reason they do it on normally aspirated cars is to scavenge exhaust that "pulls" the bad air out of the engine. A turbocharged car doesn't need that, in fact the most effective exhaust on a turbo is none because it's already it's own choke point to the engine. Is there empirical evidence out there that suggests this is a good idea on these cars?

The refreshed ('15 and later?) cars has repositioned one of the exhaust valves so in 4 cylinder mode so you need an X or and H rather than straight pipes. I think x-pipes are used in turbo cars for sound tuning, not necessarily performance, for many of the reasons you mentioned.

[Chris Morales]

I still have the resonator but I didn't try to look through it. The entrance/exit are not straight through but I'll check it out later today when I'm home.

Just wondering if you can shed any light on the design...pics or any description could be helpful and appreciated. I'd like to understand how restrictive this piece may be (my guess is not much).

[VVG]

Did you keep or have a look at the suitcase resonator? I wonder what the architecture is in there - can you see through or see light from one side to the other?

Strange that the opinions seem to come back 50/50 that this makes a big difference and that it does not. I've been considering what to do for my way-too-quiet stock S8 exhaust. A $3000 exhaust makes me scoff, so I'm thinking of having some magnaflows put in to replace the two back mufflers. I've read that on the A8/S8 platform, removing the suitcase resonator does next to nothing for sound. It's those back two mufflers doing the work. You can check to see that the butterfly valves in the pipes exiting your mufflers are opening, but I would assume they are. Those rear mufflers are still putting in work.

From what I have heard, Magnaflow has issues with drone. This is all personal choice. To me, $3000 on top of the price of an S8 is quite reasonable. Top end exhausts will be more like $6-8000. The resonator delete is for someone who wants a subtle change in sound....a little more rumble and volume, but nothing more. I have not touched my stock exhaust on an otherwise well-modded car. I have my Porsche for when I am in the mood for an aggressive exhaust, and the B&O in the S6 is so good, that I enjoy my music tremendously with the quite background. If it was my only car, however, I would likely change the exhaust. My top choice....MTM. Every MTM exhaust I have ever heard sound absolutely perfect for the application. But it will cost around $6k.

[Clipse3GT]

Mine is a 2016 S6. I am debating doing mine at Juds as well. Great price and seems like you had a good experience. What size X pipe did you go with? Magnaflow?

[V8audihere]

Mine is a 2016 S6. I am debating doing mine at Juds as well. Great price and seems like you had a good experience. What size X pipe did you go with? Magnaflow?

I went with the 2.5" stainless x pipe. The link is in the first post of this thread. I live close to Summit Racing so it was easy to stop and pick it up.

Judd's used stainless pipe as well. Scary looking place but they did great.