Billyboat Stealth Catback Exhaust

[tylern012]

Good evening all,

I just bought a used 2014 S4 with 22,000 miles on her. The first mod I purchased was a Billy Boat stealth catback exhaust (B&B). I just got it installed tonight and the exhaust drones worse than anything i have had in the past. It does have resonators in the catback however they just seem to do nothing. I love the tone of the exhaust however on the highway at any speed in 7th gear it is unbearable under any kind of load. I was curious if anyone else had this exhaust and is experiencing the same problem or if anyone had any ideas on how to kill the drone? I am already considering dynamatting the trunk and if that does not work I will look at adding another resonator into the system. I just want to get some other opinions on the issue. I frequently take long road trips (800miles a day) and can not stand the drone being that bad. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Here is the link to the exhaust. http://www.bbexhaust.com/shop/audi-b...-3-0l-stealth/

UPDATE:

Thread updated with Video links in original post and this post also. Got a video of the drone, it is best heard with headphones. Also got a cold start video. During the coldstart there is a pretty good rattle for about a second and it goes away never to be heard again, no idea what it is but oh well. And for you OCD people yes my tips are crooked, I need to fix them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v5tBKz1Z0g EXHAUST DRONE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oLT6HN9Cbg COLD START

[waxxonMTL]

been on this forum for a year now.. never heard of that brand before.. good luck !

I think you would be best just to remove and buy a proven one. don't you think ?

[fesmail]

Based on the link, it does not show down pipes in the system, so this must mean you are still using your factory down pipes. Your first and most cost effective option is to upgrade the resonators on your factory downpipes to larger resonators to help combat the drone or purchase aftermarket resonated downpipes like the ones offered by AWE.

[Thurston]

i've never heard of that exhaust either. It is listed at a fair price point but that is unfortunate to hear that it drones incessantly.

[fesmail]

B&B is a well known exhauSt manufacturer, in fact, they used to be the exhaust producer for APR over 10 years ago

[KnightR]

Hey there, just a shot in the dark, have you removed the fuse for the soundakator yet? I am running the exact same system on my 6spd and I didn't realize I had to pull the fuse and was ready to reinstall my stock exhaust because the drone was painful to my ears. And my last car was an STI with a way louder exhaust. I agree it's a great sounding exhaust once the drone is taken care of. Hope this helps

[tylern012]

Hey there, just a shot in the dark, have you removed the fuse for the soundakator yet? I am running the exact same system on my 6spd and I didn't realize I had to pull the fuse and was ready to reinstall my stock exhaust because the drone was painful to my ears. And my last car was an STI with a way louder exhaust. I agree it's a great sounding exhaust once the drone is taken care of. Hope this helps

Where is this fuse at? I have not heard of doing this yet. Hopefully this solves my problem!

[tylern012]

B&B is a well known exhauSt manufacturer, in fact, they used to be the exhaust producer for APR over 10 years ago

I have heard their exhausts on GM v8 cars and they sound fantastic. The brand was recommended to me by Berg Performance out of Colorado so I went with it. The quality of the exhaust is amazing. The welds and fitment were perfect, its just the drone at this point that I need to fix.

[tylern012]

Based on the link, it does not show down pipes in the system, so this must mean you are still using your factory down pipes. Your first and most cost effective option is to upgrade the resonators on your factory downpipes to larger resonators to help combat the drone or purchase aftermarket resonated downpipes like the ones offered by AWE.

You are correct, stock downpipes are still on the car. I did not think about swapping the downpipe resonators, Thank you for that idea!

[JustPlaneChris]

Where is this fuse at? I have not heard of doing this yet. Hopefully this solves my problem!

Fuse #5 in the panel on the left side of the dash.

[KnightR]

Where is this fuse at? I have not heard of doing this yet. Hopefully this solves my problem!

It's in the drivers side dash fuse panel. I can't remember the exact fuse number but it is listed as the soundakator. After pulling it, all my painful drone was completely gone. It made a world of difference. Hope it works for your DSG. I found the instructions in the install PDF for AWE exhaust on their site for reference.

[RWD2quattro]

Great pricing and quality, B&B has been around for a long time out of AZ. Great sounding exhaust but haven't heard this set up on a B8.
Add a resonated DP from AWE and your set. Post a video.

[tylern012]

I am going to pull the fuse in the morning and see if it helps. I also found the AWE article so Hopefully this fixes the problem. If it does ill try and find something with a decent mic on it and get some videos up. The system is defiantly lighter, I would say about 10 lbs, the butt dyno says I got a slight increase in power but the odd part is my shifts at WOT seem to be slightly slower now, Maybe in crazy but who knows. I'm trying not to tune the car yet as I still have a warranty and I dont want to void it yet, but I cant wait for the day I get to tune it.

[Usa]

Got a video?

[KnightR]

Got a video?

I don't have the best camera but I'll see if I can make something up this week. I know there isn't really much out there for this exhaust but I took a chance on it and haven't been disappointed, especially for the price.

[Rez90]

B&B has been around for a very long time and their stuff is always very high in quality.

[pdqgp]

Is there a shop nearby that can do a custom J-Pipe or resonator tube to nullify the drone? Here's a write up found on Reddit that covers the concept. I had to do this on my previous Grand Prix's from years back.

Here's the formula to get the tube length:
((343)/(RPM * 4 * (1/60))) / 4

Just replace RPM with the RPM where drone is at its worst.
E.g. ((343)/(2500 * 4 * (1/60))) / 4 = 0.5145 meters

For drone at 2500 RPM you need to weld a capped exhaust pipe 0.5145 meters in length before your muffler, as perpendicular to your existing pipe as possible (it should look like a T). It's as simple as that. Although it's often called a j tube, it's actually better if it's straight, as the more it bends the more sound bounces back before reaching the full length. The j shape comes from having to fit it in small spaces. If you can't weld, with this number you can tell any exhaust shop what to do.

For those who are curious, here's the formula breakdown:

• 343m/s is the speed of sound
• 4 is the number of pulses per rev the engine makes (a V6 would be 6, but some engines fire two at once, so a V8 would still be 4).
• 1/60 to convert from minutes to seconds.
• /4 divides the wavelength by 4 to get the length of tube that will cancel out the frequency.

[tylern012]

I did pull the soundakator fuse this morning and it made an absolute world of difference. It went from totally unbearable to just minorly annoying. While it does drone slightly more than I would like I can handle this and definitely lay some dynamat down and it should take away the rest of the drone. I will try and get some videos up by next weekend if all possible.

[cjw]

How does the soundakator work? I thought it was simulated exhaust noise, but the car is so quiet stock, I thought it would be odd that a loud aftermarket exhaust would be affected by it.

[Lensch09]

B&B is a well known exhauSt manufacturer, in fact, they used to be the exhaust producer for APR over 10 years ago

Bingo. I was wondering if any old timers would chime in.

I've had APR/BB products on cars in the past and was always impressed with their fitment/quality. However, I'm more impressed with the stuff from AWE.

-DL

[JustPlaneChris]

How does the soundakator work? I thought it was simulated exhaust noise, but the car is so quiet stock, I thought it would be odd that a loud aftermarket exhaust would be affected by it.

Apparently the fake sound interacts with the real sound and causes feedback / resonance / annoyance. :)

I've still got stock exhaust and pulled the fuse. I'd much rather listen to slightly quieter real sounds than fake sounds.

[s4matty]

I had this B&B stealth for 2 yrs on my car.
I loved it and regret selling it for my apr exhaust.
It did have drone but I added a x pipe right up front and put some 2.5" non res dp on and I had very very little drone until I took my cats out.


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[UltraS4John]

I had B&B on my E36 M3 years ago...great sounding exhaust on an M3. I'm sure it'll sound great on an S4 as well.

[mmm def]

I had billyboat on my E90 m3. Loved it

[hodrosS42001]

B&B is a well known exhauSt manufacturer, in fact, they used to be the exhaust producer for APR over 10 years ago

They use high quality parts, I have an APR Exhaust from 2008 and it was made by B&B... for being on the car for 8 years.. it still looks brand new.

Can you take a video of the drone?

[tylern012]

They use high quality parts, I have an APR Exhaust from 2008 and it was made by B&B... for being on the car for 8 years.. it still looks brand new.

Can you take a video of the drone?

I can not. I do not have anything with that high quality if a mic on it. It just sounds like road noise.

[fesmail]

Haha is 36 old nowadays??

Bingo. I was wondering if any old timers would chime in.

I've had APR/BB products on cars in the past and was always impressed with their fitment/quality. However, I'm more impressed with the stuff from AWE.

-DL

[Lensch09]

Haha is 36 old nowadays??

Nah, I was more along the lines of those that have been around AZ for along time.

-DL

[sfg57]

I'm having an AWE touring system installed tomorrow and read that some were having drone issues. Thanks to this thread I now know about removing the soundakator fuse. I downloaded the AWE instructions and sure enough it's the first thing they mention, and that there will be excessive drone from the soundakotor active with their exhaust. I decided to remove the fuse early. Result, the interior is quieter with the stock exhaust but it sounds more natural when accelerating. Sounds great and I'm sure will sound much better with the new system installed.

[XxSullyxX123]

I'm having an AWE touring system installed tomorrow and read that some were having drone issues. Thanks to this thread I now know about removing the soundakator fuse. I downloaded the AWE instructions and sure enough it's the first thing they mention, and that there will be excessive drone from the soundakotor active with their exhaust. I decided to remove the fuse early. Result, the interior is quieter with the stock exhaust but it sounds more natural when accelerating. Sounds great and I'm sure will sound much better with the new system installed.

I actually wish I had pulled the fuse prior to my exhaust install so I could hear the engine/exhaust naturally.

[tylern012]

Thread updated with Video links in original post and this post also. Got a video of the drone, it is best heard with headphones. Also got a cold start video. During the coldstart there is a pretty good rattle for about a second and it goes away never to be heard again, no idea what it is but oh well. And for you OCD people yes my tips are crooked, I need to fix them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v5tBKz1Z0g EXHAUST DRONE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oLT6HN9Cbg COLD START

[Thurston]

I get the same rattle the for approximately the same amount of time. I guess that is what the chain tensioner tsb is for w the 11-14 year models if it lasts belong 3 seconds. If I recall correctly.

[audisport2014]

Man I just got the Billy Boat Sport exhaust last week from ECS, I am 100% livid and pissed that I let Matt Finney (ECS customer service rep) talk me into buying it. He stated in an email on 8/25/16 that the Billy Boat exhaust has a very low and pleasent tone with no rasp or drone. He told me that it was the exhaust ECS was using on its current test vehicle (total BS). That was the most dishonest thing I've ever been told when buying a product that cost $1200 bucks. No only is the exhaust unbearably loud it drones all day at all RPMs. It is literally unbearable inside the cabin all you hear is loud drone. I totally hate driving my car at the moment and feel so cheated. I was excited to do the exhaust mod but I couldn't be more disappointed with my purchase. IDK how this system could be on the market, the advertisement and description on ECS website is completely false. It should say that this is the most obnoxious modification you can do to a 50K German sports sedan. It sounds worse than a Honda Civic with a homemade fart can.

I will say this, the exhaust was of high quality materials with excellent welds and honestly I think the B&B exhaust is the best looking exhaust; fitmet on the exhaust was a breeze. The mufflers have a flat bottom and the tips are highly polished with 3.5 inch dual tips. I contacted Mike at B&B and told him my complaints he was 100% nice and suggested replacing the Sport straight pipes with the resonated pipes that come on the Stealth exhaust (for $250.00). I ordered it yesterday and it will be here in a few weeks. I already removed the sound actuator fuse when I installed the Injen intake a month ago, so all you hear now is pure exhaust drone, even with the B&O stereo tuned up level 21.

If this does not fix the drone issue I think I will have to remove the exhaust completely and go with a different one. A friend suggested adding the AWE resonated downpipes to get rid of the drone IDK though. The downpipes are $900.00 bucks and there is no guarantee that the AWE downpipes will sound good with the B&B Stealth set up. Have you been able to modify your exhaust to get a more acceptable sound?

2014 S4 Prestige with Injen intake, GIAC stage 1 tune, and Billy Boat Sport exhaust

[chet.rowles]

Is your sound aktor fuse pulled?

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[14S4GWM]

Is your sound aktor fuse pulled?

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Did you read the post lol. He's done it.

[chet.rowles]

I did not read the 2000 word rant. This is the internet. TLDNR.

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[tylern012]

Man I just got the Billy Boat Sport exhaust last week from ECS, I am 100% livid and pissed that I let Matt Finney (ECS customer service rep) talk me into buying it. He stated in an email on 8/25/16 that the Billy Boat exhaust has a very low and pleasent tone with no rasp or drone. He told me that it was the exhaust ECS was using on its current test vehicle (total BS). That was the most dishonest thing I've ever been told when buying a product that cost $1200 bucks. No only is the exhaust unbearably loud it drones all day at all RPMs. It is literally unbearable inside the cabin all you hear is loud drone. I totally hate driving my car at the moment and feel so cheated. I was excited to do the exhaust mod but I couldn't be more disappointed with my purchase. IDK how this system could be on the market, the advertisement and description on ECS website is completely false. It should say that this is the most obnoxious modification you can do to a 50K German sports sedan. It sounds worse than a Honda Civic with a homemade fart can.

I will say this, the exhaust was of high quality materials with excellent welds and honestly I think the B&B exhaust is the best looking exhaust; fitmet on the exhaust was a breeze. The mufflers have a flat bottom and the tips are highly polished with 3.5 inch dual tips. I contacted Mike at B&B and told him my complaints he was 100% nice and suggested replacing the Sport straight pipes with the resonated pipes that come on the Stealth exhaust (for $250.00). I ordered it yesterday and it will be here in a few weeks. I already removed the sound actuator fuse when I installed the Injen intake a month ago, so all you hear now is pure exhaust drone, even with the B&O stereo tuned up level 21.

If this does not fix the drone issue I think I will have to remove the exhaust completely and go with a different one. A friend suggested adding the AWE resonated downpipes to get rid of the drone IDK though. The downpipes are $900.00 bucks and there is no guarantee that the AWE downpipes will sound good with the B&B Stealth set up. Have you been able to modify your exhaust to get a more acceptable sound?

2014 S4 Prestige with Injen intake, GIAC stage 1 tune, and Billy Boat Sport exhaust

I have Dynamatted my trunk and it did not reduce the volume of the exhaust it did change the pitch of the drone to a hair more bearable but not enough for me to suggest it to anyone. From what I've been told the awe resonated downpipes will cut it in about half from what it is now. The resonated mid pipes will not help as much as you want them to, I can tell you that now. I am still considering ditching the whole setup for something new.

[Dakkath]

Man I just got the Billy Boat Sport exhaust last week from ECS, I am 100% livid and pissed that I let Matt Finney (ECS customer service rep) talk me into buying it. He stated in an email on 8/25/16 that the Billy Boat exhaust has a very low and pleasent tone with no rasp or drone. He told me that it was the exhaust ECS was using on its current test vehicle (total BS). That was the most dishonest thing I've ever been told when buying a product that cost $1200 bucks. No only is the exhaust unbearably loud it drones all day at all RPMs. It is literally unbearable inside the cabin all you hear is loud drone. I totally hate driving my car at the moment and feel so cheated. I was excited to do the exhaust mod but I couldn't be more disappointed with my purchase. IDK how this system could be on the market, the advertisement and description on ECS website is completely false. It should say that this is the most obnoxious modification you can do to a 50K German sports sedan. It sounds worse than a Honda Civic with a homemade fart can.

I will say this, the exhaust was of high quality materials with excellent welds and honestly I think the B&B exhaust is the best looking exhaust; fitmet on the exhaust was a breeze. The mufflers have a flat bottom and the tips are highly polished with 3.5 inch dual tips. I contacted Mike at B&B and told him my complaints he was 100% nice and suggested replacing the Sport straight pipes with the resonated pipes that come on the Stealth exhaust (for $250.00). I ordered it yesterday and it will be here in a few weeks. I already removed the sound actuator fuse when I installed the Injen intake a month ago, so all you hear now is pure exhaust drone, even with the B&O stereo tuned up level 21.

If this does not fix the drone issue I think I will have to remove the exhaust completely and go with a different one. A friend suggested adding the AWE resonated downpipes to get rid of the drone IDK though. The downpipes are $900.00 bucks and there is no guarantee that the AWE downpipes will sound good with the B&B Stealth set up. Have you been able to modify your exhaust to get a more acceptable sound?

2014 S4 Prestige with Injen intake, GIAC stage 1 tune, and Billy Boat Sport exhaust

Man--- I am not sure how much drone you find acceptable but that would piss me off.

Exactly why I went AWE Tuning Touring, bc I fuggin' hate drone.

[AtomicSushi]

I have the same exhaust on my S5. Fantastic build quality but annoying 7th gear drone. Pulling the Soundakator fuse (or turning it to zero in VCDS) is a must. That makes the drone semi-bearable. I also added sound deadening in the trunk, which helped but did not eliminate the drone. Now I only have issues in 7th gear at (relatively) lower speeds. Sounds great otherwise. I have considered either a resonator tube or a resonated downpipe, but I have not seen any posts or read any results of how well either of those work in this scenario.

[audirings4]

I had Billy Boat on my B8 Avant and after I installed it I noticed a horrible rattle coming from one of the mufflers.
Come to find out one of the baffles was broken and it took them over a month to send me a replacement for it.
Even after replacing the muffler the drone was horrible. It looked great but the boom was unbearable at times.
I also dynamat'd but it didnt help much.