Anyone with a DSG B8.5 S4 with AWE Touring exhaust w/ Res. Downpipes around Boston?

[Ampularity]

Hey all,

Just purchased my dream car two weeks ago, 2013 Audi S4 DSG, Estoril Crystal Blue! Thought the exhaust sounded too anemic and couldn't wait to mod it so I installed an AWE Touring exhaust with 102mm polished tips last weekend. I am loving the sound but it's a bit too loud for my tastes and I'm quite sensitive to drone (I used to have a 2002 Acura RSX Type-S with a Skunk2 race exhaust which was way too loud).

I've put around 350 miles on it so far and doubt that it will settle down to a decent level so I'm thinking about purchasing the matching AWE resonated dps. Does anyone have this setup (B8.5 S4 with DSG and AWE Touring + res dps) around Boston that would be willing to meet up so I can hear it in person? If it's still too loud for my tastes, I might sell my pipes.

Thanks for your time all and looking forward to being a part of this awesome community!

[Acejam]

I have the exact same setup on my S4 here in the metro west Boston area. I will say that mine did quiet down after about 1000-1500 miles or so. Others have reported the same.

Are you driving around with the DSG in S mode all the time? That will definitely make things louder. I daily mine in D and only switch to S when I'm driving spiritedly or want a louder exhaust note.

[justr0]

Love my AWE Touring + Res DP setup, completely civilized when just cruising around and no drone either. But under WOT, it sure sounds fantastic!

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[Ampularity]

I have the exact same setup on my S4 here in the metro west Boston area. I will say that mine did quiet down after about 1000-1500 miles or so. Others have reported the same.

Are you driving around with the DSG in S mode all the time? That will definitely make things louder. I daily mine in D and only switch to S when I'm driving spiritedly or want a louder exhaust note.

How much quieter did it get? Does it drone less?

I get the most drone in D mode actually. Maintaining speed up any sort of uphill around 65-85mph in 7th gear is deafening. Manually shifting to 6th helps a little but not by much.

[Davido1]

Had touring with resonated downpipes on my car for around 20-25k miles and just switched out to non res downpipes around 5k miles ago. Resonated downpipes produced almost no drone, but after awhile I just wanted more sound out of my exhaust so I switched to the non res downpipes and am very happy with the result.

[gdawg'05a4]

I have the touring + res DPs on my B8 and have been quite happy. There's very little drone at a specific RPM range, 1700-2000 when applying throttle without downshifting. I'd put it only slightly louder than the stock exhaust drone at this range. I had a loud exhaust on my B6 and that was drone city! I did not want anything like that here. My wife was skeptical since she hated the B6 exhaust. She has no complaints about this combo. You can carry on a full conversation normally without the need to compete over the exhaust. I'm in the metro west area if you want to come out this way to hear it for yourself.

[Ampularity]

Had touring with resonated downpipes on my car for around 20-25k miles and just switched out to non res downpipes around 5k miles ago. Resonated downpipes produced almost no drone, but after awhile I just wanted more sound out of my exhaust so I switched to the non res downpipes and am very happy with the result.

Is your car a manual? It seems with manuals, the combination of different gearing and a lighter weight seems to offer less droning overall. I now don't use D mode with my S Tronic because it drones too much. :/

I have the touring + res DPs on my B8 and have been quite happy. There's very little drone at a specific RPM range, 1700-2000 when applying throttle without downshifting. I'd put it only slightly louder than the stock exhaust drone at this range. I had a loud exhaust on my B6 and that was drone city! I did not want anything like that here. My wife was skeptical since she hated the B6 exhaust. She has no complaints about this combo. You can carry on a full conversation normally without the need to compete over the exhaust. I'm in the metro west area if you want to come out this way to hear it for yourself.

Cool, this is good news. Slightly louder than stock during partial throttle and loud when you step on it. I know how you feel about the drone... I used to dread long road trips and even thought about getting earplugs for a trip. That would be awesome to hear it in person man!

[Acejam]

How much quieter did it get? Does it drone less?

I get the most drone in D mode actually. Maintaining speed up any sort of uphill around 65-85mph in 7th gear is deafening. Manually shifting to 6th helps a little but not by much.

I'd say it quieted down by about 10%. Noticeable, but certainly not a ton. It's still very loud, especially when you open it up. Driving in D mode is more than tame for me. I would say that drone is very subjective, but to me, this car does not drone much, if at all, when cruising in 7th at your noted speeds.

Based on previous modified cars that I've owned, there is a large difference between "hearing the exhaust" and drone. But I'm also the type of person who will roll the windows down and just listen to my exhaust note instead of the radio.

[Ampularity]

I'd say it quieted down by about 10%. Noticeable, but certainly not a ton. It's still very loud, especially when you open it up. Driving in D mode is more than tame for me. I would say that drone is very subjective, but to me, this car does not drone much, if at all, when cruising in 7th at your noted speeds.

Based on previous modified cars that I've owned, there is a large difference between "hearing the exhaust" and drone. But I'm also the type of person who will roll the windows down and just listen to my exhaust note instead of the radio.

That's a decent amount. I don't mind the sound level of the exhaust, it sounds aggressive in a good way (WOT makes me smile like an idiot every time) but the drone inside the cabin is what's got my beef. Accelerating and feeling my seat vibrate is not something I feel an upscale luxury sedan should have. Do you experience this vibration when applying partial throttle?

I also notice myself turning off the radio more just to listen to the exhaust too. RIP gas mileage

[Acejam]

Accelerating and feeling my seat vibrate is not something I feel an upscale luxury sedan should have. Do you experience this vibration when applying partial throttle?

I feel some vibration - but not tons - certainly an acceptable amount. You also have to remember that a V6 is one of the most unbalanced engine types out there. The louder exhaust note simply makes the vibration feel stronger. (A placebo affect if you will)

There is a defect with older AWE downpipes that caused vibrations, but IIRC, that was more of a tin-sounding very loud banging sound and you have stock DP's anyways.

[Ampularity]

I have the touring + res DPs on my B8 and have been quite happy. There's very little drone at a specific RPM range, 1700-2000 when applying throttle without downshifting. I'd put it only slightly louder than the stock exhaust drone at this range. I had a loud exhaust on my B6 and that was drone city! I did not want anything like that here. My wife was skeptical since she hated the B6 exhaust. She has no complaints about this combo. You can carry on a full conversation normally without the need to compete over the exhaust. I'm in the metro west area if you want to come out this way to hear it for yourself.

Sent you a PM!

[Ampularity]

I feel some vibration - but not tons - certainly an acceptable amount. You also have to remember that a V6 is one of the most unbalanced engine types out there. The louder exhaust note simply makes the vibration feel stronger. (A placebo affect if you will)

There is a defect with older AWE downpipes that caused vibrations, but IIRC, that was more of a tin-sounding very loud banging sound and you have stock DP's anyways.

I did not know that actually! Good to know :)

[Acejam]

I did not know that actually! Good to know :)

Next time you're in your car, start it up, and just stare at your empty passenger seat where someone's butt would go. It will shake like crazy, and that's because of the V6 configuration.


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