Feedback on the 034 Res-X, Resonator delete on B9 SQ5

[Jeheh]

I know the part is fairly new. I’ve watched lots of videos with a cold start and rev, sounds nice. I am aware that other straight pipe options create a drone at low revs at highway speed, especially on the ECS model or just removing the resonator. I can’t find feedback on the 034 specifically, on an sq5. I have the technik (Canadian) model with thicker glass if that provides better sound insulation.

I’m interested in some added pops on downshifting and braps on the upshift, but not a the expense of a highway drone or a excessive noise. It’s muted in stock form but I can I hear it’s there. I’m coming from Mini and the pro-exhaust was raucous when you opened the valves, but civil when it’s closed. I am assuming that the different exhaust settings in the menu will give me some added control of the exhaust note even with the x-pipe installed. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

I love the sound of the cold start (I have the performance exhaust), and I’d like to know other opinions from members who own it, ideally without other mods.


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[cmil527]

Cant speak to the 034 but have the ECS and it doesn't drone at all... add's some deeper tone and pops/crackles in conjunction with intake and sport exhaust. Definately happy with mine!

[chrisdazzo]

Planning on installing one on my SQ5 this weekend, will post vids.

[Jeheh]

Planning on installing one on my SQ5 this weekend, will post vids.

Thanks Chris, looking forward to your thoughts on it.


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[Jeheh]

Cant speak to the 034 but have the ECS and it doesn't drone at all... add's some deeper tone and pops/crackles in conjunction with intake and sport exhaust. Definately happy with mine!

I have no experience with the Ecs other than some reviews from trolling the forum. I’m happy to hear it’s working out, it’s making me less concerned about the excessive noise


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[Hostile]

If some buys it can then measure it from end to end?

[Ginzy]

Cant speak to the 034 but have the ECS and it doesn't drone at all... add's some deeper tone and pops/crackles in conjunction with intake and sport exhaust. Definately happy with mine!

Perfectly stated man. Have the same setup and love it. Almost wish it was a tiny bit louder.

[chrisdazzo]

If some buys it can then measure it from end to end?

End to end, one side is 51”. Right to left diagonal, 52”.

[Hostile]

End to end, one side is 51”. Right to left diagonal, 52”.

Perfect, thank you!

[turbo_911]

I've had ECS X-Pipe for 1.5 years now and I am happy with it. Very little drone on HWY in comfort mode in 8th gear. If I was a bit younger (in my early 30's) I'd say no drone, but noticed the older I get the less drone I prefer lol.
I think that's the cheapest best mod you can do to your car to improve the sound without making it obnoxious. My intake makes more noises than the exhaust at the moment :)

[Hostile]

I've had ECS X-Pipe for 1.5 years now and I am happy with it. Very little drone on HWY in comfort mode in 8th gear. If I was a bit younger (in my early 30's) I'd say no drone, but noticed the older I get the less drone I prefer lol.
I think that's the cheapest best mod you can do to your car to improve the sound without making it obnoxious. My intake makes more noises than the exhaust at the moment :)

Lately I’ve found myself leaving the car in D mode just so I can hear more of the induction and intake sounds from the SuperDüper inlet and S34 intake.

[chrisdazzo]

Alright, installed this afternoon.

Luckily, and without my knowledge, the “service manager’s wife” must’ve installed a resonator delete at some point before my period of ownership started, because there was already a nice little cut and aftermarket clamps at the back. Didn’t have to cut or dismount the entire exhaust!

My SQ5 spent about an hour and a half on a lift. We had to do some shaving of the end of the pipe where someone else cut the exhaust first at a shitty angle, but it was otherwise a simple procedure. Really nice to have an exhaust hanger tool on hand, I’ll say that. Note that there is basically no clearance between the clamps in the back, so if you’re also going to replace the front set of clamps, get something closer to OEM thinness. Also note the pipe easily clears the structural support in the middle of the car, after the catalytic converters. No rattle.

Here’s the exhaust hanger tool I used, and the budget-conscious aftermarket exhaust clamps.

[placeholder for video]

Impressions: relatively easy to install, with the right equipment. Nearly no drone (maybe a 5% increase in that regard), but not constant at all - more when taking off from a stop, maybe at higher speeds but I haven’t tested highway driving yet. Much more burbles, pops, and crackles when you want them. Note that I do have the exhaust flap always open, so your experience may vary. The exhaust remains more tame in D versus in S.

I also installed the 034 Transmission Mount Insert, which was easy (despite me breaking the little rivets holding on the underside protector) enough. Definitely makes a noticeable difference versus OEM. Shifts don’t jolt (at all) anymore, from what I can tell so far. Highly recommended, and you don’t need a lift for the install.

[Jeheh]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.
I ordered the 034 xpipe. Hopefully I can get it installed next week. I’m looking forward to a little more noise out of the car.

I understand all of the comparative reviews now between the m40i, GLC43 and sq5. I test drive them all. Overall the SQ5 was the best value and interior, but for a sports SUV is by far the softest drivers car off the lot. I’m now several thousand in over the purchase price to personalize it. Lowered to correct the stance and handling, new wheels and cf mirrors were more an aesthetic preference, and now the xpipe so I can hear the car more. For the $5k, of performance enhancements, I’m just dusting the surface and it’s still a couple grand less than the comparable X3 or GLC that come properly outfitted from the factory and are quicker.

At least I can look back at my car and admire it now. It was all sorts of post purchase dissonance for the first couple of weeks.


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[Jeheh]

Impressions: relatively easy to install, with the right equipment. Nearly no drone (maybe a 5% increase in that regard), but not constant at all - more when taking off from a stop, maybe at higher speeds but I haven’t tested highway driving yet. Much more burbles, pops, and crackles when you want them. Note that I do have the exhaust flap always open, so your experience may vary. The exhaust remains more tame in D versus in S.

That’s awesome, and great write up. I imagine without the flaps always open the 5% drone goes away in D or comfort. I leave mine on individual but should spend more time playing with drive mode settings. I am looking forward to burbles and pops, and maybe a nice braaap when upshifting. The car seems a little neutered without it.

Also comforting I can tame the noises if I am hauling some customers around for work. I’ll share some feedback when I get it installed, mine is otherwise bone stock.

Hopefully the exhaust can stay on, I’m having a shop do it.


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[chrisdazzo]

I should note that I always drive in Individual with everything on Dynamic settings except the fake engine sounds. Also typically in Sport but today I also tried normal Drive mode ;)

[Jeheh]

I should note that I always drive in Individual with everything on Dynamic settings except the fake engine sounds. Also typically in Sport but today I also tried normal Drive mode ;)

How was normal drive mode by comparison?


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[Jeheh]

I finally got the xpipe installed.

The sound in sport plus made the pops and burbles more audible, but not offensive. I would have imagined it would come that way from factory. The JCW pro exhaust on my Mini was WAY louder.

I’m surprised that I need to be in sport and pushing it a bit to hear more sound, and I have the performance exhaust. In drive and the settings turns up in individual it’s still pretty quiet, more so in comfort.

In short, I’m not mad at it but I expected a more dramatic change. For the cost after install, plus the cost of the stock performance exhaust, you’re way better off with a quality aftermarket catback.

I’m sensitive to noise, so I can agree on the 5% drone, but it’s not offensive at all.


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[Hostile]

Alright, installed this afternoon.

Luckily, and without my knowledge, the “service manager’s wife” must’ve installed a resonator delete at some point before my period of ownership started, because there was already a nice little cut and aftermarket clamps at the back. Didn’t have to cut or dismount the entire exhaust!

Impressions: relatively easy to install, with the right equipment. Nearly no drone (maybe a 5% increase in that regard), but not constant at all - more when taking off from a stop, maybe at higher speeds but I haven’t tested highway driving yet. Much more burbles, pops, and crackles when you want them. Note that I do have the exhaust flap always open, so your experience may vary. The exhaust remains more tame in D versus in S.

So your resonator had already been removed and it was replaced with two straight pipes?

And the 034 res-x has slightly more drone then the straight pipes that it replaced?

[Jeheh]

Chrisdazzo

Question for you as well. I noticed that my exhaust tips are pushed back, and now stuck out about 1” from the rear diffuser. I’m taking it back to the shop to see if they can get the pipes closer together under the clamp, or take more pipe off so it’s not sticking out. It’s a good shop, not sure how they missed that detail. I’m not super thrilled. Curious if you can chime in seeing as you installed it.

The design flaw in oem performance exhaust (driver side tips being misaligned) is already enough to set my ocd alarm off. This is compounding it.


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[SQ5-4RiNGS]

Chrisdazzo

Question for you as well. I noticed that my exhaust tips are pushed back, and now stuck out about 1” from the rear diffuser. I’m taking it back to the shop to see if they can get the pipes closer together under the clamp, or take more pipe off so it’s not sticking out. It’s a good shop, not sure how they missed that detail. I’m not super thrilled. Curious if you can chime in seeing as you installed it.

The design flaw in oem performance exhaust (driver side tips being misaligned) is already enough to set my ocd alarm off. This is compounding it.


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Yeah my left side is also misaligned dealership claims they can’t do anything but it’s under warranty so I’m gonna find a way to get it done cause it’s really annoying. May I just have to call Audi of America

[chrisdazzo]

So your resonator had already been removed and it was replaced with two straight pipes?

And the 034 res-x has slightly more drone then the straight pipes that it replaced?

Sorry, let me clarify. The cuts were there (a set of aftermarket exhaust clamps that shouldn’t be there at the back), but so was the OEM muffler. So someone had definitely deleted the resonator during their period of ownership, then reversed the mod before returning the lease.

To @Jeheh’s question: I have turndowns so I can’t speak to the sport exhaust fitment.

[Jeheh]

The stock tips have been a labor of love. They arrived, after port install, terribly misaligned. The angles were off when they clamped so the driver side was sagging. Then I saw the pipes weren’t bent the same angle (happy to sign that petition even though I’m in canada). After the resonator delete, still more adjustments. Next time I’ll go valved cat back, I can see all in all it would’ve been cheaper with (small) performance gains.


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[Hamiltonj2w1]

I have the ECS resonator delete as well as the plug to keep the drivers side exhaust flap open. Sounds good no drone on the highway. Sounds even better in dynamic mode with my 034 tune.

[DiscoDan]

I have the ECS resonator delete as well as the plug to keep the drivers side exhaust flap open. Sounds good no drone on the highway. Sounds even better in dynamic mode with my 034 tune.

Ohhhh any video clips?

[Hamiltonj2w1]

I don’t unfortunately but it sounds exactly like the one on 034’s YouTube video. Just did a 700 mile round trip with it and not once did I get any exhaust drone.

[wec_032]

I am contemplating the 034 x-pipe as well. From other forums, it seems the clamps make for a simpler install. It seems to be about 30% more expensive than the ECS, but it’s easier to install it would be worth that for me. For those that have installed, are you happy with the engine note improvement, or do you wish you had just bit the bullet on a quality cat-back exhaust? Thanks.


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[SQ5-4RiNGS]

I should note that I always drive in Individual with everything on Dynamic settings except the fake engine sounds. Also typically in Sport but today I also tried normal Drive mode ;)

When I put the exhaust mode on full blast in individual, The car starts and stays with the exhaust valves open after cold start