Totally lost on exhaust systems can you guys help out? What are the different brands?...
 

So far I have seen Milltech,
LaBree, AWE. What are the others if any for a 2005 4.2L Avant W/TIP. I want a low rumble at idle and just a slightly louder sound without drone or resonance under power. Maybe a 30% gain in noise. The car is a daily driver so sound fatigue and drone are big issues for me. I also don't want to loose any low end grunt but would like mid range to high rpm breathing increases,,,asking too much?
If anyone knows you guys do so any help is appreciated. I have been searching the web for the last three days looking for something that won't break the bank but is a reasonable quality good sounding system....Thanks!

If your sound issues are top priority, then just a catback
 

unfortunately, you wont see much power gains if any. The DP is where the Power is but it radically modifies and amplifies the sound. The tone is a person pref so find some people in your area and try to take a listen.. Good luck and enjoy.

I have to disagree on "little or no power gains" with just a catback
 

I just had a Milltek non-res installed, and looked at both exhausts side by side. The stock S4 exhaust is tiny in comparison, with crimped, smaller pipes, and Milltek has proven dyno graphs that show decent gains.

I can really feel a difference in performance, especially from 3rd gear up.

At least 10 whp and 10-15 wheel torque. Maybe it is the Strat Hyperflow that helps out as well...but besides the great sound benefits, there ARE performance gains.

Oh yeah...and throttle response is better as well.

If you are going to mod your B6 S, I would highly recommend the Stratmosphere Hyperflow intake and Milltek non-res cat back.

Great combo, and warranty safe.

I'd have to disagree with you! Dyno charts showing 10whp are from the manufacturer.
 

Dynos in LA with thermal and milltek show 0-negative gains with the aftermarket exhaust. I don't know of any 3rd party dynos that show gains with only a catback.

Also, 10-15 hp (crank) is 3% gain let's say. Do you really believe you can feel the difference with your butt dyno, or are you actually just <i>hearing</i> the difference? I believe if your'e really in tune with your car, it's possible...but I'd say 5% of the people <i>on here</i> could tell if that many at all.

I was just talking to Miwa about this earlier today...I think the baffled design of milltek's catback might be to blame. Yes, the pipe diameter is larger and the milltek is lacking the crimp of the stock setup, but it's getting clogged up in the catback. You can hear this when you compare Ben's setup which is identical to mine minus the catback. You get no sound out of the muffler when you tap the throttle. It sounds like nothing is coming out until 2.5k-3k when it starts to make noise.


Now, Milltek is a great sounding system, and the non-res is perfect for people who just want the sound. I've heard Haw's labree catback setup and it sounds sweet too. For just a catback, I'd recommend Haw's Labree or Milltek non-res. Milltek res is too quiet for just a catback, but note, the Milltek non-res will have a bit of interior resonance.

Colo, have a listen to some catback setups in person if possible. You may even prefer just a milltek resonated if the non-res is too loud for your tastes, and I believe it may just be.

Final note, Haw doesn't want his setup loud at all, yet he's thrilled with his labree catback 3 inch setup.

I have the Full Labree set up, but it sounds like you are looking for Miltek Resonated Exhaust only.

My Milltek Res is NOT quiet.
 

it sounds great.
Deep sounding and pleasant.
If you just slightly blip the throttle, you hear it.

You don't need to be at 2.5-3K to hear the rumble Sia.

I'm sticking with the RES, because I plan on doing some DP's and just a little bit louder, will be loud enough for me.....

I don't think many CB's make any power, it's all about sound.

Of course all the Manf. will claim gains, but we know what's up.

CB's: it's all about note/tone....

Listen to them before making a decision....
Find guys in your area and hear it for yourself.

Everyone's ideas of a 'pleasant' sound is different.

kj

I had the exact concerns you do..
 

I just installed AWE res cb system and couldn't be happier with the sound. Great rumble at idle with a deeper growl at higher rpm's. I do hear a slight droan while highway cruising, but only at 2k rpm, so I just avoid 2k. The system fit perfectly and was probabally the best $1000 I could have spent on this car. Most bang for the buck to say. I highly recommend an exhaust, any exhaust!

I was in similar boat and went with APR DPs and Exhaust...
 

... I was balancing performance and sound. The power is smooth all the way across and very noticable. It is really not too much louder than stock, but a nice throaty rumble sound. From the full set up it was quite a bit cehaper than the Miltek as well. The system is well built and the tapered, etched tips look real good... very-non-ricer-ish. (Is that a verb?)

If noise is your main concern, Milltek res is the way to go. But I do love my ASP!

PS: APR is also quiet, but I feel their size is too close to stock to show any real gains in power.

I agree with both your posts.

Well, if we are going off feelings my butt "feels" a huge increase w/APR! :)

The miltek cat-back actually lost power over stock in the dyno runs i have been to. But it gave a
 

slight increase in torque over stock.All cat-backs either lose or give minimal gains in hp or tq. The most HP gain i have seen from just a cat-back is 3whp. Any exhaust system either full or cat-back is the worst HP to dollar mod you can spend money on IMHO.

Getting rid of the crimp and straightening some of the bends will help as bit, as well as
 

DPs (if you have them). But up top the flow afforded by a 2 3/8" (Milltek) or 2 1/2" (ASP, Labree, AWE) [pardon if I've left others out] will be greater than that of the 2 1/8" APR setup. Stock is about 2 1/16". HOWEVER, you may experience greater torque down low due to the increase backpressure afforded by a smaller diameter system. I will also add on APR's behalf that their chip tuning division must be doing something right since they had the highest peak hp at the first shooutout, if I remember correctly. If you care enough, drive a larger diameter system and see if you notice a difference. As I've said before though, the power differences between the exhausts will be nominal. Sound and complementary upgrades such as chip should be more of a deciding factor, IMO.

I am very in tune with my car, and drive it quite hard very often......
 

I easily notice when it is down on power, or running hard.

I CAN feel a difference in power on the freeway WOT in 4th and above (where sound really does not come into play). The Milltek non-res is really loudest at lower RPMs, not up high when I usually hear the hyperflow over anything else.

I dont buy into some of the Dyno tests that people have done on this board. There are sooo many variables, and the latest crap shoot has not even been posted. What the hell is the deal with that?

So you guys claiming all your power gains are saying it is soley from downpipes and chips? Chips? On 91 octane in Cali? On a NA engine? Pass the crack pipe.

I dont buy it.

Whatever man, you keep on going by your butt dyno then. You are happy with your purchase and that is
 

all that really matters. But don't say something you can't back up with numbers,weather it's track time or dyno runs. You can't say it's faster because it feels faster. Sound and acceleration can play tricks on your sence of what is really going on. But enjoy or system.

Sound fatigue won't be an issue- everytime you turn on the key you'll smile
 

I had DP+ Milltek Non Res installed last week, I was fearful of attracting too much unwanted attention, namely the police, but after you unleash the beast within the 4.2L powerplant and hear your baby growl, you'll enjoy every single second of it. In garages, cruising slowly up the street or even in the highway , that thing is meant to sound like it does on Millteks. whether you go RES or NONRES, my two cents-- sound fatigue is for ricers, you'll always have a smile on your face with this one.

This link shows a 3rd party owner and dyno....
 

<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/s4b6/threads/12521.phtml#122942">https://forums.audiworld.com/s4b6/threads/12521.phtml#122942</a</li></ul>

Yet all manafacturers claim their CB gives big increase, especially compared to DP

Whatever dude, I will keep going by manufacturers public numbers and claims....
 

To say that the milltek cat back looses power over stock is crazy.

I have seen dyno results that totally prove you wrong.

Even with my software set to stock my car still showed nice gains......
 

There was only a difference of around 10hp between my stock and chip mode runs.

Yes. I believe a labree catback does have power gains downlow by design, but not the milltek.
 

Like David said, maybe torque gains, but the flow is constricted by Milltek's baffled design.

And about the crack pipe...we're not talking about 80ft lbs and 50hp gains by chipping, we're talking reasonalbe number like 10whp and 20ftlbs. Yes, 20ft lbs is pushing it, but you'd be on crack thinking a catback mod would out-do tuning that is less conservative than the factory.

You have to hear Ben's setup. Identical to mine, but non-res catback.
 

There's no rumble until 2.5k and then it screams. It seems like it's choking and then it all comes out at once.

Did you dyno w/ APR full setup?

Yes, he did.

I dynoed APR full setup with and without chip.

Opinions vary. The important thing is that we enjoy what we have.

Agreed.