Bob H

I had a local service shop install my Neuspeed/Borla this week and I may need to make some adjustments. They installed it as per the instructions, pushing the connections up snug and the hangers are all biased forward when the system is cold. The system appears to be unstressed - that is to say all of the hangers look equally loaded.

I have a couple of issues; I've followed all of the posts and I have heard some of you say that the exhaust tips exit level with the ground and that there is no apparent drone. Unfortunately, I'm definitely in the other camp. Concerning the tips, my OEM setup was not level either if that matters. Based on the photos, does this look normal? (the system is cold in these shots)

I could bend the two rear-most hanger pins to bring it up a little but unless I drop the rear of the resonator, I doubt it will help much. Unfortunately, it looks to me like the resonator connection will only effect the rotational positioning, not the vertical positioning. Any ideas?

<img src=http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/472/bhexhaustside.jpg>

<img src=http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/472/bhexhaustrear.jpg>

My second concern is the sound level. A little louder than stock? - no way. She makes wonderful idle, off-throttle and higher RPM sounds but the noise level and resonance in the cabin up to the 3000 RPM mark is just too much for me. I feel like I'm driving a riced-out Honda with a 5 inch exhaust can (not that there's anything wrong with that as Sienfeld would say). Will this really mellow out or is there something that can be adjusted? I only have 200 miles on it so I may be jumping the gun a little but I want to get back to the installer soon if adjustments are needed. I'm wondering if what I'm hearing is a mechanical resonance that is impacted by way the system is hung/stressed on the car or if it's just muffler packing than needs to be run in.

I would really appreciate any insights from the S4 collective....

Bob H
01 S4 Avant - 6 sp
Casablanca White - Silver Leather
Toyo T1-S

elCheng

neuspeed/borla did that on purpose to, as LarryV once said, "hide that ugly can"...

I think it's b/c they wanted to keep the tips away from the bumper, as to minimize melting. I've seen melted bumpers from a couple of exhaust systems...

frank

Viagra and some earplugs?

CatOne

Even when they have that saggy butt ugly setup.

I just think I'd rather sniff a Klingon's butthole than put a Borla exhaust on my car ;-)

-B

frank

Sounds like a PEPSI Challenge LOL...you first

jyoteen

FYI, BlownS4's Scorpion exhaust has melted the cutout. The Borla's with the melted bumper are those who have the inner tube cut out. I almost guarantee it!

I straightened out the pins and the exhaust hangs level. It has gotten a lot quieter as well.

Bubba-SanŽ

But over time it straightened some and is about 1/2" closer to the cutout than yours. In other words, "It got better".

Now my S4 is well hung.

As for the drone. Never had it but sound will mellow with time.

Hal_TT::CBP

Don't have to bend any pins.

Tips will angle down slightly.I have piddled with mine(installed it three times now - had a hangar upside down 1st time, 2nd/3rd times playing with the adjustments). The suprising thing is that the exaust will be louder/softer based on how you have the pipes compressed(lenthwise). Movement of 1/2" between the center muffler and the rear muffler seems to make a difference in resonances/volume.

Your tips look to be about 3/4" too far out(unless hot) in the 1st pic. But I remember my Avant being 1" shorter in length and can't remember if the valence was the same as the sedan(A4 version). Make sure you are all the way compressed at the cats/wrap-clamps - you will have to hammer the clamp down on the short Borla pipe since there is very little clearance between the sides on the Y pipes.

You can get the tips closer to the valence, and centered better than you currently have, by loosening the rear clamp and rotating the exaust by pushing up on the tips. Use a rubber mallot to hammer the rear of the resonator(hitting down and toward the rear of the car) to lenthen the exaust until the tips are centered and pulled up within the valence cutout. My tips have 1/2" of clearance around the valenance cutout, sides and top, and stick out approx 1 1/4" when cold.

Don't fret, sound goes away after the exaust gets seasoned. I have 1500+ mi on mine now and it is much more quiet now than when new. 1500-2800rpm used to drone/resonate pretty bad. No more droaning and somehow it has become more quiet when cold. Hardly noticible now.

Best of luck...

LCP

...and are no more than a finger's width below the top of the cut-out valence. By nearly level I mean that they point downward maybe 5 degrees. It will mellow as it gets broken in. Give it a 1000 miles. If you still think it's too loud, go spend a few minutes in an S4 with a Velocimax exhaust and you're perspective will change. Time to go back to your installer and tell them they did an unacceptable job.

LCP

...my Borla hasn't and I'm not concerned that it will, given how well it fits the car and the low amount of movement it exhibits.