Installed a resonator delete on my '15 S3 early this year. Was an easy install overall and made the car sound great! A bit throatier with some extra snarl overall. Was running APR Stage 1. Was waiting for APR to release the downpipe for my car and then just to Stage 2. Became available and took my car to the nearest APR certified shop for the install. Res delete still in place. Started the car when complete and found it way too loud. The larger diameter of the downpipe along with it's own acoustic signature made the volume over the top. A few weeks later, I replaced the resonator and drove onward.

So I started thinking that after months of running with the new downpipe, perhaps some carbon build up and general break in would allow me to run the res delete again. NOPE! It seriously still sounds like a GT3 car driving about. And that was with the engine/trans in comfort mode! Switch to Dynamic with the other exhaust valves open and it's full on race mode. LOL. Very nice day in central Ohio today; 75 and sunny. Drove the car on lunch break, windows down, and decided the resonator HAS to be reinstalled. Really don't need a 'hey, look at me" car.

On a sidenote, normally changing this out is super quick. Elevate the car, and a clamp on each of the device. But I installed a UBQ brace from Unibrace on my car. The brace essentially covers the entire transmission tunnel where the exhaust is routed. Does a great job of stiffening the chassis but if you need to work on the exhaust in this region, have to get the car on 4 jack stands and remove the brace first.

Just some FYI for anyone considering a res delete with a replacement downpipe. Be prepared for an aural treat!

 

Great write-up. By any chance did you happen to record any videos? I am in the same boat as you I'm thinking about getting a downpipe

 

Unfortunately not. I thought about it AFTER the fact. Dumb on my part. I love the downpipe and the Stage 2 tune. And if you're in the same situation, I think you would be perfectly happy with the exhaust note with the DP but with the resonator on the car. With the APR DP and res delete, it was annoyingly loud.

I reinstalled the resonator yesterday then took the car for a nice country road drive. Windows down. Perfect sound. Just perfect. My wife thinks the car loud with the resonator back on but she's wrong in this case. Sounds just right. Sorry for not having some comparison videos or audio bites for you.

 

For those of us who have the resonator delete as an option and didn't order it separately is there a way to replace the resonator when going Stage 2. The last thing I (or my wife) need or want is a super loud exhaust. It will be a while before I go Stage 2 due to warranty but I want as much power as I can get with the least amount of increase in exhaust sound.

 

Isn't that what Fixeroh did?

 

best bet is probably asking people online who have removed theirs. i tossed mine after a couple weeks

 

May I ask why you tossed it?

 

it was taking up space in the garage. i'm a minimalist- if i think i really won't need it i'm compelled to get rid of it. sometimes i try to sell for cash..

 

I like to keep things clean and minimalistic as possible but with car and computer parts, I will hold onto things for some time just to be sure I will keep the new parts. Replaced the air intake, downpipe and under engine tray on my car but have the originals tucked into storage in the basement. Highly doubtful I will every reuse any of the old stuff but it came in handy with the resonator. I've removed and replaced it several times now. LOL. Resonator stays on the car now however. May try to sell the resonator delete to someone NOT planning on replacing their downpipe.

For individuals who get the car used or from the dealer with the res delete, might be tough to obtain an OEM resonator after the fact if going to a new downpipe. I say this because the resonator is part of the muffler assembly. One has to cut the resonator off the pipe leading into the muffler. Tube clamps on each end of the res delete hold it in place afterward. To reinstall my cutoff resonator, I simply had to loosen tube clamps and swap. But not sure how someone can buy only a resonator. And it has to be cut to match the length of the resonator delete. For those unaware, the resonator delete is simply a section of straight pipe with a hook for a rubber hanger mount under the car.

Best bet for finding a resonator to keep the volume down after installing a new downpipe is to go out on the forums and look for guys who have purchased and installed res deletes and have kept the resonators on hand. Sure you can find a few available.

 

LOL okay. So did you replace your downpipe as well and decided it was not a good fit with the factory resonator delete? I was just trying to confirm whether you simply weren't happy with the res delete option.