[chrisw27]

So i finally got around to installing a wagner high flow cat i bought last year. My mods are Cobb AP, FMIC, CP, PTF map.

Here are my thoughts..

Reasoning
I decided to go with the catted option over cat-less primarily for the fuel smell as my partner drives the car regularly.

Install
I know LHD car owners can get away with unbolting the steering rack and reaching the v-band clamp like that, but my car is a RHD with the steering column right up against the v clamp bolt. To overcome this, i removed the RH engine mount and support. This is pretty straightforward - remove 6 e-torx bolts while jacking the engine up maybe 2 inches. Accessing 1 or 2 of the bolts is a little tricky, but extensions, swivels will get you there. The nut for the engine mount is JUST accessible from the engine bay, past the turbo inlet pipe and steering column. As has been mentioned in previous threads, disconnecting the 02 sensors at the plugs and letting them hang, then removing from the cat once taken out is much easier than doing so in-situ. The worst part was affixing the v-band clamp while holding the cat - a second set of hands would come in handy here.
The complete install took maybe 3hrs at a leisurely pace. No photos as my phone is lost

Product
The wagner cat appears well made. Nice welds, good finish. It is also slightly lighter than the stock cat, maybe 1-2kg.
Fitment was easy. Only problem was that i couldn't reinstall the transmission mounted bracket as the bolt holes would not line up easily. I made the decision to omit the bracket.
Cold starts are noticeably louder than with the stock cat (note rest of exhaust has not changed). The tone is also different - sounds angrier, a little lower in pitch.

Driving
Sound - not a noticeable difference in sound during part throttle driving. The difference is at higher throttle openings and certainly at WOT. The sound is a little deeper, has more of a bark with a few more pops/crackles. It now sounds fantastic.
Spool characteristics - definitely improved, response seems better as well.
Power - Does feel more powerful, but i think the real gains will be when i get a new PTF map.

Overall
Early days, but definitely worth the upgrade. For those looking at the catted option, it looks like your only choice now is wagner or cobb now that ardesign is no more. I can definitely recommend the wagner.

[MiamiM3]

How much louder is the cold cycle after initial startup?

[chrisw27]

Hard to quantify the increase. Not twice as loud, but maybe 20-30% increase in volume. The tone is deeper also. I actually dont like the loud cold starts - more for the sake of neighbour relations. id be curious to know whether it can be coded out.

[turo]

Stupid question: when you say hi flow cat, you mean Wagner's catted downpipe, or are you referring to something else?

I ask because a catted dp is my next mod for the same reasons you listed, and I was leaning towards Wagner.

[hz_diesel]

Originally Posted by turo

Stupid question: when you say hi flow cat, you mean Wagner's catted downpipe, or are you referring to something else?

I ask because a catted dp is my next mod for the same reasons you listed, and I was leaning towards Wagner.

Wagner Catted. It is a hi flow cat.

I also have this. I love it. I wish I could have my cold start 24/7 tbh. I would say it got 30% louder. I have a video comparing it with stock exhaust and just the dp. I'll have to find it.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Thank you for the review

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Wagner is a quality product, highly recommend.

[DrRobert]

Originally Posted by chrisw27

For those looking at the catted option, it looks like your only choice now is wagger or cobb now that ardesign is no more. I can definitely recommend the wagner.

There is also CP-e.

[DrRobert]

Originally Posted by chrisw27

I actually dont like the loud cold starts - more for the sake of neighbour relations. id be curious to know whether it can be coded out.

I'm in the same situation. Added a HFC, like the added power but not the added noise. Would adding a pair of resonators in the midpipes help with that?

[MiamiM3]

Originally Posted by DrRobert

I'm in the same situation. Added a HFC, like the added power but not the added noise. Would adding a pair of resonators in the midpipes help with that?

Robert, you ended up purchasing a catted DP? How much louder is the cold start cycle? Does the turbo spool up faster now? Do the pros outweigh the cons? I still have my brand new Wagner catted DP in the box in my garage, two months after purchase. The houses in my development are extremely close together so I am definitely concerned about the cold start cycle at 6:00 am in the morning.

[DrRobert]

Originally Posted by MiamiM3

Robert, you ended up purchasing a catted DP? How much louder is the cold start cycle? Does the turbo spool up faster now? Do the pros outweigh the cons? I still have my brand new Wagner catted DP in the box in my garage, two months after purchase. The houses in my development are extremely close together so I am definitely concerned about the cold start cycle at 6:00 am in the morning.

Hey Chris,
I ended up having a high flow cat retrofitted into the OEM DP. Cold start sounds noticeably louder from the driver's seat with the door/window open. Inside the cabin with the windows closed there is not much difference, but it is a bit louder above 3K RPM and I do feel a little more self-conscious driving through the neighborhood in the morning. I'm thinking of adding resonators but would like some confirmation that that will make it significantly quieter without any drop in power. I did grab some before video clips but haven't gotten the after clips yet to compare. Too soon to tell about the pros/cons. Turbo does seem to spool up faster but like the OP I expect more gains after Dzenno can make me a new map; I'm still waiting to hear from him about that. Will repeat the dyno after that and post my results.

Robert

[MiamiM3]

Chrisw27,

Do you notice the exhaust fumes with the HFC installed, or does it eliminate them like the stock cat?

[chrisw27]

MiamiM3, the smell is mildly noticeable in the garage on start, but not at all during driving.

Update: really nice surprise is during part throttle in low gears (1st, 2nd, lesser extent 3rd) the sound has a great, throaty, burbly nature to it, up to around 4K. At higher loads it is louder, but without this characteristic. I almost always drive with no radio and both windows down, as the sound is lovely.

Im actually thinking now about an axleback exhaust. Does anyone have experience specifically with the berk sports or active autowerke gen ii, ideally with an upgrade dp?

Im not interested in the BMW PE as the landed cost to Aus is almost 2kaud, and the above two seem much better value.

[Cory S]

When I do the Pure turbo upgrade, I will be installing the Wagner high flow catted DP also.

[hz_diesel]

Originally Posted by DrRobert

I'm in the same situation. Added a HFC, like the added power but not the added noise. Would adding a pair of resonators in the midpipes help with that?

Get a JB4 and program it out. There is no way to avoid the cold start. The HFC adds noise as well just not as much as catless but still noticeable. Resonators deal with more of droning and make the tone a bit more deep.

[Johnny Boost]

Originally Posted by DrRobert

I'm in the same situation. Added a HFC, like the added power but not the added noise. Would adding a pair of resonators in the midpipes help with that?

Yes, my cold starts were noticeably quieter after adding resonators but I wouldn't exactly call them quiet.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Cory S

When I do the Pure turbo upgrade, I will be installing the Wagner high flow catted DP also.

Nice!!

When do you plan on upgrading your turbos?

[Cory S]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Nice!!

When do you plan on upgrading your turbos?

I've been teetering on the edge for days now.... I only need one though.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by Cory S

I've been teetering on the edge for days now.... I only need one though.

Its a bad habit ... I do the same with downpipes ... Whether its one pipe or 2 , always call them downpipes