[BobS]

I just got my car back from the shop and have AR catless downpipes with a Vanguard exhaust. The car is pretty loud, actually louder than I really want. I'm sure some love it, but I’ve had loud/aggressive sounding cars in the past and I'm kinda over it. The power is great, and the Stg 2 tune is awesome but I really want the car to be quieter.

I have searched pretty extensively on exhaust options and vids don't do these exhausts justice and opinions are all over the place.

I'm thinking if I get catted downpipes that will help with the noise and make the car a little more civil. I'm sure I’ll lose some power but I'm ok with that if it’s a little quieter.

So I'm interested to hear what setups people have (DPs/exhaust), and what the noise level is like?

What are your opinions on catted vs. catless DP's for sound?

Finally, what is the most quiet catback exhaust out there? The bmw performance exhaust isn't a option because it isn't catback.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

[Kevin@AKMotorwerk]

Originally Posted by BobS

I just got my car back from the shop and have AR catless downpipes with a Vanguard exhaust. The car is pretty loud, actually louder than I really want. I'm sure some love it, but I’ve had loud/aggressive sounding cars in the past and I'm kinda over it. The power is great, and the Stg 2 tune is awesome but I really want the car to be quieter.

I have searched pretty extensively on exhaust options and vids don't do these exhausts justice and opinions are all over the place.

I'm thinking if I get catted downpipes that will help with the noise and make the car a little more civil. I'm sure I’ll lose some power but I'm ok with that if it’s a little quieter.

So I'm interested to hear what setups people have (DPs/exhaust), and what the noise level is like?

What are your opinions on catted vs. catless DP's for sound?

Finally, what is the most quiet catback exhaust out there? The bmw performance exhaust isn't a option because it isn't catback.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

the rennART resonated exhaust is the quietest exhaust available that i've heard, its got a good sound but not loud at all.

you can always buy some vibrant resonators and have them welded into your exhaust you have now to quiet it down considerably and eliminate rasp

[BobS]

Interesting, i'll have to look that exhaust up. Thanks

[Kevin@AKMotorwerk]

Originally Posted by BobS

Interesting, i'll have to look that exhaust up. Thanks

if your not far from hillsborough nj, let me know, feel free to come by, the shop car has riss racing dps and the rennART exhaust set up on it, so you can hear it in person instead of you tube videos

[BobS]

Nice, actually I travel up to Hoboken all the time and will give you a call to come by and hear it. Thats a great idea!

Right now the resonated version looks pretty good, I assume your shop car has the resonated version?

[Kevin@AKMotorwerk]

Originally Posted by BobS

Nice, actually I travel up to Hoboken all the time and will give you a call to come by and hear it. Thats a great idea!

Right now the resonated version looks pretty good, I assume your shop car has the resonated version?

hoboken is pretty far away from hillsborough, we are in central jersey by somerset/princeton/north, south brunswick

and yes we have the resonated version, its very timid yet if you get on it you know you have an exhaust

[Iwantm3]

damn I wish I had your problems I want my car to be much louder lol

[fla10335i]

Originally Posted by Iwantm3

damn I wish I had your problems I want my car to be much louder lol

Only if our cars had external wastegates....would that be loud enough for you?

[TLO03]

Let us listen.. maybe a vid.

[CPWINCH]

I have britalman exhaust its very quite.

[cn555ic]

Vangaurd exhaust is loud to begin with and they have resonators already I have CPE exhaust with resonates added and it's considerably not as loud as the same setup compared to vanguard catless exhaust. I would look into exhaust that has xpipe instead of h-piPe

[BobS]

I'm going to check out the AK shop car with the RennTech resonated version. Sounds like it may be just what I'm looking for.

[asian010]

Originally Posted by cn555ic

Vangaurd exhaust is loud to begin with and they have resonators already I have CPE exhaust with resonates added and it's considerably not as loud as the same setup compared to vanguard catless exhaust. I would look into exhaust that has xpipe instead of h-piPe

you should listen to my vanguard without the resonaters then =D

[BobS]

Figured I would provide a little update....

Call me crazy but this exhaust/sound is growing on me. It seems to be deeper and sound better as it gets more miles on it. I love the gurgling sounds it makes at low speed and it absolutely screams at WOT. I'm probably going to end up keeping it.

I took my fiancé on a hour ride to visit my parents and she didn't think it was to loud at all, she even feel asleep in the car lol!

Oh and I think the big thing that makes a difference is temperature. I drove the car in 38 degree weather and it was loud as hell, in 75 degree weather it sounded much better!

[KLin]

That's good to know because that was the same exact setup that I'm looking into. Did you install the AR DPs at the same time as the Vanguard? I'm just wondering if having stock DPs and the Vanguard would be noticeable quieter.

[badass335]

My setup was just too loud. I had vk catless and cpe catback and holy wake the dead, loud! I was even drowning out mustangs WITH exhausts. In my garage, if I started the car, things vibrated off the might table upstairs. Got cpe catted dp and still loud. Next got 2 resonators and got bastuck axle back and then livable. Finally, couldn't take it anymore. Threw in my stock dp back exhaust. Back to the civil world.

Bob, if you have a chance, I'd love an opinion on the renart system! I have ms catless dps I'm going to put on as I NEED the power so catback will be needed. Again

[gaifaun]

the rennart is the most quiet but i thought they stopped making them no?

badass335: your best bet is to run catless DP's, keep your secondary cats on and do the golf tee mod. the OEM muffler sounds pretty nice if your remove some restrictions!

[badass335]

Originally Posted by gaifaun

the rennart is the most quiet but i thought they stopped making them no?

badass335: your best bet is to run catless DP's, keep your secondary cats on and do the golf tee mod. the OEM muffler sounds pretty nice if your remove some restrictions!

I appreciate the feedback! The question I have is how much power is lost running the secondary cats and resonators? As for sound, I want as little as possible but all the benefits of free flow!

[mwahlert]

the stock exhaust flows pretty darn well once the secondary cats are removed.

i have been running AR CL 3" downpipes into a CL stock exhaust for over a year now with excellent results.

there are maybe 5HP max to be found over a CL stock exhaust with a louder aftermarket exhaust. not worth it if you ask me.

make sure you watch in HD for better sound quality

i am actually in the process of bringing my car back to stock as i will be trading it in within the next few weeks.

my modified stock exhaust is for sale if you are interested.

[Chrisred]

Originally Posted by Iwantm3

damn I wish I had your problems I want my car to be much louder lol

Ya me too. I have AMS exhaust with ar catless and I want more noise!!!

[FVM3]

Originally Posted by Chrisred

Ya me too. I have AMS exhaust with ar catless and I want more noise!!!

delete secondary cats or go for straight pipe

[gaifaun]

Originally Posted by badass335

I appreciate the feedback! The question I have is how much power is lost running the secondary cats and resonators? As for sound, I want as little as possible but all the benefits of free flow!

np

oh you have a sedan? in that case if you are okay with the smell and emissions issue, cut the secondary cats out. Keep the resonator in there or else it will be too raspy for your taste. Then put in catless or catted DPs. (catless dp throws codes).

if you are looking for more sound, then do the golf tee mod or you can always remove the resonators later on. The stock exhaust is pretty free flowing (except for the secondary cats and DP's, and some crushed piping in some places)

No power is lost when you remove the cats. You GAIN power. you gain around 5-10 whp and you get more response and faster spool when you cut the cats. In my experience removing the resonators didn't give any noticeable gains on the butt dyno.