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Mk7 Exhaust Tech. How to get the sound you want.

Rare Ara S3

Go Kart Champion
Location
Michigan
Car(s)
2017 Audi S3, GTI
I know CTS got hate but I like the sound compared to the factory muffler. Had a local fab shop add the vibrant 17950 and it definitely helped with some of the noise. They also made adjustments to a couple areas that were rubbing. Perhaps that was some of my noise. The vibrant doesn’t hang too low. So far so good.
is it as quiet inside as I’d prefer? No. But even if the CTS doesn’t age well and I want to put the factory rear section back on at least I have the additional resonator now.
Simply posting this combo of Trackslag and CTS with pics for anyone interested in the future
 

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VQVW

Ready to race!
Location
Oregon
Car(s)
2018 Alltrack SE 6MT
@GTI Jake you're using a Borla muffler in your system but you also suggested they weren't great quality. Good enough for a budget build? Or are there only certain Borla products that you'd recommend?
 

GTI Jake

Autocross Champion
Location
Charlotte, NC
@GTI Jake you're using a Borla muffler in your system but you also suggested they weren't great quality. Good enough for a budget build? Or are there only certain Borla products that you'd recommend?

I use a Borla XS Pro in a few of my systems, and it’s 304 Stainless which is a minimum requirement for everything I build. Also, American made which is a great plus as well.

The system Borla sells doesn’t use that same muffler, and has all the issues I listed previously for extreme cost cutting (slip fit connections, poor bend quality, MIG welds throughout which aren’t back purged, tiny tubing after the Y pipe, poor quality Y pipe).

Quit the difference between using one single component by them to their entire cobbled up system. Granted I’d love to not have to use anything with someone else’s brand stamped on it, but I don’t have the shop equipment to roll my own mufflers from scratch.
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If you’re “budget” building my answer is always to either buy once cry once or leave it alone. It’s not like buying cheaper groceries to save on stuff you need, there’s no need for a catback if you can’t swing for quality the OEM one is superior to 90% of the poor fitting and poorly built options out there.
 

Supermoto

Autocross Champion
Location
San Diego
Car(s)
2019 Autobahn DSG
I picked up a MBRP system for 640 and it has been excellent. Its 304 stainless, cleans up real nice, the welds are clean, and best of all it sounds excellent. It fit perfect first shot without having to adjust anything which was a surprise to me. I agree that buying cheap stuff isnt always a great idea (like the rev9 stuff) but I dont think its necessary to pay over a thousand dollars for an exhaust system for a little turbo 4 banger. For a pro like GTI Jake im sure any exhaust system will have its flaws, but for the other 90% of us out there the "cheap" stuff fits the bill perfectly.
 

GTI Jake

Autocross Champion
Location
Charlotte, NC
I picked up a MBRP system for 640 and it has been excellent. Its 304 stainless, cleans up real nice, the welds are clean, and best of all it sounds excellent. It fit perfect first shot without having to adjust anything which was a surprise to me. I agree that buying cheap stuff isnt always a great idea (like the rev9 stuff) but I dont think its necessary to pay over a thousand dollars for an exhaust system for a little turbo 4 banger. For a pro like GTI Jake im sure any exhaust system will have its flaws, but for the other 90% of us out there the "cheap" stuff fits the bill perfectly.

If you ever add a downpipe that MBRP will be absolutely useless.

I know you’re trying to be Robin Hood, but the only reason I’m a “pro” is because I started out making these same mistakes with cheap parts I had to fix myself.

My original setup was a muffler delete literally built from the scrap bin and shortly after a CTS downpipe I got for free and added a cat to. That’s how development started and luckily for you guys I spent thousands of dollars I didn’t have at the time to do so.
 

ErBall

Measurement Mogul
Location
Indiana
Car(s)
MQB A3
If you ever add a downpipe that MBRP will be absolutely useless.

I know you’re trying to be Robin Hood, but the only reason I’m a “pro” is because I started out making these same mistakes with cheap parts I had to fix myself.

My original setup was a muffler delete literally built from the scrap bin and shortly after a CTS downpipe I got for free and added a cat to. That’s how development started and luckily for you guys I spent thousands of dollars I didn’t have at the time to do so.
I've lurked long enough here to notice a trend. Jake, real question: do you have any idea how condescending you come off in here? It's pretty obvious you make some solid stuff, but as the 'front man' to your company, a gentler hand and more careful tongue would go a long way. You can be knowledgeable, skilled, and tactful all at once, it's not an either/or approach.

'Lucky for you guys', doesn't come off holier than thou at all....
 

GTI Jake

Autocross Champion
Location
Charlotte, NC
I've lurked long enough here to notice a trend. Jake, real question: do you have any idea how condescending you come off in here? It's pretty obvious you make some solid stuff, but as the 'front man' to your company, a gentler hand and more careful tongue would go a long way. You can be knowledgeable, skilled, and tactful all at once, it's not an either/or approach.

'Lucky for you guys', doesn't come off holier than thou at all....

Makes absolutely zero difference. I wrote this thread to help people for FREE.

Im gonna get annoyed when people ask for advice and take it with great results and the same dude who’s been bringing bad advice comes through every so often to under mind my efforts.

Yes, it is lucky for you guys because I’m the guy who solved the drone issues of this platform long before I had anything to sell and shared it with all of you for free. This is years and thousands of hours poured into making our community better.

Baun Performance is it’s own thing, this is my thread to give back like I always have (been active here since back when the Mk6 platform was new).
 
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Treadup

Autocross Champion
Location
SE NC
Car(s)
MK7.5 6MT GTI
I’ve met Jake in person and never once did I feel like he was trying to prove that he had all the answers. He has a lot of experience and is happy to share it. I sent him a question after his FMIC after install regarding AIT and he was super helpful. He never made me feel like I should have known the answer since I bought his FMIC. We all start somewhere and some sooner than others. It’s easy to judge people on line that you haven’t met. I doubt anyone who has a BAUN Performance part is unhappy with it.
 

Supermoto

Autocross Champion
Location
San Diego
Car(s)
2019 Autobahn DSG
If you ever add a downpipe that MBRP will be absolutely useless.

I know you’re trying to be Robin Hood, but the only reason I’m a “pro” is because I started out making these same mistakes with cheap parts I had to fix myself.

My original setup was a muffler delete literally built from the scrap bin and shortly after a CTS downpipe I got for free and added a cat to. That’s how development started and luckily for you guys I spent thousands of dollars I didn’t have at the time to do so.
No one is trying to be Robin Hood, and I dont plan to add a downpipe hence why I bought the MBRP. Maybe you just have much higher standards than the average GTI owner, cause a lot of the systems you call cheap/trash I have experienced in person and they seem stellar. Sure, maybe they dont have instagram-worthy rainbow tig welds and pornographicly clean Y split pipes,. Maybe the metal isnt the cleanest looking, maybe they take a bit of fiddling to get fitted, and perhaps the joints arent fancy V bands, but they are exhaust systems and they do the job perfectly fine. This is a situation where "to each their own" is the answer, but just realize not everyone sees things the same way and many are perfectly satisfied with their sub-$1000 system.

I've lurked long enough here to notice a trend. Jake, real question: do you have any idea how condescending you come off in here? It's pretty obvious you make some solid stuff, but as the 'front man' to your company, a gentler hand and more careful tongue would go a long way. You can be knowledgeable, skilled, and tactful all at once, it's not an either/or approach.

'Lucky for you guys', doesn't come off holier than thou at all....
I have been on here for a few years now and this is always how its come across to me as well. Its not worth starting an internet argument over, and I am sure hes a cool guy in person, but on here I tend to just get a chuckle out of it saying to myself "thats Jake!". He has a ton of very solid advice and his exhaust system knowledge is second to none, but he can come across as though any option but his is the wrong option.
 

GTI Jake

Autocross Champion
Location
Charlotte, NC
No one is trying to be Robin Hood, and I dont plan to add a downpipe hence why I bought the MBRP. Maybe you just have much higher standards than the average GTI owner, cause a lot of the systems you call cheap/trash I have experienced in person and they seem stellar. Sure, maybe they dont have instagram-worthy rainbow tig welds and pornographicly clean Y split pipes,. Maybe the metal isnt the cleanest looking, maybe they take a bit of fiddling to get fitted, and perhaps the joints arent fancy V bands, but they are exhaust systems and they do the job perfectly fine. This is a situation where "to each their own" is the answer, but just realize not everyone sees things the same way and many are perfectly satisfied with their sub-$1000 system.


I have been on here for a few years now and this is always how its come across to me as well. Its not worth starting an internet argument over, and I am sure hes a cool guy in person, but on here I tend to just get a chuckle out of it saying to myself "thats Jake!". He has a ton of very solid advice and his exhaust system knowledge is second to none, but he can come across as though any option but his is the wrong option.

Cool story, except I didn’t recommend anything of mine. I’m pretty sure recommending leaving it alone is the opposite of that.

Also, if you remember not long ago when you came here looking for stock downpipe advice I tried to steer you towards a CSS or TCR (which would fit your car being a Mk7.5).

I have direct personal experience with nearly every manufacturers offerings for these cars, because people have brought them to me for repair.

-Remus

-CTS

-AWE

-APR

-Milltek

-SuperSprint

-Borla

-Magnaflow

-Unitronic

-IE

-Revo

-eBay

-MAP

-Depot

I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but I’m not just armchair quarterbacking I’ve un screwed people from issues with problematic hardware they couldn’t DIY repair on their own. It’s not an opinion if you’re speaking from experience, and if your experience is isolated to just your personal cars you’d think that would be advice you’d be open to. I’m glad you’ve had a great experience with cheap parts but that’s not always the case. Tons of people around the world run CSS & TCR which are night and day better quality than the majority of aftermarket parts.
 

scslite

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
Bay Area California
Car(s)
MK7
For the MK7 R peeps,... just wanted to share that I've had an AWE Catted DP with OEM CBE/S3 Resonator delete with EQT Stage 2 for quite some time but wanted more sound. So about a couple months ago I put in AWE's latest V2 Switchpath system and loved the overall sound signature but as everyone here expects the drone/cabin vibration got annoying with or without valves closed under load. Since the recommended 17950 is problematic with the R, I decided to go with the 1795 instead at the midpipe section of the CBE. It's PERFECT! Definitely took the edge out especially the cabin vibration between ~2800 to 3200 RPM. With valves closed it's slightly louder than the AWE Catted DP/OEM CBE but tons better than without the resonator. It retains the AWEsome sound signature with that nice deep tone and when pushed it goes to a nice refined European sound . With valves open well... it's a race car no doubt! Again, however, drone here is not annoying as it used to be.

No clearance issues at all with the Vibrant 1795. So if you'e on the fence... It worked for me and glad I went with this option.
 

Benihana

Go Kart Champion
Location
Socal
For the MK7 R peeps,... just wanted to share that I've had an AWE Catted DP with OEM CBE/S3 Resonator delete with EQT Stage 2 for quite some time but wanted more sound. So about a couple months ago I put in AWE's latest V2 Switchpath system and loved the overall sound signature but as everyone here expects the drone/cabin vibration got annoying with or without valves closed under load. Since the recommended 17950 is problematic with the R, I decided to go with the 1795 instead at the midpipe section of the CBE. It's PERFECT! Definitely took the edge out especially the cabin vibration between ~2800 to 3200 RPM. With valves closed it's slightly louder than the AWE Catted DP/OEM CBE but tons better than without the resonator. It retains the AWEsome sound signature with that nice deep tone and when pushed it goes to a nice refined European sound . With valves open well... it's a race car no doubt! Again, however, drone here is not annoying as it used to be.

No clearance issues at all with the Vibrant 1795. So if you'e on the fence... It worked for me and glad I went with this option.
The vibrant recommended by Jake cured the rasp issues I was having and did restore the "european" type sound that you are referring to. The only issue I have at the moment is my exhaust tips are just a bit under the bumper and the drone is reverberating back into the car; new tips are on the way to extend after the bumper.
 

scslite

Passed Driver's Ed
Location
Bay Area California
Car(s)
MK7
The vibrant recommended by Jake cured the rasp issues I was having and did restore the "european" type sound that you are referring to. The only issue I have at the moment is my exhaust tips are just a bit under the bumper and the drone is reverberating back into the car; new tips are on the way to extend after the bumper.
Which exhaust set up do you have? Do you also have an R? I think a 17950 will fit fine as well but wanted to be sure so went with the slightly smaller diameter rez but same length overall. So far pretty happy with the results. Hopefully the longer exhaust tips will take care of your drone. Mine are just about an inch out from the edge of the lower cutouts.
 

Benihana

Go Kart Champion
Location
Socal
Which exhaust set up do you have? Do you also have an R? I think a 17950 will fit fine as well but wanted to be sure so went with the slightly smaller diameter rez but same length overall. So far pretty happy with the results. Hopefully the longer exhaust tips will take care of your drone. Mine are just about an inch out from the edge of the lower cutouts.
I have a GTI running a CTS catted downpiped to a Vibrant 17950 mated to a Rev9/Beluga 3" exhaust. Overall I'm happy with the system it's very nice sounding, just hoping to get rid of some of the drone with longer exhaust tips.
 
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