A4 3.0 TDI Exhaust mods on a budget

[headfunk]

Hi, I currently own a B7 A4 3.0 TDI quattro earlier 201 version. I would like to share my recent story. It all began when I rang MIJ Performance to ask if I could have my original tips changed, they advised it shouldn't be a problem but asked me to make an appointment with them as they'd have to see my car first so this is what I did & I paid them a visit. They got my car up on the ramps, took one look at it & said they wouldn't be able to help me as my pipe was slightly curved & it was also too high so they wouldn't be able to centralise the tips into the diffuser, they could probably bodge it but that's not what they do as they're not cowboys there. I would apparently have no option here but to at least replace the two new back boxes or go for a cat back however at no point during this conversation was it mentioned that they actually some stock tips specifically shaped for this type of exhaust & shamelessly tried selling me two back boxes for 380 smackeroonies. I declined of course as I just didn't have the money but the guy I spoke to was very convincing & I had to say no about four times before he let me go. Anyway I continued on with my search for tips which is when I stumbled across these on ebay, also discovering it was MIJ that was selling them for only £9.99 each inc postage. I couldn't afford or justify getting a new exhaust fitted atm, especially when there's nothing wrong with my current standard one. I fitted these myself, it was a very simple process indeed & they also fit perfectly with the standard s- line diffuser too. I must say I am very happy with how they look, they don't stick out at all, great quality & you'd never know that they were bolted on by just looking at them. I will eventually get a full stainless but in the meantime on a budget think I this is a great option for those that want the look but can't afford the real thing.

 

[jdp1962]

If I've read this right, you've ended up buying the tips from the same company that you say was trying to con you into spending more than you needed to. If that had been me, I would have gone without rather than do business with a company that treated me that way.

Still, if you've got what you wanted, it's a happy ending.

 

[headfunk]

Spot on. I got what I wanted from the company that tried to rip me off. I eventually want a full custom exhaust installing but I won't be going anywhere near MIJ because of this experience. The main reason why I am sharing this though is these tips are pretty rare for this particular vehicle type.

 

[davsa4]

these look to be sat too far back (dont pass out fully of the bumper ) do you have a top down or side pic please ,as i would like some of these but would like them to come past the back of the bumper.

cheers dav

 

[headfunk]

I've adjusted them now so they are further out, puts them in a slight upswept position & they are however touching the bumper now which I was trying to avoid, they are definitely more visible this way though. securing them in this position wasn't quite so easy though I did eventually manage it. I reckon the best option would be to put them in the position I want & then get them welded on instead so they are not touching the bumper, what do you reckon? Not sure hot these will get though as they are not part of the actual exhaust.

 

[Joe_Murphy21187]

Honestly... I think they look naf touching the bumper. Not sure how hot they get, but you don't want to risk any part of an exhaust (tip of otherwise) melting you bumper...

 

[headfunk]

Honestly... I think they look naf touching the bumper. Not sure how hot they get, but you don't want to risk any part of an exhaust (tip of otherwise) melting you bumper...

Yep, I have to agree with that. they do look a bit naf like that, not worth melting my bumper either plus i'm not too keen on the upswept look to be honest. I've decided to get a set of straight ovals welded on instead. My standard exhaust in very good condition though so i'm not quite ready to move over to a full stainless system yet as I think it would be a waste.

 

[NHN]

Although the tactics are very poor by them, you have to ask yourself based on comments on this thread about them being to close & possibly damagaing valance, maybe they were actually right about centering within the space allowed which would then avoid touching/burning the plastics, food for thought sometimes mate & devils advocate.

 

[headfunk]

I was beginning to think that myself but I have managed to secure them so they are not touching the bumper at all now. These tips were pretty cheap as well at £10 each. I have been speaking with another member who has had some 3.5" ovals welded on by torque flow to his standard exhaust system & they are perfectly centered & they did this on the same standard exhaust system as mine. The problem I think is I made a mistake in thinking I needed this shape for diesel downpipes i.e. the exhaust is not to high or the wrong shape as I was led to believe. I also think that straight tail pipe will again be further away from the bumper as they these are still a bit close appearance wise but they are definitely no longer touching. I'll be putting this down to experience & getting some new tips welded on then post some more pics.

 

[Dazmo]

I took my 3.0 tdi down to my local about 3 years ago.

They gave me two stainless steel tips, cut the original pipes off and welded the new tips on for £100.00

Look much better than standard, i had them sticking out slightly so the diesel soot does not end up all over my bumper!

 

[headfunk]

I took my 3.0 tdi down to my local about 3 years ago.

They gave me two stainless steel tips, cut the original pipes off and welded the new tips on for £100.00

Look much better than standard, i had them sticking out slightly so the diesel soot does not end up all over my bumper!

View attachment 6167

I agree, that does look better than standard however I think I prefer ovals, they seem to suit the rear valance more than round, like in the last pic I posted which is same colour as your motor.

 

[SL11CKK]

Does that mean the downward pipe isnt a problem to cut and fit straight pipes instead without the problems MIJ are saying.

 

[Joe_Murphy21187]

I think the standard angle from the back box on the TDI isn't suited to straight welded on tips as the ends by default do not protrude and also point down to the floor. As a result any tips welded on without any additional pipework do not sit right in the rear valance.

I went to Powerflow in Nottingham today to see about a quote for removing my back boxes and having straight pipes with some tips shaped and curved to the curve of the rear valance, said about £120 just for tips, and they would be off-the-shelf tips (so much for a 'custom' exhaust outfit...). He also said (which I really doubt is true) that removing the back boxes on a TDI will have no effect on the sound of the engine, plus be detrimental to performance due to loss of back pressure.

I know smaller engined cars can benefit from some back pressure in the exhaust system, but surely any turbo car, especially one with a 3ltr capacity would only benefit from having less restrictions in the exhaust system??

I'm going to see a guy local to me recommended by Carl @ AITP last weekend, hopefully he can give some honest advice and provide me with an exhaust Ill be happy with...

 

[headfunk]

Hi Dazmo

Can you confirm if additional pipework work was required to fit your tips other than cutting off your old ones? I did notice with the original curved tips that they appeared to be set higher on the exhaust pipe when welded on & when they were removed the actual exhaust pipe sort goes in a more upwards in direction than down but are sliced at the end so the fumes would go in a downwards direction? - thanks

 

[Dazmo]

I think the standard angle from the back box on the TDI isn't suited to straight welded on tips as the ends by default do not protrude and also point down to the floor. As a result any tips welded on without any additional pipework do not sit right in the rear valance.

What? if it is done correctly then yes it is suitable, hence the photo of my tips, you are not going to weld on exhuast tips (especially straight) without melting straight pieces of pipe to the original back boxes.

 

[Dazmo]

Hi Dazmo

Can you confirm if additional pipework work was required to fit your tips other than cutting off your old ones? I did notice with the original curved tips that they appeared to be set higher on the exhaust pipe when welded on & when they were removed the actual exhaust pipe sort goes in a more upwards in direction than down but are sliced at the end so the fumes would go in a downwards direction? - thanks

Yes i remember it being a bit of a pain to level them.

Additional pipes were used to weld between the back box and the exhaust tip, these were about 4 or 5" in length.

These were also used to move the pipes into position and level them from the back, so that they both appear level and dont point upward like the standard pipes

 

[headfunk]

I think the standard angle from the back box on the TDI isn't suited to straight welded on tips as the ends by default do not protrude and also point down to the floor. As a result any tips welded on without any additional pipework do not sit right in the rear valance.

I went to Powerflow in Nottingham today to see about a quote for removing my back boxes and having straight pipes with some tips shaped and curved to the curve of the rear valance, said about £120 just for tips, and they would be off-the-shelf tips (so much for a 'custom' exhaust outfit...). He also said (which I really doubt is true) that removing the back boxes on a TDI will have no effect on the sound of the engine, plus be detrimental to performance due to loss of back pressure.

I know smaller engined cars can benefit from some back pressure in the exhaust system, but surely any turbo car, especially one with a 3ltr capacity would only benefit from having less restrictions in the exhaust system??

I'm going to see a guy local to me recommended by Carl @ AITP last weekend, hopefully he can give some honest advice and provide me with an exhaust Ill be happy with...

Hi JJ

I went to Powerflow in Crewe on Friday. They didn't have much in stock tips wise so I had to choose from a catalogue but the guys there quoted me £108 for the tips & to weld them on so compared to your quote I think I got a really good deal however at the time I did think this was a bit pricey but maybe it's worth it after all to get them fitted properly. They didn't mention there would be any fitting issues though even after looking at the pipes so I assumed there wouldn't be much of an issue.

Cheers

 

[headfunk]

Ok, so i've been playing around with those tips again today, I have secured them in the lowest position they will go this time & they do look much better. I reckon that if I got these welded on they could be moved into the horizontal position they are supposed to be in.

What d'ya think?

 

[headfunk]

View attachment 6199View attachment 6200

Ok, so i've been playing around with those tips again today, I have secured them in the lowest position they will go this time & they do look much better. I reckon that if I got these welded on they could be moved into the horizontal position they are supposed to be in.

What d'ya think?

Erm...So what do you think people, looks alright doesn't it? Have to admit there was a bit of messing about to get them fitted properly but they only cost £20 for two.

Er

 

[lenti]

i did a custom made exhaust by my self on my 2.0TDI ended up GREAT and i also got better sound at 2k RPM


and here it is how it looks today

 

[Joe_Murphy21187]

Lenti, I like that, I like that a lot

Is that an upswept tip??

 

[lenti]

it is actually a normal one and one did cost me about 14 euro

 

[headfunk]

Lenti - Is that an S4 diffuser as well?

 

[lenti]

Lenti - Is that an S4 diffuser as well?

Yes thats right, i only had the uggly left side exhaust before so when i made my own one, i purchased the S4 diffuser from VAG

 

[headfunk]

Yes thats right, i only had the uggly left side exhaust before so when i made my own one, i purchased the S4 diffuser from VAG

Really suits the car. How did you make it yourself? I do think the tips could do with being slightly lower but looks great for a DIY job. Not sure about the orange bits on the rest of your motor though, might be my age but I think it would look so much sweeter without i.e. standard colours. The tinted lights look pretty cool too.