I had a vwr r600 air intake installed today and had the exhaust flaps deactivated because I wanted to make my s3 a little louder without having to buy a completely new exhaust system, but I can’t really tell a difference. Air filters made a lot more noise on previous cars, so I figured I’d try that first. Are there any other reasonably priced options that can be done?
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The Audi S3 has active exhaust, right?
Our S3 will be modified to have some significant power. To do this, a significantly larger turbo will be substituted. We want to have a better-flowing exhaust system before we accomplish this.
We are a REMUS reseller who choose the company above many other well-known brands because of their better construction. For many years, we have been maintaining vehicles that have been modified by owners, ourselves, and other tuners. This offers us the chance to evaluate how various brands perform over time based on usage and age.
After getting in touch with REMUS, we received a full turbo back system, complete with a 200-cell sports cat, as well as some slash-cut chrome tips, very quickly. There are further suggestions that are up to the individual.
Fitting
The fitment was superb because the REMUS system is so well manufactured. The exhaust valve controllers are installed slightly differently than usual, as we noticed during fitting. Some tuners may jerk the motor into place to shove the coil into the exhaust valve’s cup. At Unit 18, we used our authentic ODIS software to reset the values.
The old exhaust system was easily removed, and as with all typical system removals, it was done in a way that allowed for easy refitting. But it won’t be upgraded to this S3. The system was still pristine and free of rust because the car was brand-new and had barely logged 2000 kilometers.
The REMUS system was easily installed, and the tailpipes were straightened and fastened. These will need to be adjusted again after the system has through a few heating cycles, as is the case with all stainless steel exhaust systems.
The car seems a little more aggressive thanks to the larger tailpipes than the regular ones. The chrome tailpipes fit the gaps far better than the stock ones do on the S3, which comes with a diffuser as standard.
How does it sound?
Most people alter their exhausts to increase sound. So let’s get going. We enjoy the rumble from the exhaust when the REMUS system ticks over since it has a distinctive sound. Below is a thorough video of the exhaust. This was captured while I was driving around from Unit18 to my house the morning of the fitting and some drive-by driving at full power.
A GP session camera that was placed to the back of the vehicle was used to record the video. The drive-by pictures were taken with the same camera mounted on a tripod and exposed to the elements for a more authentic open air sound. The exhaust valves were left open during the taking of both recordings.
Audi active exhaust valves
Most current Audi Sport and Rally Sport vehicles use active exhaust valves as standard equipment. We frequently get inquiries concerning the valves’ operation and how it relates to aftermarket exhaust systems like the REMUS.
The S3 has four tailpipes, and each side’s exterior tailpipe is where the valves are located. Depending on the driving mode and throttle position, the door opens and closes. The valves fully open when the ignition is turned off and stay that way until the car is started with the throttle engaged. This equalizes starts in all driving modes.
According to the driving mode chosen on the Audi MMI, the valves are made to function. The valves in our S3 act slightly differently in each of its five modes, which are as follows:
- Effectiveness: The valves are always closed. We have occasionally observed that the valves do open for a brief period of time while applying full throttle, including the kick down button underneath the pedal. A silent system is the greatest choice for long-distance highway driving because efficiency mode is.
- Comfort: In this mode, the valves are turned on. regular city driving or travel on a dual carriageway. When starting up, blipping the throttle will cause the valve to close. They don’t open again until 2800RPM. In this mode, driving technique has no bearing.
- Auto: This driving mode is unpredictable; depending on the driver’s driving style, it may switch between the other driving modes.
- Dynamic: The “loud button” is in this mode. The configuration of dynamic mode is different in a number of ways. This will be covered in a subsequent blog entry. On the other hand, it permanently opens the exhaust valves. The dynamic mode’s over run feature is primarily to blame for this. This enables the exhaust to pop and bang when the engine accelerates.
- Individual: The driver can configure the vehicle in this mode. Once more, we will go into more detail about this in a later blog article. However, it will let you have all the dynamic options for the exhaust valves while lowering the exhaust tone. Something that, if a track has a low noise restriction, might be useful during track days.
The REMUS system is compatible with the current valves, and after we had them installed, it was easy to access each valve’s reset capability by using our authentic ODIS software. The valve motor is told to look for resistance. The valve is fully operational once it spins and latches into position.
Performance
We explained at the beginning of this piece that we want to use a larger turbo to give the S3 more power. Therefore, even though the REMUS wasn’t designed to provide us rapid performance boosts, we are aware that some individuals may modify it to add power.
A stage 2 base map was required because the REMUS system is a turbo back system. We are currently working with the vendor of the mapping software to provide a stage 2 remap and a DSG (S-Tronic) gearbox software upgrade. We’ll add another post after we finish this one.
Life with the exhaust
I currently drive an S3 as my daily vehicle, and I log about 15k miles annually. I’ve had the REMUS on for well over three months at this point. It is a great blend of noise, appearance, and improved performance. We traveled 2000 miles total, on a mix of highways, mountain roads, and city streets, to get to the Austria GP in July. The vehicle was perfect.
Summary
In conclusion, Unit18 believes that REMUS will work for the majority of its clientele. The exhaust is quite well made, and it will probably survive longer than the car. The noise is accurate. Good for a good time and drawing attention, but will be completely silent when driving on the freeway. Additional benefits include the tailpipe options and compatibility with the active exhaust system from Audi.
Exhaust flap: what is it?
They are utilized for a wide range of tasks, both with diesel engines and spark-ignition engines.
By adjusting the volumes and pipe lengths of silencers, acoustical optimization can alter exhaust noises.
One of the two tailpipes on the rear silencer of the new BMW 7 series is fitted with an exhaust gas flap, which ensures that the twelve-cylinder engine’s “sound” is consistent across the whole speed range. Below: a 7-series BMW
A significant reduction in the capacity of the necessary silencer can be achieved by carefully arranging the exhaust gas flaps in the exhaust system. As a result, it is possible to reduce both the weight and the amount of space needed for the overall system.
Exhaust gas flaps are used in emission control to redirect the flow of the exhaust gas. By doing this, they activate the HC (Hydrocarbon) absorbers or more quickly raise the operating temperature of the starter catalyst.
DeNOx catalytic converters are a more current type of emission control. These ensure an optimal effect and a long catalyst service life by causing a portion of the exhaust gas flow to be diverted through a cooling zone by an exhaust gas flap.
It is possible to increase efficiency in some specific characteristic areas by adjusting the exhaust gas back pressure. An exhaust gas flap in the exhaust system is another way to accomplish this.
Exhaust gas flaps are specially sized to suit the high requirements in the exhaust gas system: they must endure gas temperatures of up to 950C, while accurately closing and remaining movable throughout their service life.
The exhaust gas flaps provided by Pierburg are made of high-alloyed, corrosion-resistant steels combined with ceramic elements to ensure optimal operation even in the corrosive environment present in the exhaust tract.
Does a cold air intake increase engine noise?
The topic of cold-air intakes is frequently discussed. Some individuals vouch for them, saying they boost performance and make their car sound louder. Some claim that there is absolutely no distinction between a cold-air intake and a regular air intake. What then is the reality?
Your automobile may get louder and perform better if you install a cold air intake.
Your engine can take in more air and fuel by bringing in more cold air, which will result in higher power and performance. There are many various kinds of intakes that are available, and not all of them will function well with every type of car.
How much does a straight pipe for an Audi A3 cost?
An Audi A3 exhaust pipe replacement typically costs between $450 and $473. The cost of labor is expected to be between $88 and $111, while the cost of the parts is $362.
Do pops and bangs harm engines?
Everyone enjoys hearing pops, bangs, and flames, don’t they? You do, for sure. As a result, ECU remaps that force your exhaust to pop, boom, and kick flames out of the tailpipe when you let off the gas are incredibly popular today.
Many businesses declined to join part, which is understandable considering that this is currently a somewhat contentious topic in the tuning industry. But fortunately, the team at Motorsport Developments is an authority on remapping all factory ECUs, and they were more than pleased to share their knowledge with us and help support our results on this topic. A big thanks to them for their assistance. If you want to make your own safe but useful map, talk to these guys!
What are pop and bang maps?
Since the beginning of time, the exhausts of highly tuned automobiles have always naturally popped, banged, and flamed, but have you noticed lately that more cars than ever before have been popping and banging when the driver releases the gas? Now, even many factory-produced automobiles and mildly-tuned motors have a nice, burbling exhaust on the overrun.
This is due to the fact that many tuners and manufacturers have realized how much owners enjoy these noises. They are now frequently mapped into the car’s ECU tune because current engine management is so very capable.
How does it make the pop and bangs?
Let’s start this section with some advice from Motorsport Developments’ key man, Stewart Sanderson.
“Pops and bang maps are basically a calibration function within the ECU where we build up a particularly targeted, extremely lean misfire whenever you lift off the throttle (yep, it’s that prevalent on production cars that even the manufacturers have a name for it!).
This is smooth, quiet, and safe, acting and sounding like all the logical “regular” cars we’re used to when you close the throttle on an engine. Normally, when you do this, your fuel injectors won’t fire at all, eliminating all of the energy from your engine and allowing it to slow down. Nothing at all no pops, no flames.
Going back to Stu’s advice… “Fuel is required to produce a burbling sound as the engine slows down. We need to shift the energy away in some way to avoid that, he says, because burning gasoline will also produce some piston load, which will slow down how quickly the engine decelerates on overruns. “We need to operate a very lean air/fuel ratio in order to avoid creating too much heat, which could impair reliability, and delay the ignition timing to reduce torque, which enables the car to decelerate normally.
Since most of the fuel is ignited by the hot exhaust and/or catalytic converter, the heavily retarded ignition also means that much of the combustion occurs with the exhaust valves open (in actuality, within the exhaust system), which accounts for the burbles, pops, and crackles you hear coming from your tailpipe.
“Depending on the exhaust temperature and how hard the car has been driven, the burbles’ intensity changes with these setups. According to Stu, this small amount of fuel we add flashes off more readily the hotter the exhaust system is.
But what if you like something crazier and don’t want modest OEM-style burbles? The procedures are basically the same as those described previously, but with a little bit more fuel and even greater ignition retard. People have even gone so far as to slightly open the drive-by-wire throttle or the idle speed control valve in order to get more air. Actually, the foundation of how anti-lag systems function on rally vehicles is these adjustments, but with more extreme settings and over longer periods of time. However, this mod is only there to make cool noises and flames; it is not a performance modification.
Can crackle maps be applied to any engine?
Simply put, no. But today, more engines than ever before can have it done to them. Theoretically, it can be done to any petrol enginewhether it is normally aspirated, supercharged, or turbochargedthat has an ECU that allows for significant changes to the fuel and ignition settings, which nowadays includes the majority of them.
If you want more intense pops and bangs, you can delay the ignition even further in some cars, which also gives you the option of slightly opening the throttle or the idle valve. Therefore, the vast majority of engines may use this to some level at least, provided you can locate a tuner who can alter your ECU to fit.
Do pop and bang maps have any performance advantage?
No. We only do this for the noises. Really extreme set-ups might, in theory, function like a mild anti-lag system on a turbocharged engine, helping to keep your turbo up to speed because it functions similarly to rally anti-lag systems. However, in practice, the pops, bangs, and burbles typically occur just for a brief period of time after you release the gas, and they are performed solely for the sake of sound. You would call it an anti-lag function instead of a crackling map if you could adjust it to such a high level that it had one!
Should you get a pop and bang map?
Pop and bang maps are loved by some people and despised by others who believe they produce “artificial” sounds. However, if you desire one, there’s no reason to think that if you follow the proper procedures, your engine would be ruined. There is still much disagreement on this, but despite our best efforts, we have found no evidence at all.
This is the crucial part, thoughyou need to make sure your engine is set up properly. Do you have a cat or an engine with an exhaust system or exhaust valve known to be weak? If so, you should avoid playing full-on World War Three in your exhaust and instead stick to a reasonable, nearly OEM-style burble.
But whichever setup you use, pick your tuner carefully. Find someone who can guarantee its dependability and safety for your specific setup and intended use. Don’t just choose someone who promises the craziest, loudest fireworks display from your exhaust; that’s just asking for trouble. Pops and bangs are entertaining, but an engine that isn’t broken is even more entertaining.