Anyone have 3" Exhaust for 2.5L?

[Judee]

So lately I've decided that since my warranty is about to expire, it's about time to start adding some fun bits... First thing: Cat-Back Exhaust.

I've looked around on the various vendors' sites, and none of them seem to carry any kind of 3" pipe for our 2.5L NBs. Have my fellow 2.5L'ers have found the same conclusion? I'm thinking I might have to go to an exhaust shop or something.

Before all you exhaust-fanatics get on my case about 3" pipe diameter being too big... yeah... I know... but after you hear/feel a 2 point-something Liter (or even the 1.8T) motor with 3" piping, you'll want to upgrade from your 2.25" or 2.5" pipes immediately.

[The Cheat]

just buy a mk4 gti exhaust for a 1.8t. yes, it'll fit (as long as it's for a turndown valance).

[Judee]

What's a Turndown Valence? You mean if it doesn't have the cutout in the plastic bumper cover?

[The Cheat]

yes, all 99.5-02 gtis had the turndown tips, meaning they were non-exposed.

[SMG]

You don't need a 3" exhaust for a 2.5L. There's such thing as overdoing it.

[The Cheat]

Originally Posted by SMG

You don't need a 3" exhaust for a 2.5L. There's such thing as overdoing it.

you don't NEED it, that's for sure, but it does sound NICE, which i think is what the op is going for.

[SMG]

There's such a thing as overdoing it though. You can actually lose power by going too big.

[The Cheat]

Originally Posted by SMG

There's such a thing as overdoing it though. You can actually lose power by going too big.

very true, but considering on the mk5/6, 2.5" is standard issue, i wouldn't see a problem going to 3".

probably lose a ton of low-end, but up top, it would SCREAM.

[BAMABUG]

Originally Posted by The Cheat

just buy a mk4 gti exhaust for a 1.8t. yes, it'll fit (as long as it's for a turndown valance).

Who would you recommend purchasing from?


Thanks!

[Zuri]

Volkswagen New Beetle 2.5L > Exhaust > Cat Back > ES#2866 Silverline Cat Back System - SDF2440

I've been looking at this one...but probably for next summer.

[Judee]

Thanks, I found this one too.

The pipe diameter on this one is only 2.25" and I really want to have a 3" pipe.

[BAMABUG]

Originally Posted by Judee

Thanks, I found this one too.

The pipe diameter on this one is only 2.25" and I really want to have a 3" pipe.

Here's what I've found so far, hope this helps....let me know how it turns out because I'm thinking about getting one myself.

Anyone familiar with this exhaust??

Tsudo 1999-2005 Volkswagen MK4 Jetta Golf GTI 1.8T 3" Performance Catback w/ Downpipe Turboback Exhaust System Wicked Tuning

[Judee]

That's not going to work... I'm in CA, so no Catalytic Converter is a big no-no around here.

[Judee]

OK... So after some serious research on the Interwebs, and the expiration of warranty, I decided I had to go with the custom route. Given the price of 3" kits online, I figured I had a lot of budget to work-with.

I'm currently running a 3" mandrel-bent pipe from the "triangle" resonator/muffler, over the rear axle, to a Dynomax Super Turbo with 3" inlet/outlet and 3" turndown tip to conceal my business.

I can report that at idle the car has a very very VERY deep sound, courtesy of the 3" piping, and has that very distinctive 5-cylinder sound. I've seen a few surprised looks already at stoplights, presumably from the race-car noises emanating from a Beetle.

At partial throttle, Nubz sounds downright mean. Wide Open throttle, Nubz sounds like a UR Quattro (Click Here) but much smoother. Sounds like this but deeper (Click Here). There is no raspiness of any kind anywhere in the rev range. I do feel I've lost a little bit of torque just-off idle, but I would wager that I've gained many more above 3k rpm. Nubz' tachometer now sweeps much faster than before, almost like I installed a racing flywheel, and hits redline before you can blink! Overall I'm very pleased with the results.

My only problem is the same thing that all aftermarket exhausts deal-with... drone at freeway cruising speeds! It is actually relatively tame and isn't all that bad - it doesn't rattle your teeth/coins, and you can still carry on a conversation. But it really bothers my sense of perfection, so I will continue to tinker and search for solutions.

55mph you can barely hear it. Just enough that you know it's there.
60mph (2k rpm) it's fine.
70mph (~2250rpm) is when it's getting close to peak. The resonance peaks somewhere around 75mph in 6th gear.
The resonance almost goes away completely by 80mph. I suspect if I continue accelerating the exhaust noise would go away completely since I'm running a baffle-less exhaust at this point.


I'm doing my first mpg tests this week, so no crazy-throttle applications...

.addicted2sp33d (Judee's Chauffer)

[nytmar3]

Originally Posted by Zuri

Volkswagen New Beetle 2.5L > Exhaust > Cat Back > ES#2866 Silverline Cat Back System - SDF2440

I've been looking at this one...but probably for next summer.

So this exhaust fits on a 2.5L? It says it's for model years 1999-2001...

[Judee]

Originally Posted by nytmar3

So this exhaust fits on a 2.5L? It says it's for model years 1999-2001...

Don't know... I'm running custom mandrel bends right now, not a kit.

.addicted2sp33d (Judee's Chauffeur)

[Judee]

Reliable (I think) MPG results are-in and it looks like I've gained about ~1.5 mpg, roughly a 5% improvement.

Same commute path, with consistent results over several tanks.

I've done my best to eliminate driving-style from the equation by driving the same way I always drive.

I would have been happy if the fuel mileage stayed the same since everyone that I've talked-to and everything that I've read expected a fuel economy drop.

So I thought this is noteworthy enough to share!



.addicted2sp33d (Judee's Chauffeur)

[Zuri]

Originally Posted by nytmar3

So this exhaust fits on a 2.5L? It says it's for model years 1999-2001...

It should. It's essentially VW's stock aftermarket exhaust. I believe it will work, it just may need a little bit of work. I haven't tried it yet, but one Dealership told me that's the exhaust they put on someone else's 2010 NB when they wanted a few upgrades.

[yoyorob]

any chance of getting a video of your new exhaust in action?

[Judee]

I recorded a clip tonight but when I reviewed the video, I might have placed the camera a little too close. The camera was about 5' away and still got sprayed in condensation and the sound quality wasn't that good... I'll try again with a tripod tomorrow.

But here's the video anyway: