XS-POWER RACING stainless exhaust 1.8t

[hammeredGLI]

I just installed the new XS-Power Racing stainless steel exhaust.

I purchased the kit after reading some threads on AZ and here about this exhaust,

i found it was sold on ebay by RELENTLESS TUNING, this was the sale ad...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/A4-B5-1-8T-Q...#ht_500wt_1054

it is 2.3 outside diameter, stainless. downpipe/mid pipe with res/muffler. factory hanger positions and all hardware.

(sellers ebay store http://stores.ebay.com/powerboost29)

the quality of the kit/piping and muffler from the pics def had me wondering about the quality and sound.
the fitment chart said it would not fit the 1.8t qtm Avant 2000 b5, i emailed the seller and he said that he could not say and that to his knowledge no one had installed one on an Avant.
So, alittle nervous, i pulled the trigger.
The info from the seller for the order/tracking info was on perfect and i had the kit 4 days later on my door step,

The kit was,

down pipe,



mid section with res and muffler,



close up of muffler,




the hardware was nice, sturdy and top quality. The piping didnt have any issues, defects or uneven areas upon inspecting it.

i am also running a RAI 3in testpipe i bought with the 02 extension (no pics sorry)

Installation of the testpipe is straight forward as was the exhaust.

some pics from the install,


downpipe installed,



down pipe to mid connection,


mid pipe in,


system pretty much in,


test fitting the muffler,

(side pic)


NOTE MUFFLER IS NOT IN FINAL POSITION IN ABOVE PICS

due to some time issue i dont have pics of the "final" position of the muffler yet, i will update once i get some day light shots on the ground.

(pics of welds on muffler hangers)






Fitment was spot on and all the factory hanger positions were used and WORKED.
the downpipe fitment was spot on and once up the whole exhaust sounded great.

The slip over pipe design and the heavy duty clamps def worked to stop any possible leaks or issues.

After the install the initial tone/sound is completely different,

DEEP tone with a great sound when you get on it. (NOTE: i do have a testpipe)
at WOT it sounds awesome, just what i wanted!!!!
it dosent drone on the hwy and that is what i really worried about.

after my experience with the seller and the product i def recommend them for sure!!!

[DevinL]

Looks great man. At that price thats really hard to pass up. Once I get all of my damn tune up plans done that is next on the list.

[Cybersombosis]

Can you comment on the volume level and drone if any compared to stock? If it's louder, how much louder? What I don't want is the drone I had with my cat back Magnaflow for my 2.0L Jetta. That thing was unbearable cruising around or with others in the car. I said never again and don't want to take a chance that I'll get the same result with this. My other half would kill me in my sleep!!! I also have a 3 inch test pipe. Can you comment on how it mates up with yours? Thanks in advance.

Doug

[hammeredGLI]

Looks great man. At that price thats really hard to pass up. Once I get all of my damn tune up plans done that is next on the list.

thanks man.

i'd def do it again for the price and the quality of the kit

Can you comment on the volume level and drone if any compared to stock? If it's louder, how much louder? What I don't want is the drone I had with my cat back Magnaflow for my 2.0L Jetta. That thing was unbearable cruising around or with others in the car. I said never again and don't want to take a chance that I'll get the same result with this. My other half would kill me in my sleep!!! I also have a 3 inch test pipe. Can you comment on how it mates up with yours? Thanks in advance.

Doug

iam working on getting sound now, just dont have a good camera to capture it with.

It is LOUDER then stock because its not as restrictive, the "suitcase" isnt as big as stock and the muffler is much more free flowing.
at WOT the thing sounds great, nice deep tone and some "gargle" when the rev's are coming down. ( think the testpipe helps/causes that)
Coming from an R32 (mkiv) with a testpipe and hfc's its def quieter all around. But lets you know that you added a nice exhaust.
no drone at hwy spds, Ive been in some serious "droning" cars.. nothing like that IMO.

[crazexr7]

any pics of the final position of the muffler? Looks really good, I may pick one up for my 2.8 this year

[hammeredGLI]

any pics of the final position of the muffler? Looks really good, I may pick one up for my 2.8 this year

not yet.

iam trying to get those!

coming soon, fitment is good!

No rattles, dosent rub the valance or anything.

[bc_awd_98]

Its shiner than mine lol. Post a vid on ur fb so i can check it out n compair sound to my super44, 2.5" the ehay add is funny as hell lol. To buy an apr exhaust is cool...but a grand. Realy. Just bc we drive audi dosent mean we can afford to

[NSU TTi]

I'm following this thread with interest. I'm looking to install an HFC very soon. I talked to my buddy (Bavarian Rocket Scientist) about a SS cat back and I was looking for free spooling and sound. I mentioned this set up and the OBX for the V6 which is 3". With the OBX he would customize the down pipe. Basically, it would cost about the same for both.

Now I was concerned about noise and drone. The man just laughed and asked me how much noise can come from a small turbo?

Still, I'm debating which one to buy. I guess I'll keep reading.

[drumonay]

Looks good, if u could get a video of the tone up would be awesome

[hammeredGLI]

I'm following this thread with interest. I'm looking to install an HFC very soon. I talked to my buddy (Bavarian Rocket Scientist) about a SS cat back and I was looking for free spooling and sound. I mentioned this set up and the OBX for the V6 which is 3". With the OBX he would customize the down pipe. Basically, it would cost about the same for both.

Now I was concerned about noise and drone. The man just laughed and asked me how much noise can come from a small turbo?

Still, I'm debating which one to buy. I guess I'll keep reading.

not sure how a 3" would sound or how the v6 exhaust would differ..

no issues with drone and iam sure it would be twice as lucky cause iam running no cat.

Looks good, if u could get a video of the tone up would be awesome

should have one up by next week sometime

[GOODBYNAAIR]

can u put up a sound vid??

[DeathKing]

In for the final tip fitment pictures. Nice review too!

[155VERT83]

Fitment looks great!

[dvotion]

I ordered one and I'm going to have it installed tomorrow. Quality looks excellent frankly, but you have to be skeptical as to why this one is so much cheaper than the competitors or why the competitors are so much more expensive.

In my opinion it's not that this exhaust is of bad quality but rather the other exhaust manufacturers are dreaming of profit margins. I mean, its not that steel is a precious resource. Perhaps the actual resonator box and muffler box are of a lower quality and that's why its so much less expensive. Regardless though, we will see when its on the car. I will also post a video if I have the opportunity.

-Grant

[dvotion]

installed today by a shop, the cat to dp connection was rusted to hell. shop says fitment was alright - they had to adjust things to really make it fit, and i think the rear box sits a little low for my taste. However we can probably address that later with new hangers.

Sound is good. Pretty quiet overall, but just a pleasant rumble on it and off the overrun. I really enjoy hearing the turbo noise and intake noise, and this doesn't overpower that, so overall just a really good kit for the money.

Will post a video later so you all can hear it.

[631 Corrado]

ive had mine installed for a little bit over a month now. it still looks great and fits great and sounds great. my only gripe with it is that it hangs low at the rear bumper.

[GOODBYNAAIR]

this is a vid if you guys have not see it yet >> http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...or-the-B5-1-8t <<

I think I will end up getting this becuase Im going Franken turbo and I cant wait to get exhaust I have been dying with no sound coming from my car

[B51.8tmd]

Is the ssac exhaust the same as the obx exhaust??^^^^ the thread on audizine you posted was for the ssac exhaust.

[10kredline2]

heres mine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnf1l...e_gdata_player

[B51.8tmd]

Nice,Do you have a drive by video?

[631 Corrado]

Is the ssac exhaust the same as the obx exhaust??^^^^ the thread on audizine you posted was for the ssac exhaust.

ssac and xs-power are the same company.... on that note i think the obx is made by someone else, not 100 percent sure though.

[sopranosupasta]

here is mine, SSAC exhaust, with test pipe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRh5C...zs9FZ-qnXWx2o=

[B51.8tmd]

631, idk why I mentioned obx lol. Thanks for the info tho. That's what my question was suppose to be. If the ssac exhaust was the same as the xs.

[631 Corrado]

631, idk why I mentioned obx lol. Thanks for the info tho. That's what my question was suppose to be. If the ssac exhaust was the same as the xs.

no problem brotha

[631 Corrado]

took my exhaust off after 4k to do my clutch. looks awesome! def some quality metal being used

[GOODBYNAAIR]

got mine on last weekend and loving it sometimes I wish my car was my DD ..

quick vid sorry not that great?



running APR stg 2 with test pipe, high revs are 5,000rpms great for the money and if your not going any bigger than Franken turbo / maybe GTRS

[10kredline2]

To the guys that have this installed, is your mid section hitting anything? Seems like mine is hitting the heat shield and making a vibrating noise. Sounds like a honda with exhaust on...

[631 Corrado]

no not at all.... try loosening up the slip joints and the bracket at the down pipe on the tranny mount and move it around to adjust it from hitting stuff.

[fukndubn96]

[l985xxx]

Are the muffler and res a straight-through design?

[north]

Are the muffler and res a straight-through design?

I would like to know this as well.

[NSU TTi]

To the guys that have this installed, is your mid section hitting anything? Seems like mine is hitting the heat shield and making a vibrating noise. Sounds like a honda with exhaust on...

I just saw this. Did you bolt the downpipe to the hanger coming down from the tranny? You know, the bolt that has the spring in it?

I have no rattles at all.

[NSU TTi]

I should add that during installation my mechanic had to heat up the connector to the tranny hanger so he could bend it into place. It was NOT a direct fit.

[Chuckdee]

Will this fit a NON Quattro sedan?

[hammeredGLI]

sorry to hear about the fitment issues guys,


mine didnt have any issues, had some "bending" to the rear muffler bracket.. but thats it.

didnt have any rubbing or hitting. all hangers lined up and made oem connections.

maybe the quality has changed...