MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Modifications & Technical Area => Performance Modifications => Topic started by: Steve S2 on November 22, 2011, 06:07:32 pm

Title: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Steve S2 on November 22, 2011, 06:07:32 pm
Hi,

Newbie here with a first post. I've just bought a 2007 GTI as my daily runabout. Mostly I like it but I find the noise it makes to be a bit boring - sort of a bland drone and lacking in character, even at the top end of the rev range.

What's the cheapest way for me to improve the noise it makes, without resorting to mega decibels? Will a new exhaust backbox do the trick, or am I looking at induction mods too?

Cheers

Steve
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: keano on November 22, 2011, 06:09:59 pm
Cheap options.

Cut a silencer out. or/and. remove the cat(s).  :happy2:
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Steve S2 on November 22, 2011, 06:13:57 pm
Cheap options.

Cut a silencer out. or/and. remove the cat(s).  :happy2:

Interesting. Cat removal = MOT failure because of emissions, so would prefer an MOT friendly fix!

I guess I'm looking at a new backbox?
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: jedi-knight83 on November 22, 2011, 06:26:34 pm
Welcome...

I've got a Milltek CAT back exhaust with the middle silencer deleted. Its hardly going to win any awards for sounding amazing but its a nice improvement over standard.

I'm keeping my eye open for a bigger bore downpipe and replacement CATs which will hopefully make it sound a bit better again.

The twintake also gives it a nice whooshing induction noise. Other than that there isnt much you can do. Its not a very noisy engine..
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Tamiyoman on November 22, 2011, 06:29:27 pm
I cant see a new back box making any/much difference, for diff note your better off with either cat back exhaust or ideally turbo back exhaust with race CAT (200 cell, passes MOT fine), lots of diff exhausts to choose from if you look around, budget £450-550 for cat back or £1000-2000 for Turbo back (Milltek are around £1100 for turbo back).

Milltek (GTI Forum favourite it seems) IM getting one of these for my GTI as they sound better than stock but NOT louder (if you got for resonated anyway, if you want the boy racer noise go NON-resonated!).

BCS (same guy that ran blueflame) well respected and used to have a blueflame on my 1st MK4 GTI.

MV Sport sound good and look good although only heard about them around 3 weeks back, similar price to Millteks.

Jetex

Magnex

Supersprint (lots of money required, german shops are selling them at £2200 for turbo back  :surprised:

As Jedi already stated its not a noisy engine unless you go NON res (deleted middle silencer) otherwise its a quiet car (just what I like!).
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: PSW on November 22, 2011, 08:48:11 pm
Ask for money for crimbo.... Then save a bit more then phone nige at BCS and get a tbe. Best bang for your buck... You can't really feel the concept of the noise from within but peeps have said it sounds awesome... Keep saving plus it's better than the soggy nappy back box milltek  :P
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: jedi-knight83 on November 22, 2011, 08:53:11 pm
one question... what the hell is 'TBE'? I always see it mentioned in relation to exhausts but I cant for the life of me work out what it is.
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: lee_ on November 22, 2011, 09:00:11 pm
one question... what the hell is 'TBE'? I always see it mentioned in relation to exhausts but I cant for the life of me work out what it is.
Turbo Back Exhaust  :happy2:
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: jedi-knight83 on November 22, 2011, 09:05:57 pm
ahhhh... makes perfect sense now.
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Jaywoo-GTI on November 23, 2011, 09:03:41 am
Easiest and cheapest way is to do a suitcase box delete pipe,
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi32.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fd38%2FJaywoo85%2FGeneral%2FEvernote20111104104303.jpg&hash=6fcbe1edbaacb64433af5dd7d4e31f9891a96ffb)

As the GTI exhaust isnt restrictive (other than the cat) this is a option to get some more sound from a GTI, My friend had it done on his and it sounded loverly.

Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Tamiyoman on November 23, 2011, 09:43:30 am
Keep saving plus it's better than the soggy nappy back box milltek  :P

That saggy nappy sounding milltek looks to give same performance as BCS for only a little more money with a fair less noise, hence my personal choice, heard many diff zorsts and milltek res sounds quietest so far, just what I need for Stealth  :happy2:
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: ktlstar on November 23, 2011, 10:01:09 am
Is it not possible to fit a decat/sport car to a standard cat back exhaust ?
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Hedge on November 23, 2011, 10:18:39 am
R32 engine transplant.  :wink:
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Steve S2 on November 23, 2011, 10:30:21 am
Thanks for all the advice. I'm not interested in making the car sound louder, just better. It's just a bit characterless and drony at the moment!
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Weston on November 23, 2011, 10:48:56 am
Sound is very subjective, if you're able to meet anyone and have a proper listen to what they have that might help
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Jaywoo-GTI on November 23, 2011, 11:18:57 am
Is it not possible to fit a decat/sport car to a standard cat back exhaust ?

Yes this is what i am doing to achieve stage 2. You may need a reducer dependent on which you go for though, Mine is a true 3 inch down-pipe with a reducer section to fit straight onto the stock exhaust.
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: gh172 on November 23, 2011, 11:44:15 am
Just do the resonator delete and you'll be set.

http://www.golfmk5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111544
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: Jaywoo-GTI on November 23, 2011, 01:36:33 pm
Im my experience resonator delete sound aweful, But I would love to be proven wrong.
Title: Re: Improving the noise of my Mk5 GTI?
Post by: rich83 on November 23, 2011, 01:39:27 pm
Large downpipe and cat with OEM cat back. FTW.