997 Gen2 Turbo Exhaust Upgrades

[APH]

Hi, I have a 997 Gen 2 Turbo PDK which I've had for a couple of months. It's my second 911 after a gap of a few years I upgraded from a 997.1 C4S. Whilst the Turbo is a bit of a dream come true and clearly an amazing machine, I'm a little underwhelmed by the sound of it and preferred the C4S in Sport mode. The Turbo sounds a bit better - and drives a lot better - in Sport Mode but is there an Exhaust upgrade that is generally thought to make this car sound how it looks and drives?

I am considering importing a Sharkworks unit but wondered if there was any common opinion on here? I also don't want to introduce any negative changes and am certainly not bothered about increasing power.

Thank you
Andy

 

[Rotorhead]

Unfortunately the Turbo's engine/exhaust tone isn't great, although Gen 2 is slightly better than Gen 1, especially in 'sport' mode.
I spoke to my OPC about it and they said they had fitted various aftermarket systems to customers cars, but never with real success. They said it really only made the exhaust note 'louder'.
Listened to a few and was not entirely convinced - certainly didn't want more tiresome cabin noise on longer trips. Even Porsche themselves couldn't develop a successful PSE for the Turbo.

 

[waxman]

Hi andy
you'll get a variety of responses on the forum - some will say this is the devils work but I think the sharkwerks exhaust upgrade I did transformed the sound of my GTS
sharkwerks are one of the best in California check out their website - some of their engineering is sublime.
andy "sharky " Ross is an expat Brit and if you email him as I did when researching he is happy to respond
I went for the 3rd muffler bypass that is reversible in an hour and does not affect ECU or Cats but transforms sound and still mutes with sports exhaust button plus you loose some weight from the system and gain about 12 hp
happy hunting
tony

 

[ralphmusic]

Some thoughts/resources...

http://www.nineexcellence.com/performance/9ETuning/997Turbo/Exhaust/index.html

Ken at 9e above would be worth talking with

http://rennlist.com/forums/997-turbo-forum/842462-997-2-turbo-s-looking-for-aftermarket-exhaust.html

http://www.cargraphicts.com/en/brands/for-porsche/911/997-mk-2/turboturbo-s-500ps-530ps/exhaust-systems/

Moving to 200 cell cat headers and keeping the rest stock might give noise plus a bit more power.

 

[Lancerlot]

To state the bleedin' obvious, all the sound is at the back and you leave it behind as you accelerate, so the exhaust note actually sounds much better from outside than it does to the driver.

It is likely you will be disappointed with any aftermarket zorst system you fit, so spend the money on something more worthwhile. Forced induction engines will never make the same sound normally aspirated do, so why bother trying?

Concentrate on the driving - turbo driving technique needs to be quite different to get the best from it. Maybe spend the cash on some tuition? If you must replace a perfectly adequate OEM system, then fit the best - get Akrapovic - but be prepared to spend around 6K!
Regards,

Clive

 

[mnk303]

Warning though if the after market exhaust people tamper with the ecu porsche will spot it and invalidate the warranty , I am informed quick silver in sussex are the only system for porsche that work on the ecu and it's not detectable by Porsche , this was from porsche themselves . Mnd you don't matter if it's out of warranty .
i find my 997 gen 2 Turbo S exhaust quite loud and especial in sports mode they do get louder as the miles creep up.

 

[dealdownup]

In reply
A turbocharger works by passing exhaust gases through an impeller
the other end of that impeller is another one that draws more of the outside air in thus you get the power increase
however on a normally aspirated car your c4 there is no turbo
the exhaust sound you hear is arrived at by the little explosions in each cyllinder so you get a "rougher " pure noise sound out of the exhaust and down the length of the car aided and amended by the designers acoustic modelling people
so foot down = raw bangs out of the back
in a turbo the fact that this exhaust gas goes through effectively a very very fast little revolving door smooths this sound out and turbo engines are naturally quieter with less bass
think of pouring some rice crispier in a bowl is the aspirated version
putting those same rice crispier in a blender then pouring them in the same bowl they would be quieter! No?
you could spend tons of money on fancy exhausts which in the final analysis won't change the sound much
the old fashioned way is buy an electric drill and post Cats drill a tiny holes in the in the exhausts till you are happy !!
hope this helps

 

[APH]

Wow Clive insightful. Next you'll be telling me that that's not a spare engine I've got in the boot!

 

[APH]

LoL Great thank you. I did have an Escort about 20 years ago which sounded like it had holes in the exhaust but I don't fancy doing that to my Porsche!

I think I need some more time with it. Sounds like the Sharkworks works well with a natural engine do I'm not convinced that I might not do more harm than good on my Turbo.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Lancerlot]

I well remember back in the days the factory ran a rally team, it fielded a couple of cars with open exhausts - just a clear pipe to air. Maybe that's the way to go (but you'll need a quick-fit reinstatement system for the MOT)! []
Regards,
Clive.

 

[dealdownup]

A chap in your replies mentions a shark doobry thing a Ma jig but the GTS he may not know is not Turbot car like yours, but a wheezer
you could do as they do in trucks and buy two Eminox vertical exhausts !!
on a Scania 16 litre v8 upped to 875bhp and 3,000 lb ft torque or a detroit diesel v12 two stroke they do sound awesome !!!
u tube it lol

 

[angusc]

I wonder why you give him all the rhetoric in your replies.......? He asked a valid question and only one member was helpful enough to provide some sound advice and links to after market exhaust systems. He doesn't need to drill holes in his Porsche exhaust or install truck pipes......that not what he asked. If you don't like the idea of someone modifying their Porsche to something non standard then best leave your opinions behind in any replies you provide. As Waxman said, "you'll get a variety of responses on the forum...." and I for one knew exactly what he meant.

It's his car, his money and his choice to modify how he likes.

 

[dealdownup]

You are rhetorical not I I was merely providing an alternative and a lighthearted view
the guy found it helpful

 

[APH]

I don't mind, I thought it was quite funny - I only took offence of the guy whom suggest I didn't realise the exhaust came out the back and the car went forward and that the money was better spent on driver training!

This was my first post and I've only been a member a couple of months. Its an opinionated place Porsche ownership isn't it!

 

[geoff lane]

This was my first post and I've only been a member a couple of months. Its an opinionated place Porsche ownership isn't it!


Sorry please don't let this stop you using the forum.
I had a 997 Gen1 Turbo and a Gen2 Turbo S and my only real issue was the exhaust noise, I also felt for such a weapon the noise it made was a bit feeble and this is general feeling among owners and it is true the sound outside the car does seem to be better but when you are blasting down the road a little more volume would help the emotion as you get the best out of a fantastic car.

Geoff

 

[Lancerlot]

No offence was intended and I'm sorry you have misunderstood my post.

I wasn't being facetious, but you said you were "underwhelmed by the sound of it" and I assumed this was from the driving seat and was trying to say in my rather clumsy way, the exhaust note is much better from outside.

Also, you may be a driving god for all I know, but experience with just one previous normally aspirated Porsche may not best prepare a person for driving a turbo to its full capability, requiring a different technique and the quickest way to learn is from instruction.

You asked for an opinion and I suggested purchasing an aftermarket system would likely not be as rewarding as you had hoped. But, if you really wanted a system, the one I suggested is generally regarded as the best in the business and is used by the Porsche factory themselves.

I was endeavouring to be helpful, but clearly not very successfully. If you are planning on using this forum regularly, it's probably better not to be quite so easily offended.

Regards,

Clive.

 

[APH]

Thanks Clive, maybe I'm thinking I've bought he wrong car and you might have hit a sore point! I'll toughen up. None taken. I appreciate your post and point of view.

Maybe I should chop this Turbo rubbish in and get myself a GTS then open up the exhaust and just rag it senseless!

I'm no driving god and I spend most of my time in traffic so I wanted an exhaust note to make me feel like I was going somewhere. I have just always wanted a gen 2 997 and could get the Turbo so did. Maybe I've ended up with more than I wanted. Boy does it go when you open it up though.

 

[tscaptain]

There are a few tweaks you can make to the turbo to make it a better drive too. However, putting a noisy exhaust on isn't one of them. ( I have another Porsche for that!)[]

 

[garyw]

Thanks Clive, maybe I'm thinking I've bought he wrong car and you might have hit a sore point! I'll toughen up.

Hi Andy, I think you might be right there [], certainly if it was the noise that you were after- and I understand what you mean when you say dawdling along in traffic and wanting to feel like you were going somewhere- that's NOT the Turbo... its the total opposite
A reason the fact I have bought a few of them actually, the fact that when I was actually making steady progress it doesn't scream blue murder!! - I find that major benefit and bonus from the Turbo.
Hopefully you've made it onto the long flowing A and B roads (even motorways) to see how amazing the really Turbo is at doing travel and sport driving.
Sadly having a major noise in the cabin isn't one of its majors...however that's a wildly known fact and should be a surprise.
I've been in Turbos that have had major tweeks and sports exhausts in them but its still not the tingling GT3 scream you get- a bit more than standard though, however - and this is where I agree with Clive, the noise they leave behind them is quite special and distinctive.
There's quite a few videos of the register on tours and you'll always spot the Turbo sound passing you (maybe its the drivers?? ) but they do sound great from outside of the car when on full chat- very jet like!
Even on the Norway trip where there was plenty of tunnels, you could hear the Turbo exhaust engaging with the walls.
I could hear if I had my windows down(or the roof down) the induction roar and it did make me smile many, many times.

To finish, Andy I totally understand what you are after which is why I've taken a break from the Porsche Turbo - I now have the slightly more noise in the cabin when I want it but it leaves me with more questions of why can others make noisier sports Turbos and Porsche doesn't - easily answered in that's not what the Turbo is about- it leaves that to the GT3 and GT2!

 

[zeb]

Hi, I have a 997 Gen 2 Turbo PDK which I've had for a couple of months. It's my second 911 after a gap of a few years I upgraded from a 997.1 C4S. Whilst the Turbo is a bit of a dream come true and clearly an amazing machine, I'm a little underwhelmed by the sound of it and preferred the C4S in Sport mode. The Turbo sounds a bit better - and drives a lot better - in Sport Mode but is there an Exhaust upgrade that is generally thought to make this car sound how it looks and drives?

I am considering importing a Sharkworks unit but wondered if there was any common opinion on here? I also don't want to introduce any negative changes and am certainly not bothered about increasing power.

Thank you
Andy

Hi Andy

I had the sharkwerks by pass system fitted to my 997.2 turbo last year for exactly the same reasons you state. It gives a better sound at low revs and on acceleration but no drone on motorway trips. I'm very pleased with the product. It was fitted by chris and the team at ABP motorsport in cheshire and they were excellent.

I also fitted some cargraphic tips whilst the exhaust was off as the OE porsche ones have the shelf life of milk despite everyone's best efforts to stop them pitting. Hope that helps.

As regards the humour on here, dont worry you'll get used to it!

Luckily for me being a yorkshireman i'm naturally superior and hard to offend []

As my good lady wife says 'you can always tell a yorkshireman......you just can't tell him much' []