December 2017
Finally got a chance to install the Clubsport S muffler this weekend. Overall I'm very satisfied with the purchase and it's a perfect step in the pursuit of OEM+.
I ordered from E-ACCA on November 30th and it arrived on December 16th via FedEx. The muffler was very well packed and arrived with no damage.
Installation took about 45 minutes thanks to the all the great info on this forum. Here are the details of the install:
Installation
Clubsport S muffler: 5G6253609DD
OEM clamp: 1K0253141AA
1) If needed, let the car cool down completely.
2) Get the car up in the air using your preferred method. I used ramps.
3) Find the three dimples on the piping behind the muffler and mark the middle one. It may be a good idea to visually double check that the new muffler is going to fit before you commit to cutting. I held mine up to the old muffler to get a rough idea.
5) Cut at the middle dimple using an exhaust cutter
6) Unscrew the two exhaust hanger bolts until they're about 90% out.
7) Using a jack (or awkwardly using your legs as I did) support the weight of the old muffler while you remove the hanger bolts the rest of the way.
8) Using a flathead and/or brute force, slide the exhaust hangers off the old muffler. This was the hardest part for me.
9) Install exhaust hangers on the Clubsport S muffler making sure they're on the correct side.
9) Slide the clamp on the exhaust piping coming from the resonator and leave loose.
10) Using your support method of choice, bring the new muffler up and slide the pipe into the clamp and start threading the two exhaust hanger bolts.
11) Tighten the clamp bolts down
12) Do a quick visual check to make sure everything is lining up. If needed, loosen the hanger bolts and make small adjustments.
13) Double check there are no clearence issues and start the car to check for leaks.
14) Go for a drive and recheck all bolts again after a few miles and heat cycles.
Impressions:
First impressions are positive. I really like the increased size of the tips, they really make the OE muffler seem dinky by comparison.
Sound wise, it’s more of a mixed bag. At idle there is not much difference from stock. I doubt I would have noticed if I didn't install the exhaust myself. The same is true until about 2k RPM. Past that it is louder but not much inside the car. You certainly don't have to raise your voice to carry on a conversation.
Rev-matched downshifts sound really nice as do full throttle pulls. Half-throttle produces the least desirable sound in my opinion. Sounds kind of “blaring” inside the car. Kinda like the normal stock exhaust just louder and not particularly "refined". Let me stop here and say that describing exhaust sounds over the internet is kinda pointless. The take away is that yes, it sounds better than stock and is certainly more characterful so that's great. I have a feeling that there are aftermarket exhausts that sound better (but are almost certainly louder and more expensive).
I have yet to hear this from outside the car but I want to setup a camera and do a few drivebys.
Pros
-Perfect fit using the OEM clamp
-OEM product so maybe less issues at inspection or w/ police
-Increased tip size looks really nice but still subtle
-Sounds sportier and more interesting than stock
-No drone on the highway
-Reasonably priced vs an aftermarket option
Cons
-Sounds “meh” in some situations (but overall a change for the better)
-Shipping isn't unreasonable but it's not cheap
That being said, I have zero regrets and would recommend this to anyone looking for a little more excitement without out going overboard.
I think I will try and bring the unit in a little bit as it looks to be sticking out more than stock. I will update my thoughts again after 500 miles or so.
On to the pictures
A present from Latvia!
Exhaust cutter worked perfectly
Old muffler off
OEM clamp, worth the $30
The most satisfying thing ever
Close up of larger tips
All finished