Good for you.

 

That's great stuff. Good for you, and congrats on all of this awesome news!

 

Congrats! 991s, new m3 and another kid on the way . Living the dream!

 

Congrats ! Now you have to find a baby seat for the F80! Looking forward to the comparison of the 2 vehicles.

 

Thanks for the comments all. I pulled the PSE off tonight. AWE Switchpath should be here tomorrow for install. Stay tuned for photos and videos!

 

^^^Can't wait for the review...and some pics...and sound clips!

 

After a little over a month wait, I finally got my AWE Switch Path center section exhaust with Diamond Black tips today. I was tracking it on FedEx. Since it was going to be about 98 degrees today, I preemptively de-installed the PSE center section to make the job a little easier. Boy am I glad I finally bought those Air King fans. It makes a big difference.

Here is the link to the exhaust:

http://www.awe-tuning.com/awe-tuning...exhaust-system

I put together a half-hearted DIY. I started running out of gas since it was so hot, and my hands were super dirty. I got a little too lazy to pick up the camera toward the end. The AWE instructions do an okay job of explaining the process. Their instructions don't tell you how to de-install the OEM PSE center section, but I found it not too challenging.

I'm not super handy but have installed about a dozen different exhausts on other cars. The Porsche exhaust isn't as easy as a Honda but simpler than a BMW. It took me about 5 hours between Friday night and this afternoon. I'm sure a "real man" with better blue collar roots could do the install in a few hours.

Tools I needed
3/8" Ratchets
11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 15mm Sockets
11mm, 15mm Ratcheting Wrenches
Wire Crimpers
E-12 External Torx Socket
2-Top Low-Profile Jacks
4-Ramps
Hex Bit
Extensions

I just bought a new cheap jack from Harbor Freight to semi-match my old one. It makes it easier to get the car in the air without a lift. I'm sure you all believe me when I tell you an in-ground scissor lift is in the works.







Even the jack points on this car are awesome!





Almost done with Dexter Season 8. I need to find a new show to start watching in the garage.





I feel safer on ramps rather than jack stands. Plus, they are quicker and easier to get the car on.





Remove the three bolts that connect the cats to the center section.



Loosen the collars that connect the mufflers to the center section.



Clean-up the tips for storage.









Bolts removed.





Remove the straps that hold the mufflers in place.



Remove the tips using the E-12 Torx. I thought I was going to need to break the welds on the factory tips to be able to add the AWE. The entire tip assembly won't be reused. The new tips attach directly to the exit pipes of the side mufflers and center section.





Center section is out. I found it necessary to loosen the two bolts on the plate the holds the side mufflers in place. It made it easier to pull the plate out of the holes on the cat studs.



PSE vacuum line.







Pull collars off to be reused with AWE.





Weight of just center section.



Total weight of items removed.



Finally! It showed up around 2 PM.







Hey, that lollypop isn't Paleo! I ate it anyway.

 

Weight of just the Center Section.











Total weight savings over stock is roughly 6 lbs.



Anti-Seize for the cat studs.



From here it's best to follow the AWE instructions. I skipped some photos, sorry.



Crimp.



Pull off the factory line.







Route behind bracket. I was worried about doing this correctly. It was very simple.





Pull off the stickers.







This about made my brain almost explode. The exhaust ships backwards. The reason the two valved sections are labeled is because you have to pull them off and switch sides. I finally got it right after a few minutes.







Just tighten enough to keep the from falling off, but don't torque them down.



Put new exhaust gaskets on. They were supplied with new exhaust.















You can torque these down now. They don't offer any adjustment. Make sure to put the side muffler brackets on before the washers.



Driver's side.





Tip install. One of the tips was very snug. I sanded the exit pipe for the side muffler smooth, added a little WD-40, and used some persuasion. That why I prefer ramps to jack stands.

 

The tip adjustment was actually very easy on this car. I don't like it when my exhaust tips stick out, so I recessed them as much as possible. I installed and torqued the outside tips as the side muffler doesn't allow the outside to be adjusted. Then I torqued the Accu-Seal clamps just enough to allow for movement of the center tip that is attached to the valved section. I set the position and gap and torqued the Accu-Seal. Then I adjusted and torqued the center tip. It was very easy.



I skipped taking other photos, but you can follow the AWE directions. Torque everything down and wipe off your finger prints with WD-40. I cleaned up the tips last with some detail spray.



Done!















I'll have more photos of how the Diamond Black looks and do a review when I've had more time to drive it. I will say it is a whole lot louder than I was expecting. I'm going to try and do a video on Monday, so stay tuned.

Thanks for reading,
Matt

 

Matt, incredible review, DIY, and install impressions. Can't wait to hear what you think of it after a little more seat time this weekend.

Again, big fan of the garage. So neat, clean, spacious, organized, and well-lit! Consider me envious!

 

I love your attention to detail and coverage in the writeups. You definitely make your garage cozy and livable enough to do such projects. Well done!

 

Zack,

I'll be sure to get a video up with impressions.

Thanks!

 

Congrarts and great update. Time for some videos.
Your garage is always so clean. Do you have a cleaning service that keeps it that way? Haha

 

I was just thinking the floor looking so dirty after all of the rain dripping off the S4. I need to mop it.

 

Great write-up! Looking forward towards some video/sound clips and a review after some seat time!