I have a 2006 A6 with a GHL axle back exhaust. No headers and do not plan on adding any. However I am thinking about adding an x-pipe and wonderd what was my best option. Also what effect, if any, will this have on "drone"?

 

In most cases, the X-pipe should reduce/eliminate drone if there is any.

 

Which is to equalize left/right bank exhaust resonance in addition to "theoretically" balancing the exhaust & thus improving flow/scavenging effect, but the stock H-pipe I understand is not the full 2.5 diameter inside limiting it's capability of doing either very well, but does a better job on balancing resonance. A "real" X-pipe should improve both & go from theorectical flow improvement to actual, but no noticeable perf. improvement (on a stock LS2). At some point they started coming on stock C6s, so if someone who's gone full exh. route & has one laying around to give or sell would be your best option (bolt on & cheap), plenty of aftermarket X-pipes available to fit, more labor intensive than anything else due to cutting & welding. Call George at Kooks & see if he has any advise on both what & will it accomplish goal, he will undoubtedly know both. I use one in combo w/ complete exh. system, & believe they're worth doing, but I'm not so sure you're going to accomplish a terribly significant improvement w/ drone. Keep us posted, I'm sure folks would like feedback on the results, I'm curious myself. Good luck.

 

keyplyr and Mike V have provided a lot of good information on x-pipes and their advantages. Basically the main purpose of a crossover is to better balance the exhaust pulses between the two cylinder banks. The H-pipe does help with this however it is not real efficient. A properly manufactured X-pipe will help clean up the exhaust note and provide a little more performance. You can read more about out X-pipes at www.bbexhaust.com or give us a call at 888-228-7435.

 

PHUN4US, I believe adding an X-pipe to any typical V8 whether through headers or manifolds is a step in the right direction but real power gains come from headers. I'm not sure you'll see the real advantages an X-pipe provides while running through stock cats. X-pipes thrive on signal which gets interupted as the exhaust pulse crashes into the cats. This is why we place our X-pipe ahead of the cats on our header systems.

Just curious, why wouldn't you consider a quality header system? It's easy to install and can be brought back to stock if necessary just as easily. If I can address any concerns let me know. Thanks

Nick
A.R. Headers

 

If you live in California, installing an "X" can result in failing the visual inspection for you smog test.

 

Never seen that

 

Installing an x-pipe after the OE cats will not cause you to fail a visual inspection as you have not altered the emissions in anyway.

 

In California you can do anything you want after the cats as long as it's not too loud.

 

As the above posters have said it should reduce the drone some.

 

Originally installed Corsa Sports with the Corsa X-Pipe on my '05/Z51/M6. Nice improvement in exhaust note, but couldn't detect any real performance improvement. Then went to AR headers & tune done by ECS in NJ.....immediate REAL seat-of-the-pants improvement. I would highly recommend that's the way to go.