3” vs 2.5”exhaust on Q5 TDI

I have the 3" Magnaflow catback and I love it. I still have all oem emissions equipment installed so it's only slightly louder than stock, but certainly a bit deeper. The perfect note in my opinion. I did not notice any loss in the low end and it does seem to rev a bit more freely so IMO 3" is not too big.

As mentioned by others, a 3" exhaust will be a lot cooler to touch, flow better and a lot lighter than a dual 2" exhaust... Its all benefits to be had swapping from small to large bore piping and also sounds a bit throattier as well...

I made the decision yesterday to go with the 3” Rawtek dpf and egr delete. I feel like a 3” from the turbo mated with the stock dual 2.5” exhaust will be efficient. I’m mainly going with the 3” for more options when I eventually get the dual magnaflow and an upgraded turbo within the next year or so. So far I’ve had the car for a couple months and I love it.

With the right upgrades there is 400hp potential there, and with the right tuning of course.
If only the gearbox was stronger i would of gone all the way to 415-420.

DieselDeeds said:

I made the decision yesterday to go with the 3” Rawtek dpf and egr delete. I feel like a 3” from the turbo mated with the stock dual 2.5” exhaust will be efficient. I’m mainly going with the 3” for more options when I eventually get the dual magnaflow and an upgraded turbo within the next year or so. So far I’ve had the car for a couple months and I love it.

Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZWX8yO3cgE
here is my 3" sound. VERY VERY DEEP and balls'y

Another one!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soqc0Ye0hgo

I have the 3" Magnaflow dual exit Catback on my Q5 and lost no low-end power whatsoever. If anything the turbo spools every so slightly faster and it seems to breathe a bit better on the top end. Very little added noise as well, just a pleasant deepening of the stock exhaust essentially.

I am now looking for an uprated intermediate pipe. I am assuming OEM is 2.5 inch like the rest of the exhaust system?

Because of strict emissions where I live I can't remove the DPF and replace it with the popular DPF delete downpipes so I am looking for an intermediate pipe which I understand fits between the OEM DPF downpipe and the OEM diesel cat converter. Anyone tried this before?