Milltek vs. AWE

I apologise in advance if this precise issue has been settled but in searching the threads hard I have not found a concensus on my question. The question I have is determining which system, the Milltek or the AWE, exhaust mod is best for the CS. By the way I have ruled oput Tubi. I understand this may largely be a personel preferance but I would appreciate opinions on the matter. In reseaching the topic it seems the Milltek may offer a bit more HP boost and it may be a bit louder that the AWE system. I have spoken to modification shops and the AWE certainly gets high praise although I have also been told Milltek is of better quality. I want a performance boost but both sytems do that with Milltek seeming to have the edge. On the other hand I do not want an overwhelmingly loud interior sound and both systems also make this claim. Just not sure which way to go so if anyone has some defining issues to think about that would be great. Thanks.

For what you are looking for I think you would be better off with the Milltek due to your "sound" requirements. BOTH systems produce great gains for a Catback only. Milltek slightly more? BOTH systems are well manufactured and of high quality. However, I believe the AWE system is slightly louder than the Milltek. I am going to match Milltek headers with the AWE catback. There is a LOT of reading on both, plus dyno results...do a quick search. Good luck

I haven't own/heard awe before, but i heard it really loud... louder than tubi if i'm not wrong, and i do own a tubi... i can tell u.. its loud... i use to own miltek, and its ... too dead silent... not sure on the power gains and stuff.. i didn't dyno em...

The Milltek is by far the best proven Exhaust system. As for noise - at a recent track meet, the 3 Millteks tested did not break 94DB almost the same as the stock system - however the sound is more throaty/powerful. Be sure to specify the 100 cell cat system to maximise your power (200 cell also available)

Since I've had both on my car I may be the most qualified to give an answer. Milltek is quieter than AWE, both at cruise and at full throttle. If I recall correctly it was something like 101db for Milltek and 109db for AWE both about 6 feet back from the car. AWE is a little easier to install than Milltek, but by that I mean maybe 5-10 minutes less "fitting" time tops, in other words almost equal. Quality of both system is very good. No problems there. HP - Milltek makes both headers and catback and their headers have shown very positive gains in both 100cel and 200cel configurations (I've had both), although in the US you might trip a CEL due to the cats, in Europe you won't. (different ECU programming and O2 sensor setup). AWE's catback makes within 1-2 HP of the Milltek catback, so far Milltek and AWE have tested as "tops" in that category. AWE comes polished by default, Milltek has polished cans but not the rest of the tubing. However, the AWE tubing has turned that burnished bronze color after 6 months on my car, although the cans/mufflers are still shiny when I clean them. AWE is squarish in looks, Milltek rounded. In short I don't think you can go wrong with either, just personal taste. In my opinion either AWE or Milltek is way ahead of something like Tubi.

Thanks very much for the quick replys and input. K-Man's actual comaprison experience is certainly appreciated.

I would believe the difference in HP gains is a wash. In terms of sound, I have NOT heard the Miltek but "traditionally", at least on a MINI, the Miltek is a more softer sound ... for people who only want to hear it at higher RPMs. The AWE, while loud, is not obnoxious. In fact, my wife thinks it could be louder. Go figure.

I listened to a few sound clips of both, and frankly couldn't tell the difference. I installed AWE, and it can be loud, and in my car it resonates around 2K enough to be bothersome, but a slight change in driving style has taken care of that issut. The overall sound is deep and "angry", exactly what I wanted. The quality is great, of course I'm really just talking about fit and finish, I'm not very knowledgable in the technical details. I did both the catback and intake, and I can notice a difference in performance, or at least that's what my butt dyno says. Even if it's just the sound telling me it's faster, I'm okay with that.

Couldn't have put that better myself. One thing that is nice is that you also get different tips with the milltek although you can buy some very nice ones from AWE- just don't forget to if you go that route. Power-wise they're very close. It all comes down to sound and what is too loud/too quiet....

Take note the Milltek is far from quiet if you rev out the engine. My wife can hear me coming up the road from about 1 km away! For some reason when you reverse, the exhaust noise is deeper and rumbles more. She heard me reverse when she was inside her hospital room with the window shut yesterday when I was out in the carpark! Dread to image the tubi system!

When you say 'reverse', do you mean 'rev'?

This is an interesting thread. I have AWE on our A4 and Miltek on our S4. To me, it is a night and day difference. The AWE piece is much louder, very extroverted and has some droan on the hwy. The Miltek is very subtle but muscular, not detectable droan. I wonder if I would feel the same way about the CS versions of the exhausts.

i have the milltek (with fabspeed headers and cats). i really like the sound of the milltek. at first i thought, too quiet...but after a half day in the car, i think its perfect. it has a deeper, lower frequency vibration that sounds nice at idle and low rpm...and sounds great. it just doesnt dominate the cabin like the borla did in my rx8. when you jam on it, the milltek comes alive with a nice wale...but still just a few percentage ticks above stock.. overall, better sounding. dont know about awe but as kayman s said, i have heard it is louder.

Current setup is AWE catback and Milltek 200 cel headers. Waiting in the wings after my next track event is the Milltek v2 catback. BTW, if you get the AWE tips, install them when you install the exhaust, they don't fit on like the factory tips, you can't disconnect in one spot, they are welded to the cross piece that goes between the two mufflers. I was going to throw the AWE tips on the other day and found that I've got to loosen up the exhaust completely now to do so and I didn't have that much time. The AWE tips are very nice, but then so are the Milltek ones.

After about 5k miles I decided my first mod would be Milltek cat back exhaust. I worried that it would be too loud for a fifity something guy. I didn't want a loud or irrritating sound like you hear on the "fast and furious type cars" around the Bay Area. Alex and James from Sharkwerks assured me I'd be pleased and installed Milltek. When I started my CS afterwards it sounded quieter?? Deeper sound and more thoaty but quieter! Crusing under 3500 rpm there is no cockpit resonance and quieter than stock, low deeper sound. But jump on it and it sounds sooo sweet! The first time I hit it on the highway I thought for a second is that sound from me? I couldn't be more pleased. My thirty old son heard it idling in thre driveway and said "it doesn't sound any different" and that's the response I wanted. The tips look great without appearing out of place and keep the Cayman look. For me the Milltek system is the best bet but sound is in the ear of the beholder or something like that:dance:

Great info! I won't be modifying this car, but the next one will get it all. Thanks Russ

Yes I mean in reverse gear. Seems the tone is deeper when Reversing! Strange. Maybe its the higher load on the engine. Opposite of like when you rev it in Netural it sounds really wimpy.

K-Man S, What's the difference between the Milltek and Milltek v2? Have you had any trouble with the headers tripping the CEL?

What about price for both systems?

About $2000.00 For Milltek and $1700.00 for AWE plus installation at approx. $250 to $350 depends on where you go to get it done. I believe the Milltek Header is around $2700.00. Chaseman:drivingskid:

This is great info (great thread), thanks everybody! (even though I didn't start it) Decisions, decisions! :helpme: First I had a hard time trying to decide on a body color, then interior color, then options, now the muffler! I'll probably get a muffler in a couple of months, hopefully I'll be able to make a decision by then. cya

Based on all this input I ordered the Milltek catbacks and will report how I like system. Milltek is back ordered so could be middle of May before install. Thanks for all the input; Heatman's 50's comment put me over the top.

Did you let them know you saw it here and researched it here? I hope so, that way they will know their sponsorship is doing good things for them!

No but will be happy to and thank you for your input on this

hawc, it actually wasn't that bad. i drove on Thurs and Fri and the snow didn't really stick around. As long as you took it easy, it was fine. I'm at 2600 kms now and need another 400 kms before the break-in is completed. I have to drive when ever possible to get this break-in over and done with so i can let er rip!! I don't know how this happened. This post of mine should have been in hawc's thread "bad idea" Sorry guys!!

mr.clean you can't compare a turbo car and a non-turbo. turbo makes the exhaust much quieter.

Has anyone installed the 100-cell Milltek headers? What's the hp difference vs. 200-cell version?

HP between the 100cell and 200 cell appears to be the same, but less check engine lights with the 200 cell as it scrubs teh exhaust more so the O2 sensor doesn't trip as often.

K-Man S, How often is less often?