PSE install - do I have to fit the switch too?

Ok, I'm sure this is answered somewhere either here or on Renntech but I can't find the answer... After much deliberation, watching of eBay, reading owners' comments, etc., I think I'm about ready to get myself a PSE (not GHL, Fabspeed, Tubi, Milltek or the aparent dozens of others who make replacement mufflers). I've missed a couple on eBay but to be honest, for the difference in money I think I'm going to buy new from local OPC (the last eBay auction I missed out on finished at approx £780, whereas I can get pair of mufflers for £1,080, so if I keep the car for 3 more years, and sell the PSE seperately, it'll have cost me £100 p.a.!) I understand that the sports mufflers come with a switch as standard (can't order aPSE without?). I'm not bothered about fitting the switch. Am I right in assuming that this is ok, and that it simply means that the exhaust will be loud all of the time and that without the switch I will just have no way of reducing the volume? Thanks.

That's correct. You can have the switch fitted later if you change your mind.

Even with the switch the default position is on. IMO the switch is not essential.

I am looking at a PSE for my 996 and was told that to have the switch fitted cost an extra seven hours labour (do the maths!)and of the 16 they had fitted no-one had bothered having the switch fitted. Let us know how you get on. regards John Stratford 924S 996

For what it's worth I bought a GT3 MkII a couple of weeks ago - with PSE fitted - and oh boy it's worth it [ ][ ][ ][ ] The switch was fitted (from the factory) but I can't for the life of me think why anyone would ever use it! P

Can anyone explain exactly what the switch does please? Thanks

When you start the car the PSE disable switch is 'off' as standard - meaning the sports exhaust is on - so you get a deeper note to the sound and quite a bark when the revs come up around the 5,000 mark - there's also a wonderful overrun burble which sounds so good I keep opening the window to hear it [ ] When the switch is pressed and the light on, the PSE is disabled / muted and the car sounds like a 'standard' exhaust car. HTH P

How can I tell if my car is fitted with a PSE. The exhaust noise is really loud (louder that other 996's I have heard).

You'll know. On the normal 996 (C2/C4/C4S) the standard exhaust sounds rather subdued and constrained and even 'whiney' sometimes. It's fine, but not very inspiring. With PSE the engine/exhaust notes are far more sporting and it really enhances the character of the 996. You wouldn't call it loud or intrusive, but it has a gorgeous delivery, which can resemble a Ferrari V8. Very addictive.

Look for (I)XLF on the options sticker under the bonnet or in the service book. That would tell you if it was a factory fitted option.

I fitted my PSE with the switch at OPC Cambridge a while ago and I absolutely love it. (They said I had to fit it with the switch) My only problem with it is that it switches off between 30 and 45 mph, and you can't override this feature [ ] Whenever I pull away, you get that magnificent bark and then all of a sudden at 30 MPH, it disappears!...

Ok guys. My indi is fitting the PSE for me this Friday!! WooHoo! And while I was at the dealers on Saturday collecting the PSE, I went mad and bought the turbo tips too! "Quick, get me out of here before I buy something else!" I thought to myself I'll let you know how it goes on Friday, assuming that is I can drag myself away from the car. There's a C4S cabrio that has recently started going past my house every morning, and it clearly has PSE cos the first time it went past I thought "what the hell is that"... Seriously nice! That's wot really tipped me over the edge...order placed, goods collected, fitting scheduled.

[ ] enjoy [ ] With the good weather of the past few days I've been finding reasons to take the GT3 out for a blat - and when I'm going under bridges / through tunnels I ALWAYS open the window - just can't get enough of the sound - something I NEVER did with my previous eight 996's!!! It's a worthwhile investment [ ] P

Hasan, The PSE (and switch) were already fitted to my 996 C4 when I purchased it (plus the GT3 aerokit). They alone sold the car to me. However, I am not aware of it switching off after 30 mph, as it remains loud all of the time, especially when you put yer foot down. The only time it switches off is when I manually switch it (and that never happens). Jason

The automatic switch off of the PSE in a OPC or factory fitted one at 30 - 40 ish is apparently something to do with a deal between Porsche and the EU over noise regs, presumably to do with noise/urban area etc. There was a previous thread on how to disable the automatic 'off' and there are people out there who know how to do it. Not enough tunnels in the UK. Hugh

Hugh, Perhaps you should join up with this crowd: http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/feature.jsp?id=161&page=2

Neil Excellent - I saw the Sky version of Top Gear (Vroom Vroom?) cover this last week - just a bit too far for me to get to of an evening. Have to make do with the Clyde Tunnel in Glasgow and the odd underpass in Edinburgh, shame. Hugh

I do not have this option code in the service book. But neither did I have the 'aerokit code'. This was fitted at a later date by the OPC. Is there any way of telling if the PSE has been fitted at a later date?

John (et al), er, WOW!!!! Had my car back from my indi this afternoon...what a sound! Stop thinking about it, and just get it bought & fitted. It finally makes the car sound as good as it looks! I can't believe I've had the car 6 months and not fitted it sooner, it really is that good. It does actually sound more like a v8 than a flat 6. I'm going to raise a new thread on the tips though, a I had the "turbo look" tips (genuine Porsche parts) fitted, and they kinda stick out a bit...not sure if I've got any other optipons though. Perhaps if my 996 was a facelift, with the revised rear bumper, manybe they'd look more at home... Anyhow, sports mufflers, get 'em bought! And don't forget, your PCGB membership should get you 10% discount. What you waiting for?

Hi, having just bought a 996 facelift 02 car without the PSE and reading all the praise the system seems to be getting I called a local OPC and they advised. That the price for the PSE 'kit' which consists of the muffler, switch, Vacuum Induction system etc...is £1400 for the parts (-10%) discount and a further £600 approx to fit.. He said also that not having the switch fitted would mean that the car would not pass the emissions test when getting it's next MOT ! Are these scare tactics or has anyone had this problem, with MOT failure on a car without the switch? [8|]

interesting, I wonder !!

In thread http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=235047 "Jonot" says his has just passed an MOT w/o the switch... As I guess we all suspected, the dealer is scare-mongering!

Having the switch or otherwise makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to emissions. If you have all the extra plumbing and electronics installed, all it does is to allow a valve on each silencer to be closed using vacuum drawn from the inlet manifold. Closing the valve simply causes the exhaust gases to go through an additional acoustic chamber in the silencer and exit through a different pipe into the tailpipe. As all this happens AFTER the catalysts then the composition of the exhaust gases remains the same. It is just forced through more holes and hence is quieter when it finally makes it to the tailpipe. Having the switch or not also makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to how the car runs either (another favourite dealer myth). The only effect of the PSE on 'loud' (its default setting even with vacuum / switch) is to slightly reduce backpressure at full throttle / higher revs as the gases have a less tortuous passage through the silencer. This could give 1 or 2 extra BHP but don't count on it. If the switch is fitted, setting the silencers to quiet just makes the gasses go through the same route as a standard silencer. The difference in back pressure at low revs / part throttle is ZERO as there isn't enough gas flow to cause any pressure build-up to start with. So your dealer is either deliberately lying for profit or talking total c**p because they haven't a clue what the system does or how it works. Bear in mind their 'technicians' are only fitters and the service desk staff have done similar training but don't even have experience of fitting the parts!! None of them is any kind of expert or engineer. Have your exhausts fitted without all the clutter and enjoy. (As an aside, it also makes it dead easy to take them off when you sell the car - so you can fit them to your next one of course)! Ian W PS. My car sailed through its MOT with the PSE securely in place and absolutely no vacuum pipes or electronic nannies.

No one is bournemouth area are they so I can have a listen to the PSE? cheers

Jamma, if you can't find anyone in the area to demonstrate just how good PSE sounds, then trust me, get it fitted, you won't be disappointed! My only disappointment is that I waited so long before buying & fitting the system!

just mailed a Porsche specialist in Bournemouth ( http://www.9xx.co.uk/ ) to see if they fit