I realize this has been brought up in the forum before. I have a base v6 without active exhaust that is my muffler doesn't have valves to open. I found an active exhaust muffler for relatively cheap. The valves appear to be vacuum driven. I know this is a long shot but I am wondering if anyone knows the vacuum source that drives these on an active exhaust car? I understand there is a fuse you can pull to always open the valve on an active exhaust car. To me that means there is a vacuum source on that car somewhere with an electric valve. I just don't know if it exist on the base model? I know sometimes it's cheaper just to mass produce something and just not finish it on all the models.

 

For the first few model years, there was a dedicated vacuum pump back near the valves. Somewhere around MY16 or MY17, they gave up on that, and ran vacuum back from the engine bay.

Presumably, if you installed an active exhaust muffler without the associated vacuum, solenoids, etc. it would always be loud, as the valves default to 'open' in the absence of vacuum.

 

Yeah I know I could install it and have no vacuum and it would be always open. I could connect to the engine vacuum and it would open when the supercharger made boost as well. I was trying to come up with a controllable solution. A stand alone vacuum pump isn't a bad idea though. Just trying to figure out whether the juice is worth the squeeze. I already considered swapping the vacuum valves for electric as well.

 

May I make another suggestion? Run an OEM R exhaust with the rear valance/diffuser. I am currently running that setup on my base model and the sound that it produces is fantastic. I'm running it with the valves always open and it sounds about the same as stock in the cabin when you're driving normal but absolutely screams when you get on it. The V6 engine with this exhaust produces an exotic tone throughout the higher RPMs which I love. I did A LOT of research prior to running this setup and kind of took a chance but I couldn't be happier! The other upside is you can find the takeoff R parts for relatively cheap online.

 

Were you able to bolt the muffler straight to the V6 pipes, or did you have to replace/modify parts further upstream?

 

He got the setup from me. Its a project that I abandoned a long time ago but yes it bolts rights up!

 

Correct, the rear muffler is a 100% bolt on application. The only other parts needed are the R diffuser and valance. I will say that the reverse lights are still not connected on my car because my R valance did not come with the brackets but the V6 and R reverse light is the same part number (just need to go pick up the $80 brackets from JLR). Furthermore I plan on getting the R exhaust coated matte black and plan on replacing the R diffuser for a Project 7 style diffuser.

 

Thanks. I already have the valance and diffuser, but holding out for a parted out SVR titanium exhaust system.