So here is my write-up on the XForce Es-VW11-VMKSB-CBS Catback exhaust kit for the Mk7.5. I purchased this from summitracing.com for $1,296 and it took about a month to receive. My car is otherwise completely stock minus a MST TIP and GFB DVX.
Kit arrived via UPS with some damage to the box, all parts were unscathed after closer inspection.
No installation instructions included so hopefully you have some experience, I had none.
I called their customer service, and they sent them via email in like an hour.
http:https://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5e091a41f1ce6/VW_MK7_R_CAT_BACK1 (3).pdf
Unpacking and getting some rough weight estimates.
Now the removal of the factory exhaust. This is pretty straight forward. Plenty of videos online to reference for the uninitiated like myself.
Remove the rear cross brace and factory exhaust clamp.
Also the three bolts for the exhaust hangers.
The fourth exhaust hanger needs some finagling nothing some WD-40 and a pair of channel locks can’t handle though.
Exhaust off and a rough weight measurement.
The rear exhaust hanger on the resonator pipe wasn’t positioned right I had to adjust it a little to get a good fit. The one that isn’t bolted. This gave me some rubbing on the factory cross brace which I tried to fix by adding some washers to lower it about a 1/4”.
Maybe some different bushings will help, still messing with this.
Using some jack stands and some patience the rest bolted on somewhat easily.
Next the fun part, wiring up the smartbox to the valve. Lots of trim and panels to remove, this was my first time doing this so it took the most time. I came up through the right rear grommet behind the wheel well.
The wiring harness isn’t long enough to reach the passenger footwell.
To remedy this I tried a shorter route first but that still didn’t give me the reach I needed. So I used this cable -
as an extension although they claim it isn’t necessary because it’s for a dual valved setup which I don’t have. Nonetheless I used that cable to connect to the valve motor and brought it up into the car and connected it to the main wiring harness to give me the reach.
Removal of the factory valve cables throws a soft fault, no CEL. This is annoying only because their customer service said it wouldn’t. Not a big deal I’ll get the terminators off eBay.
The smartbox and the remote fob box sit in the passenger footwell and the accessory fuse, battery terminals and OBDII connector run through the center console. All pretty easy stuff.
They don’t provide good (any) instructions on the 12v accessory power fuse to tap into. I figured it out in these photos, this only comes on when the car is powered on.
Next the battery terminal connections have to be routed through the firewall, found the grommet in the drivers footwell, cut a hole and fished it through.
Still haven’t figured out the best path for the GPS antenna or if I’m even gonna use it..The trim panel along the windshield doesn’t come off easy at all felt like I was gonna break something plus there is an airbag in there so I am not using the gps atm.
To finish up there was a lot of cable management but it will fit behind that panel and some under the center console.
My biggest complaint is the fitment, maybe the rubbing on the cross brace is my lack of experience but I feel that it was due to their placement and angle of the rear resonator exhaust hanger. I will get it sorted but it’s annoying to get it adjusted then have the exhaust settle down again on it.
I will get some more videos up as I have time.
Edit: Spelling, and the remote fob batteries were dead, tested with a multimeter so I will have to source two 27A 12v batteries. Never seen these before.