Reviving this old thread to add my experience and ask for some next-step guidance.

For reference: 35t with VAP crank pulley + tune, pops and crackles, stock exhaust-- went to the shop this morning to delete center resonators and the guy recommended replacing the mid-muffler with an x-pipe, as well. Unlike @Optijack, I did not install custom resonators back.

Results:
- The volume increase is MASSIVE. Cold starts and revving under 3K maintains the deep tone with much more growl and presence.
- Pops and crackles (built into the tune) are now audible on from 3K to 2K rpm with a nice deep tone. Pops and crackles from 5K to 3K are very loud... in a good way? Very subjective.
- When pushing to redline the volume and higher pitch makes the car scream.
- No perceptible drone whatsoever. I got a good amount of highway driving, coasting at various speeds.
- If driven lightly, mid-throttle under 3- 3.5K, car remains quiet enough to no give the neighbors tinnitus.

Issues:
- right at around 3.1-3.2K I have VERY bad rasp, to the point where it's annoying and kills the rest of the experience I think. It goes away and comes back briefly right before 5K. From 5K up it just screams in a good way.

The shop is willing to put the mid muffler back in at no charge. I am wondering, however, if adding resonators to the X-pipe would fix that ugly rasp, or if I should just put the mid-muffler back in and leave the res-delete as is. I'll try to capture some video for reference, though I would appreciate some feedback/knowledge.

 

For what its worth, I was very happy with just the resonator delete. Very quiet at Idle. Nice roars in the underpasses with the roof open. Lots of crackles and pops, without a specific tune for that reason...


Although there were plenty of x-pipe options, I chose not to do one based on the fact the V6 engine does not benefit much from exhaust "pulse balancing" like the V8 usually does, due to the more even firing order I think....also adds rasp.
Needless to say every muffler deleted will increase noise, including some unwanted noise in many cases. Easy to overdo IMHO.

 

Hi guys-- thinking about deleting my resonator for a little bit more sound and crackles/pops. My only worry is possible lights/warnings being triggered by the car's computer due to the missing resonator. Also, I am worried about possibly voiding my warranty.

Can anyone help here?

Thanks.

 

You will have no issues with resonator delete. The sound improves greatly but the affect your system is benign. Well worth the mod. It will not increase your pops and crackles, but it you have pops and crackles, they are much louder. Ad the VAP tune and you will be in heaven.

 

Thanks! Have you done it? Any other notes about its effect on the sound?

 

You stated that you removed the two resonators and replaced with straight pipe. I just wanted to be clear that you didn't replace the mufflers in the rear at all? That would definitely save money. Let me know please. Thank you!

 

Not sure if @alphakinase is still active -- but I can verify that is all you need to do... and if that's all you are going to do to the exhaust you should like it. What I mean specifically, is that the resonator delete worked/sounded great however, once I put on VelocityAP's high flow catalytic converters it sounded pretty awful, especially when WOT which I may or may not do often... Fortunately I kept & was able to have the resonators put back in and all was good again.

And as a PSA... don't leave the pops/crackles tune on for extended periods... each of the guys that worked on my exhaust over the last couple of years have shared that's a great way to melt your catalytic converters and likely why I had to swap stock for VAP's in the first place.

 

Great! Thank you!

 

OH, another question. What is your opinion on replacing the mufflers in the rear with straight pipe, but leaving the resonators in place? Would it sound awful or just not as loud for rasps/crackles? I'm new to this, I apologies if my questions sound silly.

Thank you

 

My current setup now is res delete and VAP Sport Exhaust-- pops & crackles have more depth, much louder than before and has a more full bodied tone through the rev range. My only issue is some nasty drone from 2K-2.5K so at highway speeds I'm having to drop down a gear just to get out of that range.

I will at some point put the resonators back on to see if that kills the drone. Sharing just in case you decide to go this route. Definitely leave the resonators in if you remove rear mufflers. I am not sure if they will drone, and if they do, the resonators might not be able to subdue it enough.

You could always just remove the mufflers and test it out yourself-- 1 hose clamp and two rubber hangers on each side.

 

Great CSL!

Thank you for the advice and your time in answering this noobs questions I have an appointment today to have the muffler deletes done, so we shall see. Stay safe brother and thanks again.

 

Let us know how it sounds and if it drones. Enjoy!

 

What about echeck?

Could you go get one done to see if it still passes? I have to get one every other year and I'd be curious if this will affect that or not. I know not having a catalytic converter is I THINK an auto fail. Or at least it will be hard to pass without one. In ohio

 

I had no problems passing emissions after a center resonator delete, and I even had the VAP tune. Remove your cats and you'll have a problem passing, but the resonator is AFTER the cats so the emissions have already been reduced by then. Same thing for mufflers, if you want to go crazy, but I found the center resonator delete gave me just what I wanted from a noise perspective.

 

This thread is STILL helping new Jag owners. Big thanks to Alpha the OP

I deleted my resonators this week on my XF Sportbrake. Details and video HERE

To anyone reading this and still debating it - do this mod. No drone, still tame when you want it. Very nice change.

 

I deleted all 3 of the center resonators/mufflers. Same result, a lot louder, raspy, pops and crackles and it's also silent at highway speeds. Well, as silent as the stock car is... the XE is a pretty loud car as far as cabin noise goes.

 

Do you have any drone at around 2k RPM's? i have Velocity AP sport mufflers and No resonator but the drone at 2K RPM is quite LOUD inside cabin.