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Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8: the song of the naturally aspirated 4.2, the exhaust guide

11 min read

Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8: the song of the naturally aspirated 4.2, the exhaust guide

With its naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 and quattro drive, the S5 B8 Coupé holds a special place among Audi coupés. Eight cylinders, a crisp throttle response, a surge that stretches out with no flat spots: everything invites you to listen. The factory exhaust, designed to keep it quiet, had other ideas. From the pipes to the tips, this guide reviews every choice for your future ROG exhaust.

Written by ROG Motorsport · Updated

ROG valved exhaust system for Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8

Your ROG exhaust for Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8

From €2,490 in stainless steel, €2,990 in titanium

Configure my exhaust
Vehicles
Audi S5 B8 Coupé 4.2 V8 (2008-2012)
Engine
354 hp · 440 Nm
Exhaust
Valved cat-back, built for your VIN
Material
304 stainless steel or titanium
Front section
Optional: catted front pipes with 200 or 100 cells, or decat
Valves
ROG remote, or factory control if your vehicle has it
Lead time
20 working days from order confirmation to delivery
Warranty
3 years, parts and workmanship

Closely related versions have their own guide: Audi S4 / S5 B8 3.0 TFSI V6, Audi A4 / A5 B8 2.0 TFSI, Audi A4 B8 3.2 FSI V6, Audi S4 / S5 B9 3.0 TFSI V6.

The 4.2 FSI V8: eight naturally aspirated cylinders at the heart of the S5 B8

The S5 B8 Coupé gets the 4.2 FSI, a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre direct-injection V8. It delivers 354 hp and 440 Nm, sent to all four wheels by the quattro system. Without a turbo, its response is instant and its power grows with the revs, giving the car a more mechanical, more extrovert character than the turbocharged V6 S5 models that followed it.

On a naturally aspirated V8, the exhaust acts directly on what you feel behind the wheel: it is what passes on the engine's rumble, or not. The S5 B8's factory exhaust filters out most of it and reduces the V8 to background noise. The ROG valved exhaust takes its place without any work on the mechanicals or the electronic management, and lets you decide when the 4.2 makes itself heard.

What makes up the exhaust on your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8

An exhaust system is best understood in two parts. Here is what each one does, and what ROG replaces.

How the exhaust system is laid out From left to right: the engine, the front section, then the ROG cat-back with its valved silencer and tips.Front sectionROG cat-back: the complete exhaustEngine
Valves closed: the gases pass through the silencer chambers and the car stays composed.Valves open: the gases take the direct route and the engine speaks freely.Schematic only; the actual routing depends on the vehicle.

The cat-back is the complete exhaust system

It is everything you can see under your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, from the outlet of the front section to the tips: pipes, silencer, valves. This is where our research and development is focused, and it is what shapes the sound. On its own, it changes the character of the car.

The front section, where the catalytic converter sits

On your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, it is the front pipes, just after the manifolds. They contain the factory catalytic converter: the second restriction in the exhaust, after the silencer. Replacing this part is optional: it frees up the flow, and an ECU remap is what turns that into power.

Your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8 in figures

On a modern car, an exhaust system first changes the voice, the breathing and the weight at the rear. Power, on the other hand, comes from an ECU remap.

Power

Factory354 hp
Stage 2394 hp

Torque

Factory440 Nm
Stage 2488 Nm

Published factory and Stage 2 figures.

Our exhaust systems work perfectly with or without an ECU remap. On your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, however, we recommend having it done at an approved tuning centre: it is what lets the engine reach its full potential.

On a naturally aspirated V8 like the 4.2 FSI, an ECU remap does not have boost pressure to work with: it refines the ignition timing, the cylinder filling and the response. The gains are therefore more modest than on a turbocharged engine, and the ROG exhaust is the logical complement, since it acts on the breathing as much as on the sound.

Configuring your exhaust, step by step

4 choices, in the same order as the product page configurator.

  1. Step 1 of 4: Material: stainless steel or titanium

    For your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, the exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium.

    304 stainless steel

    2 490 €

    Weight
    Baseline
    Sound
    Full and rounded

    The benchmark for high-end exhausts: tough, corrosion-proof, with a full, rounded sound. The choice of most of our customers.

    Titanium

    2 990 €

    Weight
    Around 40% lighter
    Sound
    Metallic, crystal-clear

    Around 40% lighter than stainless steel for the same design, with a more metallic sound that turns crystal-clear at high revs. Its finish ranges from brushed to blued tints.

    Over time, both hold up: 304 stainless steel stands up to winter salt and damp, and titanium does not rust. Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes.

  2. Step 2 of 4: Front section: front pipes and catalytic converter

    Optional: the front pipes on your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, with their catalytic converter. Sound intensity is rated on our scale of 0 to 10, valves open; the factory exhaust scores 3.

    Cat-back only

    Included

    7/10

    Factory emissions control

    The factory catalytic converter stays in place. The starting point and, for many of our customers, more than enough.

    200-cell sports catalytic converter

    +880 €

    8/10

    Road use and French MOT

    Emissions control is still very much there, and flow improves noticeably. The choice for everyday driving.

    100-cell sports catalytic converter

    +880 €

    9/10

    French MOT pass not guaranteed

    Half as many cells: flow comes close to a decat and the sound gains real aggression at high revs.

    Decat

    +570 €

    10/10

    Track use only

    No emissions control: maximum flow, raw sound, the sharpest revving.

    Sound intensity, on a scale of 0 to 10

    1. 10/10Decat front pipes + ROG cat-back
    2. 9/10100-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
    3. 8/10200-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
    4. 7/10ROG cat-back only, factory catalytic converter retained
    5. 3/10Factory exhaust, for comparison

    Valves open. With the valves closed, every configuration becomes discreet again.

    What about the engine warning light? A sports catalytic converter can trigger it: the oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter detects less cleaning than with the factory unit. It is not a fault. An ECU remap recalibrates the sensor, and a session with a diagnostic tool clears the fault code. With a decat, the warning light is almost certain without a remap. If it happens to you, call us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing the French MOT with a sports exhaust.

  3. Step 3 of 4: Valves: ROG remote or factory control

    Two ways to control the valves on your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8.

    ROG remote

    ROG remote for opening and closing the valves

    A small control unit fits in the boot. Two buttons, open and closed: the valves respond at any moment, whatever the drive mode. Simple to fit, and we stay on hand throughout the installation.

    Factory control

    • Only for vehicles fitted with factory valves
    • Controlled by the drive modes

    If your vehicle is fitted with factory valves, the exhaust keeps their existing control. The drive modes decide, just as they did from the factory, with no added electronics.

    On the motorway, with the valves closed, the gases pass through the silencer, designed for cruising: no drone at a steady speed. You open up when you feel like it, not when the motorway decides for you. More about exhaust drone.

  4. Step 4 of 4: Tips: the visual signature

    Match the tips to the style of your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, understated or bold. A particular finish in mind? Send us a photo and we will look at it together.

    • Stainless steel
    • Black
    • Carbon
    • Blued titanium
    Exhaust tips for Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8

The ROG sound signature on the V8 of the S5 B8

The 4.2 FSI has the deep, round voice of a V8, with a characteristic growl under acceleration and pick-up that grows in richness without ever becoming harsh. In the S5 B8, the factory exhaust reduces this register to a distant hum, and the V8 seems to be running far away from the cabin.

With the valves closed, the S5 keeps the manners of an everyday coupé, discreet in town and on the motorway alike. With the valves open, the V8 takes centre stage: a rumble at start-up, a full, furious climb through the revs, and that deep burble on the overrun that makes a naturally aspirated V8 so charming.

Valves open and valves closed: the gas path through the ROG silencer
Valves open, valves closed: the path the gases take through the silencer.

From order to fitting

  1. Configuration

    You choose your exhaust and enter your VIN, found in box E of your registration certificate.

  2. Check

    We check compatibility with your VIN before manufacturing begins.

  3. Manufacturing

    Your exhaust is made to order, for your car.

  4. Delivery

    Free in Europe, insured to your door, tracked from dispatch.

  5. Fitting

    No welding or cutting: clamps and gaskets, around two hours on a lift.

20 working days from order confirmation to delivery

Warranty
3 years, parts and workmanship, from the date of delivery
Payment
In instalments with Klarna
Installation
At the garage of your choice

What about the manufacturer's warranty on your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8? In Europe, a manufacturer cannot refuse warranty cover simply because a part from another brand has been fitted: it has to prove that the fault comes from that part. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.

Our recommendations for your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8

  • Daily driving

    2 490 €

    • Stainless
    • Cat-back only
    • ROG remote

    Your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8 stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you decide.

    View this configuration
  • Fast road

    3 870 €

    • Titanium
    • 200-cell front pipes
    • ECU remap

    More sound, more breathing, and a car you can still present at the French MOT.

    View this configuration
  • Track

    3 560 €

    • Titanium
    • Decat front pipes
    • Stage 2

    The most extreme configuration, for track use only.

    View this configuration

And if you are still unsure, that is perfectly normal: it is exactly why we answer the phone.

Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8: your questions

How much power does an exhaust add on the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8?

As standard, the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8 produces 354 hp and 440 Nm. An exhaust system on its own mainly changes the sound, the breathing and the weight; power is gained with an ECU remap. With a Stage 2 build, the published figures reach 394 hp and 488 Nm.

Stainless steel or titanium: which material for the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8?

For the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, the ROG exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium. 304 stainless steel is tough, rounded in tone and the most popular choice; titanium is around 40% lighter for the same design, with a more metallic sound at high revs.

Do you need to replace the catalytic converter on the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8?

No. On the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8, the cat-back alone carries the valves and already transforms the sound. Replacing the front pipes is an option for going further: with a 200-cell sports catalytic converter for the road, 100-cell or decat for more radical use, with an ECU remap to turn it into power.

Can the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8 pass the French MOT with a ROG exhaust?

With the cat-back only or the 200-cell sports catalytic converter, emissions control is retained: present the car with the valves closed. The 100-cell converter no longer guarantees a pass, and the decat fails the emissions test.

How is the ROG exhaust fitted on the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8?

No welding or cutting, using clamps and gaskets. Allow two hours on average for a well-equipped mechanic. The exhaust is built for your VIN, which guarantees compatibility before it ships.

What price and lead time for a ROG exhaust on the Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8?

From €2,490 to €3,870 depending on the configuration. Allow 20 working days from order confirmation to delivery. Free delivery in Europe and a 3-year warranty.

Unsure about your configuration? Give us a call.

Stainless steel or titanium, cat-back only or the complete system: the right choice depends on how you drive and on your Audi S5 B8 Coupé V8. We take the time to talk it through before you order, with a reply within 24 hours. We are not here to sell to you over the phone: we help you choose, even if that means a cheaper option because it suits the way you drive.

RogMotorsport is a French brand built on one conviction: with an exhaust system, the support matters as much as the product. More than 500 exhaust systems fitted and a rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Further reading