Firstly, I am not sure if I am posting this in the right thread for starters or not, so sorry if it isn't in the appropriate location.

I remember seeing that the AWDs have a different standard exhaust than FWD but cannot clarify that. My question is, is the xforce varex exhaust (one with butterfly valve) legal in nsw as I am aware it isn't legal in some states and has anyone had anybody owned/used one as I have read mixed reviews?

Magna AWDs have a different exhaust design to accomodate for the rear diff etc.

I'm not aware of anything that makes the Varex specifically illegal - i.e. it's not illegal to have an adjustable rear muffler. It'd only be illegal if you had the butterfly open to the point where the exhaust noise exceeded the legal maximum.

What model AWD have you got at the moment? If it's a base model, I'd grab the standard sports muffler or a Lukey LR2779 (same as standard sports). Not overly loud, but has a crisp note and won't drone. I don't have an AWD but I've heard that they're particularly susceptible to droning exhausts.

I have heard a few Varexs on Magnas before and they didn't do a whole lot for me. I'd stick with the standard sports muffler or go for something good like a Magnaflow.

you compromise on the open sound with a varex, its never gonna have that aggressive note, that say a magnaflow or lukey might have. as a trade off you get the benefit of being able to drive a stock quiet car around when you arent looking to attract attention.

I was watching The Force or something, a guy in a hotted up nissan had a varex - instant defect

If you jump to 4.36 you'll see exactly what NSW police think of them lol


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbGSLFAwbig&feature=related

This is mine and naturally i think it sounds ok :P


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nam1sjosLsA

Stormies Varexs make one of the hottest notes I've ever heard! As said, not so aggressive, but they sound extremely refined, like a high quality tunes Ferrari exhaust.

Yes illegal, if you have one don't get caught because it will need to be removed lol.

Yep, it's illegal unless fitted from factory - as some cars come with variable exhausts standard, but they generally don't open up until a certain rpm.

Yep, it's illegal unless fitted from factory - as some cars come with variable exhausts standard, but they generally don't open up until a certain rpm.

There is your reason

Varex are legal so long as the noise levels are still under the legal limit when they're open fully and there's at least 1 other muffler in the system.

So if you have the rest of the system standard with a varex rear muffler, you shouldn't have any problems.

Red Valdez: I have an '04 LS series 2 AWD TW

Sorry guys still getting mixed messages, and my car currently has the stock exhaust system as is. Best idea to ring an exhaust shop to clarify?

Varex are legal so long as the noise levels are still under the legal limit when they're open fully and there's at least 1 other muffler in the system.

So if you have the rest of the system standard with a varex rear muffler, you shouldn't have any problems.

That's not correct. As far as i know variable exhaust that is not automatic is not legal at all.

in NSW the Varex muffler is NOT legal- no matter if your exhaust system is modified or not.

Red Valdez: I have an '04 LS series 2 AWD TW
I would definitely look at the Lukey LR2779 or a muffler off a factory sports model (Sports, VR, VR-X or GTVi). It will give you the performance gain of a free-flowing muffler with a crisp but not loud exhaust note.

If you bolt it up to a factory exhaust system, it will definitely be under the maximum exhaust volume, so it'll be perfectly legal.

That's not correct. As far as i know variable exhaust that is not automatic is not legal at all.
HSVs systems aren't automatic and it works on the same principle as the aftermarket systems (button opens muffler, at least 1 other muffler in system)
Providing the variable bit is installed after the cat and 1 muffler and is under whatever the legal limit is these days, it's technically legal.

Remember, police and RTA have different rules for a road-worthy vehicle. The RTAs rules about exhausts mean it needs to meet or exceed factory emissions standards, it needs to be under the legal db level and it also needs to have at least 1 muffler apart from the variable one in the system, and also to go with the distance from doors thing.
The Police's rules are modified RTA ones, with the difference being 'I don't like you, here's 50 defects'.

I don't even want to get into the number of defects we cleared when the shop was open due to dickhead cops who just throw defects around for perfectly legal (as defined by the ADR and RTA) modifications. Even completely standard cars aren't free from it, with a factory tinted lexus having a defect for too dark windows.
According to our upstanding members of law enforcement, every single thing on your car is illegal if they're having a bad day. Just work with whatever your local engineer/pink-slip people deem to be legal.

If you find yourself getting too much cop trouble, replace the varex muffler with a straight bit of pipe and laugh at our government when your car suddenly becomes more legal than when it had a full sized muffler.
Magnas without the rear muffler are still under the sound limit.

I have a TW 2005 AWD SERIES 2 all i did was take it to the muffler shop turn the car on with stock muffler rev a little and said hey can i have this a bit louder.
the guy installed a high flow muffler with 3'' pipe it sounds great now im very happy.

they also said no need to change the hole thing as its high flow from factory.

matt you can't change the note of a HSV, it does it itself above a certain RPM, this is why it is legal. It's as simple as that.

Mattvrx Magnus without rear mufflers are neither Legal or under the limit, yes I have tested it. 380 comes close but still over

Red Valdez: I have an '04 LS series 2 AWD TW

Sorry guys still getting mixed messages, and my car currently has the stock exhaust system as is. Best idea to ring an exhaust shop to clarify?

Just replace the rear muffler with one from any 3rd gen TJ+ Sports/VRX/GTV/GTVi/GTVi AWD and also, if you can find it cheaply, replace the exhaust manifold with AWD HM Headers. The HM Headers will also improve low-mid torque and also remove the drone as the exhaust flow is alot smother.

matt you can't change the note of a HSV, it does it itself above a certain RPM, this is why it is legal. It's as simple as that.
You can select if you want it open or not on the main screen, IIRC


Mattvrx Magnus without rear mufflers are neither Legal or under the limit, yes I have tested it. 380 comes close but still over
Really?
When we tested the Ralliart without the rear muffler it was quieter than a VE SS that got the all clear by the police. It also sounded awesome.

You can select if you want it open or not on the main screen, IIRC

Really?
When we tested the Ralliart without the rear muffler it was quieter than a VE SS that got the all clear by the police. It also sounded awesome.

The commodore is irrelevant. The car passed ADRs with the bi-modal exhaust - so its legal. The Varex is not.

You can select if you want it open or not on the main screen, IIRC


Really?
When we tested the Ralliart without the rear muffler it was quieter than a VE SS that got the all clear by the police. It also sounded awesome.

That is fine but we have used proper testing equipment in accordance with the testing proceedure on a few Magna's over the years more out of curiosity, no just what our ears can hear. At idle may be fine however at the specified RPM it is not as well as on de accel, law states that sound test must conform both at required RPM for that car as well as on de accel