AWE Conversion Kits give you peace of mind in knowing you're never "stuck" and always have options. Watch below:

One of the most common reasons for an exhaust either not fitting, or sagging on one side or another, is improper installation of the clamps over slip-fit tubing. Watch this quick video on how to do it right! 

 

1. ENSURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PARTS FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

Head to AWE-Tuning.com, input your vehicle information, and select the purchased product.

Scroll down to the product grid (where pricing is shown), match the SKU found on your AWE package with a SKU in the product grid, and click "+this fits..." to confirm your exact year, model, submodel, year, drivetrain, and transmission.

If the SKUs match, you're good to go. If they don't, contact us immediately.

Note: Thoroughly read all of the details on the product page for information regarding changes to the vehicle that may have occurred within the same model year, e.g. the N20 vs N26 engines for the BMW 328i/428i.

Unfortunately, we cannot support custom part combinations since each system is specifically designed for its respective vehicle.

2. REVIEW THE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.

Take a look at your installation instructions to make sure that all the pieces of your new system are oriented correctly and in the proper sequence. Once done, review the parts list at the beginning of the instruction guide to ensure all of the listed components are accounted for.

Don't have the instructions yet? They can be found at the bottom of the respective product page on our website, under the "installation instructions" tab. They're in PDF format, so feel free to pull 'em up on your phone, tablet, laptop, etc.

3. CONFIRM YOUR CLAMPS ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY.

Below is an excerpt from the installation instructions (shown below) on how to ensure that your Accu-Seal clamps are properly installed on the exhaust' tube's slip-fit joints:

4. ADJUST YOUR CLAMPS.

Loosen and adjust any of the clamped locations and refit the components of the exhaust system. The pieces are designed to have some room for adjustment to enable perfect fitment.

Note: Make sure to adjust your entire system since the installation towards the front of the vehicle may impact the fitment in the rear. 

5. CHECK FOR CONTACT.

Ensure your system does not make contact with anything other than hangar locations or interfaces called out in the designated installation instructions.

Check the system while cold for any places of contact or noises that would indicate the exhaust is contacting parts of the vehicle.

To adjust for thermal expansion, you should also check for potential contact points once the exhaust system has reached operating temperature. 

NOTE: operating temperature means hot pipes! Don't touch them.

If your exhaust is making contact, be sure to readjust the system as described in the previous step.

6. ADD SPACE FOR CHASSIS BRACES.

If your vehicle has an under-chassis brace that is interfering with the fit of the exhaust system, and the kit did not consist of spacers within the packaging, that mean we designed the system to fit without the need of spacers.

If you have attempted to adjust the exhaust, and it still making contact, you may add spacers (washers work well) to offset the brace from the exhaust system. Make sure that you first attempt to fit the exhaust system by adjusting the clamps before adding spacers or washers.

7. SET PRELOAD

Steel grows when it gets hot. As a result, your tips may stick out further after driving than they were before getting in the car.

How do you account for thermal expansion? Set hangers that are perpendicular to the length of the vehicle with preload toward the front of the vehicle.

As the metal expands and the system reaches operating temperature, this forward preload will counter the thermal expansion, resulting in the exhaust fitting perfectly.

8. TAKE PHOTOS OF THE PREVIOUS STEPS.

If relevant to the issue, please also include photos of the system and any visible issues. Take photos of each of the troubleshooting steps as they are completed so that we can see what has been tried and better assist you with the troubleshooting process. The most helpful photos for fitment issues are:

1. The parts of your system laid out as you received them.
2. Photos of any contact or signs of contact between the exhaust and the chassis.
3. Damaged or ovaled parts.
4. Images of the whole system installed on the vehicle.

9. IF ISSUES PERSIST, FILL OUT OUR SUPPORT FORM.

If the issues persists and you have checked all of the steps listed in this guide, please fill out our online tech support form found here: https://www.awe-tuning.com/support/

Be sure to provide as much information as possible as to allow us to provide the best assistance for your specific situation.

Please take note of the information requests noted below, and be sure to include them with your form submission.

10. GATHER PROOF OF PURCHASE, AND PROVIDE MEDIA.

Before we can get our support process underway, we will need a proof of purchase which may be in the form of a purchase order, sales order, or invoice number. Feel free to send this to us in the form of a photo or PDF.

Along with your proof of purchase, please provide thorough imagery and video of your issue.

If you have pictures and videos that can not be attached to the form for any reason, let us know in the problem description section that you have additional media and we will reach out to you so that they can be sent via email.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Once your form has been submitted, you will be contacted by a member of our support team within one business day (Monday through Friday) with a confirmation that your ticket has been received and that we are analyzing the situations and working towards a solution.

Our support team member may require additional information and will let you know exactly what we are looking for if needed. Part of our replacement process involves having our team diagnose and confirm the issue which is best accomplished with photos and videos of the problem (which you'll rememeber to provide, right? Right!). The more photos and detail we receive the faster we can get you a solution to your issue.

Everything you need to know to troubleshoot your electronic valves.

 

 

Here's what you need to know to properly care for your exhaust tips.

Our advice on choosing the best exhaust configuration for you.

Our SwitchPath™ systems default to the quiet position on startup. This was a decision we made during the design phase mostly for everyday practicality (and for the sake of our customers' neighbors). So you will have to use that button to open the valves on startup but then again that's the great feature of the SwitchPath™ system: having full control of your exhaust tone.

This is a drain hole we designed into our resonator to help expel excess condensation. This is perfectly normal and you will notice another hole just like it on the top side as well as in other resonators in your system. Any slight hissing or soot emitted from this hole is a non-issue and will not impact overall sound or performance here.

How to remove and replace a valve actuator on an AWE SwitchPath™ Exhaust.

Here's what to do if you experience a check engine light.

What to expect when your exhaust system is breaking-in.

Here's how to diagnose and address exhaust leaks.

What is 180 Technology®?

 

AWE's patented 180 Technology® works a little something like this: As exhaust gases exit the engine and flow into an AWE 180 Technology®-equipped resonator, they pass through strategically located ports, and into reflection chambers.

Sound waves, carried by these exhaust gasses, bounce off the walls of the reflection chambers.  Depending on the sound requirements of each vehicle, AWE acoustic engineers adjust the size and location of the ports and the chambers.  By controlling the size and location of these key elements, we also control when the sound waves exit the chambers.  The specific timing of when the reflected sound waves re-join the main exhaust flow creates a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree out-of-phase sound wave that cancels out problematic frequencies.

Consistency through change.

AWE 180 Technology® is not on a “one size fits all” concept. Rather, AWE engineers design sound cancelation resonators based upon the specific acoustics generated by vehicle types, thereby ensuring perfect sound, every time. It’s one of the reasons AWE exhausts have earned a reputation for the perfect tone, regardless of application.

What it means to you.

The result? The removal of unwanted tones in all AWE 180 Technology®-equipped exhaust systems. The sound produced by this formula is the perfect, signature note. Unlocked performance and spot-on tone, every time.

A video’s worth 1,000,000 words.

180 Technology® in action, below.

Here's what you need to know to service your air filter.

The short answer: almost every AWE exhaust product meets the definition of having a muffling device on it. Read below for how to be sure.

For cat backs:  Take a look at the product on our website, and if it has any type of welded-in component that is larger than the rest of the piping (examples below, the green check boxes fall into the definition of a muffler), you can rest assured that the product contains what the definition of what a muffling device is. 

For axle backs: The same criteria applies, but we’re calling these out separately since there’s a chance that the AWE section of the product won’t have a muffling device, but the vehicle may still retain the muffling device(s) further “upstream” from the AWE product. This scenario would also follow the guidelines of the vehicle having a muffling device.  See the example below where the AWE product does not have a muffling device, but the full exhaust still retains the factory muffling devices. 

When it comes to the sound levels, an AWE product alone has very rarely been an issue for our customers, but if this is a concern, we recommend you take a look at your local sound regulations and get comfy! Happy rippin’!