Fabspeed 981 Valvetronic Exhaust System - any experience

[Christian P]

Folks

I'm seeking any experience or feedback on the Fabspeed Porsche 981 Boxster/Cayman Valvetronic Exhaust System.

I'm contemplating a (second-hand) complete unit as an alternative to my 981 Boxster GTS's broken OEM PSE setup.

I'm very happy with the OEM system but one of my valves has failed, and the replacement units are out of stock/not available/unobtanium across Europe, it seems.

This is the unit I'm considering: https://www.fabspeed.com/porsche-981-boxster-cayma...

I'm NOT seeking a louder exhaust - merely one that works properly I'm entirely happy with the aural characteristics of the OEM set up.

Headers and engine tune are otherwise standard.

Any thoughts or experiences shared would be appreciated. Thank you!

[Milnsey]

Christian P said:

Folks

I'm seeking any experience or feedback on the Fabspeed Porsche 981 Boxster/Cayman Valvetronic Exhaust System.

I'm contemplating a (second-hand) complete unit as an alternative to my 981 Boxster GTS's broken OEM PSE setup.

I'm very happy with the OEM system but one of my valves has failed, and the replacement units are out of stock/not available/unobtanium across Europe, it seems.

This is the unit I'm considering: https://www.fabspeed.com/porsche-981-boxster-cayma...

I'm NOT seeking a louder exhaust - merely one that works properly I'm entirely happy with the aural characteristics of the OEM set up.

Headers and engine tune are otherwise standard.

Any thoughts or experiences shared would be appreciated. Thank you!

I had the same problem with my valves and almost went down the fabspeed route then found an indy who plugged the vacuum line to keep the valves permanently open. Much cheaper alternative if you are happy with the sound of OEM exhaust

[Christian P]

Yup - plenty of work-arounds for isolating one or other of the settings. With PSE 'off', both banks are balanced and the sound is 'correct'. I hate having broken features and redundant buttons though.

[Milnsey]

The other thing to bear in mind is whether the fabspeed valves would be any more reliable than OEM

[Christian P]

Good point.

As I understand it, Fabspeed use a different style of valve and actuator, from a different (UK) manufacturer. In their product videos they demonstrate the friable nature of the OEM valves (with examples!), so they clearly are well aware of the need for improved reliability. And I believe they have a good reputation for producing well-designed and well-made kit.

[Milnsey]

Keep us updated please. Interested

[Christian P]

Will do.

[ATM]

A few of us have seen this system for sale and its been discussed a few times. Just visually the silencers look a lot smaller so I am assuming it will be a bit louder - or a fair bit louder. Apparently the Top Gear system is well liked and costs about the same as this Fabspeed system bit it is brand new with warranty etc. So consider this too - maybe.

[Snowy999]

Toi the original poster Design 911 show the valve actuator in stock in their warehouse if that's the problem.

[carspath]

Milnsey - please could you elaborate on exactly what went wrong with your exhaust valves and exactly what your Indy did.
Please could you also confirm that you were/are running the optional but OEM Porsche sports exhaust system

My 981S has the optional OEM sports exhaust system , and is currently working just fine , but I would happily have the sports system set at LOUD permanently should the system fail sometime in the future as I like the pops and crackles a lot.

Are there any downsides to having the system permanently on LOUD (other than the fact that you lose the ability to choose a quiet setting ) ?

[Christian P]

Snowy999 said:

Toi the original poster Design 911 show the valve actuator in stock in their warehouse if that's the problem.

Thank you. Yes - I’d seen that too. Though the guidance from two separate indies, based on the symptoms, is that it’s likely the valve itself that’s gone south, rather that the actuator. The actuator is sticking because the valve is sticking. So - likely to be the full replacement rather than a much cheaper hack-fix.

[Christian P]

ATM said:

A few of us have seen this system for sale and its been discussed a few times. Just visually the silencers look a lot smaller so I am assuming it will be a bit louder - or a fair bit louder. Apparently the Top Gear system is well liked and costs about the same as this Fabspeed system bit it is brand new with warranty etc. So consider this too - maybe.

Mmm. There is far less silencing on the Fabspeed than the standard system, and I’d loosely drawn the same conclusion about volume!

Will take a look at the Top Gear system - thank you.

[Crudeoink]

There was a thread on 911uk where someone used an aftermarket exhaust and used the OEM PSE button to control it. Their site is down at the moment, but if you search 991uk Latching Relay it should come up when the site if fixed. It involved a bit of DIY adding a relay and a few other bits and bobs but seemed to work of the OEM button in the end

[Milnsey]

[quote=carspath]Milnsey - please could you elaborate on exactly what went wrong with your exhaust valves and exactly what your Indy did.
Please could you also confirm that you were/are running the optional but OEM Porsche sports exhaust system

My 981S has the optional OEM sports exhaust system , and is currently working just fine , but I would happily have the sports system set at LOUD permanently should the system fail sometime in the future as I like the pops and crackles a lot.

Are there any downsides to having the system permanently on LOUD (other than the fact that you lose the ability to choose a quiet setting ) ?

Passenger valve would intermittently stick in the closed position despite being initially open, even halfway through a drive and with PSE button in "on " position.
I could hear the exhaust note change during the drive. Changed the actuator, still the same problem. Indy concluded that must be some problem with the vacuum system so I just asked him to plug the system. All is fine now. No downsides according to indy and posts on other forums
Yes running PSE as standard on 981 GTS.
Sorry for lack of technical terms, I am no mechanic!

[Snowy999]

Top gear sell replacement actuators and valves. A good exhaust fabricator should be able to cut out the to and weld in the new.

Not zero cost obv to be done well but....PSE may be saveable and they do sound bloody good when they work properly !

https://www.topgear.co.uk/50mm-2-inch-exhaust-vacu...

[carspath]

Thanks Milnsey

[Christian P]

OP here - thanks for recent replies. All useful. Will investigate TopGear’s replacement actuator/valve combination…

[CharverDeeksWorth]

I just sold one with a broken PSE and had been waiting over a year for parts. When I was at the dealer I noticed a huge pallet box in the workshop which could have been a replacement, if they now have the parts.

[Christian P]

Oooh - right. Might give the OPC a quick call-check in that case. Thank you.

[jhowlett]

took 9 months to get a replacement for mine under opc warranty.