Porsche 981 Cayman S Stock exhaust vs PSE

Recently retrofitted the Porsche Sport Exhaust on my Cayman S. Here are some clips I took before and after the install. The microphone doesn't pick up the sound as well, but it sounds deeper, warmer, and the shifts are much crisper. Also the pops and bangs are pretty funny. Note that on the stock exhaust, I have the DIY PSE method installed (seen in my previous video) but that has little effect on the sound.
Included in the PSE kit are the console button, electronics, and vacuum tubing, which I haven't installed yet.
I'll release a short guide on the installation soon.

[@victorchen7262]

Great video, thanks for sharing it. I have a 981 base Cayman with stock exhaust. Is the sound similar between stock and PSE under 4k rpm except PSE with more pops and bangs? I compared the sound of my stock exhaust and PSE without load. I think the volume is quite similar. But when I drive alone at higher speed/ rpm think it’s much quieter than my previous 987.2 base Cayman with PSE. But I never had the chance to really compare 981 with PSE with load at higher RPM.

[@Nate-zq8re]

PSE has a deeper tone and is a bit louder below 4k rpm. Only at very low rpm like less than 2k rpm will it sound similar to the stock exhaust, just a bit louder.

[@victorchen7262]

@@Nate-zq8re so PSE sounds much louder at high rpm under load?

[@zakp7532]

Is the pse worth the upgrade? I hate to spend 2100 and there isn’t much difference. It hard for me to judge with the video. Thanks

[@bmwm333e92]

hi mate, thanks for sharing, thinking of doing this to my 981s. just wondering did you purchased the replacement center console with all the buttons as well as the exhaust? also is the wiring kit included in the exhaust? how difficult was it to do the wiring? is it just time consuming or it's actually quite difficult? any work required to the ecu? thanks

[@Nate-zq8re]

Yes the exhaust from suncoast came with a new console switch set which replaces your current switch set and is easy to install. Wiring the exhaust takes time since you have to remove much of the interior. The only difficult part is connecting the vacuum tube in the engine bay to the Change-over valve, since its hard to reach. After installing i had to go to the dealer to program in the button.

[@apolloandratti7922]

Very nice. Do you get any drone from the PSE from the rear cabin at low RPMs in a higher gear, such as 7th gear? Or lugging the engine at low RPMS when cruising 7th gear? How about on the stock exhaust? I purchased a 981 CS with the Brombacher exhaust already installed. It sounds amazing! But I do get cabin noise when applying throttle at low RPMS while at a higher hear. It's my first Cayman so I wonder if these cars naturally have drone since the engine is right behind the driver.

[@Nate-zq8re]

I haven't yet installed the wiring for the valves so for now it's defaulted to valves open. With the valves open it does drone between 2-2.5k rpm under load. Closing the valves should make it quieter but I heard it's still a little louder than stock. Sport mode also adds a lot of the pops and bangs

[@apolloandratti7922]

@@Nate-zq8re Thanks. Look forward to your feedback when the wiring is installed? Does the stock exhaust have any drone based on our experience?

[@Nate-zq8re]

@@apolloandratti7922 It has pretty minimal drone but it's still there when lugging on the highway. That said, I'd take the great sounding exhaust even with some drone over stock

[@apolloandratti7922]

@@Nate-zq8re I am with you. Thank you!

[@Nate-zq8re]

@@apolloandratti7922 I've just finished installing the wiring and had the dealer program in the exhaust. I haven't yet been on the highway but the 2-3k rpm range has less drone with valves closed, but a bit more drone than stock.

[@DeanoTXR53]

Nice. Wish the PSE was still in stock anywhere. Do you think the soul tips had any influence on the sound? The gasses already mix in the normal T-pipe, so I'm skeptical there is a big change in sound vs an exhaust whose flows are fully separate in stock form like in my old 911

[@Nate-zq8re]

The x-pipe does have a slight affect on the sound, there are some videos on it. Not really noticeable inside with the windows closed. As for PSE, the only way I was able to source one was by checking the rennlist marketplace very often.

[@DeanoTXR53]

@@Nate-zq8re Nice, thanks. Yeah from the videos I have a hard time telling the difference before/after the x-pipe tips. But most videos just show free revs on a 2.7. At this point I might just do the Faster or Carnewal cans and give up on sourcing a PSE

[@Enselladus]

I’m going to get PSE soon and fit it myself but I’m not intending on fitting the button. I know that if you do fit the button and everything you have to get the ecu programmed in order for the button to work but I’ve also heard that doing that gives additional pops and bangs. It does already have “pops and bangs” (I would say its more like burbles) on overrun with the standard exhaust in Sport mode which I assume are more pronounced with PSE. I’ve read you have now had the button fitted and programmed so did you notice any additional pops and bangs since getting that done?

[@Nate-zq8re]

@@Enselladus I did, and it was a very noticeable difference. I would say it is worth it

[@Enselladus]

@@Nate-zq8re Okay thanks, I’ll look at getting it all done properly then.

[@samyb2834]

How much did it cost to retrofit the PSE? I'm thinking of doing the same.

[@Nate-zq8re]

I ordered the kit from suncoast without tips, $2100, then purchased the soul x-pipe + tips for $400. I installed the mufflers first which was pretty easy, then later installed the wiring and vacuum tubes which was still doable. I only took it to the dealer to program the console switch and they charged 1 hour of labor ~220.

[@samyb2834]

@@Nate-zq8re The vacuum tube and wiring must have been a pain in the ass.

[@Nate-zq8re]

@@samyb2834 it was. You have to remove the drivers seat and much of the interior. You will also need to reach into the engine bay for the change over valve but everything can be done with the help of some tools

[@wernerschwarz5236]

From my PoV: stock-exhausts sounds better. pops and bangs are quite usual these days but I find them disturbing after driving in sport-exhaust-mode for more than 2 minutes (I don't want to hear the sound of the exhaust rather than the fine sound of the machine. That is a huge difference).

[@Nate-zq8re]

Fair point, the overrun is not for everyone and maybe someday I may get bored of it. However PSE (or any aftermarket exhaust) removes the "narrowness" of the stock exhaust sound that bothered me (~4k RPM to redline), while also enhancing shifts, which with the PDK will let you shift up and down all day.