Well. I took a chance. Two different factory mechanics told me that if i pulled the actuator vacuum hoses on the exhaust and plugged them with golf tees, that the car would throw a CEL. For three weeks I have been driving around with those horribly annoying valves opening and closing. Tonight I spoke with the guy at Fab Speed and he said he'd pulled them and plugged them and did NOT get a CEL. I got home tonight, dropped the diffuser and pulled and plugged the lines. No CEL. The sound at idle is very nice. When that glorious overrun burble pops and cracks, and you stop at a light the car used to sound like a Camry. Not any more!!! For all of 15 minutes and 4 cents worth of golf tees, the car sounds SO much better.
I just took her out for a drive and WOW!!! What a difference. The sound of the overrun in every gear is tremendous. At idle the car sounds like a Ferrari, not a Camry. I would have to say that this is a "must do" for the 458. (Shy of getting a whole new exhaust) I told my wife it wouldn't be quiet anymore, and that out on the highway it might be hard to make a cell call or listen to music. She said "If you want to make a cell call, drive your other car. If you want to DRIVE, drive the Ferrari"
The valve doesn't open all the way into about 6k RPMs I believe. Therefore with the valve completely open at all times its much lower in the lower and mid range of the RPMs.
I was wondering if this could be done in the 458. I had done it in the 430 and WOW, made a much meaner and louder sound. Good to know I could do it in the 458 now. Thanks.
The valves on my 458 have been "opened" for a couple of weeks and driving the car now is so much more enjoyable. In the past, the car sounded like a Lexus on low rpm. If you guys have not done it, do it, you won't regret it.
Well, technically speaking, I have turned the car on and off at least 8 times since doing it and have driven about 40 miles so far with no CEL. The only "downside" to it is that the car cannot go into "Camry Mode" as I call it. Other than that, it's all "Upside". The difference in sound is pretty substantial. Especially downshfting. With the gates active, as soon as there is a drop in vacuum the gates start to close. As soon as you let your foot off the gas, they close, preventing overrun burbles. Also, the annoying on/off of the sound just wrecks the experience. The car has sprung to life with this simple change. You don't even need to put the car on a lift to do it. An Allen wrench and a metric socket set... took all of 5 minutes to drop the diffuser, 1 minute to disconnect and plug the lines with golf tees, and 10 minutes to refasten the diffuser. It's easy to put back to stock if you don't like it. I honestly can't think of why you'd ever do that, though!
It doesn't really matter to me what you do with your car, but just keep three things in mind... 1. EPA federal laws regarding emissions tampering - http://autos.yahoo.com/maintain/repairqa/exhaust_muffler/ques081_0.html 2. Ferrari warranty fine print - I haven't checked yet 3. Voiding the EPA emissions system 8 year warranty - http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/warr95fs.txt (search for the word tampering) You might want to think about reconnecting the lines before your car finds it's way back to the dealer i.e. service, towed, etc. Just saying! Enjoy! LOL
I do not think disconnection of the bypass valve costitutes "tampering" or modification of the exhaust. The system itself is in no way permanently disabled or modified, it just functions differently for as long as you want it to. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Best.
Cool. My wife did the same by urging me to get the 458. I had sold my 360 5 years ago right before we had kids.
It helps when you are replacing the diffuser to have something to hold it up while getting the Allen screws started. (do those first, then the bolts in the back) I used a kid's plastic toy box, but a large folded pillow, or a half inflated beach ball, or... whatever... be creative. PS: you're gonna LOVE the difference!
The perfect solution is the remote solenoid from Capristo that allows you to select open all the time, or controlled by the Motronic ECU. When you feel the need, loud, and when not, relatively stealthy, if a 458 can ever be stealthy. Capristo also makes a more expensive programmable solenoid that allows you to design your own opening and closing schedule. Plugging the lines is obviously a lot less expensive, but semi-permanent. Taz terry Phillips
The Ferrari service center did it for me on my 612 Sport Exhaust He used two phillips screws and two stainless steel wire ties - best $20 to date! Year later no issues - just beautiful sounds and crackles
Did this on my R8 and the sound difference was incredible. It was very hard to find the lines to plug on my R8. Is it easy to find on the 458? Anyone doing this, please take some pics~~
Man what a difference.Way better.My buddy did it at Porsche after they closed.To be honest I like the car more now Thanks Jeff
