How does the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust valve work, and does it need an aftermarket remote?

No remote is needed for basic operation. The SwitchPath valve on the 8V S3 is controlled automatically through the factory ECU, responding to throttle input, engine speed, and Drive Select without any additional hardware. In everyday driving and comfort-oriented modes, the valve stays closed and the exhaust remains composed. Switch into a sportier Drive Select mode or get into the throttle and the valve opens, delivering a full, aggressive EA888 note. An optional AWE SwitchPath Remote is available for drivers who want manual push-button control.

Is there drone at highway speeds with the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust diamond black?

With the valve closed, cabin acoustics sit close to stock and drone is not a factor. With the valve open at sustained highway speeds, some owners report a low-level resonance that becomes most noticeable around 65 to 70 mph at specific RPMs. Because the factory Drive Select logic closes the valve automatically at cruise, most daily driving scenarios stay well-controlled. Drivers planning to run the valve open full-time at highway speeds should factor that in before buying.

Will the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust mate with a front pipe from another brand?

No. AWE exhausts are not designed to work with aftermarket front pipes from other manufacturers. The system is engineered to integrate with the factory front pipe on the 8V S3, and compatibility with non-AWE front pipes is not guaranteed. For a full turbo-back build, AWE's own front pipe is the correct pairing to ensure proper fitment and consistent tone across the complete system.

Can the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust be converted to the Track Edition on the 8V S3?

Yes. AWE offers a SwitchPath-to-Track Edition Conversion Kit that swaps the valved muffler section for straight-through Track Edition components, putting the system into full-time, unfiltered mode. A Track-to-SwitchPath Conversion Kit is available in the other direction as well, if you start with the Track Edition and later want valve-controlled behavior. The Track Edition is known to be loud at all speeds, highway included, and is not returnable based on sound preference.

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Description

AWE SwitchPath Exhaust w/ Diamond Black Tips for 8V Audi S3

AWE S3 SwitchPath black diamond tips finish this valved system, designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house at AWE, handcrafted from CNC mandrel-bent 3″ and 2.5″ U.S.-sourced .065″ wall T304L stainless steel. The valved passenger-side outlet responds to throttle input, engine speed, and Drive Select to adjust the tone on the fly, staying composed when you need it quiet and opening up with an aggressive, characterful tone when you push it. The clean straight-through design keeps airflow unrestricted for maximum performance, and the system bolts on directly for a factory-like install, finishing with 4″ diamond black tips.

SwitchPath Edition

The AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust diamond black system is handcrafted from 3″ and 2.5″ U.S.-sourced T304L stainless steel with a valved passenger-side outlet that reads throttle input, engine speed, and Drive Select to adjust the tone on the fly. Composed when you need it, aggressive when you don’t. An optional AWE SwitchPath Remote is available for push-button mood control.

Features

Designed, engineered, and manufactured in-house at AWE
Max gains of 12hp and 9ft-lb of torque at the wheels (turbo-back, stock software)
Valved SwitchPath outlet reads throttle, engine speed, and Drive Select for automatic tone control
Handcrafted from CNC mandrel-bent 3″ and 2.5″ U.S.-sourced .065″ wall T304L stainless steel
Direct bolt-on for a factory-like install
Clean, straight-through design for maximum performance
4″ double-walled slash-cut tips in diamond black
Optional AWE SwitchPath Remote available for push-button control (sold separately)
50-state emissions-compliant; no tune required
Guaranteed perfect fitment
No check engine light, guaranteed
Lifetime warranty

Applications

Audi S3: 8V | 2015-2020 | 2.0L Turbo I4 TFSI EA888

Notes

AWE exhausts are not designed to mate with other aftermarket front pipes

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust valve work, and does it need an aftermarket remote? No remote is needed for basic operation. The SwitchPath valve on the 8V S3 is controlled automatically through the factory ECU, responding to throttle input, engine speed, and Drive Select without any additional hardware. In everyday driving and comfort-oriented modes, the valve stays closed and the exhaust remains composed. Switch into a sportier Drive Select mode or get into the throttle and the valve opens, delivering a full, aggressive EA888 note. An optional AWE SwitchPath Remote is available for drivers who want manual push-button control.
Is there drone at highway speeds with the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust diamond black? With the valve closed, cabin acoustics sit close to stock and drone is not a factor. With the valve open at sustained highway speeds, some owners report a low-level resonance that becomes most noticeable around 65 to 70mph at specific RPMs. Because the factory Drive Select logic closes the valve automatically at cruise, most daily driving scenarios stay well-controlled. Drivers planning to run the valve open full-time at highway speeds should factor that in before buying.
Will the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust mate with a front pipe from another brand? No. AWE exhausts are not designed to work with aftermarket front pipes from other manufacturers. The system is engineered to integrate with the factory front pipe on the 8V S3, and compatibility with non-AWE front pipes is not guaranteed. For a full turbo-back build, AWE’s own front pipe is the correct pairing to ensure proper fitment and consistent tone across the complete system.
Can the AWE S3 SwitchPath exhaust be converted to the Track Edition on the 8V S3? Yes. AWE offers a SwitchPath-to-Track Edition Conversion Kit that swaps the valved muffler section for straight-through Track Edition components, putting the system into full-time, unfiltered mode. A Track-to-SwitchPath Conversion Kit is available in the other direction as well, if you start with the Track Edition and later want valve-controlled behavior. The Track Edition is known to be loud at all speeds, highway included, and is not returnable based on sound preference.

About AWE Tuning

AWE is driven by a singular goal: Unleashing Performance. Renowned for their handcrafted, award-winning performance exhausts, along with rigorously tested carbon fiber intakes and high-efficiency intercoolers, AWE is at the forefront of innovation, design, production, retail, and global distribution of their performance products. These products are available through a select network of dealers, online, and directly from their advanced facility located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 1991, AWE’s team of experts, comprising researchers, engineers, innovators, and seasoned drivers, has been dedicated to developing and introducing top-tier performance enhancements for some of the world’s most prestigious vehicles.

Additional Information

The Bulletproof Automotive website contains many thousands of products purchased in multiple different currencies. All of the prices are entered manually and accurately at the time of entry. Due to the consistently fluctuating international exchange rates, at times prices may not be able to be honored at their original intended rate. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, unfortunately our website is unable to compensate dynamically for what can at times be volatile changes in the cost of items due to currency values fluctuating, changes in prices from suppliers, changes in shipping and import duties, and other factors. Rest assured that any order you place on line will be at zero risk to you in this area. If in the event your order cannot be fulfilled at the original intended website price we will offer you a 100% refund, no questions asked. We will continue to do our best to maintain updated prices and we will always continue to offer our price match guarantees as well to ensure our prices are always the best for you. In short, prices may change without notice. It is always advised to give us a call prior to placing your order online to confirm availability and to confirm current pricing.

Shipping Policy

Items that are in stock in the US, either at Bulletproof’s warehouse or at a supplier’s warehouse, are generally delivered within 7-10 days. Special order items from overseas take considerably longer. As a courtesy Bulletproof offers delivery estimates to our customers which take into consideration manufacturer availability and shipping schedule. These estimates represent our best guess based on previous orders from the manufacturer and do not in any way imply a guaranteed delivery window. Many manufacturers work in a “just in time” inventory system and often take 2-20+ weeks to produce an item once an order is submitted. All deliverable items are then sent to our Japanese warehouse. Bulletproof ships a minimum of one full ocean freight container every month from Japan, oftentimes more than one a month. Ocean freight takes an average of 4 weeks. Typically it breaks down to one week in Japan for paperwork and customs, two weeks by boat and one week in US customs/clearance. Due to the wide number of variables between manufacturer and shipping schedules, delivery estimates are simply just that – estimates. We attempt to estimate conservatively and we usually deliver faster than our estimates suggest. It is not Bulletproof’s policy to guarantee delivery time of any special order item, this is impossible for us to do. By ordering you acknowledge that there is no required delivery ETA and an order may not be canceled or altered due to manufacturing or shipping delays, all ETA’s are provided as a best guess only. Please review the full Terms & Conditions here.

BP Pricing Difference

We do pricing a little differently on our JDM brands and we believe in making things simple and clear. No hidden fees or surcharges. Every price you see includes the shipping cost to our office in Los Angeles, California and all the associated taxes/duties/fees for bringing the products into the US. The only shipping you ever pay is from our facility in the US to your location. Be wary of resellers that don’t include the cost of international shipping in their pricing on JDM parts. While we believe we’ll always have the lowest all-in price on JDM products, we offer a price match guarantee for all authentic parts purchased from authorized dealers as well. For many international customers, it’s much more affordable to ship from the USA than from Japan directly, as the air freight and ocean freight costs are typically much less. However, for customers looking to ship directly from Japan outside of North America, or domestically in Japan, we can provide pricing specifically for that scenario. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any pricing questions or concerns. Please email us at sales@bulletproofautomotive.com with any inquiries.

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AWE SwitchPath Exhaust w/ Diamond Black Tips for 8V Audi S3 [3025-43072]

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AWE SwitchPath Exhaust w/ Diamond Black Tips for 8V Audi S3

SwitchPath Edition

Features

Applications

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

About AWE Tuning

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