I got my PPE headers installed about a year ago and I love them. When I first picked up the car from PPE I noticed that there was a loud buzzing sound right after a cold startup while the idle was high (lasting for about 30-40 seconds), but then as soon as the idle drops (after the car warms up or you put it into gear) then it quiets right down. But also, if I rev the engine it makes the same buzzing sound as it drops back down through that same rpm range. I asked them about it and at PPE he told me it'll quiet down a bit after a while. So I have been driving it for a year waiting for it stop buzzing, but it still does it just as bad and it's driving me nuts! I'm embarrassed to start my car with a cold engine if someone is standing near me because the car sounds like sh#t for the first 30-40 seconds. I literally start it and then immediately put it into gear so the rpm's drop and it quiets down.

Is this normal? Anyone else have this experience with their PPE headers? BTW I have no cats and a Borla exhaust, but I have gotten under the car and the noise is clearly coming from the headers.

 

I have the exact same setup and don't experience the noise you hear.

 

I have PPE headers and exhaust. No buzzing here. Call PPE, they're customer oriented and I'm sure will help you out.

Lou

 

I have the same set up and am experiencing the same noise. I put the Borla on a few months before the headers and didn't have any problems. Once the headers went on the buzzing noise started. I checked and found the passenger side heat shield was making contact with the header. Once that was taken care of the noise was still there.
I did not that there was 2 small pin holes in the weld near the X pipe section of the cat back. I have not had a chance to close the pin holes yet, but on my car it seems the noise is coming from near the X and not the headers.
You could check if yours is the same. I found evidence that water was coming out of the pin holes.

IMO the noise is either coming from the exhaust leaking from the pin holes or the flow difference with the headers in catching something in the catcack.

I'll lyk when I close up the pin holes to see if the noise goes away.
OR I may just order a JoeZ exhaust since I am not a fan on how the Borla sounds…

 

Same here. Never had this issue.

 

That is the sound of the variable valve timing. It is louder when the motor starts cold and then quiets down after a few minutes. It becomes more pronounced when all the cats are removed. It is normal.

 

I have the same issue after the header install. I just bend away the heat shield on the passenger side. As it was rubbing on the headers.

 

Thanks for the info!

Im curious if others with different cat back systems other than Borla have this noise.

 

I have never experienced any rattle sound at start up and that is with headers and having had both the JoeZ and Borla exhaust. Def sounds like you have a heat shield issue or something making contact. Btw you should contact Borla about your pin hole leak and get it taken care of under the warranty or maybe have a shop spot weld the leak. Either way you'll want to fix that before you potentially sell it for a new exhaust.

 

he says it goes away .... i would take a look and see if there is anything touching the headers. a sound clip on youtube would help out alot.

 

I had the same exact problem when i would rev up to 1-3k when the car was cold. My exhaust was hitting the heat shield. I know you're talking about headers, but when my headers were installed I guess my exhausted was moved.

 

I’m experiencing a similar sound, wondering if this was fixed?

 

I noticed after installing my catback I have a buzzing sound that happens at 1800rpm and 2000-3000rpm. Haven't been able to figure out what it is yet

 

I had the same buzzing sound when I put a new catback. Mid pipe might be touching the heat shield. Just used some zip ties and the sound went away