AWE SwitchPath Exhaust: How It Works, Fitment & Price
Quick answer: AWE SwitchPath is AWE Tuning's valved exhaust. With the valves closed, it sounds refined and close to stock at cruise, similar to a Touring Edition. With the valves open, it flows straight through and sounds like a Track Edition. On most modern cars, SwitchPath keeps the factory valve motors and drive modes, so the car's own Comfort, Sport and Track settings control the sound, with no extra switch needed. It costs more than AWE's fixed Touring or Track systems, but it's the only AWE option that gives you both personalities in one exhaust.
AWE sells three main exhaust "editions": Touring, Track and SwitchPath. Most buyers know they want AWE, then get stuck on which edition to choose. This guide explains how SwitchPath works, how it compares with Track and Touring, which cars it's available for, what it costs and when it's worth the extra money.
What Is the AWE SwitchPath Exhaust?
SwitchPath is a cat-back (or, on some cars, a full exhaust) built with valves in the rear section. When a valve is closed, exhaust gas is routed through a tuned muffler, which keeps the cabin quiet and drone-free. When the valve opens, the gas takes a straight-through path, and the exhaust gets much louder and more aggressive.
On most current applications, SwitchPath retains the factory valve behavior. The exhaust bolts up to the car's original valve motors or wiring and follows the same commands as the stock exhaust: throttle position, engine speed, drive mode and, where fitted, the factory exhaust button. AWE's G8X M3/M4 SwitchPath listing says it plainly: "retains factory valve controls, no additional remote needed."
Like other current AWE systems, SwitchPath is built in-house in Pennsylvania from U.S.-sourced T304L stainless steel, mostly mandrel-bent .065-inch-wall tubing, and comes with AWE's Lifetime Warranty, No CEL (check engine light) Guarantee and Perfect Fitment Guarantee.
SwitchPath vs Track vs Touring Edition
| Touring Edition | Track Edition | SwitchPath | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Resonated, often with AWE's 180 Technology reflection chambers | Straight-through, non-resonated | Valved: muffled path when closed, straight-through when open |
| Volume | Moderate, deeper than stock | Loudest, always on | Close to stock at cruise (closed) to Track-like (open) |
| Highway drone | Minimal | Most likely | Minimal with valves closed |
| Uses factory valves | No | No | Yes, on most applications |
| Relative price | Lowest to mid | Lowest to mid | Highest |
| Best for | Daily drivers who want a refined upgrade | Weekend and track cars, maximum sound | Daily drivers that also see canyons or track days |
Not every car gets all three editions. Some platforms only get Touring and Track (the GR86 and BRZ, for example; see our AWE Touring vs Track Edition guide for the GR86 and BRZ). Cars that come with factory exhaust valves, such as M cars, AMGs, RS Audis and the Mustang GT with active exhaust, are where SwitchPath usually shows up.
How SwitchPath Works on the Road
In everyday driving, you don't need to do anything. The valves open and close exactly as they did on the stock exhaust:
- Comfort or Normal mode: valves stay closed at cruise. AWE describes the closed-valve sound on the G87 M2 as "close to stock with no drone" inside the cabin.
- Sport or Dynamic mode: valves open earlier, or stay open, and the exhaust gets its full straight-through tone, often with more pops and burbles on overrun.
- Factory exhaust button: on cars that have one, it still works, so you can open the valves on demand.
Because SwitchPath responds to the car's own settings, on cars with a configurable individual mode (such as BMW's M buttons) you can often set your favorite combination and keep the exhaust quiet while the engine and suspension are in Sport.
Which Cars Can Get an AWE SwitchPath Exhaust?
Here are some of the SwitchPath systems we carry, with the fitment years AWE lists and our price at the time of writing (chrome silver tips unless noted). Black-tip versions usually cost a little more.
| Vehicle (US model years) | SwitchPath price | Track Edition price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW G80 M3 / G82 M4, 2021+ (incl. Competition and xDrive) | $3,185 | $2,155 | AWE's first BMW SwitchPath with 180 Technology; bespoke X-pipe; up to +3 hp / +5 lb-ft at the wheels |
| BMW G87 M2, 2023-2025 | $3,185 | $2,155 | 3-inch with X-pipe; quad 4.5-inch tips |
| Ford Mustang GT / GT Premium (S650), 2024-2025 | $3,095 | - | H-pipe; +8 hp / +8 lb-ft at the wheels; 59 lb vs stock 64 lb (per AWE) |
| Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, 2022-2026 | $2,995 | - | Uses factory valve motors; X-pipe; up to +11 hp / +3 lb-ft |
| Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman, 2017-2025 (PSE cars only) | $3,075 | - | Needs the factory Sport Exhaust (PSE) option; up to +9.5 hp at the crank |
| Audi RS 3 (8Y), 2022-2026 | $2,695 (no tips) | - | Keeps Drive Select and the factory exhaust button |
| Volkswagen Golf R Mk7, 2015-2017 | $2,155 | $1,435 | Up to +12 hp / +9 lb-ft at the wheels (turbo-back, stock software) |
| Hyundai Elantra N, 2022-2026 | $1,695 | $1,245 | Cat-back |
We also carry SwitchPath systems for other platforms, including the Mercedes-AMG C63 and E63, BMW F90 M5 and F97 X3 M, Corvette Z06, Mustang Mach 1, Ford Raptor models and the Jeep Wrangler 392. You can browse the full range on our AWE Tuning collection. Always check the fitment table on the product page against your exact model, year and options before you order.
Is SwitchPath Worth the Extra Money?
On the cars above, SwitchPath costs roughly $450 to $1,030 more than the matching Track Edition at the time of writing. It's usually worth it if:
- The car is a daily driver and you spend long stretches on the highway.
- You live in a neighborhood or HOA where cold starts and late arrivals matter.
- You want the car's drive modes to keep working the way the factory intended.
- You want Track-level sound on a back road without living with it all the time.
Choose a Track Edition instead if the car is a weekend or track car and you want maximum sound every time you start it. Choose a Touring Edition (where offered) if you want a refined, deeper tone with the lowest drone and don't care about switching.
SwitchPath Remote and Conversion Kits
SwitchPath Remote: on some older cars, AWE also offers a push-button remote. The AWE SwitchPath Remote ($515 at the time of writing) comes with two key-fob remotes, a control box and a wiring harness, and works with either the stock valved exhaust or the matching SwitchPath exhaust. AWE lists fitment for cars such as the 2015-2019 Golf R, 2015-2020 Audi S3, 2016-2018 Focus RS and 2015-2020 Mustang Shelby GT350. Note that the remote overrides the factory valve control, so the valves then open and close only when you press the button.
Conversion kits: on some platforms, AWE sells kits that let you change editions later instead of buying a whole new exhaust. For example, the Golf R Mk7 SwitchPath-to-Track Conversion Kit ($225 at the time of writing) swaps the rear muffler and valve sections for straight-through Track Edition parts. There are also Track-to-SwitchPath kits on certain cars.
Installation Tips
- SwitchPath systems are direct bolt-on and reuse the factory valve motors or wiring, so no cutting or tuning is needed on most cars.
- Most start after the factory catalytic converters or mid-pipe, which keeps them emissions compliant. AWE lists several, including the RS 3 and G8X M3/M4 systems, as 50-state emissions compliant.
- On BMW G8X and G87, AWE includes inlet adapters for the factory mid-section. AWE notes its exhausts aren't guaranteed to mate with another brand's mid-pipes.
- A lift makes the job much easier. If you're not comfortable working under the car, have a performance shop install it.
AWE SwitchPath Exhaust FAQ
What does AWE SwitchPath mean?
SwitchPath is AWE's name for its valved exhaust. The valves switch the exhaust between a quiet, muffled path and a loud, straight-through path, giving you Touring-like and Track-like sound in one system.
Do I need a remote for AWE SwitchPath?
Usually not. On most modern cars, SwitchPath uses the factory valve motors and follows your drive modes and factory exhaust button. A separate SwitchPath Remote is only offered for certain older cars.
Is AWE SwitchPath loud?
With the valves open, it sounds similar to AWE's Track Edition, which is AWE's loudest option. With the valves closed, it stays close to stock at cruise and is designed to avoid drone.
Is SwitchPath better than Track Edition?
It's more versatile, not louder. Track Edition is always loud and costs less. SwitchPath lets you choose between quiet and loud, and keeps the factory valve behavior, for a higher price.
Does AWE SwitchPath cause a check engine light?
AWE backs its SwitchPath exhausts with its No CEL Guarantee, and most systems retain the factory valve function so the car's computer sees the valves it expects.
Can I convert my AWE exhaust to or from SwitchPath later?
On some platforms, yes. AWE sells conversion kits, such as the Golf R Mk7 SwitchPath-to-Track kit, so you can change editions without buying a new exhaust.