Ace Jones

Hey everyone,

I'm new here so don't beat me up too much. I got an 08 clk550 and I am leaning towards getting electronic exhaust. Has anyone done this on their 550? Tech said he would need to take the mid resonator out, and place the dump there. My question is...

I guess have any of you of done solely a resonator delete? I'm just worried about drone if I have to delete the resonator. I expect the dump to be loud but if it drones when the valve is closed I don't think it would be worth it. Any help would be awesome!!!

floridawriter

The center resonator on my 05 CLK55 is removed. Everything else is stock on the exhaust system. There is absolutely no drone inside the car.

Fatz

I deleted the resonator at the beginning of my obsession with exhaust systems. There was no drone. The secondary cats in the 550 are actually resonators, and will likely keep the drone under control.

I think the single resonator is more of an exhaust tone modifier than drone eliminator. (IMO)

When I went to a dual exhaust and deleted the secondary cats in the process, drone presented itself.

Ace Jones

Heyy fats or Floridawriter, will I have any issues with the computer with deleting the resonator and adding the e cutouts. I just don't want my dash to light up like a Christmas tree but you guys have experience with that. Will I run into anything in those regards?

Thanks again gentlemen. Fatz what size pipe is where the resonator goes. Need to find the correct size for the cutout

floridawriter

The resonator removal won't cause any CEL - the car won't know the difference.

I can't speak from experience for the secondaries, but if there are no o2 sensors, it shouldn't make a difference to the car.

Rudeney

There are O2 sensors upstream and downstream of the "primary" catalytic converters. Anything you do downstream of them will have no effect on the emission controls. This includes the "secondary" cats (which are just resonators on the M273), the Y pipe, the rear resonator, and the muffler. One thing to consider, though, is that too much free-flow in the xhaust will hurt engine torque.

Fatz

I am pretty sure the main pipe (the single pipe where the resonator is installed) is 14 gage pipe with an OD (outside diameter) of 2.75 inches. 2.75 inches may be hard to find and is not really necessary.

2.5 inch 18 gage pipe has about the same inside diameter (the more important parameter) as the 2.75 inch 14 gage. I will double check this for you later.

It is no problem for the welder to mate a 2.5 inch piece of pipe to a 2.75 inch piece.

Fatz

I could not locate my files on the various pipe sizes I considered so I just looked on the internet for you. The wall thickness of 14, 16, and 18 gauge pipe is .075, .066, .044 respectively.

So, the volume of the 2.75" pipe would be about 14% greater than a 2.5" pipe. That is fairly significant. If you can get 2.75" 14 gauge, you should.

Otherwise the 2.5" will effectively increase the resistance (back pressure) seen by the engine....

Sorry for the mis-info in the prior reply.

Ace Jones

Thanks Fatz I ordered the 2.75 from badlandz they actually had a size 2.75. Should come tomorrow and hopefully the muffler place has appts and will have it installed tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it goes

Ace Jones

Got the cutout put in. Its right behind the muffler . my guy said I would have clearance issues if i actually put it where the mid resonator would go. Sounds great but I want it a little louder and angrier. Any ideas what I should do? I love the fact that its pretty quiet during idle but when you gas it it wakes up. Looking for a muscle car kinda sound. Since its essentially muffler delete with the valve open should I take out the mid resonator and 2 bubble resonators? X pipe? Looking for little drone as possible during cruising speeds? Don't care during acceleration.

Fatz

I somehow posted the following to the wrong thread....

"I believe" the bubble resonators do more for controlling drone than the "mid resonator". I do not recall drone of any major amount when I deleted the mid resonator.

You could delete the mid and see if that is enough with the cutout. I have headers and with the mid resonator delete the exhaust volume increased probably 4db (10db would be twice as loud). But there was no real drone.