Barca93

How much louder is it with all straight pipes? I'm curious to try it out... And any idea how to stop that leaking noise?

uptempo115

Tough to say but I would guess ~25% louder, but with a more noticeable rumble. I'm now interested in the sound without the bulb resonators, which I've never touched.

Barca93

Oh so you have just the rear set of resonators removed? I wonder how it would sound straight pipe all the way to the mufflers with both set of resonators removed.. Vs my set up which is X pipe to straight pipe to mufflers

uptempo115

I had the exact same set up as you but wanted to try it without the X-pipe. For the most part I'm happy, but may get around to either removing the the bulbs or replacing with high flow cats.

Barca93

Just replaced the x pipe with straight pipes and I like the sound a lot more now. It has that raspy farty amg noise to it. Thanks for the tip. However I did unfortunately get a fat speeding ticket from testing out how the new exhaust sounds. O well.

eBean

ouch sorry to hear barca. Do you get that exhaust leak noise from the rear?

Barca93

It does make some noise from the rear. But need to still observe it better.

uptempo115

Never fun to get a ticket, but it's great to hear that engine rumble for such a cheap mod.

Party Pete

Does anyone who has removed the resonator's have any pictures of the layout inside of them? Not cut open but just looking through the pipes from one end. I am particularly interested in whether then large centre resonator has any form of cross over or x-pipe arrangement inside or is a simply pair of straight through perforated pipes.

peppernick

The pipes are essentially perforated straight through surrounded by sound deadening material, just like a muffler.

Party Pete

Thanks. So the pressure equalisation is no more than that shared within the chamber. It makes me wonder if a kiss pipe or arrangement like Supersprint use might be a good compromise between the very quiet x-pipe and thumpy straight pipes. It might also prevent the mild torque loss than some people think the x-pipe creates. Thanks for your help.

ksaxobeat

I just emailed you the vid... I do not hear a leak at all... It is just straight pipes!!! I love it!

Barca93

You don't have the chug noise from the rear? I wonder if it has to do with the you having the bi turbo engine.

ksaxobeat

I can send you another copy... Or does anyone know how to post it?

Its not the best vid due to the guy playing his music loud and the wind blowing.

I will push out another one tonight.

Barca93

You can upload a video to Flickr, its quite easy. Then post the link in a comment on here. www.flickr.com

SnakeDoctor

You could upload to YouTube as well.

D&G

Love to see and hear a clip of your exhaust.

Party Pete

For those who have fine this with the NA 5.5l, did you notice any difference in performance or torque between standard, x-pipe and straight pipes?

peppernick

In my experience, 2.5 inch ID X-pipe gives the best performance, noticeable torque and mid gains. Straight pipes are louder but feels very similar to when the standard resonator is still in place. I've never tried an H-pipe. However, I shall be putting on my C63 cat back exhaust system on my 550, with a centre resonator that is a bit of an H-pipe

Party Pete

Thanks. One of my fears is messing up the torque. In Australia these things are expensive and few people know how to deal with issues. My experience with LS1's in the past is that exhaust balance makes a huge difference. Straight pipes killed any pull at all. Interesting that the Merc seems less fussy. It makes the decision easier.

peppernick

Whatever you do, don't do a muffler delete. That will kill the low end altogether. I drove my car without mufflers and it had no low end pull whatsoever, furthermore the drone was unbearable anyway.

Party Pete

I definitely won't as I want drone free and mild which from reading forums, seems to be what replacing the centre resonator with an x-pipe achieves.

Has anyone tried a merge pipe/kiss pipe arrangement instead of a full x-pipe? I note that this is what supersprint use son their unresonated mid pipes for the 550.

Barca93

Very interesting. I too have felt very slight gains from using the X pipe. And the straight pipes just feel like no gains, but a really loud sound. I just changed my tips on my rear diffusers connected to my mufflers and the "chug" noise is also less now. So overall I really like how the car sounds with just straight pipes since its closer to what an aftermarket/AMG exhaust would be like. I would like to try how an H pipe sounds though and it might get rid of the "chug" noise completely.

zulumerc

I know im bumping an old thread would love to hear a 2012+ e550 biturbo
with the resonator bulbs and the larger resonator removed in place a straight or x....anyone have any clips?

SnakeDoctor

Hmmm, I only did the resonator delete, and I posted vids in this thread.
https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-c...0c-myself.html