M-Class (W164) Produced 2006-2011: ML280CDI, ML320CDI, ML420CDI, ML350, ML500, ML550

Performance Mods

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Old 08-29-2015, 08:17 PM
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2008 C63, 2008 ML550, 2014 KTM 500 XC W, John Deere 990
Performance Mods

Hey, any of you folks with ML550s do any performance upgrades: chip tune, headers, intake, blower, etc. My 2008 needs some added life.
Old 11-05-2015, 08:51 PM
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ML550 2008
Thinking of doing a ML63 catback exhaust and an aftermarket intake. Looking to try and get close to 400 horses.
Chip probably wouldn't do much since it's a N/A engine. Wonder if the headers from the ML63 would work?
Old 11-07-2015, 11:40 PM
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C55 ///AMG, 535xi
Originally Posted by Quicksilver ML
Thinking of doing a ML63 catback exhaust and an aftermarket intake. Looking to try and get close to 400 horses.
Chip probably wouldn't do much since it's a N/A engine. Wonder if the headers from the ML63 would work?
eurocharged tune, true dual exhaust with highflow cats. I did that to my c55 and picked up quite a lot of power
Old 11-09-2015, 08:57 AM
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Has anyone compared doing a cat back upgrade vs deleting the mufflers?
Old 11-09-2015, 09:55 AM
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Tomorrow I'm removing the resonators. Don't expect anything from that. But it should sound sweet.
Old 11-09-2015, 10:39 AM
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Let me know

Originally Posted by OUZO Power
Tomorrow I'm removing the resonators. Don't expect anything from that. But it should sound sweet.
Let me know if there is a difference in the interior noise, looking to do the same but I don't want it to create a lot of additional noise inside.
Old 11-17-2015, 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by OUZO Power
Tomorrow I'm removing the resonators. Don't expect anything from that. But it should sound sweet.
Did you do this? Was it difficult to do? My wife liked the sound of the Denalis we test drove but they were too big. Look for a little more growl from the motor.
Old 11-17-2015, 05:37 PM
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Try this link on my Twitter feed.


I'll post impressions tonight. I got what I wanted.

Last edited by OUZO Power; 11-18-2015 at 01:31 PM.
Old 11-17-2015, 05:44 PM
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Infiniti g37xs
Originally Posted by OUZO Power
Try this link on my Twitter feed.

https://twitter.com/k_kyriopoulos/status/664236697337487360

I'll post impressions tonight. I got what I wanted.
Sounds legit. How's the cabin sound at highway travel? Is it loud at cruising speed? Or just during acceleration? Thanks.

Also, how long did it take you to do?
Old 11-18-2015, 01:30 PM
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OK here is how I see it. If you want a subtle change this is the mod you want to do. If you want a drastic change the OEM cans/mufflers have to go and replaced with straight through cans.

At start up the tone is definitely deeper. But just when it starts up. Once at idle it sounds as it did before.

From a stop with 25%-50% on the gas pedal that's where you hear the most improvement in sound. Its a deep grunt & rumble. You will love it. I would say 20% increase in sound.

At WOT again it's louder. Not a deep grunt like described from a stop at partial throttle. It's a pitch louder. A GOOD louder. 10% Increase in sound.

At cruising speed on the highway or on any local road. Once the gas pedal is steady it's like you never removed the resonators. You would never know. It sounds just like it did before. Absolutely no cabin noise or droning.

I paid to much IMHO. But time and location was an issue for me. I paid $150. Just to much for 2 x 1.5ft of pipe and an 1.5hrs of work.

But oh well. I'm enjoying it.
Old 11-18-2015, 03:40 PM
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Material for pipe

Did you have them replace the resonator with an aluminum or steel pipe and did it require any Mandrel bending?

Originally Posted by OUZO Power
OK here is how I see it. If you want a subtle change this is the mod you want to do. If you want a drastic change the OEM cans/mufflers have to go and replaced with straight through cans.

At start up the tone is definitely deeper. But just when it starts up. Once at idle it sounds as it did before.

From a stop with 25%-50% on the gas pedal that's where you hear the most improvement in sound. Its a deep grunt & rumble. You will love it. I would say 20% increase in sound.

At WOT again it's louder. Not a deep grunt like described from a stop at partial throttle. It's a pitch louder. A GOOD louder. 10% Increase in sound.

At cruising speed on the highway or on any local road. Once the gas pedal is steady it's like you never removed the resonators. You would never know. It sounds just like it did before. Absolutely no cabin noise or droning.

I paid to much IMHO. But time and location was an issue for me. I paid $150. Just to much for 2 x 1.5ft of pipe and an 1.5hrs of work.

But oh well. I'm enjoying it.
Old 11-18-2015, 03:50 PM
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Stainless steel. Just cut out the resonator and popped in two 1.5ft pipes. The ends of those pipes where expanded to slip over the stock pipes and then welded around the joints.
Old 11-18-2015, 03:56 PM
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Thanks

Thanks for the update, have a local shop that will probably do it for cheap. Will stop by and see if they will use stainless steel or aluminum. The last time I had them do this for me on another car it was a 3.5" x 2' cutout and they only charged me $50 but that was many years ago and they used aluminum.

Originally Posted by OUZO Power
Stainless steel. Just cut out the resonator and popped in two 1.5ft pipes. The ends of those pipes where expanded to slip over the stock pipes and then welded around the joints.
Old 11-18-2015, 04:07 PM
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Here you go. Actually pics of what I did. Note the pipes have been put in place but not welded yet.
Old 11-18-2015, 04:34 PM
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Thanks, that really helps. Is there an Oxygen sensor on the resonator? Any reason you didn't have it welded?
Old 11-18-2015, 04:36 PM
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Weld the oxygen sensor or the pipes? I welded the pipes on. That's a fitment pic. Welded on the pipes and new hangers.

There is no Oxygen sensor going to the resonator.
Old 11-18-2015, 05:12 PM
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Sorry, from the picture there looks like there is a sensor on the resonator that you had removed.
Old 11-25-2015, 11:07 PM
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lo,l thats an exhaust hanger that you spotted!
Old 11-27-2015, 08:05 PM
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Kudos. Sounds more serious. Owner enhancements is what makes a car more personal and fun to drive.

I have an observation that might help, albeit slight but the exhaust pipes forward of the cut outs have a section where the pipes come closer together. Replacing that as well with an X pipe or a true cross over could add some extra power and can quell popping sounds on decal as well as +mpg.
http://www.autoanything.com/exhausts...pipe-vs-h-pipe
Old 11-28-2015, 12:20 AM
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I 100% agree. We brought it up. But I had No. 2 of 4 of my little men with me and we were both playing hooky and time would blow our cover.

But this is on the to do list.
Old 11-28-2015, 10:21 AM
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ML350 Blutec
Has anyone done a ML350 Bluetec?
Old 11-30-2015, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by STLML350
Has anyone done a ML350 Bluetec?
it would be stupid to do performance mods on a bluetec and defeats the purpose wouldn't it.
Old 11-30-2015, 11:30 PM
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Originally Posted by advans
it would be stupid to do performance mods on a bluetec and defeats the purpose wouldn't it.
I chipped my e300 turbo and it was the best decision I made. It was substantially quicker and my gas mileage improved. On the highway I would average 44 mpg.
Old 12-01-2015, 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by advans
it would be stupid to do performance mods on a bluetec and defeats the purpose wouldn't it.
Im not looking for vastly improved mileage, better proformance without trashing the motor. Dont trash diesels, tuned right and they're sleepers with great mileage. Would like to get a better growel out of the exhaust also.
Old 12-02-2015, 08:58 AM
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Originally Posted by STLML350
Im not looking for vastly improved mileage, better proformance without trashing the motor. Dont trash diesels, tuned right and they're sleepers with great mileage. Would like to get a better growel out of the exhaust also.
in that case, maybe ask volkswagen to do it. apparently they know what they are doing


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