MBFLO

still on the fence about this , my res. deleted car sounds pretty mean as it is .. Would definetly like it to sound like a newer 63 exhuast but even with a complete exhuast overhaul I highly doubt it will sound like that .. So ordering 2 high flo cats , x pipe , and the mandrel bends, roughly $200 shipped for parts and say another $2-3 hundred for installation .. for $4-5 hundred you wont get no HP added but will the exhaust purely sound that much differnt then my stock with a res . delete .?????

vincentie

I went to go order the pieces I need to do the high flow cats and the x pipe. I am. Bit confused as to why I need 2.25 mandrel bends and the cats and xpipe are 2.5 , is that because you want me to slide the mandrel bends in the cats? The salesman thought they should have been the same size??????

mrbeverlyhills

I have just the X pipe going in this week in place of the resonator, does one need the mandrel bends too or no? Will Performance muffler shop have them?

snooozie

mrbeverlyhills - you will need the two 45 degree mandrel bends in place of the curve covered by the resonator and you can get them a lot cheaper on ebay. Check out item #180201783941. Get two of those and shipping is cheap. The x-pipe to go with it is # 200594815451. You should mate the 2.5" x-pipe to the 2.5" mandrel bends. The OEM pipes on the E55 is around 2.36". Hence these will go nicely. Don't get 2.25"....they are too small.
Item number:180201783941

mrbeverlyhills

Many thanks

snooozie

here's the official x-pipe thread done a few years back....some nice pictures in there.

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210...st-thread.html

mrbeverlyhills

Reading it now!

snooozie

BTW do you have a E55 or a E420. Ask the guys in the E420 forum regarding the size of the pipes. It might be different. Measure it before you order.

mrbeverlyhills

E55 for me, 2001 Black Obsidan on black with 85,000 miles had it since 2003. I have always thought these cars needed better breathing; I put a Lorinser exhaust on my old E420 and it woke up, I am interested to see what the X Pipe does for the 55.

After almost 10 years with the car it needs a little something to make it young again, dent wizard straightened it out, ECU is reprogramed (nice boost in torque) and getting the road rage off the wheels (thanks honey) after the pipe but otherwise pretty stock and overall very very fast. I live off of Mulholland Drive here in LA a known racers section of road with lots of twisties and routinely find another car to dice with. Not much gets away from the 55 although to be honest most drivers here are so bad it isn't really fair.

snooozie

How much do you pay for labor on these job...just the x-pipe and mendrel bends replacing the res. $150?

mrbeverlyhills

Have not had it done yet, I have the X pipe and the shop has the Mandrel bends, they quoted $100 for the install over the phone, just trying to find the time to get there.

MBFLO

damn why hell is exhuast work so expensive up here in Detroit ..

mrbeverlyhills

AAA Performance Muffler here in LA on the corner of Venice and La Cienega just installed the X pipe and bends today. I looked at the X pipe I bought off E bay recommended on the X pipe thread and opted instead for the one they sold me, all stainless steel it looked much better than the Ebay version and the guy at the shop said for the small extra charge it would be better if one was keeping the car, which I am. Any good performance muffler shop has done this a million times and I was all ready with photos from here to show them but they just smiled and told me to have a seat.

The car sounds different for sure, I have not had a chance here in LA midday traffic to step on it for long but it certainly has not lost a step. The sound is slightly more pronounced in the cabin, a deeper hum not the adolescent noise a mustang makes, very rich and subtle.

In the end I gave the shop the X pipe I brought, they didn't really want it and it was out the door in 40 minutes for $200 on the nose. That is their superior X pipe, bends and install. As an extra for being such a good guy they added 2 stainless steel hangers to reinforce the muffler stystem and welded them in no charge.

snooozie

Wow....$200 with all their hardware and labor....thats a steal I think....Pictures please??

mrbeverlyhills

I did not have a camera at the shop so am not sure what can be gleaned from these with the car on the driveway.

snooozie

Very nice!! Can you take some on the side...wonder how the shop's looks like compare to ebay's.

MBFLO

the one u links was aluminized steel and im sure when the shop seen that they didnt wana mix it with stainless steel so they recommended their version .. there also another seller on ebay who has stainless steel xpipes

snooozie

For the price you get, I would put ss on too if that were to be included.

cudaized

If you install an X pipe, wouldn't it be best to install it as far foward as possible? Not mid way back?

snooozie

Yes you could do it in place of the 2nd cat and cut the resonator off and just have a straight pipe mate to the muffler.

vincentie

why would u do that when the ams guy says you get no real gains from it , the hi flow cats sound better, and the ams kit is better suited with the hi flow cats in front and the x -pipe behind it? i am asking cuz i still didnt do this mod ( waiting on parts) and would like to do it the best way...I live in CT so not worried of smog just throwing that light ,but either way from what i read it wont come on!!!!!

snooozie

Vincentie - I'm just replying back to cudaized regarding his statement. There are a few ways of welding the x-pipe depending on if you want the 2 cats or not but yes, your way is good if you what to buy a new set of cats in place of the oem ones. BTW, where do you take your car to get the x-pipe put in, in CT? Thanks.

cudaized

Thanks for the information.

If someone wants to replace the secondary cats with high flow ones, would it matter if they were installed prior to or after the x-pipe?

Here is what I have in mind:

1) AMS headers. 2) Install x-pipe as far forward as possible. 3) High flow metallic 2.5" secondary cats installed just after the x-pipe. 4) Remove the resonator. 5) Mandrel bent 2.5" 45 degree pipes to connect to stock AMG muffler.

I am thinking about replacing the primary cats with high flow ones. Welding them in between the O2 sensors. I have to do more research on the primary cats though. It may not be beneficial.

vincentie

Well that's just it snozzie. Am I buying something not needed!!! BTW I am in collision work so anyone welding stuff on my car ,the person trusted most is myself.....

snooozie

Here are two pictures from a member with the x-pipe and just straight pipe weld to the muffler.