benggolf

Have set up an appointment to install C32 AMG exhaust (muffler & resonator) at the dealer this weekend. My C320 is looking like a C32 already. So far, I have the aerokit, Styling III 17" AMG wheels/Michelin Pilot Sports tires on the car.

Considering lowering the car about 1 to 1-1/4 inches. Decided against the H&R Cup Kit because it lowers the car too much (+2 inches) and the ride become too harsh. If I could get my hands on a set of Euro spec C320 Sports or C32 springs, it would be perfect for me. Any ideas?

Anyone here from Europe? I would sincerely appreciate if you can help provide part numbers. TIA!

Beng

kenny

I thought you were you going to lower the SLK32? The H&R cup kit can lower the car only 1.5 inches if you use the larger spring pads as other people have mentioned. As for the ride quality, thats the stiff shocks the cup kit comes with. You could just buy the H&R springs and use those on your SLK32 as it already comes with stiffer shocks than the SLK320.

benggolf

Sorry if I got you confused. MY SLK32 is due in mid-December and yes, I am scouting around for ideas on how to lower it too.

Meantime, am dressing up my C320 to keep busy. Once I have the C32AMG exhaust installed this weekend, I will looking into lowering this car without sacrificing ride comfort, if at all possible.

Beng

FLSL55

Beng,

With all the money you are putting into your C. You could have bought the AMG.

benggolf

including what I will be spending for the installation of the C32AMG muffler/resonator this weekend, my total cost is still about CDN$ 7,000 less than what it will cost me for a C32.

Am very fortunate that I get really good deals from my dealer. Because I didn't want an all black interior, I decided to go the route I have taken and settle for a C320 Ellegance with Ash interior/Brilliant Silver. I enjoy doing mods on my cars anyway.

My "need for speed" will be satusfied when the SLK32 arrives.

hopup

Beng,

After you change the resonator and muffler is there going to be a performance difference or simply just the sound of the car?

Also are you also planning 2 change the header for it?
u know if there will be an increase in H/P if u do?

i'm curious, coz i plan 2 do it aswel..

thnx very much

hopup

benggolf

As you know, a change of resonator/muffler alone will hardly improve horsepower/performance (if any) . It will improve the exhaust sound (as the OE muffler is very quiet) and twin oval tips of the AMG muffler improves the looks, but that is all I expect and want. I will be happy if it will sound close to the CLK430 I had.

The car is my daily driver and such, would like to keep it looking OE as possible without any speed mods, but I would consider lowering the car moderately (- 1 inch) and handling mods (sports shocks and AMG stabilizer bars).

What mods are you contemplating on yours?

Beng

patronus

Beng,

I am interested in the details of your C32 exhaust installation:

1. Is it a straight bolt-on or did you have to do some pipe modification? After looking under a C32 and my C240, it appears it is not just a bolt-on, but I could be wrong.

2. Did you have to modify (cut) your rear apron to allow the twin tips to clear?

TIA,

G.

benggolf

Patronus,

AMG Performance and MB dealer here in Vancouver said it should be a bolt-on, but we shall see. The AMG exhaust consists of the muffler, cross-over pipe and resonator (all together in one piece). I also asked the parts person to verify if the catalytic converter is the same on the C32 and C32.

Will not have to cut my rear bumper because the AMG C32 aerokit is already installed/painted on the car and has a larger opening for the twin oval tailpipes.

Will post details after the installation tomorrow.

hopup

Beng..

how and which way do u plan 2 lower your car??

i'm planning to lower my car aswell, but i'm still considering which company such as amg,brabus,carlsson, will have the best comfort after being installed? any suggestions?
yea, and indeed i don't want to lower it to much, perhaps a little over an inch as u also stated!

jsut for curiosity, why did u trade clk430 for c 320?

ps. r u getting it installed at the broadway dealership?

hopup..

benggolf

there is only one way to do it in the new C-Class, that is to change the springs. There are no rubber pads to replace with different thickness as in the CLK and SLK because McPhearson struts that are now used in the new C-Class.

H&R and Eibach sells lowering springs, but what I have gathered is that H&R springs are "harder' and will affect the ride quality more than the Eibach.

It is very likely that Euro cars ride lower than cars made for North America, therefore I am contemplating the use of Euro spec springs for the C320 Sport if I can get my hands on them!

Regarding your question on why I traded my CLK430, it is because it developed squeaks and rattles (2,000 Kms.) and also perhaps I didn't enjoying driving it as much considering I had a 996 C2 prior to the CLK. By the way, I traded the CLK430 for a SLK32 coming in mid-December and not for the C320.

Hope the SLK32 will not dissappoint me with quality issues!

benggolf

I was in the dealership early this morning to have the C32AMG exhaust system installed.

We lifted the car on the hoist and was disappointed to find out the exhaust is not a bolt on job, but will required some cutting and welding to adapt it to the car.

The OE pipe diameter on the C320 is 65mm where as the C32 pipes are 75mm! Unfortunately, the service department at MB Broadway do not have gas/electric welding equipment to do the job right.

Contacted AMG Performance and scheduled an appointment on Tuesday. Will update you guys later on the install.

Wondering if I will experience any loss of low end torque because of less back-pressure due to the bigger diameter pipes and "free flow" resonator/muffler. Any comments here? TIA!

hopup

beng..

thnx for the info..
but do you know any thing about Carlsson and Brabus springs? ride quiality etc????
so from what you have stated.. does that mean i can only change the springs and use stock shocks? wut that even work? is it necessary to change the shocks?

about your euro springs, how much lower is it? sport springs seems like it would provide the best ride quiality eh?

so about your resonator/muffler... is it going to be a big job??

i doubt you will lose a lot of low end-torque if you are using the 32 exahust system.. even though its wider..
also my freind took out his muffler for a c36 just 4 curious purposes and it wasnt' all that bad.. but extremely noisy.
but i guess you'll know by tuesday..

btw do u suggest changing the headers for the w203's?

ps. you going 2 do any mods to you slk 32?

hopup

benggolf

I cannot personally comment on Brabus and Carlsson because I have not used any of their suspension mods, however, it is always better to use a combo of springs and shocks that are matched. I am sure that either Eibach or H&R manufacture the springs for Brabus and Carlsson too.

My objective here is only to lower the ride height by about 1 inche (not interested in improving the handling) without compromising too much on the OE ride quality, that is why I am looking into MB Euro springs. I guess the best option for me is to use Euro C320 Sport springs and matching shocks at this point.

Going to my C32AMG exhaust installation, it is not really too complicated, just a matter of reducing the AMG pipes (75mm) to match the C320 ones (65mm) that follow after the catalytic converter. The hangers match perfectly. AMG Performance should be able to do this quite easily as they have the proper welding equipment and mechanics to do the job.

I really wouldn't bother with headers unless you are going all out to modify your car for some serious racing and bear with the additional maintenance related to headers (gasket leaks, etc.).

The only thing I may do with the SLK32 is to lower the ride height by playing around with the spring pads. A boarder at the MBNZ.org said he used the H&R Cup Kit with thicker spring pads and came out lowering his car by only 1-1/2 inches instead of over 2 inches.

Hope I have answered you questions to your satisfaction.

hopup

Beng.

thnx for your info a lot..

so you think i would be alright if i change to eibach or h&r springs and keeping the OE shocks? my intention is same as yours.. jsut to lower the car a little, but keeping the ride quality as much as possible..

btw, you know your c32 amg body kit.. where they all bolt ons? like perfect fit for your c320?

thnx

hopup

benggolf

Hopup,

Go with Eibach for comfort. When are you planning on during your suspension? Please let me know the results.

The C32AMG aerokit is essentially bolt-on except they had some minor problem mounting the front bumper (sorry I can't remember exactly what it was)
. I had the work done by Burrard Autostrasse and am very satisfied with their work. Go and see Jon when you decide on having the work done and tell him I sent you there. He will take extra care of you. He knows how meticulous I am with my cars.

Good luck!

hopup

Beng.

I intend to lower my car after the winter season, perhpas feb.
but i do hope that eibach spring will work with oem shocks!!??

Thnx for your advice, my still considerin brabus body kit or 32 body kit.. since i have brabus monoblock v's now...

so how much was ur kit and labour?

hopup

patronus

Beng,

The reason I asked about whether the C32 exhaust would bolt directly the other day is that I thought that it would not. There are more differences than just the tube diameter.

AMG makes a cat-back exhaust for C240 and C320's, directly bolt-on. I cannot find this locally and may just have to have it shipped from Vancouver BC or Bay area or Florida.

Please post what you ended up with exhaust-wise and how it sounds!

P.

benggolf

for the C240/C320 for US$640.00 and is available from Autoclass. I just happened to come across this C32AMG exhaust system that was available at a very reasonable price.

Autoclass

hopup

beng.

From that site you listed... (autoclass) Do you know if that Amg spring and damper kit is the c 32 one? Also do you know if the height of the car will be fairly high, like the c32? and not ideally the type of spring u/ i are looking for?

thnx

hopup

benggolf

perhaps it is best to contact Gaston just to verify. They also offer H&R Cup Kits if you ever decide to go all out!

benggolf

Finally decided to go through with the modification using the C32 exhaust system (muffler, resonator with the oversized 75mm tubes) instead of trying to order the supposedly bolt-on AMG kit for the C240/C320.

Some modifications (including outlet end of the Y connector) between the cat and the resonator had to be done. AMG Performance Group did a very professional job and everything looks like an OE bolt-on job! Extra clean job and to me worth the extra money (charged me 4 man-hours ), but I expect nothing short of perfection on work done.

Sound is subdued (Shhhvroom) and I expect the sound to improve as I put in more mileage. My service advisor down at MB Broadway says it does sounds very good, just like a C32 and is smiling from ear to ear (he is a car guy himself).

Initially, the mods seems to throw off the gas consumption read-outs (showing way much higher consumption....20 Ltrs./100 Kms.), perhaps enjoying the sound too much!!! LOL.
It seems to be settling down now somewhat, but still higher than usual (12.6 Ltrs./100 Kms.) after a 30 Kms. run. BTW, I gassed up this morning and re-set the readings.

BTW, to those familiar how the CLK430 sounds while driving with the windows shut, the C32 exhaust does not sound anywhere close....much quieter, but an improvement over the OE "stealth" muffler/resonator. Now sounds more like a sports sedan with lots of class.

Beng

hopup

Beng
Congratulations on the set up!!!!

jsut a few questions about it!
any increase in power or loss of power after the installment??
i recall that you were worrying about losing torque... is that the case?
i gahter that u said is a nice sound when u fire up the engine.. so not while cruising??
finally, many people refer to oem/oe.. does that mean stock??
sorry for asking a lot of questions..
cheers
hopup

benggolf

Yes, I can feel a very slight loss of torque at the low end as expected because of less back pressure. On the plus side, the engine revs up more quickly. Remember, this game is always one of compromises; you gain some and lose some.

As I mentioned, the exhaust is quiet comparing it to the CLK430 but definitely no longer stealthy like the original (OE - original equipment) muffler. Since I use to own a CLK430, I am using it as a base line to compare the exhaust sound. The sound will eventually become a bit louder (and mellow) as the packing inside the muffler/resonator gets heated with use.

The C32 exhaust is a nice sedate "sporty" sound and nothing like a loud sports muffler on "rice rockets".

Not a problem with questions. We are all here to learn and share information.

Now onward to my next project....lowering the car by 1".

vadim

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer.
It means either stock, or, sometimes, parts produced by OEM (and bearing its logo) that are same as stock.