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what a tough read, Im very thankful for people like the OP for taking the initial plunge and modding his car. People like me who are looking to buy a C300 or C400 love to see the options available, and what better way to see how something turns out, then seeing how someone else has did it first.
As far as what you paid, I can tell all of you here that what you spend on your car is completely up to you. I have worked for Brabus for a combined amount of 10 years during my 25 year career and they are a premium brand, but you get what you pay for. The rear apron is made in Pu-Rim which is the same material as the factory MB bumpers, probably cost only $300-350 to paint, your body shop probably loved the fact that the part was easy to prep and paint, and was simple to install because it attached to the bumper perfectly. The exhaust I am sure was a 100% easy fit, factory hangers and positioned perfectly out the apron openings.
The sound and performance are for sure exactly what was described by Brabus, the HP gain probably comes on in the higher RPM over 3500>on, this is when the boost is running strong and gives the engine a little extra flow, not a huge amount, but enough that you can feel a difference.
All in all this is the first W205 here in the US that has a custom rear apron and exhaust, with no check engine light, no tacky universal parts added and a car that is still very much a Unique Mercedes-Benz, so having a car that is different from everyone else, no matter what you paid, as long as you enjoy it that is all that matters.
Thanks for choosing to be different, and thanks for choosing products that represent you get what you pay for!
Well that sucks. I will probably be in Seattle around the end of july, if you are available I would like to possibly meet up with you and listen to the sound if you don't mind, I may be able to get an idea what it sounds like.
Well that sucks. I will probably be in Seattle around the end of july, if you are available I would like to possibly meet up with you and listen to the sound if you don't mind, I may be able to get an idea what it sounds like.
You did well pal..nevermind the cost...if your content; that's what matters. I appreciate you mentioning the cost..that's what this forum is all about..we share ideas & mod our trophies. Everyone has different takes. You will definitely get some looks. Eventually you will be ready for an upgrade..jj
That is badass. I have a 2015 g63 and a 2015 c400. I have a lot of experience with brabus, going way back to my first w203 nearly 15 years ago! The cost is irrelevant. The widestar kit for my g63 is roughly $27,000 installed. My g63 has a sticker of $148,000. Is that too much to spend? Maybe. Basically 18% of the cost of the truck. But it's my money - and it makes me happy. After seeing this, I will 100% get this exhaust for our w205. I'm super stoked for you, and the quality of the product speaks for itself.
Finally got my hands on the Brabus sport exhaust for a W205.
I didn't pay nowhere near as much as the author of the tread. Frankly, the exhaust itself is comparable in price with what AWE wanted for their switchpath system. The rear skirt/diffusor (it doesn't real generate any downforce, so it can hardly be called a diffusor haha) does add to the price since it's an extra piece without which one can't install the exhaust.
Installation is extremely simple. Plug & play. Painting and installation was $300. And it was a lot since it takes 30-35 min to install everything. If it was warmer, I'd probably install everything myself since it's just a joy playing with properly engineered and manufactured parts.
While listening to the video, pls keep in mind it’s a turbocharged I4. So it’s inherently mute (like Ariel who lost her voice lol) And the exhaust is dead cold.
However, all things considered, the sound has become much more pronounced, sophisticated, and...grown up haha. Sounds like any other Brabus sport exhaust with an I4. Also, you probably wanna use headphones since laptop/phone speakers can't reproduce the added grunt. But god I wish it was an I5...
And finally, I'd like to say thank you in advance to anyone who might say "you should have gotten a C400/C43." While I definitely do appreciate the thought and I could have gotten one of those indeed, I didn't want either of them #shocking. AWD is essential in this climate (which means it understeers by default) and a 3.0 V6 is considerably heavier than the nimble M274. And the front end weight translates in nothing but acres of dreary understeer #puke Before the exhaust swap, the car was making XXX hp at the crank (dyno numbers).
P.S. Yes, I know. The car is dirty. #sigh But even washing it two times a day doesn't help. #FUMI with your crappy and dirty roads.
Last edited by Nardoswiss; 01-22-2018 at 04:54 PM.