CLS550 Exhaust and Tuning Questions: Looking for Advice
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Auckland, New Zealand
CLS550, SLK350
CLS550 Exhaust and Tuning Questions: Looking for Advice
Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I've owned a CLS550 for about 2 years now and I've been enjoying it without any issues. I have a few questions and would appreciate your insights.
Firstly, I'm considering a muffler delete since the car is very quiet, but I don't want to cause noise disturbances for my neighbors. I'm thinking of deleting only the primary resonator and muffler while keeping the x-pipe style secondary resonator. I understand that installing a new x-pipe would make the sound louder and better, but I don't want to bother my neighbors. Would this setup cause any issues for the mid resonator? Has anyone here tried a similar setup, or what are your thoughts on this?
Secondly, I'm considering OE tuning, specifically stage 1, and I'm thinking about doing it during a sale at the end of the year. I'm also considering a bubble tune. I'm curious about how the sound would be if I don't delete the muffler or resonator but go for the bubble tune instead. If the sound is decent, I might skip the muffler delete and just go with the bubble tune. I'm hopeful that OE tuning will have a Black Friday sale this year.
Wishing everyone safe driving and a great day!
Firstly, I'm considering a muffler delete since the car is very quiet, but I don't want to cause noise disturbances for my neighbors. I'm thinking of deleting only the primary resonator and muffler while keeping the x-pipe style secondary resonator. I understand that installing a new x-pipe would make the sound louder and better, but I don't want to bother my neighbors. Would this setup cause any issues for the mid resonator? Has anyone here tried a similar setup, or what are your thoughts on this?
Secondly, I'm considering OE tuning, specifically stage 1, and I'm thinking about doing it during a sale at the end of the year. I'm also considering a bubble tune. I'm curious about how the sound would be if I don't delete the muffler or resonator but go for the bubble tune instead. If the sound is decent, I might skip the muffler delete and just go with the bubble tune. I'm hopeful that OE tuning will have a Black Friday sale this year.
Wishing everyone safe driving and a great day!
Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 107
Likes: 34
2012 CLS550
I can't comment on the exact setup you're considering because I deleted both mufflers and resonators. I will say that it is very loud on a cold start, but when you're just driving it's not loud. No drone inside or out. Now if I get on it and the RPM jumps to 4000+, it's going to be loud. Maybe start with just the mufflers and leave the 2 resonators in place. I did that for about 3 days and brought it back for them to finish taking the resonators off. I knew I didn't want them in the first place, but due to a misunderstanding, they left them on at first. It actually sounds similar to how it does now, just more subdued. If you are going to do more than stage 1, then you are going to want to do the full exhaust. The sound difference between having a tune and running without one is also a noticeable difference. I got my exhaust done first and had it tuned a couple of weeks later. Keep us posted, good luck, and enjoy the ride!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Auckland, New Zealand
CLS550, SLK350
I can't comment on the exact setup you're considering because I deleted both mufflers and resonators. I will say that it is very loud on a cold start, but when you're just driving it's not loud. No drone inside or out. Now if I get on it and the RPM jumps to 4000+, it's going to be loud. Maybe start with just the mufflers and leave the 2 resonators in place. I did that for about 3 days and brought it back for them to finish taking the resonators off. I knew I didn't want them in the first place, but due to a misunderstanding, they left them on at first. It actually sounds similar to how it does now, just more subdued. If you are going to do more than stage 1, then you are going to want to do the full exhaust. The sound difference between having a tune and running without one is also a noticeable difference. I got my exhaust done first and had it tuned a couple of weeks later. Keep us posted, good luck, and enjoy the ride!
Thank you for the advice and sharing your experiences. Assuming I go ahead with stage 1 at the end of the year, I'll try deleting the muffler and primary resonator first as I initially planned. I don't have any plans for stage 2 at the moment. I'm hoping that the sound difference with stage 1 combined with muffler and primary resornator delete will be just what I'm looking for. I'll share my experience once I delete the muffler and primary resonator.
By the way, did you delete the secondary resonator and use an x-pipe or h-pipe, or did you connect it directly? I'm also curious about the sound difference with and without muffler tips. I'm planning to replace the diffuser to install AMG tips in the future. I'm taking my time and handling things step by step. Thanks again for your input!
Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 107
Likes: 34
2012 CLS550
I deleted the x pipe and ran a true dual exhaust. The x or H pipe is where the exhaust flows mix and since mine doesn't do that, it creates a unique sound. The tips have no effect on the sound, just the look. The sound is going to be affected by which resonators and mufflers you delete, how you run the exhaust, and the tune.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Auckland, New Zealand
CLS550, SLK350
Hello everyone, this is my first post here. I've owned a CLS550 for about 2 years now and I've been enjoying it without any issues. I have a few questions and would appreciate your insights.
Firstly, I'm considering a muffler delete since the car is very quiet, but I don't want to cause noise disturbances for my neighbors. I'm thinking of deleting only the primary resonator and muffler while keeping the x-pipe style secondary resonator. I understand that installing a new x-pipe would make the sound louder and better, but I don't want to bother my neighbors. Would this setup cause any issues for the mid resonator? Has anyone here tried a similar setup, or what are your thoughts on this?
Secondly, I'm considering OE tuning, specifically stage 1, and I'm thinking about doing it during a sale at the end of the year. I'm also considering a bubble tune. I'm curious about how the sound would be if I don't delete the muffler or resonator but go for the bubble tune instead. If the sound is decent, I might skip the muffler delete and just go with the bubble tune. I'm hopeful that OE tuning will have a Black Friday sale this year.
Wishing everyone safe driving and a great day!
Firstly, I'm considering a muffler delete since the car is very quiet, but I don't want to cause noise disturbances for my neighbors. I'm thinking of deleting only the primary resonator and muffler while keeping the x-pipe style secondary resonator. I understand that installing a new x-pipe would make the sound louder and better, but I don't want to bother my neighbors. Would this setup cause any issues for the mid resonator? Has anyone here tried a similar setup, or what are your thoughts on this?
Secondly, I'm considering OE tuning, specifically stage 1, and I'm thinking about doing it during a sale at the end of the year. I'm also considering a bubble tune. I'm curious about how the sound would be if I don't delete the muffler or resonator but go for the bubble tune instead. If the sound is decent, I might skip the muffler delete and just go with the bubble tune. I'm hopeful that OE tuning will have a Black Friday sale this year.
Wishing everyone safe driving and a great day!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 6
Likes: 5
From: Auckland, New Zealand
CLS550, SLK350
Resornators delete with x pipe sound clip
Sharing my stock exaust sound before I delete resornators to compare. Will update the sound soon with resornators delete
https://youtu.be/EIQDG_8QlZo?si=c-TlZltrXeP5k5Yn
https://youtu.be/EIQDG_8QlZo?si=c-TlZltrXeP5k5Yn
Recently, I went to a muffler shop and had all three resonators deleted. Specifically, I removed two primary resonators, which are often referred to as secondary cats, and the large resonator located in the middle, replacing them with an X-pipe. The muffler remains unchanged. The sound has noticeably increased, with a bit more of a growling noise. Personally, I'd like to delete the muffler as well to amplify the sound, but I don't want to disturb my neighbors or fail the noise test, which would be a hassle every year during inspections. So, I decided to keep it as it is for now. Next, I'm planning to replace the rear diffuser and the muffler tips. The sound difference is quite noticeable in person, but it doesn't translate well on video. Later this year, when I do a Stage 1 tune, I'll post an additional video. Thank you.
Last edited by skyline005; Jul 27, 2024 at 05:53 AM.
