First mod: Deleted the Resonator
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From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
First mod: Deleted the Resonator
OK, so I'm not the most aggressive "modder" out there, but I finally did something to change, if not improve, my 2002 C32. I had a spare hour or two today, so I visited a local muffler shop for a resonator delete. Thirty minutes later (took that long because he went through 5 sawz-all blades and had to re-cut the new pipe after one mis-measurement) and $50, I found a new level of enjoyment in my car.
In my line of business, I need to frequently transport clients. Having a vehicle that sounds like it should be running hot laps at Laguna Seca is out of the question for my profession. But, having something that has a definate growl when pushed, now that is sweet. This simple mod has given me the best of both worlds (business vs. fantacy street racer). With the windows up, there is no perceptible sound difference inside the vehicle. With the driver's side windows down (after all, this is winter in Southern California, 74 degrees today) the sound is subtly "growlier" and has a nice little burble around 3500 rpm. Thank God I can put my windows down in December.
Anyone hesitating in removing their resonator should get out there and get it done tomorrow. This is the way our AMG's were meant to sound. Yee Ha!
By the way, I snapped a few photos of the install, mid process, with my phone. I wasn't able to snap the completed project because the guy was too fast at dropping the lift. There are plenty of other threads, showing some final outcomes, posted though.
In my line of business, I need to frequently transport clients. Having a vehicle that sounds like it should be running hot laps at Laguna Seca is out of the question for my profession. But, having something that has a definate growl when pushed, now that is sweet. This simple mod has given me the best of both worlds (business vs. fantacy street racer). With the windows up, there is no perceptible sound difference inside the vehicle. With the driver's side windows down (after all, this is winter in Southern California, 74 degrees today) the sound is subtly "growlier" and has a nice little burble around 3500 rpm. Thank God I can put my windows down in December.
Anyone hesitating in removing their resonator should get out there and get it done tomorrow. This is the way our AMG's were meant to sound. Yee Ha!
By the way, I snapped a few photos of the install, mid process, with my phone. I wasn't able to snap the completed project because the guy was too fast at dropping the lift. There are plenty of other threads, showing some final outcomes, posted though.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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LET C32 2002
OK, so I'm not the most aggressive "modder" out there, but I finally did something to change, if not improve, my 2002 C32. I had a spare hour or two today, so I visited a local muffler shop for a resonator delete. Thirty minutes later (took that long because he went through 5 sawz-all blades and had to re-cut the new pipe after one mis-measurement) and $50, I found a new level of enjoyment in my car.
In my line of business, I need to frequently transport clients. Having a vehicle that sounds like it should be running hot laps at Laguna Seca is out of the question for my profession. But, having something that has a definate growl when pushed, now that is sweet. This simple mod has given me the best of both worlds (business vs. fantacy street racer). With the windows up, there is no perceptible sound difference inside the vehicle. With the driver's side windows down (after all, this is winter in Southern California, 74 degrees today) the sound is subtly "growlier" and has a nice little burble around 3500 rpm. Thank God I can put my windows down in December.
Anyone hesitating in removing their resonator should get out there and get it done tomorrow. This is the way our AMG's were meant to sound. Yee Ha!
By the way, I snapped a few photos of the install, mid process, with my phone. I wasn't able to snap the completed project because the guy was too fast at dropping the lift. There are plenty of other threads, showing some final outcomes, posted though.
In my line of business, I need to frequently transport clients. Having a vehicle that sounds like it should be running hot laps at Laguna Seca is out of the question for my profession. But, having something that has a definate growl when pushed, now that is sweet. This simple mod has given me the best of both worlds (business vs. fantacy street racer). With the windows up, there is no perceptible sound difference inside the vehicle. With the driver's side windows down (after all, this is winter in Southern California, 74 degrees today) the sound is subtly "growlier" and has a nice little burble around 3500 rpm. Thank God I can put my windows down in December.
Anyone hesitating in removing their resonator should get out there and get it done tomorrow. This is the way our AMG's were meant to sound. Yee Ha!
By the way, I snapped a few photos of the install, mid process, with my phone. I wasn't able to snap the completed project because the guy was too fast at dropping the lift. There are plenty of other threads, showing some final outcomes, posted though.
Great! I am planning mine real soon.
Thread Starter
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 4
From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
Thread Starter
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 4
From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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LET C32 2002
I am just shopping around for best price. Out here in Chicagoland area I found $90 so far.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
$90? My guy quoted $50-$60, depending on how hard it was to get to. The kid doing the install kept saying how easy it was. Find a decent small shop. It is not really complicated to do the work. $50 should be fair.
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LET C32 2002
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From: Bloomfield Hills, MI
W203, W211, W219, W212
I was toying with an idea to change the pipe into 3".
I'm not sure how, but ideally it would run from the cats (including the Y pipe) all the way to the muffler. I'm sure the deep bass growl would be more dramatic. Plus the throaty sound from resonator deletion, you might be able to mimic V8.
I'm not sure how, but ideally it would run from the cats (including the Y pipe) all the way to the muffler. I'm sure the deep bass growl would be more dramatic. Plus the throaty sound from resonator deletion, you might be able to mimic V8.
Thread Starter
Super Moderator Alumni
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,539
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From: Southern Cal
a C32 AMG & S-Works Tarmac
I was toying with an idea to change the pipe into 3".
I'm not sure how, but ideally it would run from the cats (including the Y pipe) all the way to the muffler. I'm sure the deep bass growl would be more dramatic. Plus the throaty sound from resonator deletion, you might be able to mimic V8.
I'm not sure how, but ideally it would run from the cats (including the Y pipe) all the way to the muffler. I'm sure the deep bass growl would be more dramatic. Plus the throaty sound from resonator deletion, you might be able to mimic V8.
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From: Chicago
04 C32
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
04 C32
I was toying with an idea to change the pipe into 3".
I'm not sure how, but ideally it would run from the cats (including the Y pipe) all the way to the muffler. I'm sure the deep bass growl would be more dramatic. Plus the throaty sound from resonator deletion, you might be able to mimic V8.
I'm not sure how, but ideally it would run from the cats (including the Y pipe) all the way to the muffler. I'm sure the deep bass growl would be more dramatic. Plus the throaty sound from resonator deletion, you might be able to mimic V8.
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From: Chicago
04 C32
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From: Seattle/Olympia, WA
1996 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon, 1991 Nissan 240sx track car
If you ran 3" from the cats and got rid of that rediculously huge monstrosity they call a muffler in favor of something that was still tasteful and had good sound while decreasing back pressure i imagine you would feel noticable gains.
Just a thought. Itd be cool to see someone tread on territory most consider to be uncivilized(or something along those lines...). AMG mufflers are nice and all, but theyre still stock and not geared to performance as much as they should be (imho).
haha
Just a thought. Itd be cool to see someone tread on territory most consider to be uncivilized(or something along those lines...). AMG mufflers are nice and all, but theyre still stock and not geared to performance as much as they should be (imho).
haha
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CLS55 Designo 030
Thanks for the post. I've been hesitating about removing my resonator for the same reason: business; but this gives me green light to do it...
Although I've done a few mods to my car, they are for the most parts OEM. I wonder what the reaction is going to be with the CF front lip and those old school oilfield guys...
Although I've done a few mods to my car, they are for the most parts OEM. I wonder what the reaction is going to be with the CF front lip and those old school oilfield guys...
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From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
True, SS is the best piping to use but expensive and most shops don't stock it (at least here in the NE) and have to order the piping. So what do the shops use? They used aluminized steel piping, which is coated to prevent rust and corrosion. If you don't live in salted areas, you're good for a long while but down the road somewhere, it may start to rust or corrode. It is also less expensive to use aluminized piping vs SS piping, which is why most shops carry aluminized in stock.
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From: Chicago
04 C32
True, SS is the best piping to use but expensive and most shops don't stock it (at least here in the NE) and have to order the piping. So what do the shops use? They used aluminized steel piping, which is coated to prevent rust and corrosion. If you don't live in salted areas, you're good for a long while but down the road somewhere, it may start to rust or corrode. It is also less expensive to use aluminized piping vs SS piping, which is why most shops carry aluminized in stock.
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From: Bloomfield Hills, MI
W203, W211, W219, W212
The 3” tube would have to go all the way, otherwise what’s the point. Therefore we need to enlarge the muffler opening to 3”. Like I said, I’m not sure whether we’d be able to do it easily or not.
Jgsx, higher pitch ? Huh.. that’s weird. But what do you mean by rear cats?
My thought was to run 3” out of the cats, 3” Y pipe, 3 “ straight pipe to the muffler. No resonator. See pic. Your thoughts ?
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From: Chicago
04 C32
Ah, I see. I actually have that setup on my car at the moment, except that I also eliminated the rear cats and replaced that with 3" pipe as well. The tone actually improved with time. Intially, there was a lot of high pitch rasphy tone under certain conditions. Most of that went away, probably from soot building up in the new clean piping. The car actually sounds very good now. I got to hear it VERY well when I had 6 dudes trying to push my car out of the snow while my rear tires were spinning.
EDIT: The rear cars were actually replaced with smaller piping (I think 2.5" on each), and then the Y pipe fed into 3"
EDIT: The rear cars were actually replaced with smaller piping (I think 2.5" on each), and then the Y pipe fed into 3"
