C55 primary cats---> Sport cats?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 395
Likes: 3
From: Northwest Indiana/ Chicago
2006 C55 AMG, 2005 E55 AMG
C55 primary cats---> Sport cats?
Ive searched and found a couple threads about this but was wondering......
Has anyone replaced the primary cats with sport cats? If so, how much of a difference does it make? Im not too worried about the HP numbers im looking more towards sound and keeping the car "safe".
I already have my 2ndary cats and resonator deleted w/ a Eurocharged tune. Would love to hear from anyone input about this!
Has anyone replaced the primary cats with sport cats? If so, how much of a difference does it make? Im not too worried about the HP numbers im looking more towards sound and keeping the car "safe".
I already have my 2ndary cats and resonator deleted w/ a Eurocharged tune. Would love to hear from anyone input about this!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 963
Likes: 58
From: USA
CL63 AMG
A nice set of 200 cell metal core cats should help improve top end airflow without hurting low end torque. You may pick up 12-15hp, but don't expect more than that.
If you do primary sport cats, make sure you go to a competent fabrication shop that can TIG weld them, do not MIG weld primary cats, they will leak due to the excessive heat/pressure the primary cats have to endure.
Hope that helps
If you do primary sport cats, make sure you go to a competent fabrication shop that can TIG weld them, do not MIG weld primary cats, they will leak due to the excessive heat/pressure the primary cats have to endure.
Hope that helps
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 395
Likes: 3
From: Northwest Indiana/ Chicago
2006 C55 AMG, 2005 E55 AMG
A nice set of 200 cell metal core cats should help improve top end airflow without hurting low end torque. You may pick up 12-15hp, but don't expect more than that.
If you do primary sport cats, make sure you go to a competent fabrication shop that can TIG weld them, do not MIG weld primary cats, they will leak due to the excessive heat/pressure the primary cats have to endure.
Hope that helps
If you do primary sport cats, make sure you go to a competent fabrication shop that can TIG weld them, do not MIG weld primary cats, they will leak due to the excessive heat/pressure the primary cats have to endure.
Hope that helps
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 2
From: bay area, california
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
$1,500 for headers for your car? that's a steal really. i remember the ones i wanted wire 3-4 times that price when i had mine.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 963
Likes: 58
From: USA
CL63 AMG
supposely they have sold hundreds of those ebay headers and all gotten positive reviews so I guess they are pretty decent for the price.
If you want to go another route you can do high flow primary & secondary/resonator delete. that will extract the maximum HP out of the stock exhaust system without touching the headers at all. All combined thats probably good for 25HP without touching headers.
If you want to go another route you can do high flow primary & secondary/resonator delete. that will extract the maximum HP out of the stock exhaust system without touching the headers at all. All combined thats probably good for 25HP without touching headers.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 395
Likes: 3
From: Northwest Indiana/ Chicago
2006 C55 AMG, 2005 E55 AMG
supposely they have sold hundreds of those ebay headers and all gotten positive reviews so I guess they are pretty decent for the price.
If you want to go another route you can do high flow primary & secondary/resonator delete. that will extract the maximum HP out of the stock exhaust system without touching the headers at all. All combined thats probably good for 25HP without touching headers.
If you want to go another route you can do high flow primary & secondary/resonator delete. that will extract the maximum HP out of the stock exhaust system without touching the headers at all. All combined thats probably good for 25HP without touching headers.
Trending Topics
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
C55 amg
Hi
I have removed both primary secondary cats and resonator, got a 28hp increase and a much more responsive throttle response, also the acceleration at on top gear on the freeway is alot smother, the noise is great too, one down side tho is that after about a week the engine light came on, although this does not effect the drive or performance of the car. And for $75 spent to remove the cats 28hp is a huge gane thats more than fitting sports cats for less the price,
So if u dnt mind the engine light to be on then i suggest do it, bt keep your cats, if at a later stage u want to sell the car just have them put back. Unless u know some way of turning the engine light off.without putting the primary cats back
I have removed both primary secondary cats and resonator, got a 28hp increase and a much more responsive throttle response, also the acceleration at on top gear on the freeway is alot smother, the noise is great too, one down side tho is that after about a week the engine light came on, although this does not effect the drive or performance of the car. And for $75 spent to remove the cats 28hp is a huge gane thats more than fitting sports cats for less the price,
So if u dnt mind the engine light to be on then i suggest do it, bt keep your cats, if at a later stage u want to sell the car just have them put back. Unless u know some way of turning the engine light off.without putting the primary cats back
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,391
Likes: 2
From: VA
e36 318i, 2004 sti
If you want to keep it safe would you consider just removing the secondary cats. I think you can get flowmaster cats cheap but its not worth the hassle. ^ Unless your going to get a tune I would leave in your primary cats to avoid a CEL.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
C55 amg
Removing the secondary and the res won't give you an engine warning light, so u can take it out and the car will sound amazing, i took out my primary aswell because they were melted, and i hate cats, i live in south africa i can do what ever i want to my car there is no law against it, and plus the proper authorities here dont know their *******s from their elbows, and that includes the mb dealerships here.
If u remove your primary cats and the engine light comes on to turn it off disconnect the battery, it will eventually come on again after a heavy rain, got something to do with the humidity in the air, just a short way of turning it off, u can get the cat sensors turned off indefinatly at a mb dealership.
If u remove your primary cats and the engine light comes on to turn it off disconnect the battery, it will eventually come on again after a heavy rain, got something to do with the humidity in the air, just a short way of turning it off, u can get the cat sensors turned off indefinatly at a mb dealership.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area
C55 AMG, 300D-T & Karmann Ghia
I've still held off removing the secondaries myself- wouldn't mind the power though. It got louder without the resonator, but I'm worried about the droning around town. What rpms are the loudest when cruising without secondaries and no resonator?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 395
Likes: 3
From: Northwest Indiana/ Chicago
2006 C55 AMG, 2005 E55 AMG
I have both secondary and resonator taken out. I dont get much drone, if any. Its loudest point is about 2500-3200 RPM, thats when its the deepest rumble, one that makes you smile 
You would enjoy it a lot more if you took them off, besides theres no negative drawbacks about doing such.
You would enjoy it a lot more if you took them off, besides theres no negative drawbacks about doing such.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area
C55 AMG, 300D-T & Karmann Ghia
Yeah- I need to just do it...
I've had experience with various imports exhaust, both NA and Turbo and fear that rasp and drone you get from the wrong combination. An AMG V8 can't possibly make unpleasant noises though!
I am hoping for something similar to the stock C63s as far as noise, and I think this will come close. Thanks for the recommendation!
I've had experience with various imports exhaust, both NA and Turbo and fear that rasp and drone you get from the wrong combination. An AMG V8 can't possibly make unpleasant noises though!
I am hoping for something similar to the stock C63s as far as noise, and I think this will come close. Thanks for the recommendation!
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
C55 amg
I only have the two silencers on the back, the sound while driving normally is not that loud its just a bit louder than stock, bt when u put your foot down its pretty loud but its a sexy loud lol, just take the res and secondary's out, it wont be as loud as mine and it will sound as good as the 63
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area
C55 AMG, 300D-T & Karmann Ghia
yeah, this has now been promoted to "this weekend" status, but the guy I can reliably count on to work around cats without a gripe is pretty sketchy. I can plan on a long wait even if I make an appointment - at least he welds well stoned... :/ ....anyone have an east bay muffler shop recommendation??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area
C55 AMG, 300D-T & Karmann Ghia
I'm in California as well and personally I would not touch the primaries. I have the secondaries off now and no resonator (not that it matters with emissions) and I just passed smog rather easily. The car sounds nice and my Eurocharged tune is dialed in to my exhaust setup.
If you remove the primary cats you will get the CEL. I'm not sure if you will pass smog with aftermarket primary cats and you DEFINITELY won't pass without cats...
How is that Eurocharged TCU tune working out for you?
If you remove the primary cats you will get the CEL. I'm not sure if you will pass smog with aftermarket primary cats and you DEFINITELY won't pass without cats...
How is that Eurocharged TCU tune working out for you?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 395
Likes: 3
From: Northwest Indiana/ Chicago
2006 C55 AMG, 2005 E55 AMG
Yeah, id say dont even try deleting the primaries.. If anything, wait to get a set of headers and they delete them for you and make some nice sound/numbers.
