question for the masses.....
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 392
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i drive an ///M6
question for the masses.....
hey guys, in all your valued opinions, will having a freeflowing louder exhaust (i.e. "flowmaster" or equivalent), take away from the class or "niceness" of the cl class? (cl 500) thanks for your input
Collections Ban
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Lorinser
I think it all depends on how loud it is going to be. If you go with a nice tuner exhaust such as Lorinser or Brabus, it will give the car a deeper, thoratier type growl while the engine is under load and only be slightly louder than stock at idle. These sport exhausts also will not resonate in the cabin while at cruising speeds and sound great from outside the car. You definately don't want your nice CL to sound like some kid's Civic.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Boston
NSX
One of the hallmarks of a CL is its refinement. Refinement has to do a lot with noise and vibration. With an incorrect exhaust, you will increase both in the car. I don't recommend you go and throw on a muffler like a flowmaster made for mustangs on a $90,000 car, it is not even stainless so corosion will be an issue if nothing else. Also it may sound loud, but it will not sound good.
What you want is a quality exhaust, one that will give you some grunt when you are into the throttle, but one that is quiet during cruise. You don't want a constant drone going down the highway.
Really other than Brabus which is at 3k (and I don't know why), there are only 2 choices you have. 1) Factory AMG mufflers 2) Eisenmann. I have the latter and can attest to its quality. It is excellent.
If you put anything else on, know that you will seriously kill the car's resale value.
The Eisenmann is about $1600 (that was for my V12 600, it may be less for yours), and I got it for about $1400 and change from Euroteck who is a sponsor on this forum. To me, it was a worthwhile investment. I also have nice quad tips now, and it looks great. It is not a copy of the AMG tips, they are a different shape. I was not trying to make my car look like a CL55, it looks very unique now. I posted some pics before but they didn't come out right. I will post some nice pics this weekend if the weather cooperates. The sound.... is incredible. At full throttle it lets out a howl that makes flowmaster owners pee their pants. On cruise, it is as silent as my factory system.
What you want is a quality exhaust, one that will give you some grunt when you are into the throttle, but one that is quiet during cruise. You don't want a constant drone going down the highway.
Really other than Brabus which is at 3k (and I don't know why), there are only 2 choices you have. 1) Factory AMG mufflers 2) Eisenmann. I have the latter and can attest to its quality. It is excellent.
If you put anything else on, know that you will seriously kill the car's resale value.
The Eisenmann is about $1600 (that was for my V12 600, it may be less for yours), and I got it for about $1400 and change from Euroteck who is a sponsor on this forum. To me, it was a worthwhile investment. I also have nice quad tips now, and it looks great. It is not a copy of the AMG tips, they are a different shape. I was not trying to make my car look like a CL55, it looks very unique now. I posted some pics before but they didn't come out right. I will post some nice pics this weekend if the weather cooperates. The sound.... is incredible. At full throttle it lets out a howl that makes flowmaster owners pee their pants. On cruise, it is as silent as my factory system.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Not really, you're looking at a few percent increase on both types.
The website states...
Performance Level
Average %HP Gain
Average Flow Restriction (Stock: 43%)
Average Sound Level (Scale: 10 = loudest, stock average = 2)
Average Weight Reduction %
Sport
4.1 - 4.7 %
26.1 - 28.8 %
3.3 - 4.7
28 - 37%
Racing
6.1 - 6.4 %
20.2 - 25.5 %
5.1 - 8.9
35 - 70%
The website states...
Performance Level
Average %HP Gain
Average Flow Restriction (Stock: 43%)
Average Sound Level (Scale: 10 = loudest, stock average = 2)
Average Weight Reduction %
Sport
4.1 - 4.7 %
26.1 - 28.8 %
3.3 - 4.7
28 - 37%
Racing
6.1 - 6.4 %
20.2 - 25.5 %
5.1 - 8.9
35 - 70%
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Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 934
Likes: 2
From: Boston
NSX
FYI, I have the sport... its pretty darn quiet. I don't think the race would be too loud for you. You can go one step further than that even and get the resonators too.... also my V12 I think is naturaly a bit quieter than the V8. But I think you will be OK with the race unless you are old like me and like your peace and quiet... 
