My CLE53 AMG does Not Sound like an AMG.

I figured out that the "Switchable Engine Sound" is in fact the "pumped" in audio of the exhaust controlled by the Left AMG Drive unit on the steering wheel. The tip-off was, with the widows open, the exhaust sound still seemed to be coming from somewhere in front of me. Weird.

The "Powerful" exhaust setting in the Dynamic selection menu is supposed to activate the exhaust flaps, it doesn't seem to be working on my car. No matter what drive setting I'm in, S, S+ or Race, the exhaust note hardly changes.

I don't know if this is "normal", but all in of the video's I've seen the exhaust sound is pretty lame. I wonder if my computer issues might something to do with this or, do I have and AMG Performance Exhaust that isn't a Performance sounding exhaust.

 

I don’t have my car yet, but it’s been reviewed many places times as being fairly quiet. For me that’s a good attribute.

 

Are there a pair of resonators on the exhaust that can be removed and replaced with straight pipe like on some Audi cars?

 

OP, the reviews you watched are based in Europe or is it a North American spec? I am hoping North American spec is better?

 

I just went through every permutation on the Exhaust System in every Drive program with Pod Exhaust switch, On and Off:

1) The Pod Exhaust switch DOES control the exhaust flaps; some of the low frequency sound does still seem to be coming from under the car. I don't know where the Flaps are, maybe further fwd in the system or, I hearing more sound from the resonators which might be under the middle of the car. There is some burbling in S, S+ & Race with the Pod switch On. The Exhaust is quiet with it Off in all settings except S+ & Race where the Pod switch is On by default.
2) The Balanced/Powerful switch in the Dynamic Select settings does little or nothing; very difficult for me to tell any difference. If this is supposed to be the mic'd audio exhaust I don't hear it. With the software issues we're having it may not be working. But there's no way for me to know unless someone with properly functioning software has had a different experience.

The CLE53 exhaust sound is nothing like my 2019 C43, which was awesome!.

THE CLE53 EXAUST SYSTEM IS STILL TOO QUIET FOR MY TASTE.

 

You could consider buying an EVM exhaust value module but not sure if they are compatible with CLE yet, you use a mail forwarding service and buy straight from asr.de

 

It's a little early for me to consider mod's yet but I would be open to some mod's provided there aren't any warranty or emissions issues.
Removing the resonator could make a difference but I'm too chicken to be the first one to try it.

 

It is plug and play at least it was on the W205 C 43 not sure about the CLE.

 

Anybody seen this recent RBR vid ? Looks like UK RHD market deliveries have an even worse situation re. the CLE53 exhaust, I hope it does not affect all RHD markets. Here in Australia the CLE53 has yet to arrive, it's expected early next year fingers crossed for all that want one it has the better exhaust sound option installed.

 

That is just brutal.

 

Yikes, does that have the OPF?

 

And I've been complaining about the AMG Performance Exhaust that I DO have being too quiet...

Well, I don't know if the US cars have OPF but, if I do and it ain't a US Emissions requirement I'm going to have it surgically removed and replaced by a straight pipe, along with any unnecessary resonators.

P.S. I spent some time at my dealership today and some of their CLE53's have no Switchable Exhaust Sound button either, so the US has this issue too.

 

In the past, North American bound cars never got the OPF, honestly don't know if now they have it, very unlikely that it is legal requirement to have OPF in USA right now but it doesn't mean MB won't be putting OPF in their cars even for the USA market. It is cheaper to design one exhaust system for all region cars instead of one exhaust with OPF and one without.

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Just wanted to say that it's good to know I'm not alone with my disappointment in the 2024 AMG CLE 53 exhaust sound. Had a 2017 C43 that sounded 100% louder than the CLE 53. I thought for sure the new one would actually sound like an AMG. Is it just me or is anyone else confused? MB puts out the C63S with a four-banger and batteries but has the AMG exhaust note with cracks and pops. Then they put back an inline 6 for the 53 and hardly any enthusiasm. Beautiful car with an aggressive exterior and totally lame exhaust. I was always under the impression that the exhaust sound was synonymous with the AMG line.
I asked the dealer if they had heard anything coming from MB to open the exhaust for more volume and their answer was "not at this time unless the customers start demanding it". In my opinion, as long as they make the sale, MB will consider it a success. Very disappointing for the price. I'm thinking about the resonator delete too to see if that helps.

 

The four cylinder is a let down so they have to use sound to convince customers, not to mention the C 63 S E Performance literally has a speaker outside the vehicle (from what I heard).

 

Agree on all the above. Sound is lame even in sport+ mode.

I found this video but I hardly notice any difference:

 

I already told my dealer that I want a resonator delete and remove anything on the exhaust that isn't emissions related. And they seemed amenable to do it.

The CLE53 exhaust sound is just weird. Every noise is super muffled and the shifts create more of a very low frequency "thud" than a mid frequency "crack". And, it seems to be coming from under the car, not out the back.

The first time I did a WOT 1 - 2 shift with my C43 I thought gun went off, wow, what loud BANG! Pops, bangs and crackles, it was GREAT! AMG should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this car to have such a lame exhaust note. A definite "Fail".

I'm waiting for a picture of the CLE53 exhaust system off the car or at least a labeled drawing to start planning for this mod.

 

They might argue being an E-Class (ish) it is supposed to be more tame/mature. ie. like this video, although still sounds better than the CLE 53 (from videos I seen/heard):

 

That's great to hear that the dealer is willing to do it. I didn't get that same response from mine. The service manager acted like I had to go to an exhaust place to have the resonator removed. He thought it was a software change! I had the same BANG with my old C43 too. Sounded fantastic. You're right, they should be ashamed about the exhaust sound, Please keep me posted on what makes the exhaust come ALIVE from the mods you do.

 

As I said in another thread, It's about time WE DEMANDED some consideration from AMG. I'm hoping that they feel bad about the lousy exhaust too.

The more of us who vocalize our, let's be polite, "request" for exhaust improvement the better chance there is of it actually getting it. The customer is always right, right?

 

doubtful, did you hear the new ferrari v12? manufacturers have to follow rules/restrictions. Aftermarket is going to be the norm moving forward like it was prior to what, about 10-15 years ago when cars were also very tame from factory.

 

No I did not and a quick web search didn't turn up anything about that. But I wouldn't be surprised.

I did read something in another thread (that I can not find) that showed a snapshot from the MB website, the jist of it was was that the exhaust systems are now "kinder (quieter) and gentler".

 

If that is the Resonator, which is where I hear the exhaust sound coming from, I see a potential snag in replacing it with a straight pipe. The Pipes on the car do not look round but "OVALIZED". Some custom fab will be required unless someone sells pipe like this.

Also of interest:
1) the US site has no option for either AMG Performance Exhaust or Switchable Engine Sound, so is it supposed to be standard? I've seen two cars at the dealership without the Exhaust Pipes symbol/Botton. So...what does that mean?
2) the German website has both AMG Performance Exhaust and Switchable Engine Sound as options and talks about the "Balanced" and "Powerful" settings as doing something, but in my car do nothing. I'm still confused about the "pumped in" sound I've heard about.
3) the UK website has NO option for the AMG Performance Exhaust or Switchable Engine Sound either
4) there is NO CLE53 on the Australia website

 

I was actually walking away from my car at the dealership because I didn't think it had the sport exhaust option since I didn't see it on the left steering wheel toggle switch. But the delivery guy came out to show me how you can flip through the modes by pressing the knob itself. The salesman had no idea. The GM also said it is a stock feature in the US. Not sure if that's true but I have the exhaust icon and there's no mention of it on the window sticker as an option. I too noticed in the pic that the pipes were ovalized. Perhaps another deterrent from MB for us not to mess with their design?

 

I definitely like me some good exhaust note. But I really don’t find the quietness a bad thing. The car is still super fast and don’t find it necessary to be obnoxiously loud while doing it. Living in a city with plenty of other loud noises already, it’s just one less thing to clutter the airwaves. Besides, the audio system is great in this car and just allows for a more enjoyable music experience. As a reminder all the EVs are pretty quiet. Maybe stealth is the new trend.