If anybody has removed the resonator from their CLK 430, what is the sound like with the stock rear muffler only? Is their any loud resonance or noie at a certain RPM? Is the sound louder?
Thanks for any imput I am considering doing this to get a little better sound from the V8 that seems very quiet and muted. I am reluctant to spend on an aftermarket exhaust knowing that the HP gain will be miniml if at all.

 

Makes the car louder under heavy throttle. I put mine back after a few months becasue it didn't sound "right" for the car/performance. Maybe I'm just getting too old

 

i took mine out and put the clk55 amg exhaust in. not sure how different the two exhausts are but the car is defenitly deeper and rumble-ier. it is not loud and obnoxious especially if you are just cruising with your foot off the gas. It sounds almost like a refined muscle car.

 

I removed mine and the sound was not noticebly louder, however when cruising around slowly and when the car upshifts, you can notice a small rumble.

However, I might put it back on because my dyno numbers were kinda low...but it could be someting else.

 

I guss I am still out on the fence on this, but I may just try it since it is so inexpensive. How can you lose HP by reducing backpressure? I guess you could lose some mid range torque, but top end should be better no?

 

HP drops CAN happen when reducing BP. Usually on lower to mid HP engines. The exhaust can be tuned like the intake by changing length, diameter, etc.

 

Did you notice a drop in HP or Torqu when you had the resonator out?

 

My highly calibrated butt dyno couldn't feel the difference but my mind was saying it was quicker. Might have been because I was on he gas harder all the time to hear the sound. My guess is that if there is a gain, it is negligible. The benefit would be for the sound IMO

 

Thanks, like I said I think I will try it, since it is easy and cheap to do it and if I don't like it to go back to the resonator.