Exhaust options for CLK550 that don't deviate too much from stock?
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2007 clk 550
Exhaust options for CLK550 that don't deviate too much from stock?
Hi. I'm thinking about modding the exhaust system. My only real goal is some weight savings and I guess some better flow. I don't want it to be much loader (if at all) than stock. Are there any kits out there for this?
2007 CLK 550
2007 CLK 550
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From: Bethesda, MD
2000 SL500
[QUOTE=ninsei;6541615]Hi. I'm thinking about modding the exhaust system. My only real goal is some weight savings and I guess some better flow. I don't want it to be much loader (if at all) than stock. Are there any kits out there for this?
Put an x pipe where the resonator is. If you want more weight gains and better flow delete the secondary cats, but it will get louder
Put an x pipe where the resonator is. If you want more weight gains and better flow delete the secondary cats, but it will get louder
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2013
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2007 clk 550
[QUOTE=Amir_AMG;6541798]
thanks. do you happen to know what size x pipe?
Hi. I'm thinking about modding the exhaust system. My only real goal is some weight savings and I guess some better flow. I don't want it to be much loader (if at all) than stock. Are there any kits out there for this?
Put an x pipe where the resonator is. If you want more weight gains and better flow delete the secondary cats, but it will get louder
Put an x pipe where the resonator is. If you want more weight gains and better flow delete the secondary cats, but it will get louder
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From: SoCal
None for now
Secondary cat delete. You will almost never notice it until you step in it. If (when) you get bored of it, delete the resonator and then the muffler. I have no 2nd cats, resonator nor muffler with an X-pipe in place of the resonator. It sounds amazing but I'm pretty sure most of the people here would not be comfortable with that setup. If you want to hear videos of my setup, check my signature.
By far, the best mod to my car is the exhaust.
By far, the best mod to my car is the exhaust.
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
There is already a "Y" pipe aft of the secondary cats. Unless you're going true dual exhaust an "X" pipe is not needed. You can just use a straight pipe for any component (secondary cats, resonator, muffler) deletes.
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From: SoCal
None for now
Fatz, do you recommend me removing the X-pipe and replacing it with a straight (that'll be straights from primary cats back) or keep the X? What will happen if I change from X to straight?
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
You are set up as a true dual and you need the "x" to scavenge the exhaust and keep it moving faster, reducing heat buildup and back pressure, and it helps to some degree with reducing drone.
For the OP, he is still sending the exhaust from the two banks into a single mid pipe before exit. The "Y" pipe does scavenging also but not as well as an "X", in part because there is just more volume at the exit and into the mid/tail pipe. In his setup, an "X" would still have to be connected to a "Y". It would be redundant, cost more, and not really help.
For the OP, he is still sending the exhaust from the two banks into a single mid pipe before exit. The "Y" pipe does scavenging also but not as well as an "X", in part because there is just more volume at the exit and into the mid/tail pipe. In his setup, an "X" would still have to be connected to a "Y". It would be redundant, cost more, and not really help.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: San Diego
2008 CLK 550 Cabriolet
Secondary cat delete. You will almost never notice it until you step in it. If (when) you get bored of it, delete the resonator and then the muffler. I have no 2nd cats, resonator nor muffler with an X-pipe in place of the resonator. It sounds amazing but I'm pretty sure most of the people here would not be comfortable with that setup. If you want to hear videos of my setup, check my signature.
By far, the best mod to my car is the exhaust.
By far, the best mod to my car is the exhaust.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
2008 CLK 550 Cabriolet
You are fortunate that you go to a shop that apparently does not know about or look for the cats. Removal is considered tampering, you would most assuredly fail the smog test even if the emissions pass if a tech saw that and made a note of it.
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
NOTE: the m272/273 350/550 engines don't have secondary cats but "bubble resonators" which look like cats
At first I had the mid resonator removed and didn't notice much of change. It was a tad bit deeper, but wanted more. So I deleted the two bubble resonators (which sit between primary cats and the mid resonator). So the setup became primary cats -> stock y-pipe -> single pipe -> stock amg muffler. Everyone I told would say it must drone like crazy but honestly I never even notice a drone.
I've wondered if moving the y-pipe down to right before the muffler and putting two longer pipes from the primaries, instead of the current y-pipe at the beginning and one long pipe to the muffler, is a better setup? Thoughts?
At first I had the mid resonator removed and didn't notice much of change. It was a tad bit deeper, but wanted more. So I deleted the two bubble resonators (which sit between primary cats and the mid resonator). So the setup became primary cats -> stock y-pipe -> single pipe -> stock amg muffler. Everyone I told would say it must drone like crazy but honestly I never even notice a drone.
I've wondered if moving the y-pipe down to right before the muffler and putting two longer pipes from the primaries, instead of the current y-pipe at the beginning and one long pipe to the muffler, is a better setup? Thoughts?
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From: SoCal
None for now
Fatz could give you a good answer to that. But I think you are asking if you could have two pipes that go downstream to one muffler? I'm confused. If you want to do a dual exhaust, you must get a different muffler and lount it in the middle where the resonator was and then split the pipes to each side of the bumper.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,227
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
NOTE: the m272/273 350/550 engines don't have secondary cats but "bubble resonators" which look like cats
At first I had the mid resonator removed and didn't notice much of change. It was a tad bit deeper, but wanted more. So I deleted the two bubble resonators (which sit between primary cats and the mid resonator). So the setup became primary cats -> stock y-pipe -> single pipe -> stock amg muffler. Everyone I told would say it must drone like crazy but honestly I never even notice a drone.
I've wondered if moving the y-pipe down to right before the muffler and putting two longer pipes from the primaries, instead of the current y-pipe at the beginning and one long pipe to the muffler, is a better setup? Thoughts?
At first I had the mid resonator removed and didn't notice much of change. It was a tad bit deeper, but wanted more. So I deleted the two bubble resonators (which sit between primary cats and the mid resonator). So the setup became primary cats -> stock y-pipe -> single pipe -> stock amg muffler. Everyone I told would say it must drone like crazy but honestly I never even notice a drone.
I've wondered if moving the y-pipe down to right before the muffler and putting two longer pipes from the primaries, instead of the current y-pipe at the beginning and one long pipe to the muffler, is a better setup? Thoughts?
And, the cancellation that occurs at the merger of the "Y" pipe may be less since the velocity of the exhaust will be less when the exhaust from the two banks collide.
The exhaust path will still look the same to the engine. So it will run the same in terms of backpressure to overcome and rate at which it revs.
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Fatz could give you a good answer to that. But I think you are asking if you could have two pipes that go downstream to one muffler? I'm confused. If you want to do a dual exhaust, you must get a different muffler and lount it in the middle where the resonator was and then split the pipes to each side of the bumper.
I don't think that will gain you anything. Except for perhaps getting more drone I don't think you will see/hear any difference. You would be exposed to more drone because the cancellation ("Y" pipe) of some of the frequencies that trigger drone would be farther downstream. The upstream pipes would be more susceptible to vibration (drone).
And, the cancellation that occurs at the merger of the "Y" pipe may be less since the velocity of the exhaust will be less when the exhaust from the two banks collide.
The exhaust path will still look the same to the engine. So it will run the same in terms of backpressure to overcome and rate at which it revs.
And, the cancellation that occurs at the merger of the "Y" pipe may be less since the velocity of the exhaust will be less when the exhaust from the two banks collide.
The exhaust path will still look the same to the engine. So it will run the same in terms of backpressure to overcome and rate at which it revs.
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
Thinking of the things I did in my exhaust journey, "I believe" the bubble resonators do more for controlling drone than the "mid resonator". I do not recall drone of any major amount when I deleted the mid resonator.
You could delete the mid and see if that is enough with the cutout. I have headers and with the mid resonator delete the exhaust volume increased probably 4db (10db would be twice as loud). But there was no real drone.
You could delete the mid and see if that is enough with the cutout. I have headers and with the mid resonator delete the exhaust volume increased probably 4db (10db would be twice as loud). But there was no real drone.
