CLK 350 Exhaust Decat
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Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Paris, FRANCE
CLK350 Coupe
CLK 350 Exhaust Decat
Hi everyone!
I replaced my 2005 CLK 280 Convertible AMG package by a 2009 CLK 350 Coupé AMG package.
Its been only a week since I have it and I'm already thinking about some mods I could do to my car. Its a shame the car is so quiet even though I got the twin AMG pipes (part of the AMG package).
I was wondering if there was a way to enhance the sound of this lovely V6 engine without having the drone inside the cabine?
There are 4 cats + 1 resonator and 1 muffler (I want to keep the muffler).
Should I decat the primary cats? or secondary cats along with resonator? Or 4 cats and keep the resonator?
What do you guys recommend knowing that I dont want any drone in the cabine?
Thanks for your help!
I replaced my 2005 CLK 280 Convertible AMG package by a 2009 CLK 350 Coupé AMG package.
Its been only a week since I have it and I'm already thinking about some mods I could do to my car. Its a shame the car is so quiet even though I got the twin AMG pipes (part of the AMG package).
I was wondering if there was a way to enhance the sound of this lovely V6 engine without having the drone inside the cabine?
There are 4 cats + 1 resonator and 1 muffler (I want to keep the muffler).
Should I decat the primary cats? or secondary cats along with resonator? Or 4 cats and keep the resonator?
What do you guys recommend knowing that I dont want any drone in the cabine?
Thanks for your help!
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
IMO the primary cats should not be tampered with.....(unless you are squeezing every bit of performance out of the car for possible track use, or "just because" I don't think deletion of the primaries is a good idea. And I don't think it will sound much different with the resonator and muffler still in place.)
The secondary cats are tuned to eliminate drone. Deleting them will permit droning.
I would delete the muffler or replace it with an aftermarket one. Or you could delete the muffler and replace it with a bottle resonator or 2 depending on the configuration of your tubing. I think you will have a single pipe with twin exits from the muffler exiting the rear on one side of the car.
The secondary cats are tuned to eliminate drone. Deleting them will permit droning.
I would delete the muffler or replace it with an aftermarket one. Or you could delete the muffler and replace it with a bottle resonator or 2 depending on the configuration of your tubing. I think you will have a single pipe with twin exits from the muffler exiting the rear on one side of the car.
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From: Paris, FRANCE
CLK350 Coupe
Hi Fatz,
Thanks for the reply.
I indeed have one sided exhaust (left side) with twin AMG signed muffler tips coming out.
By doing some research about the main purpose of the resonator I found that it is actually the coponent that delete the drone effect?
I also want to unleash few HP if I can so let say if I delete the 2 secondary cats would the sensor light come on the dashboard?
Thanks for your help mate
Thanks for the reply.
I indeed have one sided exhaust (left side) with twin AMG signed muffler tips coming out.
By doing some research about the main purpose of the resonator I found that it is actually the coponent that delete the drone effect?
I also want to unleash few HP if I can so let say if I delete the 2 secondary cats would the sensor light come on the dashboard?
Thanks for your help mate
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2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Here in the USA, on the M272/M273 engines, the secondary cats are actually resonators and should look hollow inside (versus M112/M113 engines that have secondary cats which are not hollow inside, but have a mesh). I would remove the middle large resonator first, but that usually doesn't do too much, then proceed to remove the two bubble resonators (you may use an x-pipe in it's place to balance out the tone more, but it will reduce the volume versus using straight pipes). The pipe diameter would be 2.25 inches on the V6 models and 2.5 inches on the V8 models.
I would not tamper with the primary cats. Here in California, I have passed smog twice with no issues with the bubble resonators and middle resonator removed. I would not remove the muffler, especially since you have the AMG muffler with dual tips (a better muffler than the single tip models). I have never noticed any drone with this setup and never had a CEL come up. If you remove the primary cats, you will get a CEL.
I would not tamper with the primary cats. Here in California, I have passed smog twice with no issues with the bubble resonators and middle resonator removed. I would not remove the muffler, especially since you have the AMG muffler with dual tips (a better muffler than the single tip models). I have never noticed any drone with this setup and never had a CEL come up. If you remove the primary cats, you will get a CEL.
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From: Paris, FRANCE
CLK350 Coupe
Here in the USA, on the M272/M273 engines, the secondary cats are actually resonators and should look hollow inside (versus M112/M113 engines that have secondary cats which are not hollow inside, but have a mesh). I would remove the middle large resonator first, but that usually doesn't do too much, then proceed to remove the two bubble resonators (you may use an x-pipe in it's place to balance out the tone more, but it will reduce the volume versus using straight pipes). The pipe diameter would be 2.25 inches on the V6 models and 2.5 inches on the V8 models.
I would not tamper with the primary cats. Here in California, I have passed smog twice with no issues with the bubble resonators and middle resonator removed. I would not remove the muffler, especially since you have the AMG muffler with dual tips (a better muffler than the single tip models). I have never noticed any drone with this setup and never had a CEL come up. If you remove the primary cats, you will get a CEL.
I would not tamper with the primary cats. Here in California, I have passed smog twice with no issues with the bubble resonators and middle resonator removed. I would not remove the muffler, especially since you have the AMG muffler with dual tips (a better muffler than the single tip models). I have never noticed any drone with this setup and never had a CEL come up. If you remove the primary cats, you will get a CEL.
How does your car sound now? Like quiet when idle and loud when reving?
I dont want my car to sound like a boy racer Honda Civic (No offence to Honda owners) but more like something close to an AMG sound (I know it will never be as an AMG).
I was thinking whether to remove these resonators like you've done it to your car or the expensive way : get the 2 OEM rear CLK 63 AMG mufflers (I found both new for 1600$ and of course buy the CLK 63 center spare tyre compartment so I can have plenty of room for the right hand muffler and buy the swaybar as well. It will cost me roughly 2000$ to do that but since no one has done it before I don't know if I will get a better result than simply removing resonators
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From: Los Angeles
2009 SL550 Roadster Diamond White, 2008 CLK550 Coupe Obsidian Black
Hi Gaazmon,
How does your car sound now? Like quiet when idle and loud when reving?
I dont want my car to sound like a boy racer Honda Civic (No offence to Honda owners) but more like something close to an AMG sound (I know it will never be as an AMG).
I was thinking whether to remove these resonators like you've done it to your car or the expensive way : get the 2 OEM rear CLK 63 AMG mufflers (I found both new for 1600$ and of course buy the CLK 63 center spare tyre compartment so I can have plenty of room for the right hand muffler and buy the swaybar as well. It will cost me roughly 2000$ to do that but since no one has done it before I don't know if I will get a better result than simply removing resonators
How does your car sound now? Like quiet when idle and loud when reving?
I dont want my car to sound like a boy racer Honda Civic (No offence to Honda owners) but more like something close to an AMG sound (I know it will never be as an AMG).
I was thinking whether to remove these resonators like you've done it to your car or the expensive way : get the 2 OEM rear CLK 63 AMG mufflers (I found both new for 1600$ and of course buy the CLK 63 center spare tyre compartment so I can have plenty of room for the right hand muffler and buy the swaybar as well. It will cost me roughly 2000$ to do that but since no one has done it before I don't know if I will get a better result than simply removing resonators
There have been some individuals here who have done that setup and it does come out beautifully. I forget the threads or members. It is definitely on the pricier side though. I would think it would sound more aggressive since it would be a true duel setup with two AMG mufflers instead of one. The rear of this car has always bothered me a bit since it only has an exhaust on one side
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
Drone for a V6 would not present itself until around 2600 RPM. I don't know how you drive your car routinely or what the RPM would be at highway cruise speeds (65-70) for your V6. If you don't settle in 2600-2800 RPM range, you probably won't hear much, if any, drone. I have a V8 with headers, 200 CEL cats, and a true dual exhaust. At 2000 RPM, before developing my own solution, the db level would reach 98...... cruising.
You may get more cabin noise and a kind of "groan" when the engine is under heavy load, like going up a hill. The exhaust manifold and the merged exhaust pipe layout is as it is stock, in part, to cancel some of the frequencies that contribute to drone. The downside is the back pressure.
I agree with gaazmon; you should be fine, if you don't go to an open/true dual exhaust. BTW, the muffler/s will not eliminate drone as they are not generally tuned to do so and they are located too far from the source.
If possible, take some pictures of what you do. I always have an interest in exhaust related endeavors...
You may get more cabin noise and a kind of "groan" when the engine is under heavy load, like going up a hill. The exhaust manifold and the merged exhaust pipe layout is as it is stock, in part, to cancel some of the frequencies that contribute to drone. The downside is the back pressure.
I agree with gaazmon; you should be fine, if you don't go to an open/true dual exhaust. BTW, the muffler/s will not eliminate drone as they are not generally tuned to do so and they are located too far from the source.
If possible, take some pictures of what you do. I always have an interest in exhaust related endeavors...
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I thought deleting cats in the "Land of the Free" was a federal offence. We are not even aloud to talk about over on the Jeep forum....such posts are deleted...LOL! However if you want to be anti Muslim or shoot stuff...that's fine!!!
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From: Paris, FRANCE
CLK350 Coupe
Thanks Gazmoon and Fatz,
I think I will take the expensive way and get the CLK63 exhausts and for that I will have to get:
- An adapter from 2.25 inch to 2.5 inch so the 63 exhausts can fit on my V6 configuration.
-A center spare wheel compartment.
-A 63 swaybar so the pipe for Right muffler can pass through.
-A right side aluminium heat shield that protects the nearby components from the muffler's heat.
- And of course Headers.
I have emailed Kleemann for the hearders they got for sale for M272 engines, they have not mentioned whether they fit the W209 or not.
Another supplier for headers is Supersprint but they advertises their headers for LHD only (Mine is RHD as I am from UK) so I guess these won't be okay.
I got my own workshop so the labour won't be an issue but I will need something around 3k to buy everthing.
As soon as I start this project I will put some pictures for you Fatz.
Thanks guys!
I think I will take the expensive way and get the CLK63 exhausts and for that I will have to get:
- An adapter from 2.25 inch to 2.5 inch so the 63 exhausts can fit on my V6 configuration.
-A center spare wheel compartment.
-A 63 swaybar so the pipe for Right muffler can pass through.
-A right side aluminium heat shield that protects the nearby components from the muffler's heat.
- And of course Headers.
I have emailed Kleemann for the hearders they got for sale for M272 engines, they have not mentioned whether they fit the W209 or not.
Another supplier for headers is Supersprint but they advertises their headers for LHD only (Mine is RHD as I am from UK) so I guess these won't be okay.
I got my own workshop so the labour won't be an issue but I will need something around 3k to buy everthing.
As soon as I start this project I will put some pictures for you Fatz.
Thanks guys!
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From: Atlanta Metro
2008 clk550 - Navigator - Frontier
You shouldn't need an adapter to connect a 2.25" pipe to a 2.5" pipe. Typically a shop can "swedge" the smaller pipe. This is essentially increasing the diameter of the end of the smaller pipe. And, since you want the upstream pipe to either "butt" evenly with the downstream pipe or go inside the downstream pipe anyway, attaching 2.25" mid pipe to 2.5" muffler pipe is not a problem.
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CLK350 Coupe
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LOL....yep. Lots of folks on there don't seem to know the difference between God fearing, peace loving Muslims and those IS idiots.....they all get tarred with the same brush by the minority of uneducated inbreds that seem frequent off road forums more than other car forums I frequent !!! Laughably if you swear or talk about anything else illegal, like say off roading in illegal areas or decatting your car, you post will almost be instantly deleted (and there is a profanity filter that automatically stars out swear words!!!). A bit of bigoted racism...yeah...that's fine!! Don't get me wrong I love the forum and have nearly 7000 posts there........but some of its members,.....well...i'll leave it there.
Anyway ....BOT !!
Anyway ....BOT !!
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LOL....yep. Lots of folks on there don't seem to know the difference between God fearing, peace loving Muslims and those IS idiots.....they all get tarred with the same brush by the minority of uneducated inbreds that seem frequent off road forums more than other car forums I frequent !!! Laughably if you swear or talk about anything else illegal, like say off roading in illegal areas or decatting your car, you post will almost be instantly deleted (and there is a profanity filter that automatically stars out swear words!!!). A bit of bigoted racism...yeah...that's fine!! Don't get me wrong I love the forum and have nearly 7000 posts there........but some of its members,.....well...i'll leave it there.
Anyway ....BOT !!
Anyway ....BOT !!
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Lol...one leads to the other surely unless it's a track only car. It's a federal law not State so it's illegal whether you have emissions testing (smog as you say) in your State or not.
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CLK350 Coupe
LOL....yep. Lots of folks on there don't seem to know the difference between God fearing, peace loving Muslims and those IS idiots.....they all get tarred with the same brush by the minority of uneducated inbreds that seem frequent off road forums more than other car forums I frequent !!! Laughably if you swear or talk about anything else illegal, like say off roading in illegal areas or decatting your car, you post will almost be instantly deleted (and there is a profanity filter that automatically stars out swear words!!!). A bit of bigoted racism...yeah...that's fine!! Don't get me wrong I love the forum and have nearly 7000 posts there........but some of its members,.....well...i'll leave it there.
Anyway ....BOT !!
Anyway ....BOT !!
And talking about Muslims, well before being muslim or christian or jewish we are all human being, we are no different to each other but some people tend to forget. Hopefully this will not happen is on this forum. This forum is a great source of information and it helped me alot.
Thanks to every single people here on the forum for their contributions we are all here for the love of Mercedes so god bless Mercedes!!
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Just like Insame1 said, removing the cat is not illegal (its your car you can do whatever you want) but driving the car without cat is against the law because your car is not considered roadworthy.
And talking about Muslims, well before being muslim or christian or jewish we are all human being, we are no different to each other but some people tend to forget. Hopefully this will not happen is on this forum. This forum is a great source of information and it helped me alot.
Thanks to every single people here on the forum for their contributions we are all here for the love of Mercedes so god bless Mercedes!!
And talking about Muslims, well before being muslim or christian or jewish we are all human being, we are no different to each other but some people tend to forget. Hopefully this will not happen is on this forum. This forum is a great source of information and it helped me alot.
Thanks to every single people here on the forum for their contributions we are all here for the love of Mercedes so god bless Mercedes!!
See this link for the facts as published by the EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production...hsysrepair.pdf
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2006 E55, 2012 GLK350 & 1992 190e sportline
No...it is illegal....your car or not! Don't get me wrong I've done it myself and it was my decision ....but that does not make it legal. Do what you wish to your own car but saying its legal may make other people break the law when they might be the sort of folks who don't want.
See this link for the facts as published by the EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production...hsysrepair.pdf
See this link for the facts as published by the EPA.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production...hsysrepair.pdf
Last edited by insame1; Nov 28, 2017 at 08:19 AM.
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From: Bognor Regis UK
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