Resonator Delete CLK500
 

hey guys just picked up a 2006 CLK500 Vert for the wife and i wanted to add some sound to the exhaust (yes the wife wants it as well) and was wondering if anyone did a resonator delete, and what was your thought and how loud or not loud is it

Thanks
Andre

Deleting the resonator will not increase the exhaust volume very much (estimate of 2-2.5 db). I may very well however allow droning in the 2000 RPM range. This is the range of normal highway driving. Under normal driving conditions the transmission will shift in the 12-14K RPM range, so the droning will probably not present itself.

A more "robust" sound can be obtained by replacing the muffler with an aftermarket one. You could use a straight through type like Magnaflow/Flowmaster or a reflective/chambered type like Flowmaster. I don't know about the 500s muffler but the 550 is a straight through type; it is just larger, with more acoustic material, than an aftermarket, hence it allows more unattenuated sound. If you replace the muffler, I would do that and see if it produces the sound you want or is acceptable before removing the resonator. Or you could start with the resonator delete and just have the shop know that you may want to put it back in.

With any of the work you do, have then pipe "butt" welded (or clamped). If the shop can't, or want to charge a much higher rate, to butt weld, ask them to connect the pipes so that the upstream pipe is inside the downstream pipe.

I had my secondary cats go bad and had them cut out and replaced with test pipes. It gave it a little more sound, and I liked it. However, I did already have a Brabus catback, so ymmv. The secondary cats arent the same as the resonator, but it would probably have similar effects sound wise. I doubt it will get loud enuf to be annoying.

I understood that these cars (W209's) don't have a dedicated resonator, that the secondary cats essentially handle that role. So removing the secondaries would have a greater sound increase than just removing the resonator on other cars (w/ both resonator and secondaries, like the E-class V8's). I'm looking into removing the secondaries and inserting a cross-pipe. I would prefer to leave the AMG muffler, at least at this stage.

thanks guys just to be safe (as this is the wife's car) i will first remove the Resonator and then if the sound is minimal i will removed the secondary Cats

What resonator? ...only secondaries on this system, unless your 500 is much different than my 55.

yup the 500 has a Resonator unlike the 55 and 63

ah didn't realize. I would definitely lose the resonator, probably just do a catback system connecting at that junction between the secondaries and the res.

I believe this is your stock set-up:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d892b3ca91.png

^^^ Yup thats the one, so the only reason i don't want to go "crazy" on the exhaust this is the Wife car so i don't want her to complain the car being too loud, but i'll start from the resonator and see what happens from there

Thanks

Roger that...

This one's my toy, but I'm sure to catch flack after I sneak in the secondary delete - I need more sound at lower revs than the stock AMG gives.

so i tried that with my clk550.

i didn't like how "dirty" the exhaust sounded. it was only a touch louder at throttle. which i thought was nto enough?

i currently redid my whole exhast now with this setup in order:

3" from the primary cat
OEM resonator deleted
true 3" wye
dual vibrant resonators 17960 (sequential)
vibrant 1103 single muffler
single to 4" round tip

the sound is perfect. i drove around with out the muffler (only dual resonators) for a month to see how it was. super clean but louder then resonator delete. i estimated 104DB.

after putting the muffler, i am not super clean and under 90DB. i think 86db. which is below the new california law? anyways, it made it a little deeper and has a good volume now. toned, clean...

idle has a slight grumble. full throttle has a good grumble. but when i am on the track, with windows down... i can't hear it super clearly... so not obnoxiously loud. i guess it is hard to explain.

i will see if i can get some type of video up for my setup if needed.

that would be great i would love to hear it even thou the 550's sound much better then the 500's IMHO

Thanks

Upload a video of the sound . Looking to redo my exhaust myself . Thank you

i will look for the clips tonight. i should have all 3. resonator delete + stock amg muff. muffler delete with dual vibrant res. and my final setup.

Thanks I appreciate it