Exhaust Experts Please
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 16
From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Exhaust Experts Please
Now I know there are countless threads on this forum about exhaust modifications but I see a lot of conflicting opinions... and it's not that I haven't spent a lot of time researching it. I want to mod my exhaust (cheaper the better) so it is relatively sedate at idle and while cruising but has a nice growl (even acceleration pop would be nice) when revved or accelerating. However I don't want any droning if possible. The options I've seen so far that I'm willing to explore are (including combinations of the following):
-Secondary Cat Delete (are these normally straight pipe?)
-Resonator Delete (straight pipe vs x-pipe)
-Muffler Delete (GregD did a 29-inch J-pipe but not sure how this sounds)
After talking to gaazmon, who is awesome
, I think I've narrowed it down to muffler delete or resonator delete with x-pipe. Can anyone with exhaust knowledge chime in? GregD state that his muffler delete sounds more like a Euro V8 should versus American Muscle, anyone else think so too?
Happy New Years everyone!
-Secondary Cat Delete (are these normally straight pipe?)
-Resonator Delete (straight pipe vs x-pipe)
-Muffler Delete (GregD did a 29-inch J-pipe but not sure how this sounds)
After talking to gaazmon, who is awesome
, I think I've narrowed it down to muffler delete or resonator delete with x-pipe. Can anyone with exhaust knowledge chime in? GregD state that his muffler delete sounds more like a Euro V8 should versus American Muscle, anyone else think so too?Happy New Years everyone!
Last edited by AMGAffalterbach; Dec 27, 2012 at 11:42 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Sweden.
W211 E500 -03
Hey there..
I got a nice sound on my 500 after just replacing the last mufflers. The sound is somewhat like an C63 but still like a V8 to that.
Low rpm gives me muffled growl and high more like the real thing (C63) and when releasing the throttle it mumbles almost on the limit to start shooting through the exhaust. The sound level inside the car have risen a bit but I can take that.
.............**Thanks**.
I got a nice sound on my 500 after just replacing the last mufflers. The sound is somewhat like an C63 but still like a V8 to that.
Low rpm gives me muffled growl and high more like the real thing (C63) and when releasing the throttle it mumbles almost on the limit to start shooting through the exhaust. The sound level inside the car have risen a bit but I can take that.
.............**Thanks**.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: SNH
2006 E55
Joey, I responded via pm as well.
I went through the same process as you in trying to find a reasonably priced option to enhance the sound of the car. I wanted something that made the car a bit more sporty sounding without it being too loud or obnoxious. I also wanted something that I could easily return to stock if I ever wanted to sell the car. I watched all of the youtube videos and the only options that I liked the sound of were thousands of dollars. To me, the resonator and cat delete make the car sound too raspy. I first tried the muffler delete by itself and although the sound was exactly what i was looking for, the droning between 1400-2000 rpm was really bad. I had heard of mustangs and pontiac G8 using these resonators to kill drone in those cars so I figured I'd give it a shot. It really turned out fantastic. It killed about 90%-95% of the drone. The car is relatively quiet at idle and cruise. When you get on it it has a smooth exotic sound to it, nothing like the muscle car sound from the cat and res delete. I'm not sure if there will be a difference between my E55 and an E500 though. Let me know if you have any other questions.
I went through the same process as you in trying to find a reasonably priced option to enhance the sound of the car. I wanted something that made the car a bit more sporty sounding without it being too loud or obnoxious. I also wanted something that I could easily return to stock if I ever wanted to sell the car. I watched all of the youtube videos and the only options that I liked the sound of were thousands of dollars. To me, the resonator and cat delete make the car sound too raspy. I first tried the muffler delete by itself and although the sound was exactly what i was looking for, the droning between 1400-2000 rpm was really bad. I had heard of mustangs and pontiac G8 using these resonators to kill drone in those cars so I figured I'd give it a shot. It really turned out fantastic. It killed about 90%-95% of the drone. The car is relatively quiet at idle and cruise. When you get on it it has a smooth exotic sound to it, nothing like the muscle car sound from the cat and res delete. I'm not sure if there will be a difference between my E55 and an E500 though. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2004 E500
Im glad you started this tread, I am also looking for a nice exhaust note out the rear, my E500 is just to quiet.
The above posters, can you give more information as to what resenator/muffler you put on to get rid of the drone?
The C63 sounds almost perfect, If i could get the E500 to sound like that I would be a very happy boy.
Thanks and Happy New Years!
The above posters, can you give more information as to what resenator/muffler you put on to get rid of the drone?
The C63 sounds almost perfect, If i could get the E500 to sound like that I would be a very happy boy.
Thanks and Happy New Years!
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Sweden.
W211 E500 -03
The sound of mine just after replacing the rear mufflers....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1680390625375
........**Thanks**.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1680390625375
........**Thanks**.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2004 E500
The sound of mine just after replacing the rear mufflers....
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1680390625375
........**Thanks**.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1680390625375
........**Thanks**.
What kind of mufflers did you replace the stock ones with?
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Sweden.
W211 E500 -03
I bought 2 cheap ones at ebay.de, corrosion free ones and then I got a guy here in Sweden to install them for me. I think total money spent was some $300 incl. installation...
.........**Thanks**.
.........**Thanks**.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 16
From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
Thanks for all your responses, especially Greg. I will probably be doing a muffler delete with J-Pipe (Helmholtz resonator) in order to cancel out any droning through out the power band, he described exactly what I want in my E550. Thanks for the replies too Harry, what kind of mufflers did you buy?
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Sweden.
W211 E500 -03
I bought 2 pc. noname rear silencers from ebay - Germany and then the guy just cut off the originals and welded these in place. Many people has heard the car and they just love it, even the yearly check guy liked the sound of it. Unfortunately I don't have any pics on just the silencers but they looked as good as they sound....
.............**Thanks**.
.............**Thanks**.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 39
Likes: 2
From: Sweden.
W211 E500 -03
I had in mind to buy and install the AMG or Brabus exgaust on mine as well but since they are a bit expensive here in Europe I just replaced the rear mufflers and achieved more or less the same result for a lot less pennies....
I was looking for the sound but got both the sound and better performance..
........**Thanks**.
I was looking for the sound but got both the sound and better performance..
........**Thanks**.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
2004 E500
Nice to see you found a way to go, i have a question : What is the "j-pipe" and where does it go?
I was thinking of going the magnaflow muffler root, any thoughts? Has anyone went this direction and if so what do you think?
Thanks.
I was thinking of going the magnaflow muffler root, any thoughts? Has anyone went this direction and if so what do you think?
Thanks.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,184
Likes: 16
From: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
2014 BMW M235i
A J-pipe is a helmholtz resonator that, as Greg had stated in his original thread, is a 29-inch piece of pipe that is curled around in a J and connected to the exhaust pipe right where the mufflers would be. A muffler delete is supposed to sound great and have a very European V8 sound but the problem is that it causes horrible droning. The J-pipe gets rid of most of the droning by cancelling out that frequency. I'm not sure how it works as far as harmonics go and everything but it works and is much cheaper than aftermarket exhaust. I would probably go that direction but money is the issue especially when I am looking to do the E63 conversion soon.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
C63s AMG and G63
I bought 2 pc. noname rear silencers from ebay - Germany and then the guy just cut off the originals and welded these in place. Many people has heard the car and they just love it, even the yearly check guy liked the sound of it. Unfortunately I don't have any pics on just the silencers but they looked as good as they sound....
.............**Thanks**.
.............**Thanks**.
Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 75
Likes: 12
From: Oregon
W211 E500
Note this wouldn't quite have the sound you may be envisioning unless you have a V8, and I know the newer C43s have V6s. If the new C43 is the vehicle you plan on modifying, I may suggest investing in a W204 C63 muffler (louder) or a CLS63 muffler (quieter at idle, but same as C63 at WOT) and that should get you closer to the deep sound you are looking for.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
C63s AMG and G63
Wow this is an old thread lol. I do not believe AMGAffalterbach is active anymore. The 'resonator' itself is in the middle of your exhaust system, between your rear mufflers (2 of them) and your secondary cats and should look like a rectangular box on your exhaust line. The Helmholtz Resonator that AMGAffalterbach refers to is basically a capped 2 inch pipe added to a muffler delete. I don't know the exact math but 29-32 inches long with a mandrel bend to make it the shape of a J seems to do the trick of giving one the sound of a muffler delete without the drone, and according to forum member Arfisch (google 'arfisch exhaust' to read his writeup), a sense of back pressure returns with the J pipes in place. The J shape can be bent or formed however necessary to be able to fit where the muffler used to be.
Note this wouldn't quite have the sound you may be envisioning unless you have a V8, and I know the newer C43s have V6s. If the new C43 is the vehicle you plan on modifying, I may suggest investing in a W204 C63 muffler (louder) or a CLS63 muffler (quieter at idle, but same as C63 at WOT) and that should get you closer to the deep sound you are looking for.
Note this wouldn't quite have the sound you may be envisioning unless you have a V8, and I know the newer C43s have V6s. If the new C43 is the vehicle you plan on modifying, I may suggest investing in a W204 C63 muffler (louder) or a CLS63 muffler (quieter at idle, but same as C63 at WOT) and that should get you closer to the deep sound you are looking for.
