sleeperZ96BT

Hi All,

I recently have tinkered around with my 2013 E550’s exhaust and I wanted to provide some insight as to my experience. A few quick comments. All measurements are approximate and with a tape measure.

The Speedriven purchase price is posted on their site so you can see what they cost. I included what I paid for the AMG parts. Please note that if you take the AMG path you must be willing to wait and be vigilant in checking the usual suspects (forums, eBay, etc.) to find one and be willing to pay for it when the opportunity comes. I lucked out on the downpipes and found them quick on the forum but the AMG catback I waited about 6 months to find, and when it came up I pounced on it.

I hope folks find this useful and please let me know of any questions – I did this a) because I was curious and b) because this information is somewhat scattered in our forums based on the research I did. I do have some pictures and videos I’ll get to later.

I will be getting around to selling the Speedriven pieces –I need to clean them up before selling being in MA. They probably have 2500 miles or so on them so in terms of usage, not much, but I want them to look the part.

Brian

Overall specs/observations:

Stock Downpipes: 2.25 inches round – 1 resonator
Stock Catback: 2.50 inches round – 1 resonator
2012 E63 AMG Downpipes – 2.5 inches round with some oval parts (presuming for clearance) - $600
2014 E63S catback – 2.75 inches round - $1,500 (includes valence and tips which don’t fit pre-facelift)
Speedriven downpipes – Vibrant cats (some of the nicest,highest flowing, most expensive cats out there); 3 inches round
Speedriven catback – Magnaflow mufflers, 3 inches round

Dyno results: Speedriven over stock in E mode +25whp (likely more in dyno mode/S mode given I don’t think E mode goes 100% WOT, among other things). E63 pieces coming in the future.

Performance:
Car definitely felt a touch faster. I mean, the cars fast enough as is and it wasn’t an earth shattering increase but you knew it was there.Fuel economy was unchanged.With a gun to my head I might say it was a tiny, tiny bit incrementally higher but to be honest, I probably cancelled out any gains by getting on it more to hear the car J

Sound:

Stock Exhaust Sound: Quiet, WAY too quiet
Stock Turbo Sound: barely audible

E63 Exhaust Sound: Like an E63, distinct, baritone rumble. Calm under cruise, loud at WOT,never really intrusive into the cabin
Turbo sound: noticeably louder. Not loud, but you can clearly hear them spool.

Speedriven Exhaust Sound: loudest at idle and WOT. At idle, much louder.Not intrusive into the cabin but you can hear it more so than the E63.Nice, deep,mellow tone.True to the tone of a Magnaflow muffler (i.e. if you like this sound on other cars, you will like it on this one).
Turbo Sound: audible, but for some reason not as audible as the E63 stuff. And it’s not because the exhaust is louder; the exhaust sound and turbo whirring are different enough that it doesn’t get washed out by the louder exhaust (due to pitch maybe?).It was a little surprising.


Design/Install
Note: Design is relative to stock E550/Install is relative to the work being done by a shop that isn’t MB specific but has some experience with MB cars so an MB shop may do it quicker but also may be more money on an hourly basis:

E63: Generally bolted right in. Beyond your standard R&R, approximately 3 hours of customization required to reassemble (it had two cuts in it to ship it) and massage it to fit.Dual tailpipes were routed into a reducer so you can’t even really tell it’s therewith the stock ‘floating’ tips in the bumper.It’s a pretty tight near the bumper area and it you aren’t careful it may rattle.The 2014 valence and tips DO NOT FIT the pre-facelift cars without a body shop knowing what they are doing(I have these for sale as a result J).So be wary of this.

Speedriven: First off, this thing was a work of art. It was almost a shame to put it on a car.Such smooth bends and it was so shiny!Beyond your standard R&R, I think it took about 2 hours of additional work to make it fit.There’s a cross brace under the car that has to be removed to accommodate the larger piping.It’s nothing super critical; it appears to be something to catch the exhaust if it drops.I couldn’t tell you as it went back on when the AMG stuff went on.Fitment was good, though the shop indicated that it would be better if they leveraged the factory hangar locations better (i.e. add into the exhaust an ability to use all the factory locations) so it would tuck up like the stock exhaust (it hung down a tad more than the factory exhaust).Speedriven was generally prompt in answering my queries and I would do business with them again.


My preference:
I prefer the E63 parts. The sound is more my style, and the cost isn’t so prohibitive for the parts as quite frankly ANY aftermarket system; just be willing to wait to find them.And I don’t get my warranty questioned, which counts for something.The car’s fast enough stock so for me the performance variable doesn’t matter as much.I am going to get it re-dyno’d with the E63 stuff and will report back to see what the differences are between stock and the Speedriven pieces.

BlownS4

Been waiting for this. When you do get around to selling will you part the exhaust and downpipes? The only thing I don't like about the speed driven exhaust is that you dont have the option for the dual tips. I have have the AMG tips for 2012MY on magnaflow mufflers. I've been waiting for your review for quite some time, so I'm glad you finally wrote something else up. Can't wait for the videos.

sleeperZ96BT

I know, it took me forever. I could write an essay as to why, but I really wanted EVERYTHING done to post a complete write up. I'm like 90% there (just need the re-dyno with AMG stuff) and couldn't wait.


I'll separate the exhaust and downpipes for sure. I need to hit them with simple green and a polisher to make them shine up nice again. I know they are exhaust parts and no one sees them, but, I also know that when I send pictures people forget that. With no disrespect intended to us (I do it too), it's frustrating If you really don't care what they look like I can ship them tomorrow if we agree on a price LOL


I am always surprised that these thread don't generate much discussion. I see a member with a 2014 E550 posting in the AMG thread for downpipes, so hopefully this prompted him to do it

Juice1979

This forum doesn't have much activity at all with regards to those looking for performance. To begin with, there aren't many of us out there with E550 sedans.

sleeperZ96BT

Yeah, I can see that. Though, if you think about it, the applicability of 'stock vs aftermarket vs AMG' could apply to any model that has the M278 where a 'big brother' AMG also exists. S, CLS, ML, GL, etc. that is looking for some feedback on options to get more sound and some performance out of it.

mjec515

Haha yupp...when I saw this I was like oh damn I should just get a stock amg downpipe rather than an aftermarket one that's gonn be too loud for me...hopefully I will be able to find one used

sleeperZ96BT

I don't think that the aftermarket downpipes will increase the volume much. It's really the multiple resonators and mufflers that are the killer on these cars.


The downpipes (AMG or aftermarket) effectively kill one resonator so you'd likely not pick up that much noise. My guess is also that the power is in the downpipes (while the noise is in the mufflers, which sounds stupid to say out loud, but still )

BlownS4

I actually agree with that statement Brian. The power totally is in the downpipes, especially with a tune... I'm eagerly awaiting you getting it cleaned up LOL email what you want for them.

TTMerc

Are you guys wanting stock AMG Catback? I am going to put mine up for sale off my '14. Tips and exhaust are in great shape. Just doing a custom Setup. Anyone interested?

sleeperZ96BT

Off of the CLS? How much? I have mine but I am sure folks would like to know

TTMerc

Yes off a 14' CLS63 S. Havent really thought about price. $750?

sleeperZ96BT

So the fill catback (from the downpipes back) plus the valence and tips for $750? Or just the tips?


I don't know if it would fit an E-class but damn, I paid twice as much for my e63s set up

TTMerc

No just for the mufflers and tips. They will have about a foot of pipe before the mufflers. And no rear valence

JoeTX

Good write up.

I’m a new-to-me 2014 E550 coupe owner and like many others on this forum am in a quest for more sound. It’s a great car but I need to hear that TT V8 over the hood. I’ve read 100’s of comments about exhaust mods and this was one of the better ones. I want a deep throaty rumble not a sharp BRAT BRAT sound. Do you have any sounds clips or videos with how your car sounds after your mods?

I want to keep the mod simple and avoid the dreaded drone so am considering just changing out the mufflers to Magnaflow’s and leaving the resonator and secondary cats (Are they truly cats or just small resonators? I’ve read it both ways.) in place. The car has plenty of power so I’m not looking for any power increase just more and better sound. What Magnaflow mufflers fit a 2014 E550 coupe? Which specific one did you use?

TIA

sleeperZ96BT

I do have videos with the Speedriven (start up, idle, rev) and AMG (start up, idle; stopped recording 30 seconds in). Is the best place to load them like a youtube?


Let me get some pics up (as soon as I can find time) - I think on the sedan there are one cat per side, plus two resonators (one on the downpipes, one on the catback). If there are a second set of cats on the sedan then they are unlike any cats I have seen on a car.


Personally, the sound of the AMG is SO much better than the magnaflow; I'd consider that route - it IS deeper than the magnaflow. The other muffler I would entertain is a chambered muffler. If I had unlimited budget I'd try that next. I've spent enough as is!

sleeperZ96BT

Here is the OEM 2013 E550 exhaust

sleeperZ96BT

Here are the E63 pipes (2012 for the downpipes, 2014 for the catback)

JoeTX

Great pics. Thanks for posting them up. Sounds like you really did a lot of work to get the sound you wanted. And that's the problem since you don't really know what a specific set up sounds like until you spend all the money on it.

I don't post much stuff up but YouTube looks to be the place to post up the video clips you have. I and I'm sure others would like to hear what your set up sounds like.

TTMerc

I will be selling my AMG exhaust. I will include exactly what is shown in the borrowed picture below. Mine has the resonator deleted already with two straight pipes though. Let me know if anyone has any interest. $750 plus shipping

sleeperZ96BT

Once I can get the full clip of the AMG exhaust captured I will get them up.

JoeTX

Would this fit a 2014 e550 coupe? Are you in the DFW area?

sleeperZ96BT

I have the car getting redyno'd next week and will get video posted and updated numbers after that.

jahquan3

Awesome can't wait to hear it and see the new numbers.

sleeperZ96BT

Dropped off the car last night - will be picking her up Thursday night. Pretty excited!

JoeTX

Are you getting a tune or just putting your car on a dyno to see what it puts down?