Will better exhaust help MPG
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
GL450
Will better exhaust help MPG
Hey everyone
First post to the forum, just picked up a 13' GL450. Love it, but the elephant in the room (err car) is the horrible MPG it gets. Wondering if anyone has any experience improving their MPG with new pipes/ exhaust setup?
Thanks in advance!
First post to the forum, just picked up a 13' GL450. Love it, but the elephant in the room (err car) is the horrible MPG it gets. Wondering if anyone has any experience improving their MPG with new pipes/ exhaust setup?
Thanks in advance!
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 180
Likes: 13
From: Cave Creek, AZ
2012 Mercedes S63 P30, 2015 Mercedes GL550, 2009 BMW 650i Convertible
You might gain a tiny bit of hp and a tiny bit of mpg, but it would probably take years of a tiny mpg increase to offset the cost of the exhaust work. Of course, it'd most likely sound pretty darn good, so if you want that as well, it might be a good experiment.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
GL450
Many thanks
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Ok, so your GL has a biturbo V8. You would need to start with the downpipe and work your way back with a 200 or 300 metal cell cat with removal of the mufflers to really see any efficiency gains. That with a good ECU tune would net some huge power gains with better performance and mileage if you stayed out of the throttle.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
GL450
Ok, so your GL has a biturbo V8. You would need to start with the downpipe and work your way back with a 200 or 300 metal cell cat with removal of the mufflers to really see any efficiency gains. That with a good ECU tune would net some huge power gains with better performance and mileage if you stayed out of the throttle.
Super thanks in advance!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
Speedriven or Renntech may offer the parts. You could probably get it all from Renntech. It will be expensive but will be top notch from Renntech.
On second thought, you may be able to get a good exhaust shop to custom fab the parts and save a bunch. If you go that route, get the ECU tune from Renntech.
On second thought, you may be able to get a good exhaust shop to custom fab the parts and save a bunch. If you go that route, get the ECU tune from Renntech.
Last edited by BlownV8; Aug 2, 2017 at 09:13 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,004
Likes: 241
From: Usa
mgLipGD
There are downpipes for the M278 engine and the GL. They are sold by World Motorspoets under the brand RADO. I just ordered a set for the GL550 I am picking up this weekend. The cost was $1595 shipped. I searched and didn't really see any others made directly if I recall my searching. I kind of suspect M157 AMG downpipes would fit but with a AMG price tag and similar performance to the ones I ordered.
Pipes should be in next week and will have them installed shortly there after, along with removing the resonator. I will have Tony from RaceIQ tune it all for me as he tuned my E55 perfectly for me. That should tide me over for a year or so while I decide what to do next if anything.
Pipes should be in next week and will have them installed shortly there after, along with removing the resonator. I will have Tony from RaceIQ tune it all for me as he tuned my E55 perfectly for me. That should tide me over for a year or so while I decide what to do next if anything.
Trending Topics
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 298
Likes: 32
From: America's Mitten
on GLC300 #2, a 2022 CPO purchased b/c I really dislike the X254's UI (GL350 before those)
The OP asked for exhaust set up to save gas, get more efficiency. If all it took was for the OEM to spend $500 more per GL at its costs, not yours, to get even say a 5% MPG increase, they'd be dancing in the street. If by some miracle you saved that much, OP, how many years to pay back a 1500++ spend? $60 a week in gas x 5% is $3, so about 10 years if you use that much gas weekly? Instead save your money for gas. Upgrade for other reasons, your idea to easily make a silk purse out of a gas hog will not pan out.
Incidentally, don't believe the car's computer unless you're consistently checking it against your own math. The trip computer in most cars I've ever owned including my GL give optimistic mpg readings,
Incidentally, don't believe the car's computer unless you're consistently checking it against your own math. The trip computer in most cars I've ever owned including my GL give optimistic mpg readings,
Last edited by mustbebenz; Aug 3, 2017 at 12:04 AM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
The increased HP will make your car more efficient and will give you many more smiles per gallon leading to a more fun driving experience. The MPG you gain will take a very long time to recoup your cost if ever.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
GL450
SMILES per gallon, welp i got enough incentive to take on this project. Hope to upload a sound clip soon. Also Jeremy from OE tuning reached out to me so may go that route for the ECU tune
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 33
Likes: 2
From: Bay Area, CA
GL450
There are downpipes for the M278 engine and the GL. They are sold by World Motorspoets under the brand RADO. I just ordered a set for the GL550 I am picking up this weekend. The cost was $1595 shipped. I searched and didn't really see any others made directly if I recall my searching. I kind of suspect M157 AMG downpipes would fit but with a AMG price tag and similar performance to the ones I ordered.
Pipes should be in next week and will have them installed shortly there after, along with removing the resonator. I will have Tony from RaceIQ tune it all for me as he tuned my E55 perfectly for me. That should tide me over for a year or so while I decide what to do next if anything.
Pipes should be in next week and will have them installed shortly there after, along with removing the resonator. I will have Tony from RaceIQ tune it all for me as he tuned my E55 perfectly for me. That should tide me over for a year or so while I decide what to do next if anything.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 8,882
Likes: 1,214
From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
