jimxms

Chedman13

jimxms

Chedman13

Chedman13

Curious to what tune you have and any feedback? Thanks.

jimxms

It was actually a local shop I used called AmD. I doubt it's their own tune, so its probably a mediocre tune from one of their suppliers. I was told it should be around 670hp, but as their rollers didn't extend to the wheelbase of the GL, I couldn't get dyno readouts.

It is significantly quicker off the line though - much more fun to drive. Still not a patch on my supercharged C7 vette though

Chedman13

jimxms

jimxms

Word of caution to all, DO NOT purchase exhaust components manufactured by Brondex!

Their downpipes do not fit (not even close), and when you try to deal with them they are rude and arrogant. So far I have spent £150 trying to get the downpipes fitted and will be spending another £110 to return them to Russia.

Thankfully I purchased them via Paypal, or I'd be sitting on £1300 worth of scrap metal right now.

Chedman13

Thanks for letting us know. That probably wasn't fun trying to install then finding out they don't fit!

This company is also in Russia and has downpipes: https://www.ebay.com/itm/RSE-Mercede...19.m1438.l2649

I was thinking of buying them but hesitating now.

Where are you located? The cat-free downpipe of supersprint should fit without issue being a major producer and I believe is around EUR 1,000 from Italy. I have their mid-pipe and it fits perfectly with the OEM downpipe. I would hope the downpipe is a perfect fit too.

jimxms

I can tell already that those Russian ones are more likely to fit than the Brondex ones are. Check out the Brondex ones I received vs OEM:



As you can see, the angles match perfectly, but the final straight of the exhaust is around 4 inches too long. It's almost like they forgot to deduct the length of the pipe flange from the total length. Compare that to the RSE downpipe at the bottom of the picture, and you can see that the the final straight is much shorter (like it should be). There were other issues with the Brondex too, namely the angles of the connection to the headers was totally off. But that didn't photograph well unfortunately.




As for the supersprints, I could be wrong but I'm fairly sure that you cannot install the supersprint downpipes without having the mid-pipes as well?

Chedman13

I've been messaging the seller in Russia about the RSE downpipes - they 100% know their stuff, was explaining all the options for adding cats (since I don't want catless due to emissions). They offer 300 cell and 400 cell that eliminate check engine lights.

You can install downpipes without mid-pipe.
https://www.supersprint.com/ww-en/sp...-hp-12-15.aspx
scroll down to:

Downpipe kit Right - Left for the Stock "Cat.-Back" system

They have different options and I believe this is the one you want. I'd call to be certain. I had to buy adapters to fit the mid pipe to the OEM cat's, so I think they already thought of that so everything can be piece meal.
€890.00 + VAT€1,085.80 VAT INCLUDEDTurbo downpipe kit Right - Left (Replaces catalytic converter)Cod: 849431

jimxms

Thats good to know, but I have to question what benefits you hope to get when you're running a 300/400 cell cat? I would think that would pretty much give you OEM-like sound and not much power benefits?

It's probably different for me in the UK, but I'm hoping that I will be able to pass emissions if I run race fuel during the emissions test, or blend some fuel with ethanol for a cleaner burn. If that fails, I was contemplating running some 100cell cats down in the mid-pipe, in place of the resonators.

Good spot! I hadn't scrolled down the page far enough to see that option. I've emailed supersprint as I want to know what the pipes are made from and what their warranty is. My only concern is that they look mandrel bent (rather than welded), so _possibly_ could be made of thinner steel than the Russian ones.

Chedman13

300/400 cell - correct, just trying to improve as much as possible. Sounds and power will be only slightly better as I believe OEM is 500/600 range. The 300 cell GEIS is an all metal flow vs. 400 cell ceramic.

The mid pipes looked solid for me and have held up with no issues, direct fit, zero modifications, no hitting anything and no leaks. I'm guessing they are thinner, but Supersprint will have the specs I hope.

jimxms

👍
Thats good to know. What sort of climate do you live in? I've had some "stainless steel" exhausts before that have gone rusty after only a few months.

jimxms

I've just bit the bullet and purchased the supersprint downpipe & mid-pipe. Wish me luck!

Chedman13

Nice - you didn't get the rear section? I believe you need the rear section or else you have to cut your rear muffler and weld that onto the supersprint mid-pipe, but not 100% sure. The supersprint is also a 3" diameter vs. 2.75" diameter, I forgot if it's Internal Diameter or Outer Diameter.

The Downpipe has a reducers to connect to the OEM mid-pipe.

jimxms

jimxms

Well you were 100% correct. Despite me asking supersprint if the rear muffler needed to be modified, and them telling me it didn't - it did.

I had the pipes cut and got an exhaust shop to fabricate me some 3" > 2.75" bolt-on reducers so that it would be slightly easier to put back to factory spec at a later date.

And........OMFG its LOUD!!!! Kids were falling off their bikes, car alarms were going off, elderly folks were dropping dead....all on the way home from the exhaust shop.

No smell from the decat though

Chedman13

Hey! Sorry for the non-response earlier.

"And........OMFG its LOUD!!!! Kids were falling off their bikes, car alarms were going off, elderly folks were dropping dead....all on the way home from the exhaust shop." That is the quote of the year!!

I love my Supersprint mid-pipe, it must sound amazing without cats.

Can I bother you to keep the car running in park and running around the car to see if you smell it? I have heard the M157 engine 5.5L V8 does an excellent job of not smelling that much due to the turbos/etc. burning up stuff and the E63/CLS63 guys are saying it's not bad but you can smell it. My only concern if it will bother my kids (odor and health wise) in case we're idling for a long time, say stuck in traffic.

So questions:
1) Do you love the sound? I love mine and would like it slightly louder (hence going catless or high-flow cats).
2) How's the odor when parked at idle from outside the car?
3) What ECU tune did you go for and your feedback.

Thanks!!!

jimxms

Already been stuck in traffic a few times, and couldn't smell a thing with the windows up and the AC on. With the windows down, there is a very slight smell in traffic, but nothing unpleasant. Just smells like normal exhaust which could easily be explained away as being from the car in front.

1) Imagine the stock exhaust sound amplified at least 5x but a bit more tinny, with double the whooshy turbo noise and a metric tonne more pops and bangs! It sounds nuts, possibly a bit tooo nuts. My friend in the USA (I'm from the UK) says it sounds like a big block turbo gasser. If there were a volume knob on it, I'd maybe turn it down 1 notch. In the future I can see myself maybe getting a custom rear muffler fabricated to quieten it just a little. But right now it has me laughing like a little kid whenever floor it.

2) My son took a video of me revving a few times. The car was backed up against our garage. He didn't mention smelling anything and when I got out, I couldn't smell anything either. This is very different to my diesel land cruiser I had before the GL, which stank to high heaven.

3) Local company called AmD. They don't roll their own tunes, so I assume they buy them from elsewhere. It seems like a good tune though, really shifts! I've slaughtered many M3's and M5's

Chedman13

1) That sounds amazing. You can hear the turbo whistle, cracks, pops and bangs!

2) I have the Brabus rear section exhaust that bolts onto the Supersprint mid-pipe (with the 3" to 2.75" adapters) and it isn't that loud when the valves are open (you can open/close) and is actually very tame when closed (very nice if you don't want to hear the exhaust).

3) You can also look at https://gthaus.com/product/mercedes-...g-v8-bi-turbo/ which is much cheaper, but is also valve controlled.

4) You can check this out for the Brabus install: http://gtfactory.ru/proekty/mercedes...rabus-exhaust/

5) I am convinced, Supersprint downpipe it is - it's the most cost effective too. I'm assuming you had no issues with the install? My supersprint was plug and play besides the adapters and nothing hits or rattles. Now I will probably wait for my warranty to expire to avoid any issues.

jimxms

Valved exhaust is a very good idea - but ouch, thats pretty spendy - even for the gthaus one. How much was your Brabus rear if you don't mind me asking?

As far as I'm aware, the install was pretty painless. It took about 3 hours total including cutting of the OEM rear muffler for the mid-pipe.

Chedman13

Here is the brabus on the a gl550, also has renntech catted downpipes:

Johncy2000