Folks, I converted my fake exhaust to real. Sharing what I did. Sorry, I am not a professional but a DIY person. This is not complete yet needs minor cleaning to have a clean look but you can get an idea.
Process: The idea is simple to cut and put an extension to exit the exhaust through the real exhaust tip housing
1) Exhaust tip housing: First you need to get a real exhaust cosmetic tip housing from eBay or any other place. I bought it for 80 dollars from a local craigslist. I used foam spray to hold it inside the bumper. You can use any epoxy. But I used expand foam spray and let it hold it is pretty good. You can get it from Lowes for 6 dollars. You need to remove the fake exhaust housing it is held by two rivert. you can use drill to remove the rivert. Keep the fake one and the cut pipe in case u want to convert back to stock. I am sure the new owner will love to have real exhaust anyway
2) Universal Flex pipe: Get a Universal Flex pipe. you can get it from Autozone. I bout for 8 dollars from Autozone. Dia 2 3/4. Note the exhaust pipe dia is 2 1/2. I cut it into half for each side and thread it over the exhaust pipe and clamped it. See the picture of the clamp.
3) Prevent backward leaking: JB weld from Autozone around 8 dollars. Just to seal the joint of the universal flex pipe. Not needed though. As this is not under pressure just diverting the exhaust instead of down to straight.
4) Heat protection: Exhaust heat wrap. This is also not needed but I put it just in case for any vibration and heat. But this is really not needed. I used zip tie first to make sure it is wrapped correctly then replaced with metal tie ( the metal ties come with heat wrap )
5) Heat paint: You can get it from Lowes or home depot. I checked the heat at the exhaust tip is around 40 to 50. Even if it goes up in summer should be less than 100 c. Paint can stand up to 500 C. I used black so that the silver heat shield does not shine through the exhaust tip housing ( fixed to bumper )
Here are the pictures. As I mentioned I am still not done working on cosmetic stuff to look it clean underneath. From the outside, it looks clean.
Thanks for posting the details! I think you did a very good job! I do have at least 2 questions: 1) Isn't the new AMG exhaust/bumper held on with clips or screws like the original fake one? So you had to basically glue it on? 2) What are the 5 little vertical graphite looking stubs spaced along the the bottom of the rear bumper? Good work!
Thanks for posting the details! I think you did a very good job! I do have at least 2 questions: 1) Isn't the new AMG exhaust/bumper held on with clips or screws like the original fake one? So you had to basically glue it on? 2) What are the 5 little vertical graphite looking stubs spaced along the the bottom of the rear bumper? Good work!
Yes, it has clips front part ( which Is back shiny chrome ) but the rare portion has two holes for the screw ( see the image of the exhaust housing). Clips can not hold the whole housing just support the shiny chrome from falling. I can not find a place to screw the rare portion to the bumper so for now, I use expanded foam 3 shots on the side. But planning to customize, need to brainstorm how to thread the screw through those two holes then will remove the expanded foam.
Answer to 2nd question those are diffusers, I do not know if I want to keep it but nothing to do with the exhaust.
Which model W166 GLE do you have (that comes with fake/blank exhaust tips)? I checked and mine are real.
Great, can you please share the picture ( underneath the bumper) just want to compare if I need any further modification? I have a 2018 GLE 350, it came with those cheap-looking fake exhaust which is spreading like a covid ( not using the plague word anymore..lol) to all german motors.
Which model W166 GLE do you have (that comes with fake/blank exhaust tips)? I checked and mine are real.
I just noticed you have a 2016 GLE 350 I googled it I found this image so the 2016 GLE 350 Exhaust is the real one. The image below shows you can see through the exhaust housing the heat shield. That's why I painted black so that heatshield does not shine through.
Great, can you please share the picture ( underneath the bumper) just want to compare if I need any further modification? I have a 2018 GLE 350, it came with those cheap-looking fake exhaust which is spreading like a covid ( not using the plague word anymore..lol) to all german motors.
[QUOTE=gearFX;8496021]Pics as requested...
Thanks yes looks like your 2016 GLE350 is real exhaust but I do not know if all GLE 350 2018 have fake or not. But mine was. Wondering at what point they changed from real to fake.
Also, I noticed one can see through the exhaust housing, the heat shield. I painted the heat shield black so that it is not visible through the exhaust housing. From for sitting at car level it is easy to view
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