UR2SLO

I recently inquired about doing a quad exhaust conversion and its coming to be $2300 for parts (OEM AMG Tips, OEM AMG Rear Apron), and since I know the owner of a reputable Mercedes body shop he is willing to install the exhaust tips and paint the rear apron for $600 with the total being $3000 parts/labour.

AMG Quad Tips (B66030870) $1600
AMG Rear Apron With Trailer Hitch $700

Being that I own a ML320 I cant simply just change out the exhaust system to an ML63 since its Diesel VS Gas. It looks like this is my only option?

I'm located in Canada if that matters. I called a few U.S dealers and the prices were relatively the same if not higher for some reason (usually way cheaper).

primatives

I think you can find tips that don't have the words AMG on it and I believe its much cheaper. Sorry I can't help you anymore than that its just from my memory. Good luck!

AudiA4Turbo22

that better include mufflers for that price, $1,600 is insanity.

iankayem

Think about the current resale value of the vehicle, which will be dropping every year. Then consider the proportion of that value you are putting into the exhaust for no improvement in resale value. Then you make your own decision.

UR2SLO

My vehicle has been in a minor accident so I highly doubt I will sell it. Anything you do to cars you dont get back, I do mods for my own interest not others. 90% of people who makes there cars 500hp+ or put a set of 10K wheels know there not getting anything in return but its for their own enjoyment.

Sharkster

That's the spirit!

You buy a car for yourself and you pimp it for your own enjoyment. Not for other people (Whenever you start to think about residual values, you shouldn't have bought an expensive car at all).

I mod my cars like hell. Pimped my 350 ML almost to an exact ML 63 look-a-like (left out the sidebars and the plastic fender expansions as I simply don't like them).

If you're patient, getting the AMG quad tips on Ebay might save you some money. But anyway: GO FOR IT!

I did it and I regret every day I drove around with the stock look before. But I will never regret the update, as the car looks so much better with the full AMG bodykit.

https://mbworld.org/forums/m-class-w...s-springs.html

EDIT: Make sure you get the 2009+ AMG rear bumper with the chrome insert. It looks way better than the one on pre-2009 cars.

komp55

Not sure which dealers you're contacting, but here's some pricing I found today:

Part Number66030870 Part NameTAILPIPE W16 MSRP$1,620.00Core$0.00Save$300.00Online Price$1,320.00
lower cover w/ML63 AMG, w/parktronic
PARTS: Order by description.
MSRPCore ?SaveOnline Price$695.00$0.00$279.80$415.20


When I did my conversion, the biggest hurdle is, as you note, the exhaust. The accessory tip kit pricing is obscene. I got lucky and found a used ML63 exhaust on Cragislist, but I think you can actually buy a quad tip aftermarket exhaust (e.g., Brabus) for less than MB wants for the tips. There are some other suppliers as well (Supersprint, Meisterschaft), but their pricing is probably worse.

As others have noted, we mod our vehicles for our enjoyment. I know the quad exhaust conversion I did will offer no additional resale value down the road, but for the next several years, my ML550 looks unique and sounds awesome. So it was worth the cost to provide the greater enjoyment of the vehicle.

I think you can do better price-wise on the parts and labor. I paid $250 to have my bumper cover professional painted and then installed it myself. It's a DIY project if you're so inclined, and I posted a DIY write-up of the install showing how easy it is to do. My vote is that you go for it!

Sammydavis

get a new head unit installed instead for a third of the price.

CampioniShop

We have rear mufflers available for a quad tip conversion from SuperSprint. PM for pricing.

UR2SLO

I phoned a few in L.A, your dealer is cheap but I was thinking when you consider shipping to Canada it will probably be the same. The $600 labour quote I got was painting the apron, installing the apron, and installing the tips. The bonus with dealing with him is that he has a easy exchange/return policy with the local Mercedes Dealers if they happen to be damaged or not fit. His labour rate was about $70-75/hr should I negotiate it down? If so to what?

I tried searching aftermarket exhausts but could find any that would fit a ML320 (Diesel) only ML63, ML550, ML350 (Gas). I also found most aftermarket exhausts look pretty plan with circle/round tips which gives a plain mom/pops exhaust shop look. I also don't want to risk aftermarket exhausts since I could potentially throw of a error code and the local shops here who sell these performance mods are all shaddy and if anything goes wrong I'm screwed.

Moto One

You may want to check the GM parts house for exhaust tips for the C-5 corvette. Nearly the same oval shape and very reasanable in price.

Mark.

UR2SLO

I got a invoice today and here were the exact details:

Labour: $687.50 (Paint being $65)
Parts: $2076.30 ($1476/Tips, $600.30/Apron)
Tax: $138.19 (5%)
TOTAL: $2901.99

Is the labour side (prep,paint,install apron and tips) of this quote overpriced?

Sharkster

Are you going for the pre-2009 rear bumper? I think that the 2009 (facelift) AMG rear bumper with the chrome insert looks a lot better... and if you decide to upgrade, you may want to consider going the full way. Even if that means to spend a little more...

xxGenericSNxx

But in order for it to look "right" he'll also need to change the rear bumper along with diffuser, front bumper to match which will entail new headlights and grille. It may look more right if he just upgrades to the new back diffuser on the old style bumper.

Sharkster

Yea, ...I guess you're right.

UR2SLO

I would do that but dont want to blow another $2000 for a rear bumper and $500-$700 on labour. Making a rear quad tip conversion to total almost $5000-$6000 hahaha. Some days I wish I was driving a North American vehicle where parts are found so easily and cheap.

AudiA4Turbo22

The rear apron is $198.00 from most dealers. I have no idea why you were charged $600 for that.

They sell replica tips on Ebay for $100/pair.

I can't fathom spending $3,000 on such a small change.

Modding these cars is expensive only if you don't look hard enough.

UR2SLO

The lowest price via online mercedes parts places was like $425. Dealers in the U.S were $450-550. I'm in Canada by the way, $600 was from a dealer here.

Those $100/pair tips aren't welded together nor can be staggered right like a AMG tip. I cant see a shop welding these up (if even possible) for less than $800 including parts. And there always is never a guarantee that the stagger will be even on both sides when going to a exhaust shop

KA8

What year is your ML? I got 2011 ML and really can't complain about its looks. It's no AMG but I think all it needs is a nice set of wheels but I'm keeping this car stock. Of course I got another toy car to mess with.

UR2SLO

08, I have a set of aftermarket wheels already but they're 20". Thinking about screwing the exhaust tips and just get a set of 22" forged wheels.