Masterbuyer

Hey to other W166 ML550 owners: does the sound coming out the muffler sound very loud when it starts up and even when idling?

I'm not sure if this how a Bit-turbo engine is suppose to sound or if there is actually something wrong with my new ML550. It has about 1,500 miles on it. I don't remember it sounding as loud when I first got it. It just sounds very rough...like a hopped up jalopy, and not like a luxury SUV.

Under the hood it doesn't sound too loud, just out from underneath the middle and back of the car.

Thimee

Mine sounds really refined (1400 miles) - you can hear there is a large engine but it's classy, and not at all "jalopy" like. Perhaps there is a hole in your exhaust somewhere?

2012MLBlue

"Very rough" is pretty much the opposite of how my 550 sounds. It has an almost silent idle and a great roar under hard acceleration. I wish it was a little louder actually as the engine sounds so great.

Masterbuyer

Thanks guys....this is helpful. I'm now guessing there must be something wrong with the exhaust system...I'm going to take it in for service.

TangoRed

Masterbuyer,

I think your car is probably fine. The exhaust is definitely tuned to let you know there is a V8 under the hood at start up. Perhaps the "jalopy" noise you're hearing is just the burble of the V8. The CLS550 is tuned even louder. If you want to hear another comparable V8 luxury SUV, stand behind an X5 50i. You'll definitely hear the exhaust on that one.

Masterbuyer

Thanks, that is what I was thinking, too, that high-performance muffler systems let out more noise since they have to let out more air. But it didn't sound like this when I first picked up the ML from the dealership. I had to do a lot of highway driving the first couple of days I had it and I started off with just seven miles on the odometer. I did my best to try to break in the engine properly by varying the RPMs with the paddle shifters, but I wonder if the muffler system became too over heated too fast and something has gone awry.

I'm still going to take it in and I'll report my findings.