Resonator Delete?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Resonator Delete?
Is anyone running an X-pipe set up?
I'm thinking of removing my resonator but not sure what's the best set up for a W163.
Seems as though most folks with E55's run an x-pipe.
Thanks!
I'm thinking of removing my resonator but not sure what's the best set up for a W163.
Seems as though most folks with E55's run an x-pipe.
Thanks!
#4
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Regardless, I found that one a ML you can't use a X pipe because the resonator is a two in one out design so you have to use a y pipe.
I'll probably end up doing it because the resonator is a HUGE piece of metal. If anything you lose quite a bit of weight and probably get a bit of a growl.
#5
Resonator
I am putting a flowmaster resonator on tomorrow. I put the flowmaster seris 40 muffler on today but you dont hear it. I got more power though. So the resonator is toast tomorrow and if I still cant hear the exhaust then to hell with it. Dont follow the posts on putting the camaro muffler on it has the wrong piping, i found out today. There are two outlets but only one input ant the input side has one of the output sides. I dont know how these guys got them to work but Flowmaster and my muff shop advised against it so I went with the Flowmaster 40 series. The shop had to make a Y connector. Here is some pics, I hope they come through p. s. You need the resonator for low end torque so I am told.
#6
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
I am putting a flowmaster resonator on tomorrow. I put the flowmaster seris 40 muffler on today but you dont hear it. I got more power though. So the resonator is toast tomorrow and if I still cant hear the exhaust then to hell with it. Dont follow the posts on putting the camaro muffler on it has the wrong piping, i found out today. There are two outlets but only one input ant the input side has one of the output sides. I dont know how these guys got them to work but Flowmaster and my muff shop advised against it so I went with the Flowmaster 40 series. The shop had to make a Y connector. Here is some pics, I hope they come through p. s. You need the resonator for low end torque so I am told.
Regarding the resonator, I don't think you need it. Removing them on E55 is common practice and replacing the secondary cats with metal core cats.
I prefer to use the stock mufflers because it's hard to find anything aftermarket that's as well built and most aftermarket mufflers don't do much anyway. I like seeing the "AMG" on the tips also.
#7
2200 for exhaust when im done
Damn I got a bad cat I think (rattle) got to test temp before and after but it looks like Magnaflow stainless cats are next, couldnt get the truck in for the resonator have to wait til next week. I will go with the resonator though. Flowmaster said it is advisable. Why go with metallic cats instead of ceramic?
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#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
Damn I got a bad cat I think (rattle) got to test temp before and after but it looks like Magnaflow stainless cats are next, couldnt get the truck in for the resonator have to wait til next week. I will go with the resonator though. Flowmaster said it is advisable. Why go with metallic cats instead of ceramic?
#9
Yep
I got plugged exhaust. Utube vids of Mercs with FLowmasters are awesome. I can hear my muff louder inthe cab than outside. The resonator couldnt possibly be reducing the noise by lets say 80% could it? Well gonna order cats Monday gonna go with Magnaflow stianless. Well I will get it figured out. I am working my way to the Header install.
#10
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 193
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii USA
'06 E55, W204 C350, '04 Carrera C4S, '02 ML55 (Wife's)
I removed the front muffler on my wifes ML55 (the big one!) and it got a little louder. there was a noticable drone between 48 and 56 mph... When i removed it we put a Y-pipe in its place and left the rear muffler on.
Since then I removed the second/post cats and it really woke up the exhaust sound. from stock being 1 and open exhaust being 10 it only changed to a 3-4. but on WOT its like a 5-6... With the second cat removed the 55 produced way more volume and have a nice deep idle.
We will be putting the big muffler back as the drone is a little irritating and I don't think it will take to much more away from the overall WOT sound.
Since then I removed the second/post cats and it really woke up the exhaust sound. from stock being 1 and open exhaust being 10 it only changed to a 3-4. but on WOT its like a 5-6... With the second cat removed the 55 produced way more volume and have a nice deep idle.
We will be putting the big muffler back as the drone is a little irritating and I don't think it will take to much more away from the overall WOT sound.
Last edited by VaderSS; 10-05-2009 at 07:58 PM.
#11
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 308
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
2001 E55, 2002 ML55, 2002 SL500, 2003 CLK55
I removed the front muffler on my wifes ML55 (the big one!) and it got a little louder. there was a noticable drone between 48 and 56 mph... When i removed it we put a Y-pipe in its place and left the rear muffler on.
Since then I removed the second/post cats and it really woke up the exhaust sound. from stock being 1 and open exhaust being 10 it only changed to a 3-4. but on WOT its like a 5-6. the second cat produced way more volume and have a nice deep idle.
We will be putting the big muffler back as the drone is a little irritating and I don't think it will take to much more away from the overall WOT sound.
Since then I removed the second/post cats and it really woke up the exhaust sound. from stock being 1 and open exhaust being 10 it only changed to a 3-4. but on WOT its like a 5-6. the second cat produced way more volume and have a nice deep idle.
We will be putting the big muffler back as the drone is a little irritating and I don't think it will take to much more away from the overall WOT sound.
Where did you get your Y-pipe from? Do you recall the diameter?
I think removal of the resonator is mainly to reduce weight. Seems as though the cats really dampen the sound of the motor.
Thanks!
#12
Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 193
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii USA
'06 E55, W204 C350, '04 Carrera C4S, '02 ML55 (Wife's)
i believe it was either two 2-1/4" or 2-1/2 into one 3" y-pipe... whatever the exhaust shop had? I'll put up a pic maybe tomorrow afternoon gotta look for it in the home computer. I think it was a flowmaster part. they had to add some pipe to cover the gap the front muffler left.
Trust me the drone pissed off my wife and I could tell as well... she is a slow, on the street, driver so the drone was noticeable. but after around 63 mph the drone went away. BUT we live in Hawaii and the speed limit is 55... right in the sweet spot of the drone!
I'd recommend cutting of the post cats. it produced the best sound with and without the center muffler.
Trust me the drone pissed off my wife and I could tell as well... she is a slow, on the street, driver so the drone was noticeable. but after around 63 mph the drone went away. BUT we live in Hawaii and the speed limit is 55... right in the sweet spot of the drone!
I'd recommend cutting of the post cats. it produced the best sound with and without the center muffler.
#13
Houston we have a problem
My Kleeman headers dont fit my my perfectly. Damn it! I am so tired of this exhaust project being a pain in the donkey. First I order all the wrong exhaust parts listening to posts on here then the damn headers don't wrap aroun the steering knuckle properly. 'So My truck has been in the shop for a week while we try to figure out what to do besides cutting the headers. My motor mounts apear to be sound as to why the headers dont fit my ML when they fit a 2001 at kleeman I am not sure??? Try to answer that one! So a cutting and burning of my money will they do to the headers to get them to fit. Still waiting for them to get it done. My shop is so **** about everything tey call on every detail so I am like just put the damn things on already and make shure I can steer. Ahh the life of Aftermarket projects. The boys at Kleeman have been great though. We are all baffled........the header needs another two inches of bend to clear the steering shaft and knuckle. Blow blowin money, there should be a song.
#18
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area
C55 AMG, 300D-T & Karmann Ghia
#19
Given we have the same engines, I would personally recommend removing the resonator and secondary cats (I'm not sure how the cats on the ML are arranged) I didn't touch my AMG mufflers and haven't turned the Y-pipe into an X-pipe yet, but see below to get an idea of sound:
http://youtu.be/AZUdgaiOPs4
http://youtu.be/AZUdgaiOPs4
#20
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 4
From: SF Bay Area
C55 AMG, 300D-T & Karmann Ghia
As always, proceed at your own risk, but my car passed twice in CA without the secondaries. A clean looking AMG and nobody suspects anything is amiss as long as the car passes the sniffer. If you do have someone that insists on doing a visual of the entire exhaust, then you will have problems!
#21
Only remove the front resonator... DO NOT remove the rear muffler.
The exhaust takes up to 3-4 months to fully break in AFTER you do the resonator delete so the sound just after resonator removal is not accurate, you have to give it time. I am going on almost 2 years since I did mine and is sounds absolutely amazing, a good 20% more than when I just completed the mod.
The exhaust takes up to 3-4 months to fully break in AFTER you do the resonator delete so the sound just after resonator removal is not accurate, you have to give it time. I am going on almost 2 years since I did mine and is sounds absolutely amazing, a good 20% more than when I just completed the mod.
#22
As always, proceed at your own risk, but my car passed twice in CA without the secondaries. A clean looking AMG and nobody suspects anything is amiss as long as the car passes the sniffer. If you do have someone that insists on doing a visual of the entire exhaust, then you will have problems!
#24
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 1
From: Hollywood North
CLK 55 ///AMG Cabrio, ML63 ///AMG
Okay, guys, so, I had the 2 Mufflers deleted a couple of days ago, and I must say that I'm looking for short trips just to hear the exhaust!
With both Mufflers deleted and replaced with 3 inch 409 Stainless Steel Piping and both Resonators deleted with the same piping, it sounds pretty good, yes a little loud, but not at idle or 1500 RPM or below. Use Comfort to start in 2nd gear for less noise.
For those of you who like it a bit quieter and probably what I would have done if I did it over, is to just delete the two mufflers but leave the two stock resonators in place.
If you like it loud like the new 707 HP Dodge Challenger Hellcat, then do what I did.
3:09-3:11 is the sweet sounding exhaust.
With both Mufflers deleted and replaced with 3 inch 409 Stainless Steel Piping and both Resonators deleted with the same piping, it sounds pretty good, yes a little loud, but not at idle or 1500 RPM or below. Use Comfort to start in 2nd gear for less noise.
For those of you who like it a bit quieter and probably what I would have done if I did it over, is to just delete the two mufflers but leave the two stock resonators in place.
If you like it loud like the new 707 HP Dodge Challenger Hellcat, then do what I did.
Okay, I too have finally had the resonators deleted on my ML63, which I'm pretty happy with after a few days. I went with 3" Stainless Steel Straight pipes.
My 2 cents:
Although I was disappointed when I started it up leaving the Exhaust Shop, I must say that it is growing on me.
From idle, you don't really hear much of a difference, but if you step on it on an on-ramp onto a highway/freeway, you do hear a much butter sound than stock. Just make sure that you're in the Sport mode and not Comfort.
I read here that it will sound louder after 2-3 months but I am contemplating deleting one of the rear mufflers to get it louder. Has anyone done that or should I not bother with it? I don't want it sounding like a done up Honda Civic, but I wouldn't mind a more throaty sound even at idle. The sound of the Turbo ML63 in the video is what I'm after.
I'll post pics later of my setup.
Thanks.
My 2 cents:
Although I was disappointed when I started it up leaving the Exhaust Shop, I must say that it is growing on me.
From idle, you don't really hear much of a difference, but if you step on it on an on-ramp onto a highway/freeway, you do hear a much butter sound than stock. Just make sure that you're in the Sport mode and not Comfort.
I read here that it will sound louder after 2-3 months but I am contemplating deleting one of the rear mufflers to get it louder. Has anyone done that or should I not bother with it? I don't want it sounding like a done up Honda Civic, but I wouldn't mind a more throaty sound even at idle. The sound of the Turbo ML63 in the video is what I'm after.
I'll post pics later of my setup.
Thanks.
#25
Just to clarify because so many people on here keep using different verbiage...you removed your resonators and also removed you rear mufflers? So essentially you have true dual "straight-pipes" from the catalytic converters? That's ballsy my friend! Would love to hear a sound clip or a video if you have the chance. I'm looking to get more grunt out of mine but hesitant to chop the mufflers. I've heard many youtube videos of C63 and E63 with straight pipes and they sound great but I'm worried about drone being an SUV.