SL/R230: Resonator Removal
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 161
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From: Annandale, VA
2002 C32 AMG
I had my resonator deleted and its real easy. price may vary on where you live but I got mine done for $80. There are some guys who paid less than me and some who paid more. Any muffler shop like meineke should be able to do it. All they do is cut out the resonator and weld a straight pipe in place of it. Ask them what kind of piping they will use in place of it? Make sure it will be a non rust pipe. But yea, its real easy and doesn't take long at all. It may not sound so awesome at first b/c your ECU needs to adapt to it and make its changes. Also it doesn't sound like much at a cold start but once it warms up, it sounds real good. I get compliments all the time. To me it sounds the way a Mercedes SHOULD sound. Not obnoxious, but not silent. It is definitely more throaty as well. Good luck with it. Here is what the resonator looks like...
Unless you want a real aggressive and obnoxiously loud sound, you will love it. Just give it some time to warm up and adapt to your car. Ive had people on motorcycles pull over and tell me it sounds awesome.
Unless you want a real aggressive and obnoxiously loud sound, you will love it. Just give it some time to warm up and adapt to your car. Ive had people on motorcycles pull over and tell me it sounds awesome.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,351
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From: SoCal
C63S coupe, X5M
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,439
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From: Kuwait City, Kuwait
G55, G500 & SLK55
Ive removed the resonator on my SLK55 via the SuperSprint/Carlsson X pipe and Installed Kleemann Sport primary 200 cell 3" cats, the sound is intoxicating.
I would suggest you to get your Ecu Remapped, Drop in filters with the Resonator removed for a 13-18hp increase. For the Airfilters stick with Green filters.
I would suggest you to get your Ecu Remapped, Drop in filters with the Resonator removed for a 13-18hp increase. For the Airfilters stick with Green filters.
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Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Annandale, VA
2002 C32 AMG
It depends on where you live!!! I got mine done for $80. It also depends on what kind of piping they use in replacement of your resonator. I got mine done at meineke. Some will do it, some will not mess wit it. Any custom exhaust shop will do it for you, just call before you go in case they dont want to do it.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 64
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From: 310
SL500
It depends on where you live!!! I got mine done for $80. It also depends on what kind of piping they use in replacement of your resonator. I got mine done at meineke. Some will do it, some will not mess wit it. Any custom exhaust shop will do it for you, just call before you go in case they dont want to do it.
Called 6 places in SoCal, 4 wouldn't do it. One claimed it was illegal because he said you cant modify the exhaust of an obd2 car. the others just said they wont do it because of liability blah.
But i found a few to do it for 50-100 bucks. Unfortunately, as soon as they see the car, they want to charge more. I'd go in telling the store that you've gotten quotes from other places for 50 bucks and see what they do.
I'm getting it done monday, i'll post a video clip afterwards.
Any other cheap mods I can do? I'm so bored with this car already.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: SoCal
C63S coupe, X5M
Hey guess what, there are no resonators in an SL500
I ended up straightpiping the 2ndary cats and...
Damn, I gotta say. Best money i've spent on the car so far. It sounds much more throaty and much less muffled then before. The highs are crispy and the meds have been amped up a little bit. The sound really comes alive at around 3-5k rpm.
Performance wise I do think i'm seeing an improvement. My tires spin a lot easier now and it feels like i've got more torque. I was cruising home last night with music cranked up high so I couldnt hear the engine, it still felt more responsive. After looking at the 2ndary cats it does look like the backpressure was too high.
Bottom line: Driving it is more fun now
Here's a pic...forgot to take one of the after but it's not hard to imagine what it looks like
Videos to come later.
I ended up straightpiping the 2ndary cats and...
Damn, I gotta say. Best money i've spent on the car so far. It sounds much more throaty and much less muffled then before. The highs are crispy and the meds have been amped up a little bit. The sound really comes alive at around 3-5k rpm.
Performance wise I do think i'm seeing an improvement. My tires spin a lot easier now and it feels like i've got more torque. I was cruising home last night with music cranked up high so I couldnt hear the engine, it still felt more responsive. After looking at the 2ndary cats it does look like the backpressure was too high.
Bottom line: Driving it is more fun now
Here's a pic...forgot to take one of the after but it's not hard to imagine what it looks like
Videos to come later.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,351
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From: SoCal
C63S coupe, X5M
Here is a quick vid my buddy Roupin made...i'll try and get some more. Keep in mind, the real thing sounds a hell of a lot better, wasn't really flooring it in this video either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqoxfWoJ3UY
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: SoCal
C63S coupe, X5M
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: 310
SL500
You could even get a muffler shop to remove the Mufflers... and leave the emissions unchanged...
it actually makes the car sound like an SL65... really throaty in WOT, but otherwise pretty quiet.
those cats really quiet down the car..
it actually makes the car sound like an SL65... really throaty in WOT, but otherwise pretty quiet.
those cats really quiet down the car..
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,351
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From: SoCal
C63S coupe, X5M
That said, i'd still love to hear one
Mj, yeah, they can be welded back on easy.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,278
Likes: 14
From: Windermere, Sunny FLA
CLK55, CL500, Q45
I upgraded to the 55 mufflers, and that changed the sound ALOT!
I still have the cats in, but the car sounds mean. People keep asking
about my car now, because it sounds dangerous.
I still have the cats in, but the car sounds mean. People keep asking
about my car now, because it sounds dangerous.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
C63S coupe, X5M
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,278
Likes: 14
From: Windermere, Sunny FLA
CLK55, CL500, Q45
I dont, but everyone who has heard it says it is much deeper
than my friends CLK 55 (MY '05). Supposedly friends can tell
when I punch it to pass them in traffic, because they hear it
get more aggressive.
than my friends CLK 55 (MY '05). Supposedly friends can tell
when I punch it to pass them in traffic, because they hear it
get more aggressive.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
2003 Mercedes SL500
I had my resonator deleted and its real easy. price may vary on where you live but I got mine done for $80. There are some guys who paid less than me and some who paid more. Any muffler shop like meineke should be able to do it. All they do is cut out the resonator and weld a straight pipe in place of it. Ask them what kind of piping they will use in place of it? Make sure it will be a non rust pipe. But yea, its real easy and doesn't take long at all. It may not sound so awesome at first b/c your ECU needs to adapt to it and make its changes. Also it doesn't sound like much at a cold start but once it warms up, it sounds real good. I get compliments all the time. To me it sounds the way a Mercedes SHOULD sound. Not obnoxious, but not silent. It is definitely more throaty as well. Good luck with it. Here is what the resonator looks like...
Unless you want a real aggressive and obnoxiously loud sound, you will love it. Just give it some time to warm up and adapt to your car. Ive had people on motorcycles pull over and tell me it sounds awesome.
Unless you want a real aggressive and obnoxiously loud sound, you will love it. Just give it some time to warm up and adapt to your car. Ive had people on motorcycles pull over and tell me it sounds awesome.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
2003 Mercedes SL500
03 SL500 Resonator/catalytic converter removal
I have a 2003 Mercedes sl500, in basically brand new shape, it's way too quite and I wish it sounded nicer, to instal an exhaust system it's going to cost you $6000 so I am thinking about cutting the two real catalytic converters, will it sound nicer? Make bad smells? Reduce gas mileage Or cause any damage to the car? Someone plz give me some advice. Thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 18
Likes: 4
Mercedes SL550 2007 R230
I have a 2007 SL550 with resonators deleted and Top Speed Pro 1 Perfomance exhaust that fit without cutting the bumper (hard to find).
Here's how it sounds:
Here's a link to but the exhaust:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Ben...-/391430679134
I'm not sure if it will fit an 03 but you might want to check it out.
Here's how it sounds:
Here's a link to but the exhaust:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Ben...-/391430679134
I'm not sure if it will fit an 03 but you might want to check it out.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 47
Likes: 8
R230
My advice:
1. Initially, I just removed the rear mufflers and installed straight pipes. It sounded like a Mustang. Lost low RPM power but reckon more power on higher RPM range. Cabin noise was unbearable. During cruising speed, the sound of the drone prevents you from chatting with your passenger. It does indeed sound nice from the outside but too loud for my liking.
2. Installed the mufflers back on and removed the secondary cats. Perfect! There was more power (or maybe it was just the sound). Cabin noise was the same as stock. The sound from the outside was amazing. There was a slight growl and it sounded like a performance exhaust. The sound was way more refined than my initial mod. After the ECU got use to the new exhaust, it was even more enjoyable.
3. I would want to try the Top Speed Pro 1 Perfomance exhaust with my secondary cats back on. @brentsl550 needs to stop tempting me with his videos!!
2003 SL 500 R230 - By the way, my mechanic told me that the 2003 models do not come with resonators. So basically we have primary cats, secondary cats and then the mufflers.
Cost: $300 CDN for labour and non-rust pipes for muffler. $150 CDN for labour and non-rust pipes for secondary cats.
1. Initially, I just removed the rear mufflers and installed straight pipes. It sounded like a Mustang. Lost low RPM power but reckon more power on higher RPM range. Cabin noise was unbearable. During cruising speed, the sound of the drone prevents you from chatting with your passenger. It does indeed sound nice from the outside but too loud for my liking.
2. Installed the mufflers back on and removed the secondary cats. Perfect! There was more power (or maybe it was just the sound). Cabin noise was the same as stock. The sound from the outside was amazing. There was a slight growl and it sounded like a performance exhaust. The sound was way more refined than my initial mod. After the ECU got use to the new exhaust, it was even more enjoyable.
3. I would want to try the Top Speed Pro 1 Perfomance exhaust with my secondary cats back on. @brentsl550 needs to stop tempting me with his videos!!
2003 SL 500 R230 - By the way, my mechanic told me that the 2003 models do not come with resonators. So basically we have primary cats, secondary cats and then the mufflers.
Cost: $300 CDN for labour and non-rust pipes for muffler. $150 CDN for labour and non-rust pipes for secondary cats.
Last edited by V8SL500; Apr 30, 2016 at 10:44 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, CA
'15 GLA45 AMG, '16 E350 sedan, '09 SL600
Resonator Removal
I had my resonators gutted, so similar to removing them. I don't like the sound, but unfortunately, not so easy to "undo" the mod.
This is on my 2009 SL600, with Renntech mods.
This is on my 2009 SL600, with Renntech mods.
