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So digging around in my boot / trunk to see if I could get some custom luggage fitted, I realised that my car has a sound generator. I have to say I feel a little cheated even if it does sound very good.
Count your blessings. It’s a lot more convenient than rolling down the window and shouting “varoom “ every time you accelerate or “burble burble “ when you let off the gas!
Count your blessings. It’s a lot more convenient than rolling down the window and shouting “varoom “ every time you accelerate or “burble burble “ when you let off the gas!
Do you really mean that - would you do that (hang your head out the window and make silly noises).?
It seems that they could have come up with a better exhaust system to provide a good sound (many 6cyls with a really good sound - I can remember the early M3 straight sixes (in the 80s) that sounded absolutely awesome).
To be honest, Had I known that the exhaust sound was fake, I'd probably have opted for the V8.
I think that it is only in the facelift versions of the R231 onward.
If you scroll down and look at the "extended" picture on the right - looks very similar to what is in my car - the silver "controls box" looks identical!
I seriously doubt you will find any new car made today that does not have some type of exhaust sound manipulation done either by physically changing the note or piping in fake sounds to the interior. Folks have been doing this since the 1920’s. The only difference today is the technology.
I seriously doubt you will find any new car made today that does not have some type of exhaust sound manipulation done either by physically changing the note or piping in fake sounds to the interior. Folks have been doing this since the 1920’s. The only difference today is the technology.
It is a bit of a surprise to me but there you go! I wonder is this is the "sports exhaust" referred to in the AMG Line "facelift". I have seen photos (for customised luggage) and observe the preface life models do not have this module. I assume they also produce a decent sound.
All becoming really artificial - I took my son to collect his E53 AMG Coupe this morning and the exhaust tips are not connected to the tail pipe and nor are they on the SL 63.
When you read the discussions on different car forums with owners wishing their exhaust note sounded louder or at a certain tone and the thousands of dollars some spend to change out pipes, resonators or to delete it makes sense that the auto builders have installed these devices. I personally would like the option to turn the units on or off in the different settings. There is nothing worse than a loud constant drone at hiway speeds for hours on end. On a regular basis here in Texas I take 8-10 hour trips at 70-80 mph. for business and really like my autos super quiet. In town not so much!
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
When I test drove the 2019 SL450, when in “Sport” mode, the exhaust was loud, but fairly quiet in “Comfort” mode. And, as I understand it, this is via a “flap” in the exhaust system, is that right? Or, is the exhaust note generated by a sound track?
When you read the discussions on different car forums with owners wishing their exhaust note sounded louder or at a certain tone and the thousands of dollars some spend to change out pipes, resonators or to delete it makes sense that the auto builders have installed these devices. I personally would like the option to turn the units on or off in the different settings. There is nothing worse than a loud constant drone at hiway speeds for hours on end. On a regular basis here in Texas I take 8-10 hour trips at 70-80 mph. for business and really like my autos super quiet. In town not so much!
I'm the same - prefer it quiet on the motorway. I had a 5.7L V8 Dodge Hemi engined Durango and the drone got on my nerves.
When I test drove the 2019 SL450, when in “Sport” mode, the exhaust was loud, but fairly quiet in “Comfort” mode. And, as I understand it, this is via a “flap” in the exhaust system, is that right? Or, is the exhaust note generated by a sound track?
My service advisor mentioned the exhaust gates on the SL one time during a discussion.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by rorywquin
Mine is very quiet in C and CV modes and more noise for S and more for S+
Well, since I am just in love with the Curve function on my S560 Sedan, and drive it that way 100% of the time, I’m pretty sure that I’ll do the same with the SL, so that should give me a nice, quiet ride.
Well, since I am just in love with the Curve function on my S560 Sedan, and drive it that way 100% of the time, I’m pretty sure that I’ll do the same with the SL, so that should give me a nice, quiet ride.
To be honest I don't see the point in anything except C and CV on motorways / highways - goes all the way up to 9th gear and is a more relaxed drive. S and S+ never seem to go above 5/6th gear so the car always feels like it is tugging at the leash (which I like on our country roads with lots of twisty roads and gear changes ....). I keep changing my driving mode depending on what type of road I'm on. From here to my son, it is a mixture of highway and country roads so, I use the best mode for the road I'm on.
It is a bit of a surprise to me but there you go! I wonder is this is the "sports exhaust" referred to in the AMG Line "facelift". I have seen photos (for customised luggage) and observe the preface life models do not have this module. I assume they also produce a decent sound.
All becoming really artificial - I took my son to collect his E53 AMG Coupe this morning and the exhaust tips are not connected to the tail pipe and nor are they on the SL 63.
There is virtually no sports car that has real exhaust tips anymore. But you are in good company.
Ferrari, McLaren, Bugatti, Porsche, etc. all have separate exhaust tips.
EDIT:
I did a bit of digging. This is not a sound generator. This is an actuator that opens the valve for the sport exhaust in Sport Plus mode. Makes the sound more throaty.
The older R231's had a quieter exhaust; they also didn't have Sport Plus.
This is in the SL550 as well. Airflow changes the sound. I would classify this as a means to change the sound but by no means a fake sound. The exhaust design defines the sound of the car after all.
Now a speaker piping sound into the cabin is fake sound. And many Mercedes models (typically smaller models/smaller engines) do that. Literally a speaker in the footwell. Same as the BMW M5 pumping sound through the stereo.
There is virtually no sports car that has real exhaust tips anymore. But you are in good company.
Ferrari, McLaren, Bugatti, Porsche, etc. all have separate exhaust tips.
EDIT:
I did a bit of digging. This is not a sound generator. This is an actuator that opens the valve for the sport exhaust in Sport Plus mode. Makes the sound more throaty.
The older R231's had a quieter exhaust; they also didn't have Sport Plus.
This is in the SL550 as well. Airflow changes the sound. I would classify this as a means to change the sound but by no means a fake sound. The exhaust design defines the sound of the car after all.
Now a speaker piping sound into the cabin is fake sound. And many Mercedes models (typically smaller models/smaller engines) do that. Literally a speaker in the footwell. Same as the BMW M5 pumping sound through the stereo.
Wolfman thanks for your comments however, If you take a look at the link I inserted in post #6 (and compare it to my photo), the unit shown in that picture (scroll down in the site and see the "extended" version) is almost identical to what is in my boot/trunk - right down to the control (Maserati) box appearance!
Last edited by rorywquin; Jan 19, 2019 at 02:08 AM.
Wolfman thanks for your comments however, If you take a look at the link I inserted in post #6 (and compare it to my photo), the unit shown in that picture (scroll down in the site and see the "extended" version) is almost identical to what is in my boot/trunk - right down to the control (Maserati) box appearance!
Understood. The MB part number shows it as an actuator and while the shape/design is similar it doesn’t mean the content is.
The product in the link has a simple speaker inside.
Easiest would be to open the MB one and look what’s in that one
It may have some sort of resonant diaphragm inside, but it would still be there to affect the tailpipe note, wouldn't it? I've yet to hear a 450 in person, but it sure sounds nice in all the YouTube clips that I've watched. I would hate to think they were doing that with the sound system...
So digging around in my boot / trunk to see if I could get some custom luggage fitted, I realised that my car has a sound generator. I have to say I feel a little cheated even if it does sound very good.
I'm staring at this photo again with my mouth hanging open! I just can't believe that they would purposely plumb part of the exhaust into the passenger area...unless the trunk on the SL is completely sealed off from the passenger compartment. But, even so....WOW!
I'm staring at this photo again with my mouth hanging open! I just can't believe that they would purposely plumb part of the exhaust into the passenger area...unless the trunk on the SL is completely sealed off from the passenger compartment. But, even so....WOW!
It is not the exhaust. That curving pipe just sticks out of the bottom of the boot (trunk).
That unit is a speaker with a pipe exiting under the car. From what I know, it's main function is to give you that exhaust tone on startup that sounds like a V8, I think it does very little once underway if anything. The V8 SL always has a nice crisp exhaust note when starting and they lose that with the biturbo 6, and this was the compensation. There are still valves in the exhaust on every benz pretty much, and they do different things at different times, but that ball is literally just a resonator for a speaker with a pipe going out under the car.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by ItalianJoe1
That unit is a speaker with a pipe exiting under the car. From what I know, it's main function is to give you that exhaust tone on startup that sounds like a V8, I think it does very little once underway if anything. The V8 SL always has a nice crisp exhaust note when starting and they lose that with the biturbo 6, and this was the compensation. There are still valves in the exhaust on every benz pretty much, and they do different things at different times, but that ball is literally just a resonator for a speaker with a pipe going out under the car.
Joe,
thank you SO much for commenting here. However, I am still confused. When I hear “resonator,” I think “exhaust system.” When I hear “speaker,” I think “electric sound system.” Which is it?
That unit is a speaker with a pipe exiting under the car. From what I know, it's main function is to give you that exhaust tone on startup that sounds like a V8, I think it does very little once underway if anything. The V8 SL always has a nice crisp exhaust note when starting and they lose that with the biturbo 6, and this was the compensation. There are still valves in the exhaust on every benz pretty much, and they do different things at different times, but that ball is literally just a resonator for a speaker with a pipe going out under the car.
Makes sense - the 400 does have a bark when I start it ......
There are two wires going into the ball which makes me think it is a speaker.
Last edited by rorywquin; Jan 24, 2019 at 02:35 AM.
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