SL/R231: What is it about a cold start?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
What is it about a cold start?
Hello all,
I am not a mechanically inclined type of guy. I do little things to my car here and there, but nothing major. I don't know car engine talk and couldn't explain torque, throttle by wire, or displacement if my life depended on it lol, but I digress.
Why such a beast at startup?
What is it about a cold start that makes our cars and probably any muscle car, or car with halfway descent HP, or pipes sound so bad ***? When I start my car at cold start it sounds absolutely vicious. No, not Mustang 5.0, or Corvette vicious, but it sounds like a truly powerful car. Throaty, and even a sort of growl. I have never heard another SL in person, so I have nothing to compare it too. I assume they all (SL400) sound the same. I have looked at the rear and it appears to be stock mufflers, so that is not it. Even when I drive in sport and let my RPMs rise before I whip around someone, or merge on the highway from a ramp the car sounds awesome. Yet it doesn't compare to start up sounds which are much beefier. I assume there is some added fuel ratio that is needed at start up, or something and somehow that make the car sound better. Whatever it is after a few seconds, or a minute, or whatever the car idols down to normal and just like a superhero morphing back into a human all the power (sound) is gone.
Why such a beast at start up??
I am not a mechanically inclined type of guy. I do little things to my car here and there, but nothing major. I don't know car engine talk and couldn't explain torque, throttle by wire, or displacement if my life depended on it lol, but I digress.
Why such a beast at startup?
What is it about a cold start that makes our cars and probably any muscle car, or car with halfway descent HP, or pipes sound so bad ***? When I start my car at cold start it sounds absolutely vicious. No, not Mustang 5.0, or Corvette vicious, but it sounds like a truly powerful car. Throaty, and even a sort of growl. I have never heard another SL in person, so I have nothing to compare it too. I assume they all (SL400) sound the same. I have looked at the rear and it appears to be stock mufflers, so that is not it. Even when I drive in sport and let my RPMs rise before I whip around someone, or merge on the highway from a ramp the car sounds awesome. Yet it doesn't compare to start up sounds which are much beefier. I assume there is some added fuel ratio that is needed at start up, or something and somehow that make the car sound better. Whatever it is after a few seconds, or a minute, or whatever the car idols down to normal and just like a superhero morphing back into a human all the power (sound) is gone.
Why such a beast at start up??
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Hello all,
I am not a mechanically inclined type of guy. I do little things to my car here and there, but nothing major. I don't know car engine talk and couldn't explain torque, throttle by wire, or displacement if my life depended on it lol, but I digress.
Why such a beast at startup?
What is it about a cold start that makes our cars and probably any muscle car, or car with halfway descent HP, or pipes sound so bad ***? When I start my car at cold start it sounds absolutely vicious. No, not Mustang 5.0, or Corvette vicious, but it sounds like a truly powerful car. Throaty, and even a sort of growl. I have never heard another SL in person, so I have nothing to compare it too. I assume they all (SL400) sound the same. I have looked at the rear and it appears to be stock mufflers, so that is not it. Even when I drive in sport and let my RPMs rise before I whip around someone, or merge on the highway from a ramp the car sounds awesome. Yet it doesn't compare to start up sounds which are much beefier. I assume there is some added fuel ratio that is needed at start up, or something and somehow that make the car sound better. Whatever it is after a few seconds, or a minute, or whatever the car idols down to normal and just like a superhero morphing back into a human all the power (sound) is gone.
Why such a beast at start up??
I am not a mechanically inclined type of guy. I do little things to my car here and there, but nothing major. I don't know car engine talk and couldn't explain torque, throttle by wire, or displacement if my life depended on it lol, but I digress.
Why such a beast at startup?
What is it about a cold start that makes our cars and probably any muscle car, or car with halfway descent HP, or pipes sound so bad ***? When I start my car at cold start it sounds absolutely vicious. No, not Mustang 5.0, or Corvette vicious, but it sounds like a truly powerful car. Throaty, and even a sort of growl. I have never heard another SL in person, so I have nothing to compare it too. I assume they all (SL400) sound the same. I have looked at the rear and it appears to be stock mufflers, so that is not it. Even when I drive in sport and let my RPMs rise before I whip around someone, or merge on the highway from a ramp the car sounds awesome. Yet it doesn't compare to start up sounds which are much beefier. I assume there is some added fuel ratio that is needed at start up, or something and somehow that make the car sound better. Whatever it is after a few seconds, or a minute, or whatever the car idols down to normal and just like a superhero morphing back into a human all the power (sound) is gone.
Why such a beast at start up??
There is really no practical reason for it. AMG's are much louder, especially with the open exhaust valves, but they even have an enhancement, which they call "Emotion Start" 
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...emotion-start/
FWIW. If you like to tone it down, your sound comes from a speaker in the trunk (rather than or in addition to valves). In case you wonder what this is...
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...generator.html
Last edited by Wolfman; Jul 31, 2023 at 12:15 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
I want more not less, so I would only try to tone it up....lol
I had my trunk cleared out to change my battery a while ago and I do not recall seeing any speaker. Let me find that post and look at what I see since I remember grabbing a pic at that time... My car is in the shop, so I can't go look in the trunk now....
I had my trunk cleared out to change my battery a while ago and I do not recall seeing any speaker. Let me find that post and look at what I see since I remember grabbing a pic at that time... My car is in the shop, so I can't go look in the trunk now....
That's how MB likes the sound There is really no practical reason for it. AMG's are much louder, especially with the open exhaust valves, but they even have an enhancement, which they "Emotion Start"
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...emotion-start/
FWIW. If you like to tone it down, your sound comes from a speaker in the trunk (rather than valves). In case you wonder what this is...
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...generator.html
There is really no practical reason for it. AMG's are much louder, especially with the open exhaust valves, but they even have an enhancement, which they "Emotion Start" https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...emotion-start/
FWIW. If you like to tone it down, your sound comes from a speaker in the trunk (rather than valves). In case you wonder what this is...
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...generator.html
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Jul 31, 2023 at 11:54 AM.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,579
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
I want more not less, so I would only try to tone it up....lol
I had my trunk cleared out to change my battery a while ago and I do not recall seeing any speaker. Let me find that post and look at what I see since I remember grabbing a pic at that time... My car is in the shop, so I can't go look in the trunk now....
I had my trunk cleared out to change my battery a while ago and I do not recall seeing any speaker. Let me find that post and look at what I see since I remember grabbing a pic at that time... My car is in the shop, so I can't go look in the trunk now....
Good luck!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
Ok.
I will wait for others to chime in. When my car comes out of the shop I will take a look to see, because I do not remember seeing anything in the trunk. I don't want obnoxious loud, in fact it doesn't have to do anything more but keep the same cold start sound all the time. It might be a setting I can change with one of those handheld devices? Anyway I will post my findings.
Thanks as always!
I will wait for others to chime in. When my car comes out of the shop I will take a look to see, because I do not remember seeing anything in the trunk. I don't want obnoxious loud, in fact it doesn't have to do anything more but keep the same cold start sound all the time. It might be a setting I can change with one of those handheld devices? Anyway I will post my findings.
Thanks as always!
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 130
Likes: 89
From: Catonsville, MD
2020 SL550
TMD,
My 2020 SL550 has a valve in the exhaust system that opens up in sport mode and--briefly--at start up, whether the engine is cold or warm. The exhaust sound is a lot louder and throatier when the valve is open.
There's probably a way to program the valve to be open all the time, but I haven't seen any threads on how to accomplish that.
Rick
My 2020 SL550 has a valve in the exhaust system that opens up in sport mode and--briefly--at start up, whether the engine is cold or warm. The exhaust sound is a lot louder and throatier when the valve is open.
There's probably a way to program the valve to be open all the time, but I haven't seen any threads on how to accomplish that.
Rick
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
Wolf suggested that the SL 400 doesn’t have that valve, so even though I haven’t confirmed that yet it might not apply to my model.
TMD,
My 2020 SL550 has a valve in the exhaust system that opens up in sport mode and--briefly--at start up, whether the engine is cold or warm. The exhaust sound is a lot louder and throatier when the valve is open.
There's probably a way to program the valve to be open all the time, but I haven't seen any threads on how to accomplish that.
Rick
My 2020 SL550 has a valve in the exhaust system that opens up in sport mode and--briefly--at start up, whether the engine is cold or warm. The exhaust sound is a lot louder and throatier when the valve is open.
There's probably a way to program the valve to be open all the time, but I haven't seen any threads on how to accomplish that.
Rick
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Here is a thread that shows the speaker cover:
https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...ust-sound.html
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2012
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
WHAT!!! Fake sound generator? Please say it's not true! My car is NOT a poser!
I would much rather believe that the throaty sound at start up is a result of some kind of emissions control system that injects air into the exhaust stream to heat up the cat and O2 sensors more quickly. I'm gonna just keep telling myself that and I will punch anyone in the nose that says differently.
I would much rather believe that the throaty sound at start up is a result of some kind of emissions control system that injects air into the exhaust stream to heat up the cat and O2 sensors more quickly. I'm gonna just keep telling myself that and I will punch anyone in the nose that says differently.
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Interesting, but when I load the Stage II tune (Vivid Racing VR Tune), I get a much louder exhaust sound than with stock or Stage 1. I get a lot of crackle and pops when slowing down or downshifting. Because Stage II is really designed for the track, I rarely use it for daily driving. I have mixed feelings about crackle and pop having negative effects on the turbos.
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From: USA
m157 SL63
Interesting, but when I load the Stage II tune (Vivid Racing VR Tune), I get a much louder exhaust sound than with stock or Stage 1. I get a lot of crackle and pops when slowing down or downshifting. Because Stage II is really designed for the track, I rarely use it for daily driving. I have mixed feelings about crackle and pop having negative effects on the turbos.
you can do a google search on burble tunes & cat damage
Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 123
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From: Nashville, TN
2019 SL450
I do not believe there are valves in the exhaust such as those on my Corvette C7, Camaro ZL1 or Shelby GT500. Only the exhaust enhancer, which as seen in the other thread, is totally free standing, and dumps out independently from the actual exhaust system.
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From: Scottsdale AZ
2015 CLS 550 2015 ML 400 Previous 2020 GLB 250 2019 A 220 2005 ML 350 1989 300 E 2001 SL 500
Hello all,
I am not a mechanically inclined type of guy. I do little things to my car here and there, but nothing major. I don't know car engine talk and couldn't explain torque, throttle by wire, or displacement if my life depended on it lol, but I digress.
Why such a beast at startup?
What is it about a cold start that makes our cars and probably any muscle car, or car with halfway descent HP, or pipes sound so bad ***? When I start my car at cold start it sounds absolutely vicious. No, not Mustang 5.0, or Corvette vicious, but it sounds like a truly powerful car. Throaty, and even a sort of growl. I have never heard another SL in person, so I have nothing to compare it too. I assume they all (SL400) sound the same. I have looked at the rear and it appears to be stock mufflers, so that is not it. Even when I drive in sport and let my RPMs rise before I whip around someone, or merge on the highway from a ramp the car sounds awesome. Yet it doesn't compare to start up sounds which are much beefier. I assume there is some added fuel ratio that is needed at start up, or something and somehow that make the car sound better. Whatever it is after a few seconds, or a minute, or whatever the car idols down to normal and just like a superhero morphing back into a human all the power (sound) is gone.
Why such a beast at start up??
I am not a mechanically inclined type of guy. I do little things to my car here and there, but nothing major. I don't know car engine talk and couldn't explain torque, throttle by wire, or displacement if my life depended on it lol, but I digress.
Why such a beast at startup?
What is it about a cold start that makes our cars and probably any muscle car, or car with halfway descent HP, or pipes sound so bad ***? When I start my car at cold start it sounds absolutely vicious. No, not Mustang 5.0, or Corvette vicious, but it sounds like a truly powerful car. Throaty, and even a sort of growl. I have never heard another SL in person, so I have nothing to compare it too. I assume they all (SL400) sound the same. I have looked at the rear and it appears to be stock mufflers, so that is not it. Even when I drive in sport and let my RPMs rise before I whip around someone, or merge on the highway from a ramp the car sounds awesome. Yet it doesn't compare to start up sounds which are much beefier. I assume there is some added fuel ratio that is needed at start up, or something and somehow that make the car sound better. Whatever it is after a few seconds, or a minute, or whatever the car idols down to normal and just like a superhero morphing back into a human all the power (sound) is gone.
Why such a beast at start up??
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
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FWIW, in stock form (without the EVM as mentioned) even in sport+ the valves are not open 100% when idling, only when at high RPMs that it gradually opens up till red line and when car shifts it drops back down and closes back up again, video is of a different model to your R231 SL OP but same idea
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From: SE Florida
2025 GLC 300, (formerly) 2018 SL550
Sorry, but this video doesn't apply to a non-AMG vehicle. If the OP wants more of that good OEM startup sound, without being overbearing, get the Renntech Sport Mufflers. I've had them for about 2k mi, and absolutely love them. They're amazing, and have made my SL550's engine harmonics perfect. They're about the most expensive exhaust solution you could get at around 2k, but worth every penny. Those that cut resonators off, and or put Flowmasters on, are getting a completely out of character sound, imo.
Thread Starter
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From: In the minds of others rent free.
SL 400
Since the SL 550 has a different engine and different sounds I don’t think the sound you received by adding those mufflers to the 550 would be the same if I added them to my 400. I am not really going to add anything anyway, but was just commenting on how good the car sounds at times. It sounds good enough as is, but at certain times it sounds so much better.
Thanks for the feedback though.
Thanks for the feedback though.
Sorry, but this video doesn't apply to a non-AMG vehicle. If the OP wants more of that good OEM startup sound, without being overbearing, get the Renntech Sport Mufflers. I've had them for about 2k mi, and absolutely love them. They're amazing, and have made my SL550's engine harmonics perfect. They're about the most expensive exhaust solution you could get at around 2k, but worth every penny. Those that cut resonators off, and or put Flowmasters on, are getting a completely out of character sound, imo.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Aug 8, 2023 at 08:01 AM.
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,847
Likes: 3,499
From: Maryland
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Since the SL 550 has a different engine and different sounds I don’t think the sound you received by adding those mufflers to the 550 would be the same if I added them to my 400. I am not really going to add anything anyway, but was just commenting on how good the car sounds at times. It sounds good enough as is, but at certain times it sounds so much better.
Thanks for the feedback though.
Thanks for the feedback though.
