carlsturm

Here's a pic of my '05 SL65. I'm a newbie to the AMG line. After listening to Benz-O-Rama's audio clip I did a muffler delete. The car has an awesome rumble when accelerating and a nice burble on the deceleration.

I'm coming from an M5 so I'm really impressed with the wonderful torque.

Benz-O-Rama

Congrats! Glad I could help. The M5 is gonna feel like a child's toy after driving the SL65.

Enjoy!

AKnight55

Lower it already

BenzoBoi

Congrats on the beast! +1 on the drop and chip that thing ASAP!

NCE500

Congrats. Silver is a beautiful color.

alx

not to hijack the intro theme, but...

huh?

i've had/have both and you are wrong. sorry.

Benz-O-Rama

In your opinion....


I just drove a tuned E60 M5 2 weeks ago at the Texas Mile. It's got nothing on the V12s. <----- My opinion.

sl65amg2008

Please excuse me, not intending to hijack your thread but I am curious about the muffler delete you mentioned. I was just about to start a thread on this but felt it tied into your thread. Last evening I was under my SL65 doing some work and had to remove the mufflers and took them off at the clamp just before the rear differential. I decided to start up the car and was expecting a defeaning tone but there was very little difference with the mufflers disconnected. Don't get me wrong there was some slight increase in noise and tone but just not what I expected. Back in the muscle car days of late 60's and early 70's when we disconnected the muffler it sounded like thunder when we rev'ed the engine. I am sure the tone might get more aggressive if the engine was under load but I was just rev'ing it in "Park". What exactly is done when you perform a "muffler delete" to allow it to pass State Inspection?

Benz-O-Rama

The turbos act as pseudo mufflers, so it's not going to be as loud as uncorking a naturally aspirated engine.

sl65amg2008

So is the "muffler delete" just opening up the mufflers on the top side and removing the "guts" and welding them back up to keep it kind of legal for state inspection (what we used to do years ago). Or do you guys do something else? I was planning on checking into Borla or RennTech mufflers but after hearing the sound with no mufflers I don't know if it would be worth the investment.

halm

muffler delete means removing the mufflers and replacing them with straight pipes.

As Benz-O-Rama points out, the turbos break up the exhaust flow and quiet things down a bit from what one would expect with "open headers" on a N/A car

sl65amg2008

That is what I thought but I don't think the car will pass state inspection (at least in PA) without mufflers. That is why in the old days we would drop the muffler and cut open the top (against the floor of the vehicle to hide it) and remove the baffles and then weld it back up to seal it. It was basicly a straight pipe which looked like a muffler. I also see today they make straight pipes to insert in the muffler to make it a straight pass through. Do some states allow straight pipes???

AMGfan

Welcome and congrats...sl65amg2008...the muffler "delete" you are talking about was done on my 65. It has a beautiful rumble to it...it turns heads just parked and in idle.

IngenereAMG

Check your local laws but this is pretty common with many of the cars that we tune.

halm

I deleted my mufflers on my 1996 Porsche Turbo and it passed CA smog each time. Obviously, the mufflers do not effect emissions so as long at the cats were still intact, there was not a problem with the tailpipe tests. The inspector thought that the turbos were the mufflers so there was not a question on visual inspection. And it was not that loud that it was apparent.

sl65amg2008

As someone stated in varies by state. Just found the Statute for PA:

§ 4523. Exhaust systems, mufflers and noise control.
(a) Compliance with established sound levels.--Every motor
vehicle operated on a highway shall be constructed, equipped,
maintained and operated so as not to exceed the sound level for
the vehicle as prescribed in regulations promulgated by the
department. The test procedures and instrumentation to be
utilized shall also be established by regulation.
(b) Compliance with exhaust requirements.--In addition to
any requirements established under sections 4531 (relating to
emission control systems) and 4532 (relating to smoke control
for diesel-powered motor vehicles), every motor vehicle shall be
constructed, equipped, maintained and operated so as to prevent
engine exhaust gases from penetrating and collecting in any part
of the vehicle occupied by the driver or passengers.
(c) Mufflers and related equipment.--Every motor vehicle
shall be equipped with a muffler or other effective noise
suppressing system in good working order and in constant
operation and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped
with a cutout, bypass or similar device.
(d) Unauthorized modification of equipment.--No person shall
modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which
will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the
vehicle above the maximum levels permitted under subsection (a)
or violate the provisions of subsection (b). Headers and side
exhausts are permitted provided the vehicle meets all the
requirements of this section.
(e) Fire equipment and racing vehicles.--This section does
not apply to fire equipment or to racing vehicles being operated
in an organized racing or competitive event conducted under a
permit issued by local authorities.

Guess I am SOL on the muffler delete....sort of thought so

Benz-O-Rama

Meh, it's against the law in my state too. I've been pulled over 3 times in that car, and have gone through emissions with it. Nothing was ever said.

You know what else is illegal? Putting an aftermarket muffler on the car that will increase the noise emitted by the engine. But I doubt that's rarely enforced. Just like cutting your mattress tag off.

It's a very quick, and cheap revert if you catch any grief.

carlsturm

I need to search this forum on options to lower it in a way that won't compromise the suspension. Do you have specific suggestions?

It would be nice to replace the whole suspension with a less complex and lighter setup. I think the Black Edition has eliminated the ABC?

sl65amg2008

I just ordered the RennTech V3 module last week; should arrive tomorrow. In theory it should lower the car up to 2 inches and correct the ride at a specified speed back to factory so there shouldn't be alignment issues. It is factory set for 1 inch drop and return to factory MB settings at 35mph. When I get it installed I'll let you know how it works out.

NCE500

I've still got my mufflers, after two Summers, but plan to take the plunge and remove them before next season.

You can lower via links or STAR, but you will likely need to get the car aligned afterwards. I got mine lowered via STAR a bit ago, dropped things a little over an inch all around; it handles noticably better, and also looks much better. A trio of pics taken yesterday:

carlsturm

ty - I'm looking forward to your review.

carlsturm

ty for the pics. Your ride looks fantastic.