Solo wing

***********UPADTE********************
I no longer recommend installing Aftermarket air filters and wires. The filters allowed dirt to contaminate the MAF and oil became noticeably dirty. As for magnecor wires they were fine the first 5-6 months then all of a sudden the car started to run like crap and misfire. Installing Bosch wires/Mann filters cured my problems.

At last ! Removed the rear cats, replaced them with 2.5 X-pipe. ( resonator is removed previously )
did soft-reset , and drove it ~ 400 Km
And it comes down to this :


LOUDNESS:
X-pipe + 2nd cat + resonator delete is louder than resonator delete with straight pipes.


DRONE:
The drone has decreased almost 50% and it's RPM range is narrowed significantly.


RASPINESS :
There is a small amount between 2000-4500 RPM under moderate to heavy throttle , like a Decatted C63 only quieter.


IDLE:
You can hear the V8 pulses more clearly, less bass.


PERFORMANCE :
I feel the car pulls faster across the whole range. ESP intervenes more than before ( could be due to the aggressive ECU settings ).


OVERALL SOUND:
When I bought the car, all I can hear was the sound of the engine and BASS, lots of it. The sound was constant and not defined.
Now the sound is tight\ precise \ clear \ redefined and EXOTIC !
Tried 1/2 flooring it inside a couple of Toronto tunnels and I swear I almost cried from Joy. It reminded me of the videos containing super/ exotic cars accelerating inside tunnels.


THE MUFFLER:
The shop told me that the muffler is the best factory muffler he ever saw, sound & performance wise.


Pics & clips are coming soon

Thank you to all my fellow members who advised me, I wouldn't've reached these amazing results with out your Recommendations.
P.S I can't honestly talk about the quality of the welding
***********Latest Video

Fabio D

Exactly what i think

Fabio Daniel

cudaized

Sweet

WBE55

I gotta do this ASAP !!!Miss that V8 Sound

Solo wing

Thanks a lot guys !
I kept the cats with me just in case....

Solo wing

You will not believe the difference it makes my friend.


Cheers.

MBFLO

Shoot I deleted front cats too , now it sound like a monster lol

snooozie

Over time, it will sound even better..... like aged wine

Solo wing

I'm interested in seeing / hearing the outcome, but here we have Emission testing I believe it'll be Ungodly LOUD.

Yes, Indeed everyday, the car sounds better.
Since it's like aged wine, I shall not sober up.

snakesrus

Which arrangement is better for performance,

Installing the X-pipe in place of the 2ndary cats + delete resonator

or,


Installed the X pipe in place of the resonator + delete the 2ndary cats (straight pipe for the secondary cats)

Just Wondering if theres a performance difference...


Thanks.

snooozie

I would install the X-pipe in place of the 2ndary cats + delete resonator


Mine has the X pipe in place of the resonator + delete the 2ndary cats mainly because I had the resonator done first with the x-pipe and the 2nd cats done last. If you are planning on doing the mod, I would do them all at once. No point in coming back and forth to the shop.



My two cents.

Solo wing

+1
Placing the crossover close to the engine is the way to go, more scavenging.

CharlyE500

Lucky you guys ! in California we have to keep the CATs or won't pass the smog check. The only thing we can do is resonator delete.

Solo wing

I'm not sure if I'm going to pass in Ontario, I just went for it . That's why I kept the cats with me just in case. Although, I heard that Ontario laws are similar to the other states.

Schweinhund

Charley,

I've passed twice. You can too. Car runs clean without the second cats and the smog check guy sees the primaries.

snooozie

If you look around, do a google, you can find the so call "test pipe" or empty cats that looks like a cat but hollow inside. Might want to check them out if you want a visual inspection for them. They might not ship it to Cali though....not sure

ML63 AMG

We'll done! I agree don't touch stock muffler, it's honestly the best stock muffler AMG ever made on any model then or since. Keep it.

Next most to improve sound would be shorty headers, they sound absolutely awesome with shorty headers (more torque too)

Fabio D

1+

Fabio D.

Solo wing

Thanks guys!
Regarding the muffler, I was thinking in getting Eisenmann race.
But couldn't justify the price for sound alone.
Another thought was to empty the stock muffler, but figured out that it won't be suitable for a Mercedes, let alone an AMG.
Next step : short headers.


Cheers

Solo wing

As promised, here's an inside short acceleration video from 0-120Km/h
The shooting angle was a bit stupid, thanks to my pal.

The mods are:
X-pipe/ 2nd cat delete
Resonator delete
AFE Pro dry S air filters.

Temperature was -16 Celsius, Winter tires were on, 245 & 265.
All I can say is the sound is intoxicating!

Schweinhund

Thanks for posting that! It does sound really good. How's the noise level cruising around? I am mainly concerned with too much bass.

SleepersRock

Damn. If that's what yours sounds like with just an x pipe and resonator delete, I can't wait to hear what mine sounds like with that plus hi-flow cats and shorty headers.

I can't imagine the air filters make any difference in sound though?

Solo wing

You're welcome. The muffler is doing an excellent job at Idle or below 2000rpm ; the sound is more refined (clear V8 bass/ rumble ).
When cruising, there's a bit of humming. some would call it drone, but it's a huge improvement over straight pipes. My mechanic insists that it's a leak on the pipes replacing the resonator . But still there's no vibration, conversations are loud and clear, and you still can enjoy a couple of songs .
Happily however, when you take the revs above 2000 rpm you hear all sorts of sweet noises (like the muffler is opening and tearing it's self, in a good way of course ).


I'll try to capture an outside video soon.


Cheers.


Faiz

Solo wing

And 2nd cat delete . I guess yours will be among the best sounding E55s with stock muffler. and the performance gains, good god .


Actually the air filters made the exhaust sound just a tiny bit louder and deeper. The most noticeable improvement is throttle response and the sound of air being sucked.


Regards


Faiz

MProved

After reading this I've decided to remove secondary cats and replay with Xpipe, remove resonator and install air filters. AFE or KN?