SleepersRock

i tried that exact search after and found 2 places. gonna try them on Thursday.

SleepersRock

x-pipe and hi flow cats

SleepersRock

https://www.flickr.com/photos/imasexybeast/13883640786/

snooozie

I was wondering if these fit our primary cats....ebay item #161006272046. These came with one rear bung hole....$54.95 each. Then you save the trouble putting in the o2 bung.

suicidal4life

The stock primary cats are not straight through like that. The bottom of the cat takes about a 45 degree turn. You can see it in the following pic. Ignore the circle in the pic as that is showing something else. The primary cats are on the right of the photo and the secondaries are on the left.



I'm guessing you need something shaped more like ebay item#331178604047

Strigoi

Don't know if you found anyone yet, but Morgan's Machine and Marine did mine. They're one of the few legit machine and hot rod parts places around here. They do top notch work, it just isn't cheap. They're in Walnut Creek and turn around time was about a week. I paid $150 to have them machined and he said he should have charged more, but stayed with what he quoted.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/morgans-mach...d-walnut-creek

SleepersRock

Ended up getting the headers shaved at Cylinder Heads Unlimited in Santa Clara for $70. Shop owner's name was Dave. He was pretty cool. Said the headers were the "gnarliest" he had ever seen and said I should go back to the seller and ask for some money back since they should have been even in the first place. I had to laugh at that.

I got a hook up on the header install so it's gonna cost me a lot less than $550. I decided to use the difference to ceramic coat the headers. Got quoted $200 for both for a 1400 degree coating. Turn around time is about 2-3 weeks. I'm not in a rush so I dont really care about the time, but after seeing/hearing Solo Wings video of his mods I kind of want it sooner rather than later.

Damn all of you guys on this forum for all of your insights. The modding bug is for real!

snooozie

^

SleepersRock

Is getting the ECU tuned after all these mods worth it?

I can't seem to find any reliable (not anecdotal) reports of better/more power and MPG.

SleepersRock

Got my headers back after being ceramic coated with a near chrome finish. They look great. I plan to install them this weekend. It'll be a fathers day present to myself.

It took 6 weeks to get them back vs the 2-3 I was originally quoted. $200 for the set was not bad, especially as good as they look.

I plan to take before and after videos of the sound. Will post videos/pics soon.

snooozie

any pics of the ceramic coated headers before putting them on? Would like to see them

ML63 AMG

Absolutely, Eurocharged is definitely your best bet. Nobody else really makes any power on the older AMGs.

Their tune for the M113s is dirt cheap. Hope that helps

SleepersRock

Yes. A few posts up in this thread I have a link to a Flicker page that has a video of the headers before ceramic coating. I plan to add video/pics of the ceramic coated header shortly, probably to that same link.

I'll keep you guys posted.

e55 abdooo17

Good job I wish you success.

I am waiting now

1- Kleemann HiFlow Exhaust Headers for my E 55 AMG W210 1999

2- Eisenmann Stainless Axleback Exhaust 2x102mm Round Tips (Race Louder) Handmade

I will put some pictures when they arrive.

What do you advise me? I link the heders and Exhaust mufller with X pipe OR straight ?

SleepersRock

Installed the headers yesterday. That was a *****. I have updated pics and videos on my flikr page.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/imasex...ith/991356275/


While we were in there we cleaned the MAF, did an oil change, and replaced all of the spark plugs (81k since last change. wires looked so didn't change them).

First impressions:
1) Better acceleration and feel from 500 to 2k rpm. 2k to 4k RPM still seems sluggish. over 4k seems the same. Right off the line feels much better, had some wheel slippage! My guess is the restricted airflow from the bad cats is hindering the extra flow created by the headers. or it could just be a clean MAF and new plugs
2)seems like under hood temps are better too. temp gauge hovers slightly above the 80 degree line as opposed to slightly under the 100 degree line as before. once my normal commute begins I'll report back.
3) sound seems the same. zero difference in the cabin (I've been driving around with stereo off for the last 2 months). could also be the bad cats hindering airflow and sound. added a video of stock exhaust with bad cats. gonna give it a day or two then post a video of sounds with headers plus bad cats.

I plan to have the cats, xpipe, and resonator delete done some time this week or next. just depends on when I can get to the shop.

ddb

I agree. Installing my headers kicked my butt. However, when I finished the install, I was glad I did it myself.

Were your headers coated inside as well? I think $200 is a great price.

I had the x-pipe, resonator delete, and high flow secondary cat install done before I did the header install, and those changes made a huge change in the sound. As you noted, the headers, singularly, don't make a big difference in the sound department.

I think you will love the sound when you have the other exhaust work done. Looking forward to hearing your comments and video.

SleepersRock

The headers were coated in and out. You can see that in one of the videos I posted. Came out much better than i thought they would after coating. $200 was pretty reasonable as long you are not in a rush.

SleepersRock

Looks like this aint happening this week. Can't find a shop that will delete my secondary cats. All say they won't touch cats unless it is a direct replacement.

Might have to start reaching out to the shadier places now.

snooozie

Saw your video on the ceramic headers....very nice and smooth lookingThe shop did a great job.
Wonder will they change color ones you install them. Mine turn kind of dark and not shiny anymore but that's been almost 3 years since I had them.

SleepersRock

I actually would prefer them to turn dark and not shiny. Might help me better pass a visual check in CA. If I could do it over again I would have opted for matte brown as similar to the stock manifold as possible. Apparently the visual checks are becoming more stringent in CA.

SleepersRock

So the install of 300 CEL Hi Flow primaries, secondary cat delete with x-pipe replacement, and resonator delete w/45 degree bent mandrel pipe replacement was done yesterday!

I had the same shop that quoted me on the header install do the work. They did a great job and charged me less than the initial quote by $60. Total of $550 for install. Awesome set of guys. Bay Area guys feel free to PM me if you want their info.

There is no more check engine light with this setup after the mods. I drove for about a 100 miles after the install and still no light.

The car sounds almost bone stock at idle and while cruising on the freeway. As soon as I step on the gas then you can hear it. Exactly what I was looking for: subtle when it needs to be, a well behaved monster when I want it.

I can tell the ECU is still adapting. Last night it seemed like the kick down pedal was not working when I stomped on it. This morning it seems to be more responsive. iI'll keep you guys updated on any changes.

I'm gonna be stomping on the gas for a while so any MPG changes won't be for the positive. I'll report back after my current enthusiasm on the gas pedal wanes. But cruise control at 75mph on the free way its still the same 2450RPM as before. I think any gas savings may occur from not having to smash the pedal as hard since the pick up is much better.

On that note, there is definitely a stronger pull according to my butt dyno.

The only down side so far is this weird and loud ticking noise on acceleration at any speed. It sounds like the lifter tick these cars get but WAY louder. I did some online research and a seafoam clean seems like the way to go as a first step, but I just did an oil change, just swapped out the plugs, and obviously replaced the cats. I wish I had done the seafoam before the install ( apparently all the crap that comes out after seafoam can melt the cats and foul the plugs if bad enough) but the ticking wasn't there then. I do have 166K on the clock, but these engines are pretty efficent and I only Chevron 91 gas. I am going to dump a can of seafoam in the tank in the next few days to see if that makes any difference. I may hold out on a full seafoam treatment until closer to my next oil change. The youtube videos of what seafoam does to fix older benzos is pretty impressive.

Any suggestions on the ticking noise would be greatly appreciated!

I will post pics and video this weekend. If you guys have any questions let me know. After the ticking sound issue the next big challenge will be figuring out how to pass a smog inspections in CA.

benzslo

The ticking noise is an exhaust leak.

snooozie

Enjoy the new pipes and sound. I'm glad that the check engine light is gone. Mine got louder as they aged especially when you stomp on the gas. One of these days, I might get myself a goPro attached to the back bumper and put it on youtube

SleepersRock

I am worried that could be an issue. Come to think of it, I do remember hearing a softer version of that sound right after the header install, before the yesterdays triple install. Could the new exhaust have amplified the sound? What's the best way to find/isolate a leak from the exhaust if that is the case?

benzslo

Start by revving the engine from under hood to try to narrow the location down. Then you can use a long hose of some sort, stick one end in your ear and pass the other end around the possible spots you think its leaking. You'll hear it clear as day when the hose passes by the leak.

In my opinion those headers are junk, they always leak and I personally think the stock manifolds perform better. Technically they're not even headers anyway. Either way, they leak, and that is unacceptable.