cheezels

I've had my E55 for 2 years now and absolutely love it.

I do most of my own servicing and am fairly handy on the spanners, but one thing I can't quite understand is the exhaust upgrades to make a more grungy sound.

X pipe, silencer, de cat etc etc.

Could someone explain the ins and outs of modifying the exhaust. I'm looking for a bit more of a burble, but don't want people to think I'm a tool with an excessively noisey exhaust

Solo wing

This probably is among the most discussed subjects in this forum.
There are three restricted zones in the exhaust:
-manifolds
-primary cats
-secondary cats.
You can install mid tube headers from Kleemann.
Shorties from (topspeed)eBay or RENNtech. If you go with Kleemann you'll have to delete the primaries.
The primary cats are monitored by O2 sensors, so deleting the cats will result in a CEL. You can either relocate the sensors to the secondary or get a tune.
The secondary cats are sensor-less, so it will not trigger any sort of message.

Most people here remove the resonator. and install a crossover (mostly an x-pipe).
Another group- Including me- chose to also delete the secondary cats.
I recommend you delete the resonator and replace the 2nd cats with an x-pipe.
It's the best mod for the $ and you'll gain a few horses across the entire rpm.
Here's my feedback.
https://mbworld.org/forums/w210-amg/...te-x-pipe.html


Resonator delete will increase the loudness and slight amount of bass (classy way of course!).
Deleting the 2nd cats will also increase the loudness a bit, but will clear the sound, make it more precise and defined.


As for the type of crossover, an x-pipe will give you more gains mid-high rpm, and will sound exotic.
an H-pipe gains will be in the lower range, and the sound will be more raspy and American muscle-like.


IMHO X-pipe suits the car better.
Also if you're going to install a crossover, install it as close to the engine as you can to get more scavenging effect.


Good luck,
Faiz

illest

if you just want more sound do the resonator delete + x-pipe. Adding headers and removing secondary cats will make it a little louder and give more power.

cheezels

Guys

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

What does the resonator do, and where in the exhaust system is it located?

cheezels

Solo wing - just reading the link you posted. What do you mean by muffler?

Sorry for the questions but I'm a bit confused by some of the terminology

Solo wing

No worries mate.
The resonator cancels the resonance of sound waves, or in other words (drone).
But don't worry when you remove the resonator, because the car is sound-proofed excellently and you won't hear the drone. you'll hear the exhaust in a good way.
The muffler is the last thing in an exhaust.
It's the back box with the AMG tips on it.

cheezels

Awesome post, solo wing!

Sooooo, where can a cross pipe be bought........

Just out of interest my car is very quiet, until about 3/4 on the loud pedal, where it growls very nicely. Is that pretty normal? The mod' you've done improves on that and doesn't draw too much attention to yourself like a 17 year old with a 9 inch pipe on an Impreza turbo?

Solo wing

Thanks!
My exhaust shop had a universal 2.5 Magnaflow x-pipe. You could search around your area. if nothing is available, you could get one online like:
http://www.summitracing.com/int/sear...rder=Ascending

Remmeber the pipe size is ~2.5.
I'd say it's very normal. Most E55 owners complain from lack of loudness. Stock configuration quiets the sound so much, no one would believe it had a NA 5.5 V8 inside.

SleepersRock

I concur with Solo. I did everything he did plus added short tube headers from TopSpeed.

The sound is fantastic. A bit deeper at idle and cruising. Proper grunt on acceleration.

My only regret is not doing it sooner.

mdw benz

great thread info. I am a new E55 owner as well. Just to double check, if I order the 2.5" cross-over "X" from magnaflow, I can just take that to a local muffler shop and have them remove the resonator and install this, correct? Is there anything else I need to know or get?

Thanks,

benzokirk

First of all, I agree 100% with everything Solo Wing said, and it's what most of us who have been here on the forum for a while have done.

To answer your question, check the diagram and locate the secondary cats. That is where you want to install the X-Pipe, because you want to get it as close to the engine as possible.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who will recommend that you also remove the resonator, for maximum effectiveness, if the desired result is the sound we all love when this mod is done correctly.

cheezels

Great thread!

Solo wing, would you be able to post the parts required to carry out this modification please.

Also if anyone could explain the difference between the X and H pipe, that would be awesome.

I'm thinking if this thread were a sticky it could save a lot of people a lot of time.

benzokirk

Umm... I don't mean to speak for Solo wing, but... everything you asked was spoken about in the above thread that you just said was "Great"... and it IS a great thread, but only for those who take the time to read it carefully.

For example, your question about the difference between an X pipe and an H pipe -- From Solo wing above: "As for the type of crossover, an x-pipe will give you more gains mid-high rpm, and will sound exotic.
an H-pipe gains will be in the lower range, and the sound will be more raspy and American muscle-like."



he's much nicer than I am, so he'll probably just answer again for you... forgive me for being unforgiving...

cheezels

Oops, my bad. No offence taken.

I've read soooo many different threads I couldn't remember where I'd read about the H and X pipes!

Also read so many different posts regarding parts required, but thought it would benefit having this information contained here.

illest

45 degree mandrel bends - to replace the resonator.

x pipe - there are plenty of cheap options on ebay

giovany2429

Having this done later today looking forward to hearing how it sounds. Will also be ordering some AFE dry filters.

Solo wing

LooooooooooooooooL Cheers mate!

+55
Keep us updated


Faiz

giovany2429

Its definitely worth it. I didnt think it was gona sound as good as it does. At idle its no different than stock. Gives off a nice mellow sound while driving but never annoying, its wen u floor it when it really comes alive. MPGs improved also and pulls harder and power delivery is much smoother. It takes a couple of hours of driving for it to settle in tough so dont be disappointed when you first drive it.

mdw benz

Is there any "sound" benefit to just doing the resonator delete (replace with "X" pipe) and leaving the secondary cats along? I am not sure I want to mess the the cat at this point.

Thanks,
M

snooozie

If you put the x-pipe up front where the 2nd cats were, I would recommend getting a set of 2.5" Mandrel bends for the resonator delete to give it that smooth flow in the exhaust You can get them via ebay and at a pretty cheap price.

mdw benz

thanks, but that was not my question. If I ONLY remove the resonator and put an "x" pipe in, but leave the secondary cats alone, is there any sound benefit?

Thanks,

a100steaksauce

solo wing THX

ddb

Yes, it will make a nice difference. I had an x-pipe installed in place of my resonator in addition to replacing the secondary cats with high flow secondaries. Replacing just the resonator with an x pipe will make a difference.

mdw benz

Thanks for the insight

mdw benz

FYI - I just had my secondary cats and resonator removed and replaced with a X pipe. This was by far the cheapest and most effective mod I have done to a car yet. It is definitely NOT too loud, keeps the car very civilized, but lets you know there is a nice V8 up front. This is how the car should have come from the factory.