Fluttery exhaust note/leak near passenger seat.

Sep 3, 2016 | 05:00 PM

Minty Fresh

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From: Raleigh, NC

2006 E55 AMG

Fluttery exhaust note/leak near passenger seat.

My engine is sounding pretty gnarly, but not in the best way. Whenever it's under load (going up hill), the exhaust note gets fluttery and it sound like it's coming from under the car near the front passenger seat. This started last night. Today I drove it and it sounded normal, even when I floored it on a flat road. When I punched it going uphill, I heard the noise again.

Any ideas? I'm taking it my indy shop this week, but am trying to understand what to expect.

Sep 6, 2016 | 05:40 PM

Minty Fresh

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From: Raleigh, NC

2006 E55 AMG

Indy shop has not had a chance to diagnose mine, yet, but said it was the third E55 in as many months with an exhaust leak of some kind. Last one was a cracked manifold.

Sep 6, 2016 | 06:26 PM

JoeJErnst

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From: Portland, Oregon

2019 Jeep Trackhawk, 2002 CLK55, 2014 911 Carrera

It could be the fiber donut on one side of the resonator inlet. I just replaced mine this weekend.

Sep 7, 2016 | 06:27 PM

Minty Fresh

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From: Raleigh, NC

2006 E55 AMG

Cracked pipe near the cat converter and also the flange on the pipe it meets is cracked. Indy shop is offering OEM parts repair $5750! I'm looking for alternatives.

Says pipe was patched before I owned it, but now crack is much bigger and cannot be welded.

Sep 7, 2016 | 06:29 PM

JoeJErnst

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From: Portland, Oregon

2019 Jeep Trackhawk, 2002 CLK55, 2014 911 Carrera

That's exactly how I justified spending $3k on headers and an X-pipe. ;-)

Sep 7, 2016 | 06:52 PM

Minty Fresh

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From: Raleigh, NC

2006 E55 AMG

That's what I was thinking. There must be a cheaper aftermarket "performance" system. Thank you.

Sep 8, 2016 | 11:25 PM

Minty Fresh

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From: Raleigh, NC

2006 E55 AMG

Okay, happy ending. The first shop was not a "fixit" joint, it was just a "replacement part" type of shop. I found a specialty custom exhaust shop, and they welded the two leaks shut in one afternoon, for $100. The first shop wanted $5,750 to replace the parts with OEM and said they could not be welded. Savings = $5,650!