What's great about these older cars is that if you are thinking of it now, someone probably thought of it at some point in the last 10-20 years as well.

I feel bad about starting an entire thread to find out some small piece of information or to ask for directions to a thread on a topic that's been discussed to death. There is a treasure trove of information on this site, but it can be a bear to navigate sometimes.

Please post your small questions about your W211 E55s here.

 

I'd like for my stock E55 to have a modern OEM V8 muscle car / sports car sound. Throaty enough to sound great but not loud enough to ****-off my neighbors.

Maybe something like current gen [x]63 models or 911/Panamera Turbos.


This vid shows how muted stock is compared to the above:
The guy later in the vid replaced the resonator with an X-pipe and removes the mufflers, which is too far for what I'm looking to do. I feel like there is a sweet spot in-between. Basically, "Responsible Adult" loud. Also, X or H pipe??

I'm sure that this has been discussed ad nauseam. Can someone provide a link?

 

LTHs, with primary race cats or without cats totally, X pipe, stock resonator so no drone, stock mufflers. This is what I run and have been happy with it.

Little sound on idle and more on WOT, but nice and quiet inside still while cruising around.

Sorry no sound clips on the highway.
but if you watch the vid you can hear it run the 1320.

 

I put mid length headers on my SL55 recently. Very happy with the results. Design was sold by eurocharged a long time ago, but at a casual glance the VRP ones look the same, so sound should be similar.

I kept everything after the primary cats which were deleted. it's definitely louder, and you can really hear it when you romp on it... but its not obnoxious when I'm cruising with the top down.

 

Thanks. So moving from a resonator to an X or H pipe results in drone? I definitely don't want that. That was the configuration that I was first considering (due to parts cost, lack of complexity, labor charges, etc...).

Nice. Any chance you have a sound clip or a clip of someone with the same setup? I'll start searching on YT.

 

Sorry I forgot to add that I have an X pipe before the resonator. I added it in my previous post.

I really don’t see how it could add sound by removing the resonator. It’s literally a straight shot through it. But I know people have done it for sound.

My sons car doesn’t have a resonator and there is considerable drone and you find yourself kicking down to a lower gear to up the RPM so it’s not droning. BUT his mufflers are aftermarket, not sure of the name brand, but the sound he has is more old school muscle car sound. Loud but sounds good, just not sure I would want to listen to it on a daily driver.

Me I want it somewhat quiet so no one realizes they are about to get their *** busted. Lol.

Here are some vids of my sons car for exhaust sound.
The second vid is after he installed the RaceIQ cams



Yup

 

I think you just created an entire thread, full of small questions.

 

Thanks, man. Yeah, his car definitely has that old school muscle car sound, which is DOPE...in small doses, hahaha.

There are so many options, which for me means: So many ways to screw it up.

I figured that with nearly 20 year old cars this would be settled law by now, lol.

 

Start simple and you can always change more until you get the sound you want.

 

I run mid tube headers, stock secondary cats, and oem W211 E63 resonator and mufflers (fits plug and play) and the car is just a tiny bit louder on idle but the tone is way better. Once the supercharger kicks in it sounds very close to a M156. If you wanna drive quietly and just cruise with under 2500rpm it's very quiet, so you can actually take it drives on the highway without having an headache.

Idle

Flyby

In cabin

 

how much was the cam install if you don’t mind me asking??

 

Not sure the cost of the cams but RaceIQ should have the price of them.

My son is a Mercedes Tech and did the install himself.

 

Are headers something that I can do in my garage using 4x ESCO jack stands? Or do I need a lift? Special tools? Expertise?

I have a good friend with a shop and lifts, but he focuses on JP cars. He has good general knowledge of cars from being in the game so long, but no MB knowledge in particular.

 

i was asking more for the actual install price. If it’s more than 1k I’ll have to rule it out… I’m not sure cams make a huge difference without a port and polish on this platform. Cams and install would be well north of 3k for me and I don’t think a possible 20hp+- is worth that.

Did your son feel any difference? Do you think he would do it again if he could do it over?? Did it change drivability any on the highway?

The possibility of a hiccup and the 2k+- price tag is what’s holding me from a Hellcat throttle body. If I knew I could get it without the hiccup, HC TB would be my next mod. As it stands I’m lookin at headers and maybe mufflers next

 

Alex will walk you through it:

 

Oh yeah! I forgot about that video. Thanks!

 

This sounds like what I'm after. Thanks!

 

Seems fairly straightforward. No particular MB knowledge or experience needed. Just general mechanical experience to get around issues with bad fitment and whatnot. I think my guy can do this. Not sure if I want to fight this while the car is a couple feet off of the ground on jack stands with me below it cursing 😂.

Great tips about using the OEM gaskets, nuts, and donuts and replacing the engine mounts while you are in there.

 

Can anyone recommend a reliable retailer for Ultra Racing (manufacturer of various chassis braces and whatnot) in the U.S.?

 

My parking sensors don't emit a warning beep until the red light shows, not during the several yellow lights leading up to the red light. Is this normal?

This is different than any other car I've had with parking sensors. Is there any way I can get the beeping to start with the yellow lights and the beeping get progressively faster the closer I get to the object?

 

I found the answer to my own question.

Apparently this is normal behavior as demonstrated in this video from a few years ago:
This system is waaaay less sensitive with much fewer sound cues than any other such system that I've used, including (BMW, Audi, VW, Subaru, and others). I literally thought mine had possibly been STAR coded to be less "chatty" by the previous owner. But, I guess it's normal.

 

I have a question: How do you remove the bulb for the main beam from the holder?

 

Anyone know the torque specs for the 4 bolts that hold the throttle body on? Thanks!

 

It will be challenging to replicate a turbo 992 or biturbo cars. Just two different types of sounds generated.

The best exhaust setup I had was on my second E55. I am not sure where the "deleting resonator adds drone" to the car as the resonator on the E55 cars does not deaden the sound much and there is little changed with just a resonator delete. I deleted the resonator on both prior E55s (just had a reputable exhaust shop weld in two quality pipes in place of the resonator) and added W204 C63 mufflers off a 2014 C63. Zero drone and difference from a completely stock car with ONLY the resonator deleted. Then when you add the C63 mufflers, it was a very noticeable difference on cold starts and definitely had more bark on anything that engaged the blower with semi-spirited driving. It would be easy for someone to know it's not a 6-cylinder. The only other setup I think sounds better than that was LTH with no cats, everything else stock back to stock mufflers. Adding the C63 mufflers to that setup makes it even louder.

Just my .02