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I understand to get the menacing exhaust note, catless downpipe is the only solution to this, but would require a tune.
I’d like to keep it stock without tuning it.
would like some feedback on owners who have cut their resonator and muffler. A video clip would be much appreciated.
I have a x-pipe, valved exhaust on the way from Hong Kong... I should have some samples up in the next few weeks. I have video samples of the stock exhaust with stock tune and stage one. My plan is to get samples with no exhaust (for fun) then repeats of the other samples in the various combinations (stage-1/stock, valves open/closed). So... stay tuned.
and I plan on getting another sample of this one with the valves open for both stock and stage 1. I have to get lucky with traffic and weather to make a run like this, so I can't predict when I'll be able to do it
The exhaust was is this one. They make them when you place the order, so it can take 4 to 6 weeks to get it. The fitment is perfect and install is simple. But, you will have to remove the existing stock "fake" tips and either leave the holes open or get tips from them or find some other solution (like an aftermarket defuser panel or something). Good communication from the supplier too. All-around good experience. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...yAdapt=glo2usa
Once the car is in the air, it took me about 90 minutes to do this by myself - very straightforward. With the valves closed it, it's basically as loud as the original stock exhaust, but smoother - probably because this has an X-pipe instead of the H-pipe-resonator.
I want to say "for the price, this thing is amazing" but, really, at any price this thing sounds amazing! Maybe it doesn't come through in the "valves open" video, but it really is a nice, low, powerful sound - but not obnoxious. Just what I was looking for. You can see the cardboard box shaking the camera when it's running
As a side note, I found that my stock exhaust rear mufflers have a significant amount of water sloshing around in them. Probably just years of condensation building up in a portion of the exhaust that doesn't get hot enough to boil it off... or maybe a blasts of water from the car washing or something. I'll be looking for a way to drain that out, but it seems weird to me. Something to look for.
and I plan on getting another sample of this one with the valves open for both stock and stage 1. I have to get lucky with traffic and weather to make a run like this, so I can't predict when I'll be able to do it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReiDkjWv6hQ
The exhaust was is this one. They make them when you place the order, so it can take 4 to 6 weeks to get it. The fitment is perfect and install is simple. But, you will have to remove the existing stock "fake" tips and either leave the holes open or get tips from them or find some other solution (like an aftermarket defuser panel or something). Good communication from the supplier too. All-around good experience. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/32568...yAdapt=glo2usa
Once the car is in the air, it took me about 90 minutes to do this by myself - very straightforward. With the valves closed it, it's basically as loud as the original stock exhaust, but smoother - probably because this has an X-pipe instead of the H-pipe-resonator.
I want to say "for the price, this thing is amazing" but, really, at any price this thing sounds amazing! Maybe it doesn't come through in the "valves open" video, but it really is a nice, low, powerful sound - but not obnoxious. Just what I was looking for. You can see the cardboard box shaking the camera when it's running
As a side note, I found that my stock exhaust rear mufflers have a significant amount of water sloshing around in them. Probably just years of condensation building up in a portion of the exhaust that doesn't get hot enough to boil it off... or maybe a blasts of water from the car washing or something. I'll be looking for a way to drain that out, but it seems weird to me. Something to look for.
Very very nice!
In regards to the muffler tips not fitting with the stock oem diffuser due to the “hole” being too small. I wonder if this diffuser will allow your muffler to stay intact and be flush.
I’ve never been a fan of current oem exhaust tip setup. I’d prefer the older w212 exhaust setup where the exhaust pipe is actually attached to the tip. And seems like the pricing is very reasonable!
what do you think?
Last edited by E63SAMG2014; Mar 30, 2025 at 11:47 AM.
In regards to the muffler tips not fitting with the stock oem diffuser due to the “hole” being too small. I wonder if this diffuser will allow your muffler to stay intact and be flush.
I’ve never been a fan of current oem exhaust tip setup. I’d prefer the older w212 exhaust setup where the exhaust pipe is actually attached to the tip. And seems like the pricing is very reasonable!
what do you think?
It doesn't look terrible as-is... I want to avoid too much of a non-OEM look. I'm considering the kind of thing you posted, but not sure what I want to do yet (forgive the dirt... it's been very rainy lately and this is my daily)
the picture shown is with the aftermarket exhaust but there are no tips? Just an empty hole?
For now, yeah.
Ah - I misunderstood you. Usually tips are not included with the kit, but because I had some delays with how long it took to make the system that they sent some for free. They slide on with clamps to the tubes you see in the holes. I might be able to squeeze them into the bumper port holes... but the tips are chrome and I've blacked out most of the other chrome on the car, plus they'd stick out an inch or two, so I'm not sure I want to use them. So, empty for now while I think about it... there's no rush. I like keeping the car anonymous/sleeper-ish. The new sound isn't going to help, but I think that's worth it .
I've only gone a few miles with the new system but already the "S+ farts" are much crisper and it seems more responsive in general even with the stock tune. I plan on just experiencing it this way for a few days before I see what the stage 1 is like -- that tune already made the stock exhaust sound much better, so I am hoping for the same improvement with this new system there too. Stay tuned
Last edited by QuadTurboPrius; Mar 30, 2025 at 01:14 PM.
Mhmmm~ I’m very intrigued.
So the aftermarket exhaust tips are slide on clamp style unlike the pre-facelifted w212 amg tips, where it’s welded together.
in that case why didn’t you keep the current oem tips that bolts into the diffuser? Did the aftermarket exhaust pipes interfere with the oem tips?
what brand of tune did you opt for?
Last edited by E63SAMG2014; Mar 30, 2025 at 01:33 PM.
Mhmmm~ I’m very intrigued.
So the aftermarket exhaust tips are slide on clamp style unlike the pre-facelifted w212 amg tips, where it’s welded together.
in that case why didn’t you keep the current oem tips that bolts into the diffuser? Did the aftermarket exhaust pipes interfere with the oem tips?
what brand of tune did you opt for?
Yep
I tried that, but the tubes on the new exhaust didn't quite fit into the OEM ports. I might take another stab at it, but I don't want to tempt myself to cut into the stock parts because it's not too far off... i might though. It was getting late when I finished, so I was happy to stop where I did. Maybe I can get creative with this.
It's a Eurocharged ECU stage 1 and TCU tune as well
I tried that, but the tubes on the new exhaust didn't quite fit into the OEM ports. I might take another stab at it, but I don't want to tempt myself to cut into the stock parts because it's not too far off... i might though. It was getting late when I finished, so I was happy to stop where I did. Maybe I can get creative with this.
It's a Eurocharged ECU stage 1 and TCU tune as well
have you considered cutting/shortening the new exhaust tube/pipe? It’d be nice to keep the oem look
have you considered cutting/shortening the new exhaust tube/pipe? It’d be nice to keep the oem look
Yeah, that's an option ... a good one too which I hadn't considered for some reason (I think I resisted the thought because I wanted to see if there were tips I could buy that would fit right). thanks!
Last edited by QuadTurboPrius; Mar 30, 2025 at 01:45 PM.
And, since this is AliExpress, you can't always trust that everything in the image is included. There's a language barrier, but it went down like this:
- Purchase 2/24
- AliExpress starts a timer. If the seller doesn't provide tracking within about 2 weeks, they refund your order.
- When the time got close, the seller asked me to add time to the timer
- Another week or so, add more time... and then again. I warned them I wouldn't add more time... if it was a scam, I'd get refunded, and if not they'd be wasting material. Should be motivating.
- Finally they shipped - DHL 3 days from HK. I expected cargo ship and a lazy delivery from some yard in LA... but it was fast. Arrived 3/28.
They indicated that they felt bad about how long it took, and were including the tips for free. This seems odd, since they're clearly part of the kit in the photos... so who knows. But 5 weeks door-to-door on a one-off welded and powder-coated system is not bad at all.
Better get one before some tariff war or China finally trying to take Taiwan
Stock tune in same tunnel as above, with new exhaust; flaps open
Spoiler - it sounds pretty much the same *on the video* as the one above (stock exhaust, but with stage 1 tune) - but in person it has a deeper and sharper note. I think I've collected what I want at this point with the stock tune and will be swapping in my stage 1 ECU later today... that makes a big difference on its own to how the car sounds in high-power scenarios
Finally got the new exhaust opened up in the tunnel... I had to lift after the shift because it broke traction, which I have never seen before outside of 1st gear. Maybe the new exhaust breathes better and I'm getting more power than before.
I was on an on-ramp the other day and floored it. Halfway toward the "speed limit" I heard the exhaust note change... dramatically.
I was alarmed, but there were no indications of engine trouble - it was just louder. My readouts indicated that all the AFRs were fine and the power was still there, but it just sounded different. I hit a bump and heard something metal scrape the road. It became clear that the clamps holding the valved mufflers had separated from the main exhaust lines and left the muffler assembly dangling by its 4 rubber hangers - meaning the intakes to the mufflers were left to scrape the street when I hit any kind of bump in the road. So, I went to my destination and considered what to do... I had no choice but to remove the mufflers from the hangers, put them in the back seat and go home.
But, it sounded so good I decided to leave it that way. I ordered some downpipes to keep the exhaust gasses from blowing on the rear CV boots and painted them matte black.
Conclusion -- The M157 with an X-pipe and no mufflers appears to be the most optimal configuration for this platform. It sounds amazing! No "splatter" or obnoxious tones. When I open it up, it screams in the best way. Otherwise it's mellow and controlled. There is some droning at certain RPMs, but it's not terrible. Highly recommend!
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