After having this problem for so many months, searching for solutions, fighting with Mercedes to replace the exhaust and actuators and searching for information on these flaps I finally built a solution that fixes this PERMANENTLY! These are what I learnt:
1) Audi has a very similar actuator but it does not work on our cars. They look exactly the same but they don’t seem to be compatible with our cars. Possibly one uses PWM and the other doesn’t, that I am not sure of.
2) The flaps appear to perform a ‘self test’. The actuators by themselves can rotate close to 270 degrees so if you remove the springs to separate the actuators from the flaps, the car will go into limp mode because it sees more than 90degrees rotation which is the angle of rotation of the flaps themselves.
With my solution, the exhaust button still is operational, however because I physically locked my rear flaps to be open all the time, the only change in exhaust note you will observe is when the center flap is activated/deactivated. Essentially what I did is:
1) remove the actuators from the exhaust completely
2)lock the flaps open (physically with another setup which bolts to the flaps and holds the flaps in the closed position) You can lock it in any position you like
3) make an adapter plate which the actuator is bolted to separately off the exhaust. There are adjustable stops to set the angle of rotation to 90 degrees
With this setup the car thinks the flaps are moving however they are not. The physical stops on the adapter plate limits angle of rotation so car will not go in limp mode.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I’m considering doing a video showing the entire setup so it’s easier to see. My IG is @charlesmax74.
After having this problem for so many months, searching for solutions, fighting with Mercedes to replace the exhaust and actuators and searching for information on these flaps I finally built a solution that fixes this PERMANENTLY! These are what I learnt:
1) Audi has a very similar actuator but it does not work on our cars. They look exactly the same but they don’t seem to be compatible with our cars. Possibly one uses PWM and the other doesn’t, that I am not sure of.
2) The flaps appear to perform a ‘self test’. The actuators by themselves can rotate close to 270 degrees so if you remove the springs to separate the actuators from the flaps, the car will go into limp mode because it sees more than 90degrees rotation which is the angle of rotation of the flaps themselves.
With my solution, the exhaust button still is operational, however because I physically locked my rear flaps to be open all the time, the only change in exhaust note you will observe is when the center flap is activated/deactivated. Essentially what I did is:
1) remove the actuators from the exhaust completely
2)lock the flaps open (physically with another setup which bolts to the flaps and holds the flaps in the closed position) You can lock it in any position you like
3) make an adapter plate which the actuator is bolted to separately off the exhaust. There are adjustable stops to set the angle of rotation to 90 degrees
With this setup the car thinks the flaps are moving however they are not. The physical stops on the adapter plate limits angle of rotation so car will not go in limp mode.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I’m considering doing a video showing the entire setup so it’s easier to see. My IG is @charlesmax74.
Hope this helps.
Does this mean you left the center actuators intact in the exhaust?
Does this mean you left the center actuators intact in the exhaust?
Yes, the center flaps are untouched.
I am working on my second revision that will essentially be a sandwich plate that will be between the actuator and exhaust with the ability to lock the flap in any position you desire.
By the way, the car sounds awesome with the flaps open all the time!! Love it.
I am working on my second revision that will essentially be a sandwich plate that will be between the actuator and exhaust with the ability to lock the flap in any position you desire.
By the way, the car sounds awesome with the flaps open all the time!! Love it.
I think the center flaps probably close when you want the car to be louder and open when you want the car quieter (basically work opposite of the rear actuators).
Now will that mean those will not affect the car in terms of limp mode when the actuator goes bad?
I think the center flaps probably close when you want the car to be louder and open when you want the car quieter (basically work opposite of the rear actuators).
Now will that mean those will not affect the car in terms of limp mode when the actuator goes bad?
It definitely will. If the center flap fails the car will go in limp mode as well. However, I have never heard of anyone having this issue. The actuator looks identical dimensionally so if needed you can do the same conversion as I have on the rear flaps.
Very nice. Another solution would be cut off the mufflers, physically remove the valve and actuator, re-weld and plug back in the motors. Both ways work, this is much simpler.
from outside the muffler, lock the flaps open ( while the car is switched off ) by using hard metal silk or something that will not got screwed up.
put the key position on 2 , code the car that it doesn't have sport exhaust ( like E63 non S version ) the button will work, but nothing will happen to the sound or flaps .
from outside the muffler, lock the flaps open ( while the car is switched off ) by using hard metal silk or something that will not got screwed up.
put the key position on 2 , code the car that it doesn't have sport exhaust ( like E63 non S version ) the button will work, but nothing will happen to the sound or flaps .
Hi guys,
Quite alot of you guys have reached out for EFBs (exhaust Flap Bypasses) and thanks for the support. I should have posted pics a longtime ago but I have been so busy. Here they are...finally.
For those seeing these for the first time, they are used to solve the sticking exhaust flaps issue that's popular on the AMGs with sport exhaust. They can be easily installed and removed in case of warranty work.
You can reach me on IG at @charlesmax74 or whatsapp/call/text at 604-868-7468.
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