C209 CLK 500 backbox delete: Too obnoxious?

[MrPyjamas]

Hi all, I'm just wondering what everyone's opinion here is.

I personally find the CLK 500's exhaust note too sedate for being a V8. I approached Powerflow with an idea of perhaps getting a custom backbox made up but they recommended a backbox (muffler) delete.

I've watched loads of videos since but I still can't truly get an idea of how it sounds.

The car was on a ramp yesterday so I had a look; the middle silencer (unless thats a resonator) is tiny in comparison to the backbox so I'm concerned that a delete of the backbox would be too obnoxious.

I'm not looking for a massively obnoxious sounding car. I just would like the idle and low rpm to sound a bit more like a V8 should. More burble and rumble, without necessarily going as far as making it sound like a ten year old C63.

I'm thinking it may still be the better option to get a custom backbox made up. I'm not a boy racer. I don't appreciate excessive volume or raspy, race car sounds. I'd just like as mentioned, more burble and rumble.

Please, would anyone who has experience of this, particularly with the M113 lump let me know your thoughts, or perhaps other options such as an off the shelf backbox, AMG replacement etc?

Powerflow charge £150 for a delete, plus tips. And another £100 to fabricate a new back box. My CLK 500 (2003) is single exit.

Thanks in advance

 

[alexanderfoti]

IMO on a 113 engined car, no back boxes is LOUD.

I have done it and find it too loud for a daily car. Maybe some powerflow boxes in the back, in place of the back boxes.

You can remove the resonators for a little bit more sound, but it does get a bit boomy.

You can remove the secondary cats, but this is illegal to do so would have to be for "off road use" type of thing

 

[MrPyjamas]

IMO on a 113 engined car, no back boxes is LOUD.

I have done it and find it too loud for a daily car. Maybe some powerflow boxes in the back, in place of the back boxes.

You can remove the resonators for a little bit more sound, but it does get a bit boomy.

You can remove the secondary cats, but this is illegal to do so would have to be for "off road use" type of thing

Thanks for your insight. I feared that it would be too loud too. I definitely don't want to do anything with the resonator (creates drone) or the cats to be honest. But this confirms certainly that a delete would be too much.

Thanks again.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I had a resonator delete on my SL500, it was done by Cybox who did it with some care and it wasn’t awfully boomy or droney but liveable ... it can be done
Not sure on the CLK but maybe an x pipe would produce what you’re looking for ...

 

[MrPyjamas]

I had a resonator delete on my SL500, it was done by Cybox who did it with some care and it wasn’t awfully boomy or droney but liveable ... it can be done
Not sure on the CLK but maybe an x pipe would produce what you’re looking for ...

Think an X pipe is for dual exit isnt it?

 

[bembo449]

i expect the back box on a CLK will have a pig tail inside which has very little to let the noise out , you could cut the box open remove it and place a baffle pipe in its place , you would need some more wadding but that easily available , I did this to my 216 with great results

 

[MrPyjamas]

i expect the back box on a CLK will have a pig tail inside which has very little to let the noise out , you could cut the box open remove it and place a baffle pipe in its place , you would need some more wadding but that easily available , I did this to my 216 with great results

Sounds similar to what the Paul the welder does. Had considered doing something like this, though I don't know anyone who could do this near me who has the experience. I'd probably just stick with a custom or off the shelf back box, but I do thank you for your insight

 

[bembo449]

its a big thing on the BMW M cars , a friend had his M3 done , this is a tad more in depth but an experienced welder code sort it eas enough , I'm a big fan of factory looks so it was the ideal solution for me

 

[RhodieBill]

This is about the best Video I could find - the 430 and 500 are principally the same motor. Sounds OK to me..... Not too loud at all.

 

[MrPyjamas]

This is about the best Video I could find - the 430 and 500 are principally the same motor. Sounds OK to me..... Not too loud at all.

Yep,.I've seen this one. This sounds perfect though I've seen so many videos and this sits in the middle to lower end of how loud some of them sound.

If I knew that it would sound like this, I'd do it but I don't think all exhausts are made equal. A lot of the videos seemed to have dual exits too. Plus the fact it *looks* (can't be certain) that I only have a rear silencer and then perhaps just a resonator immediately batter the secondary cats, I'm not convinced it will turn out like this unfortunately.

 

[RhodieBill]

It all depends on the diameter of the pipe you fit, I think 2.5" would be the best and then fit a Tailpiece. Obviously the bigger the deeper the note.
I was going to do the same with my CLK430 that I had. I had already bought the pipe, (2.5" Mild Steel - easier to weld and matches the original piping) got the tailpiece and arranged a local welder to come and do it at home - he quoted me around £70. (Maybe less). The Pipe and Tailpiece was 13 quid odd.
Also he was going to do it in such a way that if I didn't like it, it could easily be put back to standard.
He also said he doubted it would need a Hanger as there would be no real weight - but if it did he would quickly fabricate something.

This was the Video that gave me the idea. Of course this is recorded at the loud end - a lot quieter inside the car! I liked it

But I unexpectedly sold the car before I got it done....lol. Ask anyone here, I go through cars like toilet paper!

 

[MrPyjamas]

Fwiw, I had a custom backbox made up at Powerflow. .it sounds a bit meatier than I expected but I still like it.

Not a great video but it is what it is..

 

[bembo449]

The other day i spent a couple of hours removing the x pipe i fitted and replacing it with straight pipe , the waffly V8 is now much more prominent and if i had known this would be the result, i would have put straight pipe in in the first place

 

[RhodieBill]

Sounds alright to me!

I used to have a American Imported Honda Accord 3lt V6 Coupe. Now that was unbearably loud...!!! And believe it or not I bought it off a policeman.......???
It had a proper Stainless "JAP" System which he fitted. But it was quick with the old VTEC.

 

[MrPyjamas]

Sounds alright to me!

I used to have a American Imported Honda Accord 3lt V6 Coupe. Now that was unbearably loud...!!! And believe it or not I bought it off a policeman.......???
It had a proper Stainless "JAP" System which he fitted. But it was quick with the old VTEC.

Very nice.