CL500 C215 Exhaust, Remapping and Brake upgrades.

[Meatfeast]

Hi all.

I have a 2004 CL500.

I love the car very much and am largely satisfied with how it performs and sounds.

I’d love a little more V8 sound and wondered if there are any mods I could do just in terms of it sounding a bit more purposeful but without it sounding like a boy racers car?

I’ve seen back boxes that apparently offer more of a V8 burble which sounds good, so does anybody have any experience or recommendations with this?

I don’t want a noisy or droney exhaust but a good compromise would be great if such a thing exists?

I’ve also been looking at mild remapping, I know the car won’t have AMG performance but again a little more response and sparkle I find very appealing, so again does anyone have any experience remapping an N/A 5.0V8 and the differences over stock. I’m aware that the BHP and Torque figures aren’t huge with remapping a N/A engine, but I’m not in a position to buy a more powerful car and I like the thought of tweaking mine a little.

Witt this in mind, any tips on front brake setup? - recommended pads, lines, disks and brake fluid?

Any help, tips and/or experiences would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks as ever.

Kindest regards.

 

[Blobcat]

X-pipe gives more V8, back boxes can give more drone which doesn’t fit with a CL experience for the driver or passenger

 

[Craiglxviii]

The 215 already has an X pipe in its exhaust setup.

The NA V8 won’t see much performance improvement. I think 20-25bhp quoted. Remap will improve throttle response but it’s a big lazy engine ultimately.

Front brakes. The braking performance on that car is excellent. What needs improving?

I say this as a 215 CL500 owner of 7 years and wanting the same, ultimately realising that with that car little could be done save selling it & buying a CL55…

 

[Meatfeast]

The 215 already has an X pipe in its exhaust setup.

The NA V8 won’t see much performance improvement. I think 20-25bhp quoted. Remap will improve throttle response but it’s a big lazy engine ultimately.

Front brakes. The braking performance on that car is excellent. What needs improving?

I say this as a 215 CL500 owner of 7 years and wanting the same, ultimately realising that with that car little could be done save selling it & buying a CL55…

I just like the thought of a little more V8 rumble, it’s such an intoxicating sound but I don’t want it to be too much.

The remap was more to just make the engine a little more responsive, I already have a sprint booster ready to fit to remove the latency from the throttle, so I’d possibly just like to make the most of what I’ve got.

I drive the car hard on occasion and I’ve already got a set of braided brake hoses waiting to go on, it was more about brake pads to be honest, I have experience of EBC Red Stuff but I wondered what others may use.

I’m aware that I could just sell mine but I don’t want too.

Cheers.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Avoid EBC. They are a marketing stunt.

You can replace the existing X with a more open one, but most of the noise you’ll gain there will be lost in the back boxes. The car was intended to be almost silent inside at road speeds up to 100km/h, so you’re fighting against the inherent engineering design of it from the start..!

Speak to @LostKiwi about remapping the M113 NA, he has Malcolm’s old R230 with sharpened throttle response and I believe it’s somewhat spiky to drive.

 

[LostKiwi]

Avoid EBC. They are a marketing stunt.

You can replace the existing X with a more open one, but most of the noise you’ll gain there will be lost in the back boxes. The car was intended to be almost silent inside at road speeds up to 100km/h, so you’re fighting against the inherent engineering design of it from the start..!

Speak to @LostKiwi about remapping the M113 NA, he has Malcolm’s old R230 with sharpened throttle response and I believe it’s somewhat spiky to drive.

It is indeed. Very very sensitive getting away to the point that it's annoying.

I removed the centre box on my 129 (and kept it as they're rare as hen's teeth) and it dramatically increased the burble. Most of the time noise wise it's fine but on longer trips it does get annoying (talking trips of 3 hours plus).

My r230 has EBC Red pads (as fitted by Malcolm) and they're being binned this weekend and replaced with Brembo.
The Red Stuff pads have quite poor bite in my experience.

I've used EBC in the past and won't use them again.

 

[Meatfeast]

It is indeed. Very very sensitive getting away to the point that it's annoying.

I removed the centre box on my 129 (and kept it as they're rare as hen's teeth) and it dramatically increased the burble. Most of the time noise wise it's fine but on longer trips it does get annoying (talking trips of 3 hours plus).

My r230 has EBC Red pads (as fitted by Malcolm) and they're being binned this weekend and replaced with Brembo.
The Red Stuff pads have quite poor bite in my experience.

I've used EBC in the past and won't use them again.

Is there any chance you might have a sound file of your car?

 

[Craiglxviii]

Is there any chance you might have a sound file of your car?

Where are you based?

 

[Meatfeast]

Where are you based?

I’m in New Mills, Derbyshire - literally on the border of New Mills and Stockport.

 

[Wighty]

Where are you based?

In a Pizza Hut if his username is anything to go by

 

[Meatfeast]

In a Pizza Hut if his username is anything to go by

Have you been following me!!!

 

[Craiglxviii]

I’m in New Mills, Derbyshire - literally on the border of New Mills and Stockport.

Ah dammit. LostKiwi and I are in the Daventry/ Northampton area.

 

[Meatfeast]

Ah dammit. LostKiwi and I are in the Daventry/ Northampton area.

If you had a sound file or even a video of the car running and the sound that would be perfect?

 

[Craiglxviii]

If you had a sound file or even a video of the car running and the sound that would be perfect?

It’s LK you need for that sorry. I considered the exhausts on my 215 but ended up leaving them alone.

 

[Meatfeast]

It’s LK you need for that sorry. I considered the exhausts on my 215 but ended up leaving them alone.

Oh that’s a shame - but if LK has anything I’d love to hear it.

 

[LostKiwi]

Is there any chance you might have a sound file of your car?

Sorry I don't and it lives in France.

A sound file of a 129 wouldn't do a lot if good anyway. The 129 uses a different engine (m119 not m113) and sounds different anyway - much more American V8 than German V8 if you know what I mean.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Sorry I don't and it lives in France.

A sound file of a 129 wouldn't do a lot if good anyway. The 129 uses a different engine (m119 not m113) and sounds different anyway - much more American V8 than German V8 if you know what I mean.

What about Malcolm? I’m sure he fitted a wider X pipe.

 

[LostKiwi]

Actually just remembered this:

Not the best due to mechanical noise as a result of standing by the door.

 

[LostKiwi]

What about Malcolm? I’m sure he fitted a wider X pipe.

No he fitted an x-pipe where there wasn't one.
As it happens somewhat redundant as the two pipes combine into one over the axle anyway this making almost a double X.

 

[Meatfeast]

Actually just remembered this:

Not the best due to mechanical noise as a result of standing by the door.

Oh that’s great - has the burble but not loud!

How did you do that to it bud?