I was thinking about changing the muffler on my car to a magnaflow at the same time i cut my cats off, anyone ever upgrade the exhaust on a m117? just wondering about how loud it will be. I don't want to do it if it is going to sound obnoxious.
Eh...... dont' know what a magnaflow is. But I know that my exhaust is aftermarket. It's 2" all the way and rumbles nicely.
For the past 3months i've been driving round with the exhaust manifold hanging on by 1 bolt (actually the thread of the bolt cause the nut had fallen/snapped off)
I got compliments like, "Duuuuuuuuude.....that sounds like it should be in summernats.." "That sounds FILTHY man"....
Honestly it sounded disgusting cause it coughed like buggery, but boy did people turn there heads.
These engines are very f*kn loud!
In saying that, now that the manifold has finally been fixed (gaskets / rings in the flange as well) it sounds even better. It's a very deep warm sound that is still turning headds, but in a more 'appreciative' way.
I reckon you'd wanna get something like Mavric has on his 6.9 though!
Twin SS all the way. 'Pipe Up' 13B, drop some links in here, i'm too lazy to search ATM. :D
magnaflow is just one example, this is what i am talking about,
http://www.magnaflow.com/02product/shopdisplaycategories.asp?zone=main&id=301
i will ask 13b what he is running, i do want a deep nice sound, but i don't want it really loud.
You probably don't want my system... its louder than I anticipated and while I like it, its probably not in keeping with most 116s. Mine gets away with it due to the lowered stance, fat RWL tyres, angry looking driver :)
Idle is felt rather than heard unless you are behind the car with a very low frequency blob-blob-blob idle, normal diving range (1000-2000rpm) is loud and tells everyone around that its a V8, and when pushed hard above about 2300rpm its positively deafening - in a good way. I get away with it because in normal day to day driving I rarely go over 2300rpm.
It probably needs larger resonators and a larger muffler to bring the noise down to what is acceptable to most people's tastes. Here are some pictures anyway:
(http://ianmav.customer.netspace.net.au/auctions/Picture%20or%20Video%20285.jpg)
(http://ianmav.customer.netspace.net.au/auctions/Picture%20or%20Video%20286.jpg)
(http://ianmav.customer.netspace.net.au/auctions/Picture%20or%20Video%20287.jpg)
And these are what it sounds like:
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_B_Mz5fVb4)
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SrIGM1QdSc)
Ian.
This picture shows the one and only muffler on my 6.9
It's a stainless sports muffler with somebody's name on it - can't remember off hand as I have never had to worry about it.
You know it's working with a robust V8 sound but it's not particularly noisy.
Bill
(http://gallery.w116.org/dl/17472-3/Rear+Bumper+mountings.jpg)
might be abit off topic but how close is your exhaust to your steering box? i just put a new muffler on the rear and got rid of the middle muffler on my 280 souns nice not droney
answer to off topic: in the 450's the exhaust run's pretty close to the steering box.
Actually everything runs pretty bloody close to everything.
6.9's worse again.... or better, depending whether we're talking working on the car or the car working. ::)
13b, your car sounds nice! i am looking for something thats quiet at idle, loud when you step on the gas. I will be cutting some stock springs to see how that goes as far as lowering the car, if i achieve the look that i want then i wil def. go for a more aggresive note.
I always find it fascinating how the ride height, exhaust note, and wheel/tyre combination combine to enhance the demeanour of a car... get them wrong, and its like you're trying too hard - get it right and you run out of superlatives to describe it.
Yesterday my 6.9 was in at the local european car service centre for a minor service and apart from all the guys there loving it, most of the other patrons commented on the car as well... The rest of the cars in there for work were 1990s and 2000s plastic fantastics (you know... W124s, W140s, late model BMWs, that sort of thing). Having been cleaned and detailed the day before it just gleamed. It must suck for owners of late model S class cars to see most of the attention in the place was directed to the oldest car in there...
I.
Nostalgia somehow means more and is less threatening than modern reality.
My 6.9 number plates are copies of plates first issued in Western Australia in the 1960's and many of the older guys are taken with the plates and assume the car is about 15 years older than it really is.
Bill
Quote from: 500eguy on 22 January 2008, 02:03 AM
I was thinking about changing the muffler on my car to a magnaflow at the same time i cut my cats off, anyone ever upgrade the exhaust on a m117? just wondering about how loud it will be. I don't want to do it if it is going to sound obnoxious.
Here is a picture of the exhaust system on my 6.9 - It is obviously a Magnaflow and is a single pipe system with a small front resonator (which I had forgotton about) and a large rear muffler.
It obviously makes more noise than an OE but not enough to attract the constabulary and the "drum" at speed is quite minimal and comfortable while making sure you are always aware there is a big V8 doing the work. There are no uncomfortable periods of resonance any where in the rev band.
(http://gallery.w116.org/dl/17517-3/Exhaust+System.jpg)
Quote from: Michel on 25 January 2008, 03:01 AM
Quote from: WGB on 25 January 2008, 02:37 AM
My 6.9 number plates are copies of plates first issued in Western Australia in the 1960's and many of the older guys are taken with the plates and assume the car is about 15 years older than it really is.
Bill
Pictures PLease Brother Bill ;D
I, like Chris before me, have never publicised the number - due to my fetishism for security - but with you as a brother....
(http://gallery.w116.org/dl/17518-3/Rear+Plate.jpg)
Bill
Quote from: WGB on 26 January 2008, 01:35 AM
(http://gallery.w116.org/dl/17518-3/Rear+Plate.jpg)
Which must stand for:
U nassuming
M ercedes
B enz
6 90 h Shit !
I asked Chris - why the UMB? - but he didn't really know. The 690 is obvious.
Anyway he sold me the plates when he sold me the car - they are transferred separately and you pay different fees including Stamp Duty to transfer their ownership.
The U was a prefix for a series of numbers in WA in the 60's and early 70's so there is a local period side to it as well as the colour and style of the plates suiting the car.
Bill
I'm sure that is the reason. When I had the 190SL, I checked with Vic Roads for period correct plates, and for 1956, the sequence started with G. I was able to get GMB 190, but the plates went with the car when I sold it in the 1990's.
With carby's, if the back pressure was altered (i.e. by using straight through pipes) you really needed to adjust the mixture otherwise it may run lean and cause problems, but with the MB fuel injection system is this necessary any longer?
Classic Garage based out of NY USA still has some performance exhausts for the short wheel base w116 laying around for cheap. Shipping to OZ would be ridiculous but the US $ is weak. I purchased the SuperSprint kit a couple years ago and noticed they still have them. This is the only place I have come across that even had a performance exhaust for the w116. Just thought I'd pass along the info.
Dual Chrome-Tailpipe, Free Flow Exhaust for Mercedes 450SE 8-Cylinder 1973-1974. 2-Piece System without CATS! Supersprint $299 USD (http://www.classicgarage.com/mer450se8cyl.html)
Exhaust System, less head pipes, for Mercedes 450SE 1973-1976 (short chassis only). OE Eberspacher Center Resonator and Axel Pipes with ANSA Performance Rear Muffler and Chrome Tips. Weld-on-System $399 USD (http://www.classicgarage.com/me45exsy.html)
Performance Rear Muffler (Weld-on-Style) for Mercedes 450SE & 450SEL 1973-1979. New Old Stock, Chrome Tips Need Cleaning $150 USD (http://www.classicgarage.com/me4545anmu.html)
i Think i am going to buy the weld on style and just fab new pipes:) that would look so clean!
hmmm just looking at how cheap the entire system is and it seems like a great deal. How much of a difference is the Short wheelbase and Long WheelBase? just longer pipes right?
4" longer pipes in the area under the rear doors ought to solve it.
... apologies for bumping an oldish thread, but ....
My exhaust system is hanging too low, scrapes on bumps on the motorway occasionly when full of people, so I want to get it sorted before it falls off and leaves me stranded on the way top work or something.
Reason it hangs low is that it's been butchered, as in it only has a middle damper ( 450 SEL ). I was just trying to price new systems, but from this thread it appears that it can put on quite a variety of different combinations.....
...... thus I can bodge ( weld ) up something, like with the parts from my scrapped 280 ???????
I'm not too worried about performance, the V8 covers that, and I like noise.
Please advise if I'm heading the wrong direction here.
In all honesty there's nothing too complicated under the car and if you're not bothered about originality, any competent exhaust place should be able to fit a custom twin-system like mine for under $A1K. In fact my white 450SE has a large single system (the engine pipes are collected near the back of the transmission, and it just goes thru one resonator and a rear muffler, can be done for $A500 or less.. They sound good and won't scrape.
Which brings me to a different question, have you checked your SLS (if fitted) or your rear springs, as when loaded up with people / luggage the car shouldn't sit that low that the muffler scrapes on the motorway...
Can we seem some pictures under your car and how it sits when fully loaded with people?
Thanx
Just on the suggestion of you welding and "bodging something up", if funds are tight at the moment a good honest exhaust place should be happy to weld in pipe sections etc for not much money (say $100). Sounds like your mufflers etc are OK. They have good welders set up to do this sort of thing and they do this all the time so skilled in dealing with secondhand pipe etc. But especially with old cars, if you have the time on your hands by all means have a go.
In the meantime got rung up with a quote for a new exhaust, US$ 2600.
So indeed, it's going to be a "shade tree mechanic" jobbie.
Quote from: scraf on 03 April 2008, 05:20 PM
In the meantime got rung up with a quote for a new exhaust, US$ 2600.
So indeed, it's going to be a "shade tree mechanic" jobbie.
This price is outrageous.
I only payed 1500AU to have the oem system duplicated in polished stainless steel from the manifolds, and that took 5 days to install too.
Bill,
with those private retro plates, you can only get the black plates starting with U, or the black on white plates starting with X...ie you cant choose the first letter. its odd you cant pick the first letter...maybe there are a few stalwarts driving around with these plates so they cant reissue them!! personally, if they reissued the yellow plates in good nic, id consider putting them back on my 6.9s
AFAIK the "U" and "X" series plates were from the era when all states had the same format, AAA-111, the first letter is specific to the state, the "X" replaced the "U" when all available combinations were used up. Hence the fact that there is still no option to change either the "X" or the "U" on the retro plates... if you want a fully personalised plate that's easily done, even in that colour combination.
Interstingly, in WA the "1AA-111" format started at "6AA-111" for some reason.
Tim
Has anyonr done a Exst upgrade with a 300 SD w116 .. wounder what it would sounds like with the 5 cyl. turbo D hmm?
Hi there - I had mine done, with the Powerflow system, and wish I never had. The trouble is, stainless gives a more shrill tone. In fact, it's currently back in the shop for the second time as they struggle to restore its gentle purr. They've been great, actually - have actually fabricated some huge boxes.
The lads that did the job originally thought I'd be chuffed to bits if it sounded like a motorbike, but no... I think if you buy a car with this sort of dignity and poise, then one should maintain it!
ANd you know what? the orig Merc parts are not totally insanely priced. I wish I'd done that...
Leif
These sorts of prices you Australians pay really terrify me. Here in South Africa I would expect to pay around ZAR1500 to 1800 for a full dual system with one silencer and one resonator, from the manifolds all the way back - all custom made in large bore stainless with mandrel bends and polished outlets. Thats under $300. But then again our salaries are also weak :(
it was simple - i went into Licensing and thought " hmm, how about a black and white plate"..whats the cheapest etc. They had the "retro" plates at about $250. So I asked if U (you had to have U) followed by MB (Mercedes Benz) gollowed by 69 (6.9) followed by a 0 (seemed logical)
I am a beancouner after all.
;)