SLK5 5AMG F1 pace car sound

[Ballistic]

What's the best way too get that F1 pace car sound on a SLK55 AMG?

[MattyB_]

Quick listen to the vids suggest you'll get a similar noise just with an X-pipe mod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhdCP_CjAgs

[Ballistic]

Is that all that will be required?

So no need to change exhaust headers, cats, back-boxes?

[MattyB_]

Before I decided to move house instead of buying a '55, I looked at lots of exhaust options for them - by far the best and most cost-effective solution was to either remove the secondary cats (more of a 'Euro V8' noise) or replace the centre silencer with an XPipe (more of an 'American V8' noise).

The former isn't done by many, I suspect due to potential emissions issues, although two people I spoke to who've done it have reported 100% emission passes and sharper throttle response. In both cases, however, its about a £100 modification if you go to a fabricator, or about £400 if you buy the Supersprint ready-made option.


I've heard an SLK55 with full headers, downpipes and exhaust system, and it didn't really sound much different, certainly not enough to warrant the thousands of pounds it cost to do - so I think if you're purely after the noise (and not fussed about the power gains - which I think are fairly marginal, relative to the fact its a blisteringly quick car anyway) then I don't think you'll be dissapointed with either a decat or X-Pipe mod.

Note, this is all based on YouTube vids, all the SLK55's I've heard in the metal have been totally standard.

[Ballistic]

Thanks Matt, thats very useful information.

Would you care too elaborate on what you mean by the European and American v8 sound?
I always thought a v8 was a v8 apart from Ferrari which sound different because of their flat-plane crank.

[MattyB_]

Going on heresay unfortunately, as I've yet to hear one with a decat alone, but its (apparently) a slightly higher-pitched noise with a decat, rather than the XPipe which just replaces the resonator, giving a deeper 'burble'. Hard to be scientific explaining noises!

In reality the noises are going to be largly similar I suspect. I'm trying to find the thread on SLKWorld where this was discussed, will update if I find it.