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500Eboard Management
2021 Flieben Exhaust Pre-Order
- Thread starter 5thscaleracer
- Start date
Invoices Sent all items will be boxed by Thursday 4-15-2021
Shipping will begin on 4-16-2021
Please send me the correct shipping address when you pay the invoice.
Thank you for supporting this project!
Shipping will begin on 4-16-2021
Please send me the correct shipping address when you pay the invoice.
Thank you for supporting this project!
Paid!! Can't wait !!
Those that have paid we start shipping rear cat back sections today.. tracking number to follow Via E-mail,
Front sections we are packing them as we speak they will start shipping on Monday.
Front sections we are packing them as we speak they will start shipping on Monday.
Received my cat back system yesterday and had them installed... can't say enough about the build quality and sound! Super happy with the results! Thank you @5thscaleracer.
slight hiccup on boxes for front sections we are shipping the remaining kits today everyone that has paid should have received a Fedex Tracking number yesterday. Tracking number will go live later today when it all gets picked up.
Everything shipped out
thank you guys!
thank you guys!
OMG, IT'S CAR PORN... is it too late to get one for my car????
Started installing the front section and test pipe today. I am still using the center and rear mufflers. It doesn’t look like the clamp fitting has enough room to slide on the new pipe before it hits the fresh weld.
@5thscaleracer what am I missing?
@5thscaleracer what am I missing?
I am following this closely to see the resolution! I have JC’s beautiful catalyst.... the exit pipes of the catalyst are made the same way as @IslandMon your test pipe .... and I am also hoping to bolt it onto the sam OE center resonator.....although I have not tried yet....
@IslandMon .... here is a pic of the catalyst I got from JC as well as my new center resonator. Note one of the center resonator input pipes are flared .... is yours flared the same way? It is kind of hard for me to tell .... like has your old center resonator been modified or is it just rusty crustiness that is blocking JC’s testpipe from sliding in?
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Yes, one pipe on the resonator is flared, the other accepts the smooth pipe of test pipe. With the clamp on the new test pipe smooth section, I can’t push the two pieces together all of the way because the weld on the new test pipe bottoms out on the clamp, leaving a gap bigger than the sealing ring at the flared pipes.
the weld on your cat section looks a lot smoother, so maybe the one on mine just wasn’t ground down after welding, preventing the clamp from sliding further up the test pipe.
I always thought the Flieben front section was designed to work specifically with the Flieben rear section... and it wasn't meant to be compatible with OE middle muffler/resonator. However, if the weld was either ground flat or relocated a few inches further upstream, it might be ok.
Note the Flieben rear section does not use the same type of connection on the slip-fit pipe, i.e. no graphite ring with compression flange as on the OE middle section. The Flieben slip-fit connection uses an external clamp.
Photo below from the 2019 thread, post #70 at this link.
Note the Flieben rear section does not use the same type of connection on the slip-fit pipe, i.e. no graphite ring with compression flange as on the OE middle section. The Flieben slip-fit connection uses an external clamp.
Photo below from the 2019 thread, post #70 at this link.
Hmmmm.... I think we need @5thscaleracer, when he has a chance, to tell us what the right approach is.
I thought in the 2019 thread that the Fleiben front section and [catalysts or testpipe] were supposed to work with the factory resonator and rear exhaust ----
Here from the 2019 thread: Post #14
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Same. Otherwise, why would anyone buy just a front section? Unless they were planning on having a custom resonator/muffler made that wasn't flieben
@IslandMon the section where the test pipe slips into seems shallow on your pipe. The front section is compatible with the stock 500E resonator we test fitted our kit vs a 1992 500E and a 93 500E.
The area circled in that image the little short expansion thats about 1/2 long thats where the graphite donut goes into and gets pressed against the flange to make a seal. On my rear section this was converted to become a slip fit so it will look different.
That little 1/2" expansion portion we can call the "Donut cup" should have a 4" expanded pipe section that allows the test pipe or catalyst to fit into.
I think you either have a different resonator than what what was originally shipped with the car from the factory? or could it be possible that a different resonator was used? Can you verify the part number of that resonator for me?
The area circled in that image the little short expansion thats about 1/2 long thats where the graphite donut goes into and gets pressed against the flange to make a seal. On my rear section this was converted to become a slip fit so it will look different.
That little 1/2" expansion portion we can call the "Donut cup" should have a 4" expanded pipe section that allows the test pipe or catalyst to fit into.
I think you either have a different resonator than what what was originally shipped with the car from the factory? or could it be possible that a different resonator was used? Can you verify the part number of that resonator for me?
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@Jlaa you posted an image of a new resonator
take a look at the area that have been circled see how the “donut cup” is followed by an expanded area then it steps down to its true pipe diameter.
my test pipe or catalyst extension. Will slip into this position.
@IslandMon take a look at this.
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Yeah, that's fascinating, thanks @5thscaleracer. The new resonator picture that I posted is the picture of a new resonator that I bought in 2017 (Mercedes part 124-490-77-21) and had installed on my car. Blowing up @IslandMon's resonator picture and my resonator picture, the "donut cup" area looks different. I wonder why. I note that the Eberspacher numbers are seemingly the same.
@IslandMon, if you move that flange, can you see a "pipe step"?
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@IslandMon in your case I don’t think my part will be a direct bolt on.
I will be more than happy to do a return on that part of you are not able to use it.
at the moment I do not have any 500e exhaust kits available and we are backed up on other exhaust kit orders. So if we were to do another run of rear sections it would be closer to 2022.
let me know what you would like to do.
I will be more than happy to do a return on that part of you are not able to use it.
at the moment I do not have any 500e exhaust kits available and we are backed up on other exhaust kit orders. So if we were to do another run of rear sections it would be closer to 2022.
let me know what you would like to do.
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could it have been repaired? i really don't know we used a 1992 and 1993 500e both had the factory exhaust and we did several test fits of both front and rear section before offering the kits.
@IslandMon an alternative fix is to take that resonator to a local muffler shop and tell him to expand the pipe a little bit larger. have him expand it the length of slip tube iirc is 6".
The muffler shop tech will need to heat up the pipe then expand because if they attempt to do it cold the pipe might crack due to age.
@5thscaleracer My factory resonator does have the stepped section you are referring to. The step is just underneath the flange in the picture. The pipe from your test pipe slides right in, but the weld on the test pipe prevents it from sliding in far enough for the flared side to meet the flared side of the resonator.
I didn't push it all the way together in the photo because I knew it wouldn't go all the way in, and didn't want to have to have to struggle pulling it apart for no reason.
@gsxr is probably right - if the weld is ground down, the flange should be able to slide past it (farther towards the front of the test pipe) so that the sections can be fully mated together.
Let me search for test fit images because iirc the flange was not meant to go past that weld spot.
I hope I still have them as this was done back in 2014
It does look like if the weld was ground smooth, it should work. Do you normally clean that weld up/ grind it? I am not positive that the flange will slide past it because the tubing OD gets slightly larger past that weld, but can grind down the weld to try.
Otherwise I am kind of screwed and can't use the car until I find another solution.
@IslandMon and @Jlaa it looks like I made a mistake in stating that these are backwards compatible.
I confirmed with Matt from Leistung Autohaus.
We never did the test fit of the new front section with factory resonator. The original design was to only offer the front section with upgraded rears.
That being said I am more than happy to do a return on these parts including shipping.
The other option which I am willing to cover the expense. Have a muffler shop cut that pipe 3-4” past that weld and replace with a smaller OD pipe that slips into the resonator.
This will allow the Oe flange to sit further back so it can fit further into the recess.
send me a copy of the invoice and I will refund the difference.
Third option
I can do the modifications here in CA but it would take two weeks to get these made and we exchange parts.
Return the old parts with the supplied call tag/box.
I confirmed with Matt from Leistung Autohaus.
We never did the test fit of the new front section with factory resonator. The original design was to only offer the front section with upgraded rears.
That being said I am more than happy to do a return on these parts including shipping.
The other option which I am willing to cover the expense. Have a muffler shop cut that pipe 3-4” past that weld and replace with a smaller OD pipe that slips into the resonator.
This will allow the Oe flange to sit further back so it can fit further into the recess.
send me a copy of the invoice and I will refund the difference.
Third option
I can do the modifications here in CA but it would take two weeks to get these made and we exchange parts.
Return the old parts with the supplied call tag/box.
Hello @5thscaleracer! Thank you so much for the candor!
I am inclined to take you up on your offer to go for the third option but let me please first explain my thinking.
The reason I purchased the Flieben front section + catalyst was because:
- My current front section + catalyst is OE from 1993.
- My current resonator and rear exhaust are new MB parts from 2017.
- I would run the Fleiben front section + catalyst with my 2017 resonator+exhaust until at some point I would replace my 2017 MB resonator+Exhaust with the Flieben turned-down-tip-rear exhaust. So it was the promise of interchangeability in the future that was attractive to me.
Thanks!
- @Jlaa
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So in order to make the Test pipe or Catalyst become compatible with either Stock or Flieben rear exhaust that one modification would need to take place.
FYI at the moment i don't have any exhaust kits in-stock they are made to order and i don't keep them on the shelf because of the limited 500E's produced to begin with.
I have a spare catalyst from the last run, so i will modify what i have and we can do an exchange.
UPDATE
Thank you!
I spoke with @5thscaleracer this morning on the phone. What an upstanding gentleman - so easy to work with!
@5thscaleracer is going to make a revision (Rev B) to all Flieben catalysts and the Flieben test pipes to be produced in the future.
This will ensure that Flieben catalysts and test pipes in the future can fit BOTH the factory resonator and the Flieben cat back exhaust.
(I'm putting this here so that I remember it when the time comes as well)
Got my test pipe modified today so that it would mate with the factory resonator. The shop cut back the test pipe a few inches, expanded it slightly, and then slid in a 4” section of pipe that had been expanded slightly to match the OD of the pipe that was previously welded by @5thscaleracer . I installed a new graphite ring from the dealer, tightened everything up and took her for a rip.
I can’t say for sure, but it seems like acceleration is slightly better. It also sounds great! The factory front pipe had aftermarket catalysts welded in that had slightly smaller pipe, which is why I think the engine is breathing better with the new setup.
I can’t say for sure, but it seems like acceleration is slightly better. It also sounds great! The factory front pipe had aftermarket catalysts welded in that had slightly smaller pipe, which is why I think the engine is breathing better with the new setup.
I wish to mention that @5thscaleracer is such a stand up gentleman. It is a pleasure pursuing this hobby with professionals like him.
He shipped me a new, revised catalyst section. I shipped back the catalyst section that I purchased from him in August 2019 with the shipping label that he provided in the box.
Here is a comparison of the Flieben catalyst section - 2019 vs 2021.
He shipped me a new, revised catalyst section. I shipped back the catalyst section that I purchased from him in August 2019 with the shipping label that he provided in the box.
Here is a comparison of the Flieben catalyst section - 2019 vs 2021.
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Great to hear how good his customer service is. I have the front section too sitting in a corner and my plan was to mate it up to the stock resonator and muffler which I was under the impression would be fine. I'll get a couple pics and send them over to 5thscaleracer and see what solution we can come up with. Planning to get the car on a lift next week and can start comparing.
By the way, I have a non-catted front section - would love to trade/pay up for a catted front section if anyone interested or any available
By the way, I have a non-catted front section - would love to trade/pay up for a catted front section if anyone interested or any available
Send me your info ASAP 5thscaleracer@verizon.net
I have a test pipe thats been modified which can be exchanged out ASAP. I also have the catalytic converter that JLaa returned to me. This needs to be modified but that will take 3-4 weeks to do because we are currently backed up with other exhaust projects that have promised deadlines.
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