How restrictive is the stock exaust on the E-420?

[Ascension]

I see threads about the E-500 being a good flowing system but what about the E-420?
Wondering how much of a power gain I could see with a free flowing system on my 420??

 

[ccrelan]

If you want to make a difference in quickness, swap in a 500e rear diff

 

[Taxi Driver]

Save some money , time and a lot of noice. You wouldn't be helped by a loud exh-system. 400 vs 500 has performance vice
no difference, from now on I myself go 6liter AMG motor in the 500 of mine, OEM exhaust, I like it low key and silent. Roger

 

[gerryvz]

It's been discussed and experimented with endlessly on the E500E, and the systems are quite similar between the 400E/E420 and the E500E. It's very very very hard to beat the stock system. So hard, in fact, that no one has yet to definitively do it.

There is a guy here on the forum who has been talking for the past 9 months (there's a thread about it if you look) about a new exhaust system for the E500E that is supposed to give it supercar-level performance or something, but he hasn't started the project yet. I guess he has done exhaust systems for other Benz models that have transformed them from relatively mundane, subdued cars into fire-breathing Lamborghini-eaters, so I guess that is his intent here as well.

Can you tell that I'm just a wee bit skeptical/sarcastic about this? It's been tried before and no one has done it, including some folks with money and expertise in doing so.

Keep what you've got. It's really quite good. Put your money elsewhere.

 

[gsxr]

I see threads about the E-500 being a good flowing system but what about the E-420?
Wondering how much of a power gain I could see with a free flowing system on my 420??

Zero gain. Waste of money. Eric will disagree but also have no evidence to support his claim...

 

[Klink]

Zero gain. Waste of money. Eric will disagree but also have no evidence to support his claim...

 

[Taxi Driver]

If you want to make a difference in quickness, swap in a 500e rear diff

Yeah, why not put a 5liter in there also. Roger

 

[126v8]

Yeah, why not put a 5liter in there also. Roger

I think that would be money well spent.

 

[gerryvz]

Or this:

 

[doolar]

I have stainless steel exhaust with race cat on my E420. It sounds wonderful, and it felt like 30+hp when I picked the car up from the shop. But that was most likely horses returning from grazing, my old cat was totally shot.

Stainless steel with cat handbuilt on the car (Feritta) was actually cheaper than a new stock exhaust from M-B, that's why I went with it. The sound was just a bonus, oh and lifetime guarantee, no more exhaust changes for me.

I'd love to add NOS...

 

[maw1124]

I agree with GVZ and GSXR on this, as it relates to power. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't change the exhaust. Going to a free flow system WILL return horses from grazing, the car WILL breathe better through the higher RPMs, it WILL feel faster for all the excess weight you leave at your exhaust shop, and it WILL sound like it has the power that it has as opposed to sounding like Grandma's old Mercedes.

All of this will likely make it more enjoyable to drive. And for the money we're talking about and the fun of modifying your exhaust, I think it's resources well spent. But just understand your spec sheet will remain the same and the car won't be all that much faster (not that these are fast cars anyway).

Nitrous or forced induction will make it fast, but it will likely drain your wallet and your patience faster.

Good luck with whatever you decide. And no matter what, have fun with it.

Cheers,

maw