How much should I expect to pay for a custom exhaust on a 2002 ML320?

Question

I want something that is good quality, but doesn't necessarily have to be "top of the line". I am looking for some increase in HP, as well as a nice european sound (I don't want a cheap japanese sound). I have heard of Borla and Remus, but not sure if either of those are the best brands. I'm thinking about a cat-back system, priced to include installation. Thanks.

That doesn't help, Andrew. My engine has more HP than a freaking civic, and people put custom exhaust systems on those all the time. And, I never said I wanted to "hot rod" the car. Why don't you spend your time doing something productive, no one likes a hater.

Answer 1

If you want a "European" sound, stick with stock. Europe has strict noise emission laws.

Borla doesn't make a cat-back system for the ML series. Not sure about Remus. You're probably going to need a custom system for that model; expect to spend around $1,000 for a well-designed stainless steel system with a Borla universal muffler.

The sound you get is based on two primary factors, the number of cylinders and the placement of the muffler. The cheap "Jap" sound comes from 4 cylinder engines and the muffler at the end of the pipe. A six is a bit more mellow and you deepen the tone by locating the muffler as close to the cat as possible.

Answer 2

I put a Supersprint cat-back system in my BMW. The quality of the system is excellent, made in Europe. It was bolt-on, which means if you have to pay someone to install it, it should be reasonable. The sound is louder than stock, but not so loud that you're setting off every car alarm on the block ;-) It also added about 18 hp, or roughly 4%. The cost of the parts are in the link below. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

With that motor nothing is gonna sound good. Nobody Hot Rods a Benzy what are you thinkin???