107 Muffler Supplier

[Dohea]

Hi, I’m trying to get hold of a standard type replacement rear muffler for my ‘82 380SL. My exhaust fitter installed a twin straight through muffler and whilst it sounds ok when accelerating hard it has terrible drone around 1500 - 2000 rpm where it spends a lot of time. Does anyone know where I can get one in Adelaide or Australia for a reasonable price, ie no second mortgage required.
Cheers Andrew

[CraigB]

I'm pretty sure the original was a twin straight through, but maybe yours is shorter or less padding in it. If you search on posts from Kimrh, he has recommended some mufflers, got a mental blank right now, but available in different lengths. I have a system that came off a 380sl but never heard the car running and i don't know if same as original. I can measure/ photograph. Also can check what is on my 350's. You are also welcome to come and compare - I am in Hawthorndene.

[CraigB]

also - have you got the flat unit that is under the car?

[Dohea]

Hi Craig, Thanks for your help. I believe the original is a really large muffler measuring about 15.75”x11”x6.5”. The twin pipes enter at the bottom of the front face after passing under the axle and exit at the top of the rear face. It would be interesting to know what the pipe lengths and chamber sizes are inside. With freight and currency conversion it might be worth getting one made up locally, perhaps is SS.
My exhaust fitter originally installed a pair of hotdogs in place of the centre resonator and it was loud! He subsequently replaced them with an off the shelf twin in, twin out and an x crossover. This reduces the overall volume a lot but the drone is not much different.
I’m following up on another lead at the moment but may get back to you for a look at the one you have off the 350; which are the same.

[AMG]

You need to look at Greg in Oz's thread on his 107026 exhaust.

Bosal was one of the OE manufacturers and they still sell the rear - Lurch had one fitted.

the centre section is twin as you will see in Greg's thread, but the internal perf pipe is tapered then flared, which is what 'quietens' the sound.

In my experience with the 107's, a centre muffler of a hot-dog style will do well to quieten things, but the rear box is actually where all the 'silencing' is done.

I've had twin 2.5" all the way to the back with straight through glasspack on the rear only, then in the middle, then both, then twin into single, then a magnaflow .

In all honesty, the best solution is a twin 2.25" stainless setup with an x pipe at the gearbox, twin to the rear as far as you can take it. Single rear mufflers are fine, but they alter the tonal characteristics of the engine.

It is a personal preference.

a completely standard OE system is nice and quiet. almost too quiet if you ask me.
Mercedes has not changed. even the AMG cars are 'too quiet' in loud mode inside the cabin. Outside is a different story on the latest 4.0 biturbo's in the new C63s E63s and GT. The G63 is another kettle of fish altogether because the exhaust exits the side below the drivers door and passenger door and the rumble at idle is omnipresent and very very pleasing.

Pity I don't have a spare 300K for one.

[Dohea]

Thanks AMG, I read @Greg in Oz’s post, very interesting; amazed to see the cutaway of the original muffler; there is a lot going on in that muffler.

[CraigB]

yep, i missed that detail when i first saw the post - not baffled but not exactly straight through, with a bit of a path before it gets out. With your standard mufflers on say Australian cars back in the day, the exhaust hits a baffle and has to work its way through holes and into another chamber, so quite restrictive. My M110 engined W116 had a rear muffler like that, which externally looked the same as the correct one I replaced it with. Original one you could pass a rod straight through, the one i pulled off went clunk a short way in as it hit the first baffle. The result of the change was not noticeably louder, very quiet still but a bit of a bark up near redline, but massive increase in power and willingness to rev and a great spin off with about 25% increase in fuel economy! I have my suspicions that it was more than just the muffler and it may have also been clogged. That rear box was really long, 18" or more, but main point that this car was nice and quiet and no drone with no baffles anywhere in the system, but it needs enough area to absorb the sound.

I wonder how the straight through set up of Gregs, but with a big box sounds. I suspect though that the safest way is to replace the rear one with one of those original ones with the loops in it, like Greg cut open - and AMG has indicated that these are available new.

[Dohea]

Hi, for anyone following this post or that is in need of a rear standard type muffler, I found the best deal at the time was to order a Walker (Starla) muffler from Rock Auto. Cheaper than any on offer in Oz. Finally the drone is gone.

[CraigB]

That's great to know - thanks for the feedback. Any difference in performance you can feel?

[matthewz108]

Also, do you know what the muffler code was? I also have the same problem on my 107 - they put in two hot dog style mufflers at the rear, and it's just that bit too drony (?)... I'm scared to go back to them and it will come back sounding like a Tesla.

[Dohea]

Hi Mathewz,
The muffler code is Walker 45924. It is pretty quiet but then I have a fairly significant centre resonator too. I can still hear the quieter v8 burble. With the small straight through all I heard was drone under 1800rpm.
Andrew

[Dohea]

Craig,
It's hard for me to notice any degradation in performance because subjectively - loud always sounds faster, if you know what I mean. I'll test it when I get out on the open road.
Andrew

[matthewz108]

Thanks Andrew, went for a long drive last weekend and that drone gets really annoying...