1987 560sl exhaust

[560slsteve]

I have done the search and have read a lot on Timevalve exhausts--mostly good and a few bad. has anyone replaced the entire system on a 560 SL with the Timevalve system? If so, how do you like it as far as fit, finish, and OEM sound qualities?

The rear muffler is nearly gone on this car, and I was thinking of changing the complete sysytem with stainless. But I have been reading on aftermarket cats, changing O2 sensors, etc. etc. ad nauseum. In other words, info overload. Just looking for some real world experience for Timevalve on the 560. Thanks

[Strife]

From what I've read here, no aftermarket cat is as good as "the real thing". And the real thing is very expensive and unless it's been destroyed by rust or getting plugged I wouldn't replace it. My $0.02, unless you are keeping your car "forever", and nothing else is bad, I'd just replace the muffler with a regular one (not a difficult job but use original MB reinforced hangers). Someone here posted a while ago that the tailpipes on the Timevalve aren't exactly like the originals, but maybe they've changed this.

[Roncallo]

When I purchased my 88 560SL it needed a rear muffler. The muffler was completly rotted at both ends such that the can would slide back and forth, It also made noise sounding like a stock sixties american high performance muscle car. I replaced the muffler with a Bosal aftermarket and it still made just as much noise. Needless to say I was not impressed with Bosal at all and infact it's still on my list of parts to replace with a genuine MB rear muffler for about $300.00.

John Roncallo

[ctaylor738]

I did a Timevalve replacement on a 280SL and it worked out fine. The tips are different - they have a greater angle than the original. The cat and o2 sensor were not a problem.

But if you can keep your original cat, do it. A lot of times the cover deteriorates and makes it look worse than it is.

And if you have a blown-out center muffiler, a rear muffler won't do a lot of good in terms of noise.

[MTUpower]

I have a set of MB m117 tri y manifolds- if you go with the replacement you might as well get extra HP and still have OM manifolds. This is a shameless plug to sell them... I'm buying a house and need $

[560slsteve]

thanks for the posts.

This thing began when I was under the car replacing a dragging starter and becoming very familiar with the infamous 560SL top starter bolt and learning how to cuss in german...... I noticed the center resonator had a few small holes in it from either wear or they looked like scrapes on a speed bump. I dont know if that is in the heat shield, or if the exterior is the outer wall of the unit. So I get a brainstorm to just replace the entire exhaust with something that I can definitely do one time and forget it.

Then I begin to read about aftermarket cats, the different exhaust systems, etc. I called the dealer and got his price---yea right.

The car is in very good shape and has been taken care of---the exhaust makes no excess noise now, and the rust on the rear muffler is on the tips and bottom rear welds.

I do plan on keeping this car as an occasional driver, have had it about 6 years with no real problems, yet. I live at the coast, and do like the notion of stainless steel---I just now have concerns about the aftermarket cats and affects on the engine-ie, backpressure, etc.-- I dont have to worry about passing emmissions on this car in NC. I could probably get by with replacing the rear muffler, but from working on boats I DO like that stainless!!!

[Strife]

My original muffler fit the description of yours - rusty at the tips (and mine had rusted through seams on the pipes), but otherwise it didn't look too bad. Upon removal, I discovered that it had become a rust container - basically, the internal baffles were entirely disintegrated.