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Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167: the M256 unmuted, the exhaust guide

11 min read

Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167: the M256 unmuted, the exhaust guide

The Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 pairs a large, spacious and refined family SUV with the M256, a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six that delivers 367 hp and 500 Nm. A smooth, powerful engine, yet its sound stays inaudible: the factory exhaust is made so you do not hear it. This guide gives you the keys to choosing a ROG exhaust that lends it a voice while keeping its touring comfort.

Written by ROG Motorsport · Updated

ROG valved exhaust system for Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo

Your ROG exhaust for Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo

From €3,390 in stainless steel, €4,140 in titanium

Configure my exhaust
Vehicles
Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 3.0 inline-six turbo (2020-2022)
Engine
M256 · 367 hp · 500 Nm
Exhaust
Valved cat-back, built for your VIN
Material
304 stainless steel or titanium
Front section
Optional: catted downpipe with 200 or 100 cells, or decat
Valves
ROG remote, or factory control if your vehicle has it
Lead time
20 working days from order confirmation to delivery
Warranty
3 years, parts and workmanship

Closely related versions have their own guide: Mercedes-AMG GLE53 W167 3.0 inline-six turbo, Mercedes-AMG GLE63 W167 4.0 V8 biturbo, Mercedes-AMG CLS53 C257 3.0 inline-six M256 4MATIC+, Mercedes-Benz CLS450 C257 3.0 inline-six turbo 4MATIC.

The M256: inline-six smoothness for the GLE450

The M256 is a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six. This naturally balanced layout stands out for its smoothness and evenness. In the GLE450 W167, it produces 367 hp and 500 Nm, with torque available very early that moves the large SUV effortlessly in all conditions, thanks to 4MATIC all-wheel drive.

On an SUV of this standing, the factory exhaust serves cabin silence first, at the expense of the engine's character. The ROG valved exhaust keeps that serenity with the valves closed, and lets the six-cylinder express itself when you open them. The GLE450 thus gains a sound personality that matches its performance, without losing any of its qualities as a long-distance cruiser.

What makes up the exhaust on your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo

An exhaust system is best understood in two parts. Here is what each one does, and what ROG replaces.

How the exhaust system is laid out From left to right: the engine, the front section, then the ROG cat-back with its valved silencer and tips.Front sectionROG cat-back: the complete exhaustM256
Valves closed: the gases take the long way through the silencer and the cabin stays calm.Valves open: no more detour, the sound comes out unfiltered.Schematic only; the actual routing depends on the vehicle.

The cat-back is the complete exhaust system

It is everything you can see under your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, from the outlet of the front section to the tips: pipes, silencer, valves. Routing, silencer, valves: this is where the sound is shaped, and where we focus our research and development.

The front section, where the catalytic converter sits

On your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, it is the downpipe, the pipe leading from the turbo. It contains the factory catalytic converter: the second restriction in the exhaust, after the silencer. Changing this part remains a choice: it pays off mainly with an ECU remap, which turns the freed-up flow into power.

Your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo in figures

What an exhaust changes straight away is the sound, the engine's breathing and the weight at the rear. For more power, add an ECU remap.

Power

Factory367 hp

Torque

Factory500 Nm

Published manufacturer and Stage 2 figures.

With or without an ECU remap, the exhaust fits and works. But it is an ECU remap at an approved tuning centre that truly unlocks your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, and that is what we recommend.

Configuring your exhaust, step by step

4 choices, in the same order as the product page configurator.

  1. Step 1 of 4: Material: stainless steel or titanium

    For your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, the exhaust costs €3,390 in stainless steel and €4,140 in titanium.

    304 stainless steel

    3 390 €

    Weight
    Baseline
    Sound
    Full and rounded

    Durable, corrosion-resistant, with a rounded, full sound: the most popular option.

    Titanium

    4 140 €

    Weight
    Around 40% lighter
    Sound
    Metallic, crystal-clear

    For the same design, it weighs around 40% less than stainless steel. A more metallic note at high revs and a look all of its own, from brushed to blued.

    Both materials age well: 304 stainless steel copes with winter and salt, and titanium does not rust. Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes.

  2. Step 2 of 4: Front section: downpipe and catalytic converter

    Optional: the downpipe on your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, with its catalytic converter. Sound rating out of 10, valves open: the factory exhaust sits at 3.

    Cat-back only

    Included

    7/10

    Factory emissions control

    Nothing changes at the front: the cat-back alone is already enough to change the car.

    200-cell sports catalytic converter

    +740 €

    8/10

    Road use and French MOT

    The everyday compromise: emissions control is still there, and breathing improves noticeably.

    100-cell sports catalytic converter

    +740 €

    9/10

    French MOT pass not guaranteed

    One step further: more flow, a more aggressive sound, reduced emissions control.

    Decat

    +500 €

    10/10

    Track use only

    Everything unleashed: maximum flow and unrestrained sound, for the track.

    Sound intensity, on a scale of 0 to 10

    1. 10/10Decat downpipe + ROG cat-back
    2. 9/10100-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
    3. 8/10200-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
    4. 7/10ROG cat-back only, factory catalytic converter retained
    5. 3/10Factory exhaust, for comparison

    Valves open. With the valves closed, every configuration becomes discreet again.

    What about the engine warning light? It can appear with a sports catalytic converter: the downstream oxygen sensor reads a different level of cleaning from the factory unit. It is not an engine fault, and it is dealt with by an ECU remap or a diagnostic tool. With a decat, an ECU remap becomes necessary. If it happens to you, call us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing the French MOT with a sports exhaust.

  3. Step 3 of 4: Valves: ROG remote or factory control

    Two ways to control the valves on your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo.

    ROG remote

    ROG remote for opening and closing the valves

    The simplest solution: a control unit in the boot and a remote, open or closed at the press of a button, whatever mode you are in. A question while fitting? We will get back to you.

    Factory control

    • Only for vehicles fitted with factory valves
    • Controlled by the drive modes

    Does your vehicle have factory valves? The exhaust keeps their existing control: the drive modes operate the valves, as before, with no added electronics.

    On a long journey, what matters is the absence of drone at a steady speed. With the valves closed, the exhaust keeps the cabin calm; the show is still there whenever you ask for it. More about exhaust drone.

  4. Step 4 of 4: Tips: the visual signature

    Match the tips to the style of your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, understated or bold. A particular finish in mind? Send us a photo and we will look at it together.

    • Stainless steel
    • Black
    • Carbon
    • Blued titanium
    Exhaust tips for Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo

The ROG sound signature on the M256 of the GLE450

The inline-six produces a smooth, continuous note, instantly recognisable, which thickens under acceleration. In the standard GLE450, this voice never gets beyond a murmur, masked by the cabin's careful soundproofing and by bulky silencers.

With the ROG exhaust's valves open, the M256 makes itself heard: a rounder bass at idle and a smooth, more present climb through the revs. With the valves closed, the GLE450 becomes once more the relaxed large SUV for family holidays and long motorway runs.

Valves open and valves closed: the gas path through the ROG silencer
Valves open, valves closed: the path the gases take through the silencer.

From order to fitting

  1. Configuration

    You choose the options for your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo and enter its VIN, found in box E of the registration certificate.

  2. Check

    We confirm compatibility with your car before we build it.

  3. Manufacturing

    Made to order, for your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo.

  4. Delivery

    Free, insured delivery, with tracking sent on dispatch.

  5. Fitting

    Clamps and gaskets, no welding: two hours on average at the garage of your choice.

20 working days from order confirmation to delivery

Warranty
3 years, parts and workmanship, from the date of delivery
Payment
In instalments with Klarna
Installation
At the garage of your choice

What about the manufacturer's warranty? In Europe, fitting a part from another brand is not enough on its own to void it; the manufacturer has to prove the link between that part and the fault. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.

Our recommendations for your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo

  • Daily driving

    3 390 €

    • Stainless
    • Cat-back only
    • ROG remote

    Your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you decide.

    View this configuration

  • Fast road

    4 880 €

    • Titanium
    • 200-cell downpipe
    • ECU remap

    For great roads: more voice and more response, while staying road-friendly.

    View this configuration

  • Track

    4 640 €

    • Titanium
    • Decat downpipe
    • Stage 2

    The most extreme configuration, for track use only.

    View this configuration

These profiles are starting points. The right choice is often made in five minutes on the phone.

Configure my exhaust for the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, from €3,390

Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo: your questions

How much power does an exhaust add on the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo?

As standard, the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo produces 367 hp and 500 Nm. Without a remap, the exhaust transforms the voice and lightens the rear; it is the ECU remap that increases power.

Stainless steel or titanium: which material for the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo?

For the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo, the ROG exhaust costs €3,390 in stainless steel and €4,140 in titanium. Choose stainless steel for value for money and a rounded sound, titanium to save around 40% in weight and get a clearer tone.

Do you need to replace the catalytic converter on the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo?

No, the cat-back alone already does most of the work on the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo. The downpipe option is for those tuning the engine: 200 cells to stay road-friendly, 100 cells or decat for the track.

Can the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo pass the French MOT with a ROG exhaust?

The cat-back only and the 200-cell sports catalytic converter both keep emissions control: that is the configuration to present, with the valves closed. The 100-cell converter makes a pass uncertain, and the decat fails the emissions test on the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo.

How is the ROG exhaust fitted on the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo?

Fitting needs no welding or cutting and takes two hours on average on a lift. We check compatibility with the VIN of your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo before manufacturing.

What price and lead time for a ROG exhaust on the Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo?

From €3,390 to €4,880 depending on the configuration. Allow 20 working days from order confirmation to delivery. Free delivery in Europe, 3-year warranty.

Unsure about your configuration? Give us a call.

Stainless steel or titanium, cat-back only or the complete system: the right choice depends on how you drive and on your Mercedes-Benz GLE450 W167 inline-six turbo. We take the time to talk it through before you order, with a reply within 24 hours. We are not here to sell to you over the phone: we help you choose, even if that means a cheaper option because it suits the way you drive.

07 56 95 95 39contact@rogmotorsport.com

Behind every ROG exhaust is a French team you can actually reach, who know the cars they talk about. More than 500 exhaust systems fitted and a rating of 4.9 out of 5.

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