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Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo: an open-air V6, the exhaust system guide

12 min read

Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo: an open-air V6, the exhaust system guide

The SLC43 is a compact roadster with a retractable hard top, which AMG equipped with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 producing 367 hp in its original form. With the roof open, nothing should come between the driver and the engine's voice, and yet the factory exhaust is designed to keep it discreet. This guide gives you the keys to choosing a ROG valved exhaust and making the most of your SLC43 in the open air.

Written by ROG Motorsport · Updated

ROG valved exhaust system for Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo

Your ROG exhaust for the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo

From €2,490 in stainless steel, €2,990 in titanium

Configure my exhaust
Vehicles
Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 3.0 V6 biturbo (2017-2019)
Engine
M276 · 367 to 390 hp · 520 Nm, depending on the version
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 E43 W213 3.0 V6 biturbo, Mercedes-AMG GLE43 W166 3.0 V6 biturbo.

The twin-turbo M276 V6: the heart of the SLC43 roadster

The M276 is a 3.0-litre direct-injection V6, boosted by two turbos. In the SLC43 R172, it produces 367 hp and 520 Nm in its original form. Its torque arrives very early, which makes the little roadster lively every time you accelerate, and its crisp response suits a short chassis and wind-in-your-hair driving, on mountain roads and by the sea alike.

On a roadster, the exhaust is part of the show: with the roof open, it is what you hear most. Yet the SLC43's factory exhaust remains very restrained. The ROG valved exhaust gives you the choice: a frank, lively sound when you drive roof down on a clear road, factory discretion when circumstances demand it, without touching the engine or the ECU.

What makes up the exhaust on your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo

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 exhaustM276
Valves closed: the gases pass through the silencer chambers and the car stays composed.Valves open: the gases take the direct route and the engine speaks freely.Schematic only; the actual routing depends on the vehicle.

The cat-back is the complete exhaust system

It is everything you can see under the chassis of your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, from the outlet of the front section to the tips: pipes, silencer, valves. This is where our research and development is focused, and it is what shapes the sound. On its own, it changes the character of the car.

The front section, where the catalytic converter sits

On your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, that is the downpipe, the pipe leading from the turbo. It contains the factory catalytic converter: the second restriction in the exhaust, after the silencer. Replacing this part is optional: it frees up the flow, and an ECU remap is what turns that into power.

The figures for your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo

On a modern car, an exhaust system first changes the voice, the breathing and the weight at the rear. Power, on the other hand, comes from an ECU remap.

Power

Factory367 to 390 hp
Stage 2465 hp

Torque

Factory520 Nm
Stage 2650 Nm

Published factory and Stage 2 figures. Factory figures vary by version; Stage 2 published for the 390 hp version.

Our exhaust systems work perfectly with or without an ECU remap. On your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, however, we recommend having one done at an approved tuning centre: that is what lets the engine reach its full potential.

With its two turbos, the M276 offers headroom that a Stage 2 remap exploits through boost and injection management. The result depends on the quality of the tuning and the condition of the engine. The ROG exhaust does not contribute to it directly: it accompanies the tuned engine by giving it a more present voice, roof open or closed.

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-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, the exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium.

    304 stainless steel

    2 490 €

    Weight
    Baseline
    Sound
    Full and rounded

    The benchmark for high-end exhausts: tough, corrosion-proof, with a full, rounded sound. The choice of most of our customers.

    Titanium

    2 990 €

    Weight
    Around 40% lighter
    Sound
    Metallic, crystal-clear

    Around 40% lighter than stainless steel for the same design, with a more metallic sound that turns crystal-clear at high revs. Its finish ranges from brushed to blued tints.

    Over time, both hold up: 304 stainless steel stands up to winter salt and damp, 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-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, with its catalytic converter. Sound intensity is rated on our scale of 0 to 10, valves open; the factory exhaust scores 3.

    Cat-back only

    Included

    7/10

    Factory emissions control

    The factory catalytic converter stays in place. The starting point and, for many of our customers, more than enough.

    200-cell sports catalytic converter

    +1 450 €

    8/10

    Road use and French MOT

    Emissions control is still very much there, and flow improves noticeably. The choice for everyday driving.

    100-cell sports catalytic converter

    +1 450 €

    9/10

    French MOT pass not guaranteed

    Half as many cells: flow comes close to a decat and the sound gains real aggression at high revs.

    Decat

    +800 €

    10/10

    Track use only

    No emissions control: maximum flow, raw sound, the sharpest revving.

    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? A sports catalytic converter can trigger it: the oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter detects less cleaning than with the factory unit. It is not a fault. An ECU remap recalibrates the sensor, and a session with a diagnostic tool clears the fault code. With a decat, the warning light is almost certain without a remap. 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-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo.

    ROG remote

    ROG remote for opening and closing the valves

    A small control unit fits in the boot. Two buttons, open and closed: the valves respond at any moment, whatever the drive mode. Simple to fit, and we stay on hand throughout the installation.

    Factory control

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

    If your vehicle is fitted with factory valves, the exhaust keeps their existing control. The drive modes decide, just as they did from the factory, with no added electronics.

    On the motorway, with the valves closed, the gases pass through the silencer, designed for cruising: no drone at a steady speed. You open up when you feel like it, not when the motorway decides for you. More about exhaust drone.

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

    Match the tips to the style of your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, 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-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo

The ROG sound signature on the SLC43 R172

The twin-turbo V6 has a gruff, sporty voice, with a deep foundation that is surprising in a roadster of this size. In the standard SLC43, even with the roof open, it stays in the background, filtered by an exhaust that puts discretion ahead of the pleasure of hearing the engine.

With the valves open, the ROG exhaust makes the SLC43 a true-sounding roadster: a rich rumble on start-up, an angry note under acceleration and more expressive downshifts, to be savoured with the roof down. With the valves closed, the car stays pleasant day to day and on long journeys.

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 your exhaust and enter your VIN, found in box E of your registration certificate.

  2. Check

    We check compatibility with your VIN before manufacturing begins.

  3. Manufacturing

    Your exhaust is made to order, for your car.

  4. Delivery

    Free in Europe, insured to your door, tracked from dispatch.

  5. Fitting

    No welding or cutting: clamps and gaskets, around two hours on a lift.

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 on your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo? In Europe, a manufacturer cannot refuse warranty cover simply because a part from another brand has been fitted: it has to prove that the fault comes from that part. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.

Our recommendations for your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo

  • Daily driving

    2 490 €

    • Stainless
    • Cat-back only
    • ROG remote

    Your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you choose.

    View this configuration
  • Fast road

    4 440 €

    • Titanium
    • 200-cell downpipe
    • ECU remap

    More sound, more breathing, and a car you can still present at the French MOT.

    View this configuration
  • Track

    3 790 €

    • Titanium
    • Decat downpipe
    • Stage 2

    The most extreme configuration, for track use only.

    View this configuration

And if you are still unsure, that is perfectly normal: it is exactly why we answer the phone.

Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo: your questions

How much power does an exhaust system add to the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo?

From the factory, the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo produces 367 to 390 hp and 520 Nm depending on the version. An exhaust system on its own mainly changes the sound, the breathing and the weight; power is gained with an ECU remap. With a Stage 2 build, the published figures for the 390 hp version reach 465 hp and 650 Nm.

Stainless steel or titanium: which material for the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo?

For the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, the ROG exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium. 304 stainless steel is tough, rounded in tone and the most popular choice; titanium is around 40% lighter for the same design, with a more metallic sound at high revs.

Do you need to replace the catalytic converter on the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo?

No. On the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo, the cat-back alone carries the valves and already transforms the sound. Replacing the downpipe is an option for going further: with a 200-cell sports catalytic converter for the road, 100-cell or decat for more radical use, with an ECU remap to turn it into power.

Does the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo pass the French MOT with a ROG exhaust?

With the cat-back only or the 200-cell sports catalytic converter, emissions control is retained: present the car with the valves closed. The 100-cell converter no longer guarantees a pass, and the decat fails the emissions test.

How is the ROG exhaust fitted to the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo?

No welding or cutting, using clamps and gaskets. Allow two hours on average for a well-equipped mechanic. The exhaust is built for your VIN, which guarantees compatibility before it ships.

What does a ROG exhaust for the Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo cost, and how long does it take?

From €2,490 to €4,440 depending on the configuration. Allow 20 working days from order confirmation to delivery. Free delivery in Europe and a 3-year warranty.

Unsure about your configuration? Give us a call.

Between stainless steel and titanium, between the cat-back only and the full system, the right choice depends on how you drive and on your Mercedes-AMG SLC43 R172 V6 biturbo. 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.

RogMotorsport is a French brand built on one conviction: with an exhaust system, the support matters as much as the product. More than 500 exhaust systems fitted and a rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Further reading