Mercedes CLA 35 AMG C118 / X118: a voice worthy of the AMG badge, the complete guide

The AMG 35 2.0 turbo: the gateway to AMG, with the voice as an option

The 2.0 turbo in your CLA 35 AMG C118 is your entry ticket to the AMG world: a sharp chassis, all-wheel drive and an effective 306 hp. But when it comes to sound, the gap with the 45 is glaring: the factory exhaust is tame, far too tame for an AMG. It is the number one complaint from 35 owners.

The Rog exhaust closes that gap: a full, sporty tone, crackles on the overrun and, at last, a character worthy of the badge. And discretion is still available with the valves closed.

What makes up the exhaust on your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118

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

Your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118 in figures

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.

Published factory and Stage 2 figures.

Our exhaust systems work perfectly with or without an ECU remap. On your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118, however, we recommend having it done at an approved tuning centre: it is what lets the engine reach its full potential.

To be completely transparent: the exhaust alone mainly improves breathing and sound. The significant gains come from Stage 2, exhaust plus an ECU remap at an approved tuning centre, and the 2.0 turbo handles them with ease: its mechanical base is close to that of the 45.

Configuring your exhaust, step by step

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

1. 1

   Step 1 of 3: Material: stainless steel or titanium

   Titanium costs more than stainless steel; the price of each version is shown on the product page, in your currency.

   304 stainless steel

   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

   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. 2

   Step 2 of 3: Front section: downpipe and catalytic converter

   Optional: the downpipe on your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118, 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

   8/10

   Road use and inspection

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

   100-cell sports catalytic converter

   9/10

   Inspection: depends on local rules

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

   Decat

   10/10

   Track use

   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? With a sports cat, it can come on with some engines: the sensor placed after the catalytic converter measures a different level of emissions control from the original. It is not a mechanical failure, but a warning light should never be masked or cleared without dealing with its cause: the right answer is a catalytic converter suited to the engine, with a map by a tuner who takes it into account. The decat version, for track use only, almost always triggers it. If this happens to you, write to us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing vehicle inspection with a sports exhaust.

3. 3

   Step 3 of 3: Valves: Rog remote or factory control

   Two ways to control the valves on your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118.

   Rog remote

   

   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.

The Rog sound signature on the 2.0 AMG 35

Our exhaust gives your 35 the voice that sets it apart from the regular versions: a full, sporty tone, crackles on the overrun with the valves open and an assertive character under load. With the valves closed, it goes back to complete discretion. At last, you can hear the AMG badge.

From order to fitting

1. Configuration

   You choose your exhaust and enter your VIN, found in box E of your registration document or at the base of the windscreen.

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, 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 purchase

Payment

Card, PayPal or bank transfer

Installation

At the garage of your choice

What about the manufacturer's warranty on your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118? 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 CLA35 C118 / X118

• Daily driving

  • Stainless
  • Cat-back only
  • Rog remote

  Your Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118 stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you decide.

  View this configuration

• Fast road

  • Titanium
  • 200-cell downpipe
  • ECU remap

  More sound, more breathing, and a car you can still present at vehicle inspection.

  View this configuration

• Track

  • 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 every message.

Mercedes-AMG CLA35 C118 / X118: your questions

Further reading

• All Mercedes-AMG exhaust systems
• Mercedes-Benz CLA250 C118 / X118 2.0 turbo
• Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S C118 / X118 2.0 turbo
• Stage 2: the role of the downpipe
• How to pass vehicle inspection with a modified exhaust
• Pop & Bang: how it works, and is it risky?
• Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes
• The 28 brands we cover