Here's How You Make An Old Mercedes S-Class Sound Like A Pagani Zonda

This guy turned the muted hum of his S-Class' V12 into a Zonda-like shriek

18 May 2015

If you know your Merc engines, you’ll probably be aware that the M120 6.0-litre V12 engine found in particular cars from the 90s like the W140 S600 and CL600 is the same unit used for the very first Pagani Zonda, the C12. It appeared in the supercar in an untuned state, before the AMG-fettled 7.0-litre version was adopted in later Zondas. However, while you might be able to buy an M120-engined Merc pretty cheaply - just check out this £4k CL600 - you’ll get a muted hum from the V12 when you floor it, rather than the unruly shriek of the Zonda.

Here's How You Make An Old Mercedes S-Class Sound Like A Pagani Zonda

The good news is there is something you can do to get that Zonda noise on the cheap. The guy who made this video owns a W220 S-Class with the M120’s successor - the 5.8-litre M137 - under the bonnet, and it sounds uncannily like something with a Pagani badge on it. The secret is in a set of custom equal-length headers (above), which make this once discreet S-Class sound absolutely incredible.

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