Peter, I was interested to read that in sport mode your Merc`s gearbox seems programmed to use engine over run on throttle off down shifts, causing a fruity note exhaust note, which is very much a part of my sports car ideals and the old +8 supplies that in spades...
The late 2016 build, Feb 2017 sold C43s have a cabin button that allows the owner to select quiet exhaust or noisy exhaust in ANY of the other settings: the button operates a power valve in the exhaust, essentially bypassing the rear silencer on each side.
Using Sports Plus defaults to the noisy exhaust, but even in Economy Pro setting you can be noisey. For 2018 there was a model refresh that removed this choice and it is now only possible to be noisy in Sport Plus. My feeling is that even so it is quieter. My Mercedes specialist acquaintance tells me that in the leary mode extra fuel is injected as the exhaust valve opens to cause the really loud popping. Childish, anti social and other negative comments, but we love it. It is actually noisier on the overrun than the Morgan!
What we like is that a seemingly proper Mercedes Coupe can be made as noisy as a hot hatchback driven by a 20 year old...
