Cats Breaking apart on my SL320

[KMA880]

Morning all,

I started the car this morning to hear the dreaded rattle when i put my foot down on the pedal.

It could be a loose heat shield or worst still the Cats... I have read most of the posts on here about getting them removed. Been calling around a few places and been quoted £250!!!! Would you believe....?

Based in High Wycombe, anyone able to recommend me a place where i can get them removed for a lot cheaper without going into London...?

Cheers

 

[BTB 500]

I assume the 320 is like other R129s and has primary and secondary cats.

It's only secondary cats that can be removed. Primaries are required for the MOT, so if that's what is failing on yours it will have to be replaced (fairly expensive).

Fingers crossed it will just be a heat shield.

 

[KMA880]

I hope its a heat shield - heard primaries could cost £1500+

 

[BTB 500]

Good luck!

 

[Shude]

I assume the 320 is like other R129s and has primary and secondary cats.

It's only secondary cats that can be removed. Primaries are required for the MOT, so if that's what is failing on yours it will have to be replaced (fairly expensive).

Fingers crossed it will just be a heat shield.

If the secondaries are ok I wonder if the primaries could be opened up, gutted then welded back up?

 

[LTD]

... Or removed and the internals broken up with a steel rod and hammer then tipped out. You wouldn't see any external change

Not that I'm advocating that though ...

 

[BTB 500]

I don't think it would pass the MOT emissions test on the secondary cat(s) alone.

AFAIK the secondaries are just there to keep emissions down when the engine is started from cold. Once it's warmed up they serve no purpose, and as the MOT is done with the engine at normal operating temp. they can be dispensed with.

 

[BlackC55]

To remove the secondry cats takes about 1.8 hours plus a little welding. £190 ish should do it

 

[KMA880]

Thanks all, taking it to my local to get it on a ramp tmrw... Fingers crossed...!

 

[KMA880]

Jus got back from KwikFit who put the car on the ramp and unfortunately it was not a heat shield. The dreaded rattling is coming from the driverside X-pipe so i assume now it is secondary Cats breaking apart!

I asked them how much is a replacement and they quoted me £380!!! Is that for real or did i get it wrong? When i asked again they said its prob not a MB part, can anyone shed light on this....

My logic will be to pay £250 and have em removed...?

 

[LTD]

Honestly.

Get whatever you want done at somewhere other than Kwik-Fit.

 

[KMA880]

cks

Ha ha, it was the only garage on my way home from work. Luckily i have spoken to the chaps at CKS Performance and they will sort it out for £195.

Just need to find a time to drop it off to them...

 

[Dryce]

I asked them how much is a replacement and they quoted me £380!!! Is that for real or did i get it wrong? When i asked again they said its prob not a MB part, can anyone shed light on this....

Could well be for real but almost defeinitely non-MB. Do a search on the web for a cat for your car. The non-OEM ones are not that expensive. No idea how good they are though.

 

[BlackC55]

Generally crap. Some are ok though. I prefer the real thing on a car like an SL. The non gen ones don't sound quite right. Almost tinney.