New w202 C43 owner potential exhaust replacement

[waisal]

Hello
I have owned a 99 plate C43 AMG for just over a week and have been doing jobs to get it in the best condition possible.
Took it for a B service today at a highly rated Merc independent who put it on a ramp and let me inspect the underneath.

They pointed out the exhaust joints/clamps 3 of them along the length of the exhaust have rusted badly and cracked at the moment there is no blowing but I am anxious that this may occur before MOT is due in a few months.

Asked their advice and they stated that this is a full exhaust replacement job even though all the exhaust sections look in very good overall condition other than the joints similar to this picture



Would rather not go down the route of full exhaust replacement if at all possible and would appreciate any advice.

Many Thanks

 

[Lenny63]

The joins are a notorious weak spot with age.

If the exhaust is otherwise good , my advice would be to find yourself a good custom exhaust shop who can cut out the joins and make some custom pipe work to replace them , welded in.

This is what I did on both c43 & clk430 when the same weak areas have trouble

If you check out my c43 thread I put some photos up of before and after as well as the join condition

 

[waisal]

Thanks Lenny63
Just read your post looks like a great job, how was the longevity of the repair?
mine isn't blowing yet so will give me time to find a good exhaust specialist in the Manchester area.

 

[Lenny63]

The repair will probably outlast the car lol stainless steel

 

[waisal]

Very true
Saying that though I dont want to be shelling out yet for the exhaust just had...
the wheels refurbed
2 new Continentals for the rear
Full B service
Replaced both front lower ball joints
Transmission fluid change and new filter
Brake fluid change and new rear pads
Replaced rear window motor
So all in all about £1700 just spent
But nobody said AMG ownership was cheap

 

[frostbite]

My 2000 C43 had a rather tatty exhaust, I took it to MSL/Torqueflow in Birmingham last autumn. Imran is the artisan who put me in a new system with front cats deleted, two sports cats in the middle and still used the original back box and tailpipes which were in good nick. Sounds really nice (not loud) and looks gorgeous, not that I see it very often. Good value there and you're treated like a friend.

 

[Lenny63]

Car going well frosty ??

 

[waisal]

My 2000 C43 had a rather tatty exhaust, I took it to MSL/Torqueflow in Birmingham last autumn. Imran is the artisan who put me in a new system with front cats deleted, two sports cats in the middle and still used the original back box and tailpipes which were in good nick. Sounds really nice (not loud) and looks gorgeous, not that I see it very often. Good value there and you're treated like a friend.

Hello Frostbite
what sort of cost will I be looking at for the type of work you had done.

 

[ice643]

try Tony Banks in Leeds. I had my x pipe done by him.I wasnt happy with the original pipe so he welded another one.very good service.

 

[MC63CLK]

try Tony Banks in Leeds. I had my x pipe done by him.I wasnt happy with the original pipe so he welded another one.very good service.

Well Mr Banks made a mess of my minor job on the exhaust.
Took it to him for a tester and his workmanship on that occasion was poor so won't be heading back there in a hurry
Take your chances with him id say

 

[ice643]

Well Mr Banks made a mess of my minor job on the exhaust.
Took it to him for a tester and his workmanship on that occasion was poor so won't be heading back there in a hurry
Take your chances with him id say

i have read good reviews about him, i will stay away in future.