No cats on early R129 500 SL

[anonymoose]

I've seen mention that early R129 500 SLs, 1990 vintage, do not have cats. Is this correct? If so, when were cats added to the exhaust system?

Thanks.

 

[BTB 500]

IIRC they were mandatory on cars registered from 1/8/92 in the UK, so it's quite possible early R129s didn't have them.

 

[anonymoose]

Makes sense. One less thing to go wrong if true. Thanks.

 

[macabethiel]

R129 cats

I believe MB introduced them on the J plated models slightly ahead of the legislation for the UK market.

 

[IanA2]

I had them on my J reg 129....took them off.

 

[anonymoose]

I had them on my J reg 129....took them off.

So removing them on cars regged before the legislation came into force is a viable option regards passing MOTs should they fail / wear out?

 

[BTB 500]

So removing them on cars regged before the legislation came into force is a viable option regards passing MOTs should they fail / wear out?

Correct.

Cars registered before 1/8/92 only have to meet a fixed emission level, which will be achieveable without cats (because they weren't mandatory at that time).

Ones registered after that date have to meet levels originally defined by the manufacturer, which nearly always rely on the cat(s) being present and working.