W208 CLK 230K Rattle

[Mattyn]

Hi All

If I were to say that on my 1999 CLK 230, when outside the car, I can hear a rattle from the mid point, almost underneath the front seats, but only when the car is in park, that sounds like a loose or broken exhaust mounting, would I be correct?

The sound goes completely when placed into Drive. Is this the dreaded CAT issue or something else? There are no other visible or operational indications that I can see or hear.

BTW the car has done 110K.

Thanks in advance

 

[steam_biker]

I find that the exhaust heat shields can cause a rattle.

 

[Mattyn]

Hi All

The rattle has now transformed to more of an exhaust blowing sound!! It really does seem to come from the down pipe/exhaust manifold area.

If it is so, can anyone recommend sellers of either/both, or ones to avoid... i am talking the ones from ebay.

I will be getting it on the ramps tomorrow (Thursday) to see whats going on!

Cheers

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
Check the gearbox to exhaust mount and heat shield, both very common faults.
The exhaust manifolds on these engines are quite common to crack as well.

 

[Mattyn]

So it might not be as expensive as I first feared?

Cheers

 

[Mattyn]

Hi All

Well - Had it looked at - and apparently the studs that hold the sections of exhaust together are rusting and separating - hence the blowing sound!

Downpipe to cat section is apparently the worst.

Does this make sense - been quoted £120 + vat to repair.

Seems better than the prices for exhausts!! Unfortunately not something I can do myself due to space and access!

Cheers

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
£120+VAT to replace the bolts throughout the exhaust, sounds very expensive to me, it should not take more than an hour to do plus the bolts, a couple of exhaust seals, (separate jointing flanges should be ok as they are quite substantial) and possibly some firegum. You sure there not doing anything else? eg, removing/replacing the exhaust manifold.

 

[Mattyn]

It was my Mrs that took the car in, though i did phone them later last night - there was no mention of changing manifolds, just the bolts, or studs as he called them.

Time for a second opinion I think - might try the Mercedes Specialist in Truro.

The quote comes from a national exhaust specialist known by the three initials!!

Cheers

 

[Howard]

You don't need an MB specialist for this.

Take it to the local garage , and pay them cash

 

[Mattyn]

Hi All

Well after a couple of visits to local garages at the weekend, and a lot of inhaling shaprly through teeth, shaking of heads etc, one not wanting the work, another in all fairness giving a lot of worst case scenarios, we took it back to ATS on Monday, who have changed the studed on the manifold to downpipe, and downpipe to cat sections.

£125 total - which was not too bad. The flanges only have surface rust apparently, so on the whole not too bad - could have been worse!

I have noticed though the mid section mount has sheared, from the exhaust pipe. Also the heat shield does not seem to be very securely attached - almost like some sort of press stud affair. But its all much better.

Cheers