W210 320CDI Exhaust. MB Original or Stainless?

[ringway]

The rear box on my 2002 W210 320CDI estate is corroded and will shortly need replacing (heat shield is loose above also).

I am all for sticking to the original spec and have had the prices below from my MB dealer.

MB Dealer.
Supply only.
Rear Box inc Vat. £ 334.65.
Front Section inc Vat. £ 715.30.
Mid Section. £1160.35.
Depending on what section/s I require there is an installation cost of £98.32 inc Vat per hour.



However, I am also considering a stainless exhaust system and have received a quote from Longlife Exhausts detailed below (including a designer tail trim of my choice).

System from catalyst. £500.00 inc Vat and installation. (£425.00 if I order before the end of May).


I will be keeping the car for many years to come (I don't change my vehicles often and I really enjoy this one) and I want make sure I am making the best decision before parting with my cash.

With regard to the stainless steel system, I wouldn't really want the exhaust to sound noisier than standard but would obviously welcome any increase in economy or power.

I have read through a lot of interesting threads on this subject but would appreciate any further advice of any kind before I make a decision.

Should I stick the genuine MB box on the car?

Should I have a lifetime guarantee stainless system fitted for around the same price?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Paul.

 

[Roger Jones]

A stainless-steel system will be noisier and give you no performance benefits, as far as I'm aware.

I had it done by Longlife on my Capri 2.8i, because OEM is no longer available and the kit from the Capri Club had dubious reports. Longlife did not hesitate to acknowledge the noise factor. I first chose something slightly above their minimum-noise configuration, but returned the car to get it down to the absolute minimum, which Longlife did without problem or extra charge. The result is distinctly noisier that the original, but actually quite sweet and in keeping with the character of the car. As far as I can tell, they did a good job; no problems in use over nearly five years now, although they could have used better clamps/jubilee clips (my mechanic has continued to point out a slight weakness at the downpipe end and is actually replacing them tomorrow).

Those MB prices are wallet weeping. My first thought is to check out GSF and Euro Car Parts for alternatives, but I've just done that am surprised that I can find nothing for your model (perhaps I'm missng something).

 

[BTB 500]

Remember that a custom stainless steel exhaust will need to be declared to your insurer. Some companies will increase the premium and/or excess, others won't be bothered. But as a 'modified vehicle' it can restrict your options a little when shopping around for quotes.

 

[ringway]

Went to see the guys at Longlife Exhausts today and they seem to be a reasonable outfit - tidy workshop, knowledgeable etc.

I will also pay a visit to this company J P Exhausts and see what they have to offer.

Does anyone know the life expectancy of the catalytic converters on the 2002 W210 320CDI?

Regards,

Paul.

 

[BTB 500]

Longlife did the centre muffler removal on my R129, no problems at all.

 

[renault12ts]

Go stainlees, then photo it so I can make up my mind what to do

 

[ringway]

Go stainlees, then photo it so I can make up my mind what to do

Touche!

 

[GordonTarling]

I'm interested, too,in what you decide. FWIW, pattern parts for that car aren't available from anywhere else to my knowledge. Don't know why, as there's plenty of E320CDI estates on the road!

 

[grober]

One thing to watch is "lifetime guarantee" with ST/ST exhausts is usually a "back to base" repair i.e. you have to take the car back to where the exhaust was fitted to get it repaired. If your fitting station isn't local this might be a problem. Mercedes used to use Erberspacher Exhausts who are now part of the Unipart group of companies. Might be worth exploring that avenue?http://www.uees.co.uk/

 

[Phil Thomas]

I'm interested, too,in what you decide. FWIW, pattern parts for that car aren't available from anywhere else to my knowledge. Don't know why, as there's plenty of E320CDI estates on the road!

FWIW I had a pattern part from Kwikfit. (Rear box.) It was OK. A slight problem was fixed without fuss. It was a few years ago. Mine is a 300td though.

 

[renault12ts]

FWIW I had a pattern part from Kwikfit. (Rear box.) It was OK. A slight problem was fixed without fuss. It was a few years ago. Mine is a 300td though.

Any idea of the cost?

 

[ringway]

One thing to watch is "lifetime guarantee" with ST/ST exhausts is usually a "back to base" repair i.e. you have to take the car back to where the exhaust was fitted to get it repaired. If your fitting station isn't local this might be a problem.

One of the benefits of using Longlife is that you can take your car to ANY of their centres across the UK should you have a problem with the system.

Also they say that the lifetime guarantee is transferable to the next owner of the vehicle - apparantly they are the only company that offer a transferable guarantee.

I just need to decide whether to go for an original MB (back box) or a full stainless steel system.

 

[Phil Thomas]

Any idea of the cost?

I don't have access to the invoice as the car has been under repair since 19.04.09, and the docs are in the glove locker. About £40 as far as I can remember. I will get back to you on that as the car is due back today (but it has been due back on earlier dates!). There is another post by me in another thread on the same subject some time this year with a few more details.

 

[Phil Thomas]

It was your thread, 20.04.09, W210 rear exhaust.

 

[moakesr]

One of the benefits of using Longlife is that you can take your car to ANY of their centres across the UK should you have a problem with the system.

Also they say that the lifetime guarantee is transferable to the next owner of the vehicle - apparantly they are the only company that offer a transferable guarantee.

I just need to decide whether to go for an original MB (back box) or a full stainless steel system.

PD Gough in Nottingham offer a transferable guarantee for the life of the vehicle as well

 

[acm718]

Went to see the guys at Longlife Exhausts today and they seem to be a reasonable outfit - tidy workshop, knowledgeable etc.

I will also pay a visit to this company J P Exhausts and see what they have to offer.

Does anyone know the life expectancy of the catalytic converters on the 2002 W210 320CDI?

Regards,

Paul.

for JP in Macc - have used them twice and their exhausts/manifolds are works of art. They usually have some very interesting cars in there too.

 

[ringway]

for JP in Macc - have used them twice and their exhausts/manifolds are works of art. They usually have some very interesting cars in there too.

That's a glowing report. Many Thanks.

What cars did you have the exhausts fitted to?

Was the noise level increased?

Did you notice any gains in economy or power?

Regards,

Paul.

 

[Phil Thomas]

Any idea of the cost?

No news yet: the car has not reappered yet.

 

[Phil Thomas]

Any idea of the cost?

.

Finally got the car back. (Only 7 weeks!)

The cost was £190 inc VAT in April 2004. It is still on the car. Allowing for the warranty replacement, it bids fair to last as long as the MB original, which lasted 5 years.

 

[Smiley]

Have you actually looked at the corroded box yourself? The reason I ask is because I was advised the same thing for my w124. When I looked myself the box itself was 100% fine - it was the pipe leading out of the box to the centre section that was corroded around one of the weld seams - it was welded in situ in about 20 minutes by a local garage. The rest of the system is original 1995 and 200k + miles - and it shows no signs of requiring replacement any time soon. Maybe that is why the OEM MB parts are so so expensive - they dont sell many and they are over engineered.