W210 320CDI Exhaust. MB Original or Stainless?

[ringway]

The rear box is corroded although not a hopeless case - just passed the MOT and I could probably get another 6, months or so out of it.
It is a little noisy though and the heat shield is loose above the box so I had ideas of replacing it.

The stainless route has always intrigued me and I could get a full system from the cat to the back box for around the same price as the genuine MB rear box.

One thing that did cross my mind was that my car has done 138,000 miles and the age/condition of the cat is of concern, given that the replacement cost at the MB dealer would be around £2,000.

I considered running a cat-less stainless system (IIRC Maddog had one on his W210 320CDI) but have been advised that my engine would not run at all well with that set-up.

The guy I deal with at my MB dealer has thrown down the gauntlet to any car manufacturer to make an exhaust that is as good as a genuine MB. He says that Porsche exhausts are the only exhausts to come close, but that nothing gets near MB exhausts for quality. I believe him too.

So I think I'll be opting for the genuine MB rear box when the time comes.

 

[Phil Thomas]

The rear box is corroded although not a hopeless case - just passed the MOT and I could probably get another 6, months or so out of it.
It is a little noisy though and the heat shield is loose above the box so I had ideas of replacing it.

The stainless route has always intrigued me and I could get a full system from the cat to the back box for around the same price as the genuine MB rear box.

One thing that did cross my mind was that my car has done 138,000 miles and the age/condition of the cat is of concern, given that the replacement cost at the MB dealer would be around £2,000.

I considered running a cat-less stainless system (IIRC Maddog had one on his W210 320CDI) but have been advised that my engine would not run at all well with that set-up.

The guy I deal with at my MB dealer has thrown down the gauntlet to any car manufacturer to make an exhaust that is as good as a genuine MB. He says that Porsche exhausts are the only exhausts to come close, but that nothing gets near MB exhausts for quality. I believe him too.

So I think I'll be opting for the genuine MB rear box when the time comes.

As noted just above I had a rear box fitted at Kwikfit in April 2004, to replace the original, which had lasted 5 years. It failed within a year and was replaced without fuss. The mount had to be welded, but that seems to happen to MB ones too. On balance it seems as good as the MB one, but much cheaper. (I am not certain but I think the MB one was about £400: the Kwikfit one was £190.)

 

[Dieselman]

As noted just above I had a rear box fitted at Kwikfit in April 2004, to replace the original, which had lasted 5 years. It failed within a year and was replaced without fuss. The mount had to be welded, but that seems to happen to MB ones too. On balance it seems as good as the MB one, but much cheaper. (I am not certain but I think the MB one was about £400: the Kwikfit one was £190.)

Is that for a 320Cdi or for a 300Turbo.? Ones for 300turbo are readily available, but 320Cdi not.
I paid about £140 for a bosal rear section which took minutes to fit and is lasting better than the original MB one.

 

[Roger Jones]

The OEM-quality systems from Euro Car Parts and GSF are made by the same companies who supply MB -- Eberspächer, Ernst, etc. They are not that much cheaper than MB prices, but their quality is probably as good as makes little difference. Last time I replaced a system I did pay the premium for the MB option, because the price difference was slight after discount from my then-friendly dealer (since closed) and my mechanic was more emphatic than usual about the quality of MB's own product.

Other options from Euro and GSF are another matter, as is Kwik-Fit.

"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."
That observation is consistent with my experience, but how long ago was the welding done?

 

[Phil Thomas]

Is that for a 320Cdi or for a 300Turbo.? Ones for 300turbo are readily available, but 320Cdi not.
I paid about £140 for a bosal rear section which took minutes to fit and is lasting better than the original MB one.

Mine is a 300td. It looks as if I overpaid!

 

[Smiley]

The OEM-quality systems from Euro Car Parts and GSF are made by the same companies who supply MB -- Eberspächer, Ernst, etc. They are not that much cheaper than MB prices, but their quality is probably as good as makes little difference. Last time I replaced a system I did pay the premium for the MB option, because the price difference was slight after discount from my then-friendly dealer (since closed) and my mechanic was more emphatic than usual about the quality of MB's own product.

Other options from Euro and GSF are another matter, as is Kwik-Fit.

"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."
That observation is consistent with my experience, but how long ago was the welding done?

Had two sets of welding in two different places on the exhaust - both weld seams not the boxes - one done about 4 yrs ago the other last year - no sign of any bother at all - the systems are so thick and strong that they appear to take the welding repairs very well - and they are easy to do! (not by me of course!)

 

[ringway]

As noted just above I had a rear box fitted at Kwikfit in April 2004, to replace the original, which had lasted 5 years. It failed within a year and was replaced without fuss. The mount had to be welded, but that seems to happen to MB ones too. On balance it seems as good as the MB one, but much cheaper. (I am not certain but I think the MB one was about £400: the Kwikfit one was £190.)

I would never go down the Kwikfix route again.

My Omega (original) exhaust lasted around 8, years but needed replacing and I thought I would be selling the car and opted for a Kwikfix exhaust.
A few months after having the exhaust from Kwikfix, my Omega failed its MOT.... Because of the exhaust.

Since the fitment from Kwikfix the economy and performance of my Omega has deteriorated and it is booked in for a replacement/repair with their local branch.

I should think that Kwikfix have high overheads but they still make substantial profits. The only way to achieve those profits is to buy in volume, and then sell on, a product that costs them very little.

 

[280gee]

Had the back box bracket break off experience, a little while back on my W210 320CDI estate and was dismayed to find that it alone could not be repaired safely.

The exhaust from MB comes as one piece from the 'cats' back to the tailpipe. Hopefully I'll get five or six years out of it!

 

[ringway]

The exhaust from MB comes as one piece from the 'cats' back to the tailpipe. Hopefully I'll get five or six years out of it!

I would say 6-7 years at least for the genuine MB exhaust.
I think my 320CDI exhaust is on its way out prematurely due to the car being stood for a year before I bought it.

My Omega exhaust lasted around 8, years from new.