W220 S500 De-cat advice

[LTD]

Looks like I have a primary catalyst start to collapse so a primary de-cat looks on the cards.

Anything I should be aware of ?

 

[mercedescl500]

Closed loop mapping requires the main/primary cat to be in place. If the main/primary cat is removed you will get a CEL and this will not go away as the lambda sensors are getting identical values. Kleemann can remap your ECU to take care of this issue. But this involves you removing your ECU and sending it to them or a specialist on the South Coast. HTH

I searched high and low but Kleemann were the only people who could take care of my ECU remapping needs. HTH

 

[LTD]

OK, maybe I have the naming wrong - it's the front cat. I assumed that they were named in relation to position ...

Indy that looks after the car suggests it's a common enough problem and a relatively simple workaround so I trust I have it wrong

 

[mercedescl500]

Main/primary cats are placed nearest to the engine. Secondary cats will be under the gearbox area. HTH

 

[LTD]

Main/primary cats are placed nearest to the engine. Secondary cats will be under the gearbox area. HTH

OK

Secondary cats it is then

 

[mercedescl500]

OK

Secondary cats it is then

Secondary cats can be removed without any remapping issues. This is because the lambda sensors (2 per exhaust) are located directly before the main catalyst and right after it. The secondary cats have no lambda sensors. HTH. The primary cat can be removed but in all honesty it's not worth the headache.

 

[LTD]

So just a simple case of removing the secondary cats and replacing with a suitable piece of pipe (on both sides) and job's a good 'un ?

 

[mercedescl500]

So just a simple case of removing the secondary cats and replacing with a suitable piece of pipe (on both sides) and job's a good 'un ?

Absolutely spot on ! you can replace the secondary cats with straight pipes/ H Pipes, or X Pipe.

 

[LTD]

Excellent !

Thanks for all your help.

 

[st4]

Absolutely spot on ! you can replace the secondary cats with straight pipes/ H Pipes, or X Pipe.

That will beef up the exhaust note a bit...which can only be welcome....

A criticism I have of all V8 Mercedes I have sampled (less so in LTDs car as its designed to be quiet and refined) but the C63s and E500 coupes are far far far too quiet....

 

[nick mercedes]

So just a simple case of removing the secondary cats and replacing with a suitable piece of pipe (on both sides) and job's a good 'un ?

No need for that, just cut open the cats, fish out the honeycomb stuff and braze them back up.

 

[LTD]

No need for that, just cut open the cats, fish out the honeycomb stuff and braze them back up.

A question to be asked then

 

[LTD]

<ponders>

Are old rattly cats worth any money ?

</ponders>

 

[mercedescl500]

read this thread

<ponders>

Are old rattly cats worth any money ?

</ponders>

LTD please read this Thread, apparently "good" manufactured catalysts are worth quite a bit.

Catalytic converter scrap value - VZi, Europe's largest VW, community and sales

 

[BlackC55]

Ratty cats are worthless.

 

[LTD]

Wee update - car booked in for mid-September.

Cats will be opened up, emptied and closed again.

£90

Seems an OK price considering it's a twin exhaust system and I'll report back in due course.

 

[LTD]

Well, the car is getting dropped off tomorrow evening for Thursday surgery so that the exhaust will be stone cold for the work to commence.

What changes should I expect after the work has been done ? I'm not doubting the guys that are doing it but would be interested to hear from anyone that has had similar work done ...

I will, of course, report back over the weekend.

 

[flango]

Well, the car is getting dropped off tomorrow evening for Thursday surgery so that the exhaust will be stone cold for the work to commence.

What changes should I expect after the work has been done ? I'm not doubting the guys that are doing it but would be interested to hear from anyone that has had similar work done ...

I will, of course, report back over the weekend.

Contrary to popular belief you can decat altogether and remap and not only Kleeman do this we have done quite a few. The course of action you are taking is a good one rip out the guts and weld back up. I suspect the price is so cheap as at present the intenals of the cats are of high value scrap wise to recover the platinum and palladium even the rattly cats are worth a lot.

i have one customer who takes in roadsweepers lets them dump and then processes the dirt to recover the above metals that have been deposited at the roadside from failing cats, trust me there is big money in it particularly in london and Birmingham.

If you still get problems then just decat completely, fit the X pipe and remap

 

[SilverSaloon]

will this be OK with the new 2012 MOT regs?

* A catalytic converter missing WILL be a reason for failure, regardless of whether or not the emissions limits are met.

 

[LTD]

will this be OK with the new 2012 MOT regs?

* A catalytic converter missing WILL be a reason for failure, regardless of whether or not the emissions limits are met.

I would reckon that all will be fine for me as these were the secondary cats that were removed. The primary cats, and associated sensors, are still in place therefore the car is still fitted with catalytic converters.

Got the car back today and all is well, the existing secondary cats were removed as they were tough wee buggers to open.

Runs nice and no rattling.