Sorry to keep posting E50 problems here but all the German forums are dead, like ghost towns and usually the only response I get is " Go to a dealer or AMG directly"

I need new cats for my 97 E50 210.072.

The price I was quoted by AMG is 2590,00 EUR. which includes 2 O2 sensors.

Now, my mechanic has an idea to get me by in the meantime. This idea is to take the cats apart clean them out and repair as nessecary until i can afford the real AMG cats. I plan on getting the CATS on my 15th July paycheck. as this is almost an entire half month paycheck for this repair.

Any experts want to chime in on what could be the possible complications?

Will this get me by for say 2 weeks without problems? Or should I just leave the car there and rent a ford fiesta from SIXT until i can properly fix the problem. Main thing i can think of is back pressure and the O2 sensors going nuts and the engine running like crap.

The cats sound like they have marbles in them. My mechanic hasn't opened it up, but is confident that this could get me by without problems. Its of course not going to have the power it once did and i cant drive it like a madman. Say i dont rev over 3000 RPMs what is the likelyhood it will be okay. Like I said its my only car now that I sold my 190 and I need it. I can wait but thats just going to be more money on top of the 2590.

Does anyone know if I could use a universal cat or perhaps the cats off an E55 or even if anyone knows where i can get the CATS cheaper

Thank You
ANDY

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1997 E50 ///AMG, M119, 722.6 5-speed
1986 190E 2.3-16 ECE 185hp, power nothing
1983 380SEC, in storage sitting and rotting