Tinker,

We have an every other year inspection too, but in this case my son let the testing date pass by and the registration actually expired and we couldn't renew it until we got it through the emissions testing. As a result they penalized us and only gave us a year.

The cat in this car has been flanged since we had a Timevalve system installed that attaches to the headers a few years ago (I did the cat back when the car had about 70,000 miles on it and failed at a weld joint where the pipe entered the resonator - weld repaired it twice and then for half the cost got a lifetime warrantied Timevalve system and installed it). The Timevalve guys are local and they were reluctant to supply us with a cat at all because they apparently don't last long. So, we flange it in.

The aftermarket cats are kind of small compared to the original one, but they cost $85 instead of $1100. So, it is a pain that we have had to replace it twice but we are still over $1000 ahead of the option to put the OEM stuff in. The flanges make it easier to get in and out. Getting the O2 sensor out without wrecking the threads in the boss was a chore.

Glad the car passed and is properly registered again. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)