broken heat trap oxidizer on 606 w210? removal/modification??
 

i've got a hellacious rattle in my '98 e300's exhaust. i've checked all of the heat shields, hangars, pipe clearances and beat on the muffler and resonator with a rubber mallet. i've got it narrowed down to the oxidizer. i know about the issues with the oxidizers commonly going bad on 603's.

is this common on the w210?

are there any legality issues with removal or "modification"?

i've searched and only found threads dealing with the older 603's.

There is no trap oxidizer. It's at least over 10 years old, the car. Things get old.

The catalytic convertor is just behind the turbo.

i was under the the impression that a TO did the same thing as a CAT for a diesel (burn off particulate "pollution"). regardless, has anyone had issues broke broken cells in their CAT? best sources for a new one? thanks.

anyone..?..part sources..?

You're in Maryland. Do you remember your last inspection? Just straight pipe it.

You can get a generic replacement cat for not a lot of money. What size is the stock exhaust? One vender I frequent sells a Magnaflow 2.5" or 2.25" diesel ox cat for $150.

-J

I had a rattle going on in mine too. I removed the stock trap and used a very long screw driver to knock the element out of it. I reinstalled it, and had no issues at all. Everything looked stock. You can do this procedure yourself and not have to spend any money to repair it.

Eventually, I replaced my entire exhaust with a 3" straight pipe.

As others have noted, this is not a DPF like the early 603s had. It's a diesel oxidization catalyst. It doesn't rob nearly as much power or cause anywhere near as much heat as the DPF / trap oxidizer did.

-J

i am not having a problem with mine but plan to remove it as well. I'd like to hear what a 606 sounds like with 3" straight exhaust. ;)

Renntag,
Let me see what I can do about getting a video and sound clip with my new exhaust. My car sounds awesome.