Are MB exhaust sys. stainless steel?
 

When I bought my TD last year (actually Nov. 2001), one of the things that amazed me was that the exhaust system appeared to be original. The muffler is a MB muffler and has a date of 01/83 stamped on it. I have never heard of an exhaust sys. lasting 20 years (and counting). Is this normal for diesels or is it stainless steel. Even then, it's amazing that it has the orignal exhaust sys. The car itself was built in Feb. 1983.

I always thought that they were. I have an original, too!

The exhaust system on the '68 220D was not stainless, but it lasted until 1990 when I quit driving it. Did have a hole get blown out of the front end plate of the main muffler. It was not corroded, just got hammered by the exhaust pulses. Replaced it with some 1/4" diamond tread! Think that the soot and unburned diesel that coats the insides protects the system on the inside, which is where all the corrosion works on gasser exhaust systems. Not sure about the newer ones.

I replaced the exhaust in my 1985 W123 last year. It was original and not stainless. Mercedes must use good steel.

Amazing isn't it.
 

Mine is a 1977 and is original.......

It'll probably crap out this week

JCD

MB original exhaust is not stainless but with oil going through exhaust and MB using good quality heavy steal they often last 20 yrs. Mine did .

My 1981 W123 exhaust was replaced just this year and it had a small hole in rear muffler and a hole in pipe close to where it atached to manifold.

My 1979 W116, a 450SEL, had its original exhaust when I replaced it 2 years ago.

I'd say that is great service.

I have noticed that Diesels seem to be easier on exhaust systems than gasoline cars. Don't really know why this is the case but I have worked on several W123's with original exhaust systems 15-20 years old. On the other hand my 93 400E has a small leak and a quick inspection shows several trouble points in a system only 10 years old. Go figure.

Tim

HELLO GUYS
IT IS NOT THE STEEL IT'S THE SYSTEM.
DIESEL ENGINE FUMES DO NOT CORODE THE METAL SO MUCH BECAUSE OF THE UNBURND FUEL CREATE A COTING OF OILY STUFF WHICH HARDEN IN TIME AND PROTECT THE STEEL AGAINST WATER
THE SAME THING IT;S HAPENED WHEN YOU BUY A CAST IRON POT WHICH CONTAIN A HIGH CARBON CONTENT WHICH MEANS MUCH FASTER COROSION AND BEFORE USED YOU HAVE TO SEASON FIRST , COAT WHITH OIL AND BURNED BEFORE THOUCHING THE WATER. IN EUROPE WHICH DIESEL ENGINES ARE EXTENDET USED THE EXOST SISTEM LAST MORE THAN 20 YEARS. MY FHATER SYSTEM LAST FROM 1971 TO ALMOST1995 AND HE HAD TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT

I have owned three Diesel Mercedes, the first a 70 220d
over 330,000 miles, 2nd one 74 240d over 350,000
miles and the 85 just over 262,000 miles and never replaced
a muffler.

Bill

Glad to hear all of this, what with the price of a replacement system for my SD being somewhere in the area of $600!

You don't get as much water (if any) sitting in a Diesel exhaust either.... plus the oil coating. I don't know if Diesel just doesn't create as much water in combustion or if the exhaust gasses are just hot enough that it doesn't condense on the way out. You don't see a Diesel steaming or dripping water before it warms up on a cold morning like you do a gasser.... maybe smoking a little. I would bet that it doesn't create as much water though.

Diesel engines aren't throttled, so they move a whole lot more air through the exhaust. Less condensation, less acid, and less corrosive gas in there for less time.

I was under the impression that MB exhausts WERE stainless, just not non-magnetic stainless.

Peter

my 95 E300 is mostly stainless. I replaced the rear muffler last fall and it was rusted on all the seams. Themiddle muffler and pipes are stainless and look brand new. The front pipes and cat. yes cat are stainless and are cracked at the seams. Welding has held off the gremlins. However the list on the front pipe and cat is $1570.00 and only available from MB. Now theres a worry and a half:mad:

The exhaust-system on my diesel is all original and I live in the rust-belt :) The car lived all its life here...

Also had a W124 230E back home (Indonesia - right along the equator). It was not too humid but the muffler kept rusting and created many holes that kept getting patched until one day it fell off when I started the engine...

I always wondered bout that too.
Whenever I see gas cars here they throw out a lot of water vapor and some just drip water from the exhaust pipes. The diesels don't do that :) They have their own smoke hehehe..