Do I need to go to Midas now? Exhaust pipe cracked
 

Guys,
after searching high and low for the rattle at idle, I found that the exhaust pipe is cracked. It is downstream from the exhaust manifold, just before the U-Joint close to the passenger wheel. Another way to put it is...coming from the muffler, it is the area of the pipe exhaust that starts to angle upwards towards the engine.
if i grab the pipe, there is definitely play and I can see the crack.
Is there a diy fix for this or am i destined to get hosed by Midas?Can i get it welded? is it ok to weld something as rusty and old as that? I need your opinions.

JenT

you may be able to find some independant exhaust place that could patch it. A place did that to my brothers and welded in a piece of pipe for only $35. A small section of the pipe had a rusted hole, so they cut that out and put a piece of pipe there. Then they used some kind of filler for a 2" or so crack.
David

My preference is for a good independent shop over Midas. But that's another issue. My header pipe cracked and broke on my 409d a few months ago. In thinking about that problem I decided that diesels are a lot harder on the front section of exhaust pipe than gassers. The shaking and vibrating of a diesel puts a lot of stress on a pipe that is in a relatively fixed position. I decided the best fix was to have the shop install a flexible section in the header pipe. The stainless flex joint cost $90 but I figured it would greatly increase the life span of the header pipe.

If I'm not mistaken, your car may have had a flexible joint in that pipe at one time. I think a repair is possible but it might not last that long.

Jen try to find an independent "weld repair" shop or muffler shop that can make the weld repair in place. Should be pretty straight forward to get it welded up.

You guys are the best.

I took an early lunch (at 930am) to get to the indy that was recommended. A muffler and radiator outfit. Basically a one-man shop.

I watched the whole thing with facination. the torched out a section of the bad pipe and made a new one from scratch. Pipe bending included. $30.

No more rattle. Thanks again guys.

jennifer

Hi Jen.

$32+$10S&H at www.************************
For the price that you pay to have it
welded you can have a new one.

Louis.

No, that's $12 more than what she paid. She's thinking like a 240D owner. I like that. :D

Rick,

Enlighten me. I did not know there was (ideological) difference between 240 and 300 owners. With no intention of starting a turf war. What are those differences?

For me at least. I could care less about power windows, power sunroof, auto climate control, auto transmission, and lastly i don't think i will miss the extra acceleration of one more piston. Not really frugal. Maybe just more simplistic? I don't know.

Enlighten me o great one.

Jen

You pretty much got it. More simplistic, which almost always works out to equal more frugal.

Since he has a new job and less available internet time now, you're missing out on the great wisdom of LarryBible. A search for posts under his name will get you weeks of fabulous reading. He's the one who taught me to buy a W123. Stand by for a sample...

123 = economy, 124 = expensive

Notice Larry has over 6300 posts. :eek: Almost all of them are offering assistance to others.

240d owners hands are less beat up from mechanicing... due to the ample working space in the engine compartment. due to the lack of turbo and plenty of space between the firewall and the back of the engine....

PEH is the outlier. He's frugal and is part of the three liter crowd.

240D owners also have fewer stretch marks in their flesh because they are spared the wicked, rocket sled acceleration of the formidable OM617.952.

Jen, I can't remember, is your car a manual transmission?

Shhh, don't tell anybody about my E300. :o

(No, I'm not P E Haiges. He must be on vacation.)

That's not a REAL Mercedes like a W115, 116, 123 or the wannabe 126. I'd only drive that E300 if forced at gunpoint (or asked nicely).