Replacing Cats on 560SL in California - Help please
 

Hello. I just purchased a 1986 560SL with a bit less than 100k mi. Unfortunately it does not pass smog here in Calif. I was told that the main catalytic converter is blown. As I browse the various cats for sale online, I sometimes see a disclaimer that the cat is not for sale for OBDII 1995 on. I'm confused as to what this means. Calif apparently has very strict regs on replacement of the cats. Do I have to purchase a OEM MBZ cat or can I use an aftermarket one? I can't afford an OEM MBZ Cat!

FastLane
 

Go to the FastLane section "Buy Parts" in this forum and give Phil a call. He will either get you a cat or tell you where you need to go.

He got a cat for my 500SL euro to get it thru 48 state emissions. Ordered it and had it in 3 days.

Welcome and good luck with your new purchase

Thanks for the tip Kbannister.

What's confusing me is there are actually 2 catalytics, a right and left one, one behind the other. Some of the website catalogs only list one catalytic while others list two. I found a Caatco part # for the right and left at $320 each. Ansa, who makes direct fit replacement parts, shows only one part#.

So far the price leader for direct fit and therefore legal, are the Caatco's with an Ansa rear muffler.

I think that you need to make sure that you actually need a cat, and then find out what exhaust setup you have. My 1987 has a combination cat and center muffler and no other plumbing.

110K sounds a little early for a cat to fail if the car passed emissions before.

Maybe cars sold in California were different?

If you failed marginally, read this board for techniques and magic potions that will help a marginal car pass.

I think that the LAST thing that should be looked at would be the cat converter.

First:

1. A complete tune-up w air filter/rotor/cap, check wires (must be perfect, watch engine run at night in the dark). Plugs gapped correctly. Check EGR function. If you can't really test it, shotgun the O2 sensor (it is possible to install a much less expensive Bosch generic with a little rewiring, making "parts replacement" type diagnosis somewhat affordable).

2. Fuel system/injector cleaner (Chevron), go through one tank.

I think the converter assy is one assy with the cat part and sort of an "after-muffler", and an OE assy is really expensive.

You should read my post under Tech help about Cats. The original exhaust system from MB is over $4000.00 for left to right cross over pipe, right pipe cat, muffler and secondary muffler.

The direct fit replacements are significantly inferior. The original system has a left to right side crossover pipe completely heat shilded. The right side pipe consists of 1 cat followed by one muffler all of which are completly insulation wraped and heat shilded. Finally clamped to the right side pipe is a secondary muffler unshilded. The aftermarket DEC right side pipe purchased consited of 2 tiny bullet type universal cats in series and no muffler with no insulation or heat shilding. The Miller crossover pipe also had no heat shilding. The Bosal secondary muffler I replaced had no effect on reducing noise over the completly rotted out original MB muffler. Also the MB system is non-magnetic stainless steel. the other parts are magnetic who knows what.

The end result is a car that sounds like a Ford Mustang at all times. I drove the 560SL's new and at that time they were very quiet with the exception of wide open throttle, where they would have a nice growel. The stock system is just the way an exhaust system should be. I still have my original system which I plan on re-insulating and heat shielding and reinstalling. You get what you pay for.

If I had to do it again I would buy a used low milage one from a Junk Yard if it wasnt repairable.


John Roncallo

California Pre Cat
 

[QUOTE=TheLex]Thanks for the tip Kbannister.
What's confusing me is there are actually 2 catalytics, a right and left one, one behind the other. Some of the website catalogs only list one catalytic while others list two.


What you have is a "pre cat" on the L.H. side and a main cat down stream. The engine pipe with the pre cat crosses over into the R.H. engine pipe before the main cat. This is a California deal because of the strict emissions. In the other 48 states, one cat with a center muffler behind it is all that is needed. If in fact you really do need a cat, and it is the main one, you might get away with just replacing that one. If you have your emission numbers and what they are supposed to be in CA, post them so some of the emissions experts may be able to diag your problem.

The cats you saw advertised for the OBDII are a different design made for the later models with the onboard computers. They won't work for you. You need the pre OBDII cats

I bought Magnaflow 50004 2" precats and 94008 2" dual in/out for my car.

Just wondering, how did you come to purchase a car in California that did not come with a smog certificate (which means it passed Valifornia smog test)

California law is that the seller MUST supply a valid smog certificate along with the title, for a 1986 car. No way for a dealer to get around this; did you buy privately and get a cheaper deal with the agreement that you, the buyer had to obtain the smog certificate yourself?

Just wondering - this issue comes up in California, in private sales sometimes

if you are near san diego, i would be happy to give it a once over to see if all is in order, i am a state of california licensed smog technician

Thanks for all the replies. I purchased the car out of state, so it didn't come with a smog certificate. The seller claims the car passed smog in Ohio. But of course Calif is much stricter.

The make things more confusing, the mechanic who looked at the car intially, told me that the car needed a new cat. He said you could tell by the hollowed out sound and that the catalyst was empty. Well, when I had the car up on a rack the other day, I found a hole in the rear muffler. So that in of itself may account for the "hollowed out sound".

Thanks for the offer to have the car looked at in So Cal, but I'm in the Sacramento/PlacerCounty area. I'm looking for a good MBZ shop here.

If you have a hole in your muffler, you can bet that the iron oxide dust has fallen out of it entirely. Mine looked OK except for tailpipes rusted at the seams. When I removed it, I discovered that it was a rust particle container.

Honestly, depending on why you did not pass, it could just be a minor tuneup, and shell be all good and dandy. My TE has a hole in the muffler, but it still passed smog (barely though.) My strategy has always been to drive it hard and lave it running before the smog. That way the cat is nice and hot, and its oprating at near excellent efficiency. I think that many owners have found it as common practice before smog check.



PS, I am in Citrus Heights, and I would reccomend my indy. He has been servicing my cars for 5 years, and does excellent work. I will pm you his info.

I ran the Good Shops section (I am in Nevada County) all the way back looking for something. I took the car in for an oil change, (Supposedly the best shop in Grass Valley) and got in a big argument with them about how many quarts needed to be put in. Only won when I showed the service manual.

So I am looking too!!

Anyway the shop nearest according to Mercedesshop with the best recommendation came back to Stephens Service center, 5000 Elvas Ave. Sacramento, (916) 452-5068 The owner Tom supposedly hates dealers, has all the lastest MB diagnostic equipment, the shop is near 30th and old Sutter Hospital. He was formerly a MB dlr tech.

Second most often mentioned was Silver Star Motors, 7749 Fair Oaks Blvd Carmichael, (916) 944-0420

Also recommended was Richards Sutttgart Motors, 6518 Franklin Blvd, So. Sacto,. (916)391-8119

and spun off by a top tech from Stephens Service when their best tech decided to open his own shop, Capitol City European, 1725-33rd st. Sacramento, (916) 452-5811 Owner is Chris Weissensee


Apparently these got the Best Merecedesshop recomms.

No personal experience with any of them Good Luck

Stay AWAY from Silver Star in Sacramento
 

Silver Star in Sacramento gets a THUMBS DOWN.

They repaired the power window relay in my car by jimmying around with the wiring, for a easy band aid fix, and also replaced the fuel pump for a hard start problem that didn't do the fix, and charged $500. I fixed it myself by replacing the injectors and the hard start problem was cured.

I went back to get fuel fittings for my warm up regulator, but they wouldn't help, let alone let me show them what I was talking about on a 500SLC they had in front of the shop. I'll never go back there again.

Stay away from these guys. They're best suited for bilking wealthy 600SL owners of their money.

I recommend
German Auto Service http://www.german-auto-service.com/company.htm
217 Kenroy Ln # 1
Roseville, CA 95678

(916) 782-4753

Ask for John. Very nice owner.