1981 230CE exhaust system
 

My 230CE needs a new exhaust system. It's got the M102.980 engine
with fuel injection. From header to tailpipe needs replacement.

Where can I find an aftermarket exhaust system for this European car?

-Jack
California

I don't see it listed on the website but I'm sure www.timevalve.com can help you.

Sixto
87 300SDL

Thanks for your reply, Sixto.
I phoned Timevalve this morning. They do not have a system
for the 230CE. There is not enough demand and they no longer
have the jigs to make another exhaust for this model Also, the
guy who built the last 230CE exhaust no longer works for Timevalve.

-Jack
California

JackS, there's someone in Pasadena that has a W123 bodied 280E who is selling parts from it. It's a longshot but would the exhaust from a 280E fit a 230CE?

JackS, the 280E donor is something to consider. You'll have to shorten the 280E system. The downpipe will likely be too much trouble to modify. The M102 has 2 pipes from the exhaust manifold vs the US 280CE with a single pipe with a big ugly cat bulge.

It might be possible to merge the downpipe from a US 190E and the 'catback' from a US 280CE. I don't know if TimeValve will help you with that.

Sixto
87 300SDL

The 280CE (M110) engine uses a 'dual' exhaust - twin pipes from the manifold
to the aft resonator. I don't think this arrangement will fit well in my 230CE.

In the "hybrid" scenario, using parts from a 190E 2.3 and a 280, I would have
to fabricate a catalytic converter with one inlet and twin outlets. Do you think
that the CA smog inspectors would flunk me on the visual portion of the test?

Flowmaster parts would make the car too loud. :-) And a Sears-style generic
replacement is down at the bottom of the list - that is what's on the car now.

Thanks for all your input. I'm openminded to anyone's suggestions.

-Jack
California

The Euro M110 has two downpipes. The US M110 has a single downpipe with a big pre-cat.

The 190E downpipe has two pipes that merge before the cat. That should work on your car with the single pipe set-up of a US 280CE from that point back. It's only 2 pipes again behind the last muffler.

The only risk of flunking is if it looks very cobbled together.

Sixto
87 300SDL

If all you need is a cat, do a search on 'catco' at www.summitracing.com

Sixto
87 300SDL

Thank you That sounds like a solution.
The end of my 230CE manifold has two pipes conjoined. From there is the
header, with the O2 sensor bung, which ends in a single pipe. From there
is the front resonator, cat and aft resonator all connected with a single pipe.

So it's approximately 190E 2.3 from the header to the end of the cat. Then from
the cat on back is the US-spec 280CE, with it's single pipe connection. Sounds good.


Another idea I came across is to use parts from Anza for another 4-cyl car.
If I could find the Anza parts in approximately the same dimensions as the
OEM parts.


Ultimately I think it is a matter of money. The OEM parts are available, but
at a high cost to acquire and ship across the pond.

-Jack

The cat-back section doesn't look to have sharp bends. You can probably have a muffler shop cobble up something for you with press bends. IIRC the 230CE originally came with a single downturned tip which should be easy to fabricate. Getting two tips to look right isn't easy.

Sixto
87 300SDL