question about exhaust

[michael cole]

a recent under the car inspection of my 1990 300te 4m revealed rusted and rotted pipes leading to my premuffler.this will be the 2nd time in 2 years that this component will require replacement.i was careful to order an oem unit last time but it did not last long.any ideas out there or common experience?

[lkchris]

Is this the catalytic converter?

OEM parts could have some sort of warranty.

[michael cole]

actually this would be the 2 input pipes to the premuffler right after the cat.

[Roncallo]

When I got my new 1992 Ford F150 pickup truck the original tail pipe rotted completely off in about 3 years. It had rotted the whole length of the pipe right along the welded seam. The replacement OEM Ford has lasted at least 10 years now. My guess is that there were some quality control issues on the first one that were resolved in subsquent years.

My truck was generally used all highway at the time on trips greater than 20 miles. It is common for exhausts systems to fail early when the car is used on short trips only, like < 2 miles where the system never has enough time to heat up and evaporate condensation. But I have never seen an MB stainless steel system rot out in only 2 years.

I suspect a quality problem that may be covered under warenty.

John Roncallo

[duxthe1]

If the car is used for a short daily commute then the pipes do not get hot enough to boil out the condensed moisture from the exhaust. They then rot from the inside out in no time flat. The alternative to constant replacement is expensive.....stainless.

[michael cole]

stainless maybe a viable option on this car.its a keeper.has anyone priced out the difference or compared longevity to determine cost effectiveness?