I decided not to go with the $600. option on having OEM mufflers installed, but rather the $150. option, which has made a world of difference! BOTH of the mufflers toward the back were in terrible shape. When idling, the car was not that loud, but when driving, especially through parking lots, it was rather embarrasing. The mufflers on there were the original units. They have lasted 20 years.

The mufflers have a good warranty and I could not see paying for $600. mufflers on a 20 year old car, when the $150. units work perfectly. The car is extremely quiet now. That is something my dad would do. He went and spent $700. for an exhaust system for his 88' Nissan truck, then $400 for the ones for his 69' Camaro.

I am slowly getting this car back in shape to where it needs to be. Now, on the list is new plugs, new tranny fluid/filter and brake pads.

My muffler SEEMED ok when I examined it externally, I replaced it because it was old, seemed to be getting louder, and the tailpipes were rusting at the seam. After removing it, I realized that it had become basically an iron oxide dust container!

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

How were the bolts coming out of the cat? Mine were rusted away and I was real happy to find a 2-piece collar at the auto parts store that goes around the remaining flange to fasten the the new exhaust pipe to. I did the same cost analysis and came to the same conclusion regarding what kind of equipment to put on the car. Luckily we can get away pretty cheap, but it won't last 20 years like the original!

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Hi. Not really sure, as I had the muffler shop do the replacement. They supplied all of the parts. My rear muffler had also rusted at the seams.

Now, I have a question. When I drove home and parked the car, when I got out, there was a "hot metal" smell coming out from under the car. It was probably just where the mufflers were new, but is there a possibility that these mufflers do not "hold in" heat like the originals? In other words, could these be getting too hot and too close to the undercarriage and that is what I smelled, or likely just the new mufflers themselves? I have only driven the car that one time since, so like I said, it may have just been the "newness" of the mufflers.

Strife

When you say your muffler, do you mean the rear muffler or front muffler and cat. When I got my SL a year ago I thought it was a bit load when I road tested it but we put it up on the lift and I saw the rear muffler was so bad that the case actually slid back and forth over the twin pipes and the front muffler and cat appeared ok from the outside with the exception of the heat shields. I bought the car and replaced the rear muffler with a new Bosal unit. To my dissapointment, there was absolutly no difference in sound with the new muffler installed.

When I used to drive these cars new I remember (it was 18 years ago) a silent engine at all speeds until you go on it. I have a drone at highway speeds. Now I am considering replacing my front muffler and cat. Whats your thoughts.

John Roncallo

Its the coating on the pipes that burning off. It stops after a few days.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Thanks. That is what I was thinking, but the smell was stronger than it was before when I had mufflers replaced on other car, but this was the first time that I had to have two mufflers replaced at once. Guess that explains it.

I bought an ANSA (rear). As far as I can tell the cat and the "center" muffler assy are in very good shape - this car is not often driven in rain and never in the winter. On the sound, I think the sound is approprate to the car, fairly quiet (nominally, this is a "sports" car, sort of, anyway) unless you really get on it. Can't hear it above the stereo, heh heh.

Sure that there are no leaks anywhere causing that noise? Maybe at the crossover to cat? My gaskets (some kind of soft metal metal/fiber seals, really) were eaten away to almost nothing here and at the cat/muffler to rear muffler junctions.

I'm a little irritated about the paint on the ANSA, which was a wrought-iron black. It keeps falling off the back, I put some engine paint on it, and then it falls off in sheets and looks bad. It's almost impossible to paint on zinc. I'm going to look at some surface preps for zinc in the summer. I know this is picky, but you can see it from behind the car.

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86 560SL
With homebrew first gear start!
85 380SL
Daily Driver Project

http://juliepalooza.8m.com/sl/mercedes.htm

I think those mufflers have the capability to last 20 years if not in the snow belt..

about a year ago, I parted out a 1988 300e. I dropped the exhaust system and had a kid at a trade school "unweld" the pieces. I shook out some rusted innards from the rear muffler. But the center was fine. I sold those pieces and the pipes. I didn't want to be responsible for emissions issues, so I didn't sell the cat. However it seemed fine.

I don't see any exhaust problems with either of our 89's

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Lee, I have a 300ce parts car and I wanted to recycle some exhaust parts. What is the best way to get the system off the vehicle? (I think it has the original, one piece exhaust. )Thanks.

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87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)