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#77
08-22-2012, 04:17 AM
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Nice work.
I'm sure you know the aftermarket cats don't have as much precious metal in them as the factory ones. Might be wise to remove the new one, box it up, and install it again in a couple of years.
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'O=00=O' bmw 2002. long live the legend 
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#78
08-22-2012, 12:48 PM
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As far as the Magnaflow cat goes, I too have heard that, but my experience has been very different, and I want to post MY experience.. I put a Magnaflow Cat and 3" system on my 454 powered '87 Suburban in 2001, at 100k miles. It passed smog before, but I wanted to free up some power, so replaced the whole thing. It passes smog every year with such low readings... and now has 168k on it. The exhaust on it always smells very hot, and clean, and in fact while I was working on this Mercedes smog issue, I parked them close and compared the smells. Peachy smelt wrong in comparison, but now after putting on the new cat, it smells the same. The new reading confirm they are similar. In fact, here is the last smog test I did on the Suburban... and its the full ASE rolling road test, not the static test that the Mercedes has to pass, and I am told, much more difficult as the engine is under load on the rollers.. For the record, I just took it down... didnt fiddle or tune it... I bet the plugs and leads are at least 5 years and 40k miles old, and I did not warm or do anything like I read is needed to get the Mercedes to pass!  There is another issue to take into account on aftermarket cats sold in California... I am under the impression that CARB certified cats are made to much more stringent standards, and cost more than the 49 state cats which is why they have to have a ID number. The Magnaflow cat I just put on has a SS body, and looks very well made. Also, My cat was inspected visually, and the number noted and filed when the smog test was done. I seem to have read that they have a long warrantee too. Also, I am sure that modern cats are much more efficient that cats made in 1990, and even tho the M103 is not the most smog complient engine, and well know for burning oil if the valve stem seals are hard, so I am wondering how many of these aftermarket cats are in fact killed by the same oil burning or injection problems that killed the original OEM cat!
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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec Last edited by Merkey; 08-22-2012 at 01:10 PM.
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#79
08-22-2012, 08:01 PM
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I've had my CARB Magnaflow cat /w precats deleted since 2008 and I've passed CA smog with it and last year blew through AZ smog with HC + CO. My NOx was high due to blocked radiator...high combustion chamber temps.
Keep the oil consumption in check and there should be no reason a CARB cat should not last 7+ years. Sure, not as long as the OE 20 years, but paying $2k for a Genuine cat (priced via parts.com right now) vs $150 for an aftermarket Magnaflow. Doesn't make logical sense at all. Here were my AZ smog results: 300TE // limit // result HC: 0.18 // 1.60 // PASS CO: 0.69 // 15.00 // PASS NOx: 2.38 // 2.50 // PASS So my experience has been the same as Merkey's...Magnaflow is a GO!
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2016 Monsoon Gray Audi Allroad - 21k 2008 Black Mercedes E350 4Matic Sport - 131k 2014 Jeep Wranger Unlimited Sahara - 62k 2003 Gray Mercedes ML350 - 122k
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#80
08-24-2012, 04:41 PM
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Well, plans change...
My Daughter has just confirmed her decision to stay in Europe and study for at least 2 years more. Which left me with a decision to make.. We only have a 2 car garage, and the 2.6 has been sitting there for almost 2 years while I tinkered with it and got it ready. After a long discussion with my Girlfriend, we decided that we do not need another car, and the choice between the 190D and the 2.6 was really an easy one. So the 2.6 will be put it up for sale. I am sad, for many reasons, but it's the right thing to do for us at this time... but I know I will regret it! I think Ebay is the way to go, unless anyone makes me an offer I cant refuse... I will post the details once I have it all figured out!
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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec
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#81
08-25-2012, 11:17 AM
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I've enjoyed reading this thread from the beginning.
As for your daughter's change of heart, OUCH! That's got to hurt! You've got your car all ready to go and now, you gotta let it go. As all the others have said, thats one snazzy looking 190E!! 
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My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07. 1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.
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#82
08-25-2012, 02:49 PM
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Thanks for the support!
When I bought the car in 2010, it was because we had been planning for her arrival in 2011... I was not in a hurry to get it ready, and it really was a backburned project, as I felt I had time. It had 88,600 miles on it the day I picked it up and we put 1,300 miles on it in the 3 months before I put it in the garage. Most of that was done by my girlfriend running back and forth between home, here is Orange County, and hospital in Los Angeles. Her father had a heart op up there and she ran back and forth with her mother every day for about 10 days until he was home. The Mercedes provided smooth and economical transportation for her during that time. and never gave a hint of issues. I kept a close eye on the performance and economy, and in the LA traffic they used the carpool lots. My calculations told me it was averaging 25mpg+. Far better than her driving her Range Rover at 14mpg! For me, it was the perfect shakedown test, and allowed me to just work thru the issues of doing a full workup, and all the fluids and filters. My daughter's decision was not unexpected, and the reality is the Mercedes was just part of the carrot we put out for her. She liked it but said she really wanted a Jeep... When we looked at our options, the choice was between the 2.6 and my 190D... The 2.6 was all dialed in and ready to go... the 190D... not so much! The 190D is just a DD... and it lives outside... the thought of putting the 2.6 outside and using it as a DD just felt wrong. Whoever owns it next will have a really nice base to build on... I would like to have put bigger wheels, lower it a little, and put a darker tint on the windows... but thats just me! At least I can focus on the Airstream and fixing things on the 190D then! Yesterday, I washed it down to get the dust off, and gave the interior a quick vacuum, and plan to take some pics...
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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec
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#84
08-26-2012, 08:14 PM
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Ok...
It didnt need much more than a wash and a dust down, and it was ready. Its on Ebay. Sad. Posted a link in the Classified section too.
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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec
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#85
09-26-2012, 02:42 PM
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Well, after 3 attempts on Ebay, and lots of scammers and time wasters, a nice guy from Northern California used the "Buy It Now", and paid his deposit!
If everything goes smoothly, she will be leaving my garage soon. I will be sad to see her go!
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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec
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#86
09-29-2012, 02:13 AM
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. . and that guy is me! Thanks for the compliment! Merkey is the kind of guy you want to buy a car on eBay from. Great photos, lots of communication, pleasant and personable.
How many Britishisms can I stuff in here? I'm chuffed to have scored Merkey's fine 190E. I found you lot more or less in a random search and there was his/my car on this forum. Brilliant. Although I'm confident I'm getting a lovely, sorted car, I'm glad to have discovered this forum, as it seems clear there's a fantastic knowledge base here. Should I ever be flummoxed by some fault or want a second opinion to the local MB specialist garage (that's "gare-idge"), I know where to come. Cheers!
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#87
09-29-2012, 02:23 AM
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Nice Guy, hello, welcome and congrats!
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#88
09-29-2012, 09:18 AM
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Kind-of off topic, but yesterday, I got to look under the hood of a 190E 2.6. That motor looks like it was shoe-horned in there.
Is the power THAT much better than the standard 2.3? Bruce
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My first Mercedes Benz. 4/6/07. 1984 190E (201 024) 2.3L four.
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#89
09-29-2012, 01:41 PM
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Quote:
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http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...-RESIZED-1.jpg 1991 300E - 212K and rising fast...
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#90
09-29-2012, 09:37 PM
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Quote:
LOL, I have to say that I dont think there is a better bunch of Mercedes crazies anywhere! Hold on... I forgot the Diesel section! I have never driven the 2.3 but I can tell you that the 2.6 is a smooth motor... but you have to spin it a bit. I have always been a fan of straight 6's! It is much faster than my 190D 2.2... but then the children in the house have a perfect nickname for her... The Sloth. Dont hear them complaining too much at the 33mpg and almost 400 miles between fills tho!
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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec
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