I went to an exhaust shop today to replace the catalytic convert back on my 190E 2.6. The car has 196K on it and had a rotted out aftermarket rear muffler and the aftermarket catalytic converter was shot. I have to take the car in for emissions next week.

I have spent a decent chunk of change getting the engine running up to snuff before putting in a catalytic converter because I need the cat to last me until 2018 because emissions testing cuts off at 25 years in Metro Atlanta. It would be better if it lasts longer than that because I hate the smell of uncatalyzed exhaust and want to do my part to keep emissions down.

The shop advertised $220 for a fully custom cat back dual pipe system if you didn't get a resonator. I wanted a resonator because I didn't want a dreadful drone at 75 mph on the interstate (I wish these old Mercedes 4 speed autos had overdrive). I figured I may be looking at closer to $350-$400 for the full system. I dropped the car off and they said they would be done in about 3 hours.

About an hour later I got a call saying that they didn't have the parts in stock and had to order them, asking for my permission. I asked how much they were talking, the guy said probably $800-$900 or more installed. I balked and asked what if it was all universal parts. He said that was for direct fit mufflers and a universal cat. He wanted $369 for the universal cat though they advertise that a universal cat is $179 installed. I then asked how much it would be for a system using all universal parts. He then said it would cost about the same. I know some on parts pricing for exhaust parts so I asked why it was so much versus what they advertised. He said, "You have to understand that it is a Mercedes." I had heard that line before from Kauffman Tire when they were explaining why they wanted $50 more than a modern American car to do an alignment. I just went and picked up the car and now have to see if I can do this myself.

Current plan is to use a dual inlet, single outlet cat with a cherry bomb glasspack as the front muffler and a German made direct fit rear muffler (nicer and slightly more expensive than what they would have used). About $300 or so in parts.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.