W124, 400E exhaust question
 

My exhaust is fairly rusted out, especially right after the cat. I have been driving the car like this for a few years and DIY patching the holes as needed. The car developed its own hum and I got used to the sound and slight loss of performance.
Recently the car has started to stumble and shake, the exhaust noise has increased and the exhaust has produced some very potent smells.
So, I am trying to get the car running decently again, I have read a few posts about cutting the pipes and removing sections of the exhaust - i think the resonator? What are your thoughts on cutting the pipes right behind the cat? would the car still run?
I am looking for the most economical solution here.
Thanks in advance,
Luke

Best solution: take it to a shop and get rid of the old rusted section of pipes and put some new ones in.

Where in the midwest are you? Is a 300E exhaust 1990 the same? If so, i have a parts car with a decent exhaust system.

Not sure if the 300 & 400 share the same exhaust set up.
I'm in Minneapolis.

They are fairly different.

I was just in Coon Rapids and Minnetonka last week.

Luke, got a couple 400's and have used exhaust parts from Bosal when I needed them. 10 years later they're still in there. Not sure if Bosal is the most economical, but they've been durable.

Thanks PARSHOOT1 gatorblue92!

Looks like I'm gonna have to get some quotes on having this work done.

Nobody has answered he original question:
If you cut the pipes behind the cat would the car still run?

That is because it is a silly question.



Of course it will run, it is running currently... right? And the exhaust right after the cats is rotted out.

I would look for someone parting a 400E. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/368246-fs-entire-inventory-benzbonz-few-benzs.html

He is parting one, see if the catback is in good shape and replace it as a unit.

Wow hitman, thanks for the plug,,, problem is, I replaced the fan clutch and radiator on the 400e as I would like to drive it. I too am in search of some exhaust parts for it, as mine has a nice rumble to it too.

Problem with mine is after she warms up to me, she just coughs and sputters and hesitates, telling with eight blinks that the cam sensor is open or shorted (it's not, it shows 1.1K ohms)

started a thread here about the code 8, and anxiously awaiting responses.

Cats?
 

Finally got around to taking the 400E in, and the cats were red hot when up on the ramp, so now looking to replace those.
Whats the most economical solution, I'm not looking for any performance enhancements, just need the car to work. The shop will re-weld everything together once I bring in the new cats.
I found this online: MAGNAFLOW 338008
MagnaFlow 338008 Universal California Pre-OBDII Catalytic Converter

Thoughts on the above?

Thanks,
L

Well as usual in the Mercedes world, I found as you no doubt have, there's a big discrepancy in the price of the parts from the various manufacturers.

I found the MagnaFlow cats you noted above for $135 and then quite a few other manufacturers with cats for $600 and up......including the exhaust system parts manufacturer I have used in the past, Bosal, being at the latter price. Not sure why the disparity, but my guess would be MagnaFlow is re-boxing something from China.....not sure, but that's usually the way these things work.

Did you ask the people at the AutoHance online store where the MagnaFlow cats are manufactured and why there's such a price disparity? More research now will save you re-doing the job again....usually soon after the warranty has expired.

The Magnaflow are universal, that Bosal is 'direct fit'. Bosal stuff is crap, just look at the bends and the cheapass steel. It is on par with Ansa. That is why you have such a price discrepancy. MF does make a drop in cat assembly for about $600.

MF is also based here in the USA, along with its manufacturing, and almost always stainless.

I am not looking for a drop in set up, too expensive $$$
I need to find a correct Universal Cat that the shop can weld in. The magnaflow site lists 94007 as a correct fit for 92 400E, however that Cat is a Dual to Single so that could be a mistake...

Looking around further I found another Cat that has been used on a 300E:
http://www.amazon.com/MagnaFlow-38008-Stainless-Universal-Catalytic/dp/B003EOXD4Y/ref=sr_1_10?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1438105130&vehicle=1992-63-796-20--1-6-7-2214-1530-1-2-2108--1-0&sr=1-10&ymm=1992%3Amercedes-benz%3A400e

or I could run 2 of these:
Amazon.com: Magnaflow 94005 Universal Catalytic Converter (Non CARB compliant): Automotive

Amazon lists both of those as 400E compatible.
Anyone have these on a 400E? or a link to a universal they have installed successfully?
What size is the MB stock on the 400E – 2" or 2.5"?

Thanks,
Luke

Just out of curiosity, and because you say the cats were hot... what kind of mpg are you getting? if anything less than 20, you are running too rich, which is why the cats are hot. And since it is a M119 that is famous for bad wiring harnesses (that MB probably still knows nothing about), the repair aint gonna be cheap.