These is not one professional who is going to look at it and tell me they are fine, they will however see the possibility for profit. The common rotten egg smell accompanied by mild restriction is all any experienced mechanic needs.

I have also had vehicles run just as clean without them. If needed I will pick up a set of Magnaflow race cats which I bought in the past for another vehicle I had, ceramic monolith type. I have access to a friends shop who has an anaylizer, after that I will see if the car needs them. I weld all my own exhaust from stainless with mandrel bends. Obviously if the car throws a code I will install the aftermarkets.

These S class years seem to have an issue with the cats going bad. I have heard of more than a couple instances. Also a bad cat is not always caused by a bad running motor, many companies who make replacements only state there is a 50kmi lifetime for peak use, on orig or replacements.

To anyone reading, never gut a cat out. The void space becomes an echo chamber, and messes up the flow. If you want stealth then cut open the case place a pipe within, weld the case over it.