Exerpt from a recent MB mailing list:

I recently bought a 1993 600SL with 60k miles which developed a lack of
power, means it was unwilling to rev over 5000/min, was getting quite hot in
the process, had some "funny" exhaust noise, shifted the gears very hard and
basically lacked about 200 horses.
Today I got it back from my Indy who replaced the 2 blocked catalysts. He
got the new ones manufactured from someone in Ca for half the price of the
originals, I "only" had to wait a few weeks for them to receive the old ones
as a template and manufacture the new ones.
What a difference!!!!
The car goes like stink, the engine noise is smooth as are the gear changes,
the car pulls up to the red line with increasing torque and the ASR is
working hard to keep up!
I know the V12's are expensive to maintain and to repair but boy, what a
feeling to drive a sorted one.

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1999 SL500