As I feared, the rattle in this ML was the "cats". They are apparently starting to degenerate internally. The black material from the A/C vents is just the foam rubber also disintegrating a bit in some area back in the A/C tubes; not serious enough to have the whole dash torn off.

Question tho'? MB quoted $3K for the cats replacement. What lower cost alternatives are there? I know you can save money by going to a regular mechanic for the job, but are there some workable after market cats that can be purchased and effectively installed??

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)