down pipe snapped off! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

84300DT · #1 08-31-2004, 04:45 PM

right where it connects underneath with the rest of the exhaust. i was going about 40mph and heard a scraping sound on the road. pulled over in time to avoid the rest of the pipe/mufflers from tearing off from under the car

lashed everything up with trusty bungee cords in order to get home.

question - do you have to remove the turbo in order to replace this pipe? it looks like a DIY job unless there are some caveats in there. anyone have any handy hints about this before i tackle it?

rderton · #2 08-31-2004, 04:53 PM

My 190DT did the same. I cheated and had the local muffler shop part the part on for $40.

Old300D · #3 08-31-2004, 04:56 PM

You can R&R the pipe without removing the turbo.

84300DT · #4 08-31-2004, 06:34 PM

thanks for the replies, parts are on the way

after removing the air cleaner assemby and heat shield (PIA) , it gave me an excuse to replace a pesky air cleaner mount that was toast as well..

oh by the way the engine does't sound so bad even when it's not connected to any mufflers at all !! very surprising.

Old300D · #5 08-31-2004, 06:41 PM

Yeah, I'm going to try running without the rear muffler (as I'm too cheap to buy a new one) - I hope it helps the spool up, off boost can be very slow here at altitude. Good to hear the noise is not bad, I have not fired up my turbo engine yet. Hopefully I get it installed by the end of September.

dresserman · #6 08-31-2004, 07:32 PM

Why do we call it a down pipe? Isn't it really just an exhaust pipe?

MBDFahrer · #7 08-31-2004, 07:50 PM

Saw a 260E last week with the muffler that broke right at the point of the muffler to the connecting pipe weld and it was just hanging by the 2 rubber doughnuts. Is mercedes exhaust systems really that cheaply manufactured?

84300DT · #8 08-31-2004, 09:25 PM

i guess they call it a down pipe due to it goes from the engine down underneath the firewall ?
i was taking it easy after it broke so never got the turbo spooled up, hehe.

i ran without the rear muffler once before (it fell off..) with seemingly no difference at all.

compared to a gasser a diesel exhaust pipe looks massive

Old300D · #9 08-31-2004, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmak124

Saw a 260E last week with the muffler that broke right at the point of the muffler to the connecting pipe weld and it was just hanging by the 2 rubber doughnuts. Is mercedes exhaust systems really that cheaply manufactured?

All exhaust systems rust out. The one I bought out of a scrap yard was in perfect shape except the muffler was completely rotted out. The pipes are all solid, and the resonator too.

#10 09-01-2004, 02:24 AM

i unload about 10-20 MB exhaust systems a week at UPS , i work in the orlando HUB and i'm only one of about 40 unloaders, the ones i see look like high quality
though, maybe MB had a string of bad exhaust systems, just a guess

84300DT · #11 09-01-2004, 02:44 PM

i guess i should not be surpised. i looked it up in the records and this down pipe has lasted 9 years in new england salt. it is rusted all the way to the top

TwitchKitty · #12 09-01-2004, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dresserman

Why do we call it a down pipe? Isn't it really just an exhaust pipe?

Goose Feathers, you think you're confused?

lietuviai · #13 09-01-2004, 05:28 PM

There was a thread on running the turbo diesels w/o the muffler. If you do a search you might find it. There's some good sound bites of it as well.

84300DT · #14 09-03-2004, 03:32 PM

fairly straightforward DIY job - hardest part was aligning the entire exhaust system (no jackstands or ramps) with no helper and one bolt had to be hacksawed off.

sure saved some $$ on labor though...

did notice the old downpipe was split in the accordian section as well so it was time to replace.

on to other things now

michakaveli · #15 09-03-2004, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 84300DT

right where it connects underneath with the rest of the exhaust. i was going about 40mph and heard a scraping sound on the road. pulled over in time to avoid the rest of the pipe/mufflers from tearing off from under the car

lashed everything up with trusty bungee cords in order to get home.

question - do you have to remove the turbo in order to replace this pipe? it looks like a DIY job unless there are some caveats in there. anyone have any handy hints about this before i tackle it?

We had this happen to the 300SD we had, but just before the mid-muffler. Ordered a complete new exhaust from TimeeValve in Plainville, CT I beleive. Most beautiful exhuast system I've seen to grave any car. Nice stainless construction.