Stefano,
I'm in the western suburbs of chicago. Where was that exhaust shop that your mom took your car to? Thanks,
Ed

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

Thanks for your help. I'll give it a try.

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Ed
-1984 Mercedes 190D 2.2 5-speed gray market(bought@30,000 miles) (Sold back to original owner@170,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes E300DT (245,000 miles)
-1999 Mercedes S500 Grand Edition (80,000 miles)

The big well known SO CA MB dealer gave me a price of $430 for the oxidizing catalyst. That seems very reasonable, HOWEVER I haven't been under the car AND I wonder if this "oxidizing catalyst" is fine and there is another muffler that is making the noise.

This noise is coming from directly under the center console. Anyone know where the oxidizing catalyst is located on that car?

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84 300DT Puke Yellow. Totalled after 438,000
84 300DT Orient Red. 169,000 (actual mileage may vary)
2002 Explorer EB (wife's)

On the 98-99 E300 the catalyst is bolted pretty much directly to the turbo outlet. Open the hood and take a look at the exhaust/turbo side of the engine. See that big cannister down by the firewall, as the exhaust curves underneath the car? That's the catalyst.

I could see the catalyst making noise near the console, it's not all that far away. But it's not a gimme either.

- JimY