Need recommendation on rear muffler 86 300e
 

Ive been looking a rear muffler for a while for an 86 300e.

Ive seen this best deal so far . Can you guys give your opinion on why or why I shouldnt go for this? I cant spend too much money and Im not sure you absoutely have to have an OEM muffler. I want to get it this week.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7941917944&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

depends on what brand??? If i go, i will go for Eberspaecher. Because the Eber. is OEM supplier for Mercedes. Good quality. Since that guy sells unknown brand $105US. I can get the Eber. locally about $165US. Just $60US different! i think that Eber can last longer than unknow aftermarket muffler.

Drop the seller an email & ask what brand it is. Personally, I'd go for this one, though the stainless steel one on Yal's site looks super nice. Super $, too.

go for the oem.definately better quality.the ANSA currently on my 300 te is rotted thru after only 3 yrs service :(

I searched the internet for comments when our '88 required a new rear muffler. Most aftermarket comments were negative and I went with Mercedes genuine part.

Note: If you have original exhaust, middle and rear muffler are one piece. Replacements are NOT available in this configuration--even from dealer. Be VERY careful cutting off old rear section so as to have enough remaining pipe to reach the replacement. AutoZone will loan you a pipe cutter.

Thanks guys. Ive already asked the seller for the make of the part.

As far as "Be VERY careful cutting off old rear section so as to have enough remaining pipe to reach the replacement." - the da** thing actually fell off so this is extremely good to know...i will take a look at the existing muffler and see whether a direct replacement will do or whether I have to get other parts replaced as well. Thanks again. Lets see what the seller says. As far as an OEM part I dont see spending twice the amount just for a muffler that might last a little bit longer. Would there be a 'perceptible' performance or sound difference between a regular oem part and non oem part?

Sound will be difference between a regular OEM part and non OEM part. I sure that OE genuine MB muffler is the best. If not, Eber also good (same supplier for Mercedes). If the is bosal or Ansa..., when u compare with OE or Eber. The qualities are totally difference. That is i heard about it.

go for the oem.definately better quality.the ANSA currently on my 300 te is rotted thru after only 3 yrs service


My muffler bought from the dealer also lasted 3+ yrs in Ontario,your province.so Ansa is about the same longevity.

None of the aftermarkets last as long as the orginals for some reason, even though they are supposed to be idential. Whatever.

If the pipe rusted through at the front muffler, you will have to replace both (a good idea anyway as the baffles in the front one are surely rusted away anyway). Mine did this -- pipe broke off at the weldment on the front muffler.

The Ansa or Eberspeacher will fit perfectly, aftermarkets, well, who knows.

Peter

As the original "Gillet" mufflers on my 300TE had lasted 180,000km and 14 years, when they needed replacing recently, I opted to fit identical Gillet mufflers. Even from the dealer they were not much different in price to aftermarket. My 190E still has its original "Eberspaecher" mufflers after almost 230,000km and 14 years. Guess what I think I will fit if and when it needs new ones? I notice that my father's E320 coupe still has its original Eberspaechers after almost 11 years and 135,000km. If my cars are any indication, he shouldn't be needing mufflers for quite some time yet.

From my limited experience, YES! And my buddy, who worked on MB's for 30 years, advised me of this as well. He told me of all kinds of tricks he tried to restore the sound of his own and customer's cars (like stuffing coarse steel wool in the tailpipe, adding a resonator, etc.), and nothing would work as good as OEM.
I replaced the rear muffler on my old '75 450SE with a Bosal and the sound quality deteriorated 80%. Sounded like a pickup truck. Later, I had occasion to need a replacement for the intermediate muffler and opted for OEM, attempting to restore the lost sound (which is no sound, BTW), and it was a waste of $500.00CDN. My conclusion was that MB engineers the entire assembly for back pressure, sound, and of course, quality.
On the other hand, my current 380SE has a non-stock assembly that the local muffler shop put together for the previous owner. I'm not sure what they used, only that it isn't stock OEM in either shape or brand. It is however, very quiet and looks fine from the rear (there are 2 tailpipes with chrome tips, but only 1 actually functions.).
IMO, there is nothing worse than a Mercedes that sounds like a Chev Impala running a pair of dually Thrush glasspacks. And the price of that unit on EBay should be a good indicator of the internal quality of the baffles, which will sound bad and won't last, guaranteed. My 2 cents anyway. :thumbsdow