Need exhaust on '84 euro 500SEL, complicated?

[agara]

Okay, got the old brute to pass IL emissions yesterday. Now feel confident I can keep the car and still pass emissions in the future. Now I need an entire new exhaust system, and not sure how complicated this will be. I have found plenty of suppliers for the two major sections, which doesn't of course come with catalytics. The present system is the stock with catalytics welded (spliced) into the middle long pipe section.

Is there anything else that needs to be considered? I assume that the O2 sensor will be in the right place, but are any other parts required? I called up Carlos at C&H and he was willing to take the job, but mentioned taking current readings and checking for other parts such as air pump, position of O2 within system, etc. Any clue as to what I may or may not be getting into?

Any competent exhaust shop should be able to make up a new system for you. Timeplex sell a complete system.

Matt.

[agara]

Thanks. Do you have any info on "timeplex". Google came up with nothing. Like I mentioned, finding the exhaust system seems easy, except the catalytic part. If someone sells one with catalytics in place, that would be nice.

[stevebfl]

You could probably put a complete US system on it, DEC makes cats already in pices that bolt on like factory.

I would probably do it like it was done for the original conversion. To do this one must see what was done. I have seen one way cats used on these cars with airpumps. I haven't a clue how they made them pass the federal test procedure FTP. Local emissions testing is nothing compared to the FTP test.

All the 500SELs we imported and converted got similar systems to what MB did. The 3-way cats can be had dirt cheap from Walker among others. Get two with pipe diameter the same as your system and just cut them into the first pipes off the manifolds. As stated above any good exhaust shop can do it.

In this case a MB specialist may not e the best as many shops don't have good welding capabilities nand a tube bender sometimes can come in handy. None of us have those.

Sorry I meant Timevalve.

Matt.

[JimSmith]

I believe the site is www.timevalve.com and to date they have been pretty good to me. Have their system on my 1986 190E 2.3-16 and after about 14 years or so the unit sprang a leak. I did not have a reciept any longer, so, since they are within 30 miles from me, I drove over. They looked, agreed they made it and fixed it. No questions asked. So, if you are looking for a good quality system that the manufacturers stand behind, give them a shot. Good luck, Jim

[agara]

Called up and talked to Dave at timevalve. Actually I had seen these before but couldn't remember the name. Nice guy, and they sell a full catalytic-included system ready to go. Actually uses a 2in-2out instead of two single ones. They seem to have done this many times before so sounds good to me. Not sure if quoting prices is okay, but I will say that about $1000 gets me a bolt on stainless system ready to pass emissions (including all hangers, bumpers and gaskets).

Once again, the forum comes through.

1985 euro W126 500SEL

[jackmac]

Funnily enough, I have never had trouble passing emissions with my 380Se. Then last winter, I had a brand new exhaust system put in. I guess the little leaks in the old system helped fudge the test, because it took three attempts today to pass the emission standards.