2001 S Class Exhaust Cats.

[dougtsc]

Just had some routine work done at a Main Dealer and whilst paying the bill they informed me that the Exhaust Cats. are making a noise and both sides probably need replacing. Their estimated cost...nearly £1,700 !!!

Now I thought Cats. lasted forever, or certainly longer than 4 years !

Any thoughts from you experts out there? The diagnosis is that they think the baffles(?) are loose and hence vibrating. But why BOTH sides ?

Thanks in advance.
Doug

P.S. Edited to say that car has the V8 petrol engine, has only done 18,000 miles, and runs beautifully! Talking to a manager of an exhaust fitting place once whilst having the back box changed on a Ford Fiesta: he told me that he had only 'once' changed a cat on a Fiesta and that it didn't need doing but the owner insisted. Surely a Mercs got to be better than a Ford ?

 

[pascal]

Hi Doug,

Pete (Peterchurch) has has some problems with cats going on his SL320 V6 (same car as mine). He went for much cheaper option than the MB route. He should be back in the next day or so

See http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?p=50725

and http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=9735

Pascal

 

[dougtsc]

Thanks Pascal.

Interesting reading. I'll hold back for a while before doing anything.

Thanks again.

Doug

 

[jberks]

Doug,
Cats do go randomly, though at 4 years old I would be arguing strongly with MB that they had a manufacturing fault for them to fail this quickly as most last 10 years+ and perhaps they would like to make a contribution (or at least NOT make a profit! - insult to injury and all that!) under the circumstances. You may be able to get a used one also - try Mercman etc.

 

[piestore]

112 kats

Hi

Yes this is a very common fault, Why change both??? because they were made in the same factory at they same time, they have been subjected to exactly the same conditions and if you change one and six weeks later the other on fails you will be even more un happy.


At that milage they should be paid for by MB get the dealer to submit an eskulab request (goodwill from mbuk) If this fails ask for the dealer to contribute.

 

[dougtsc]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll let you know how things progress.

Cheers
Doug