Cat confusion

[TheJim]

A while ago I posted that I was a bit confused as to whether my H reg 190e had a cat on it.
Everybody assured me that it is too old to have one.
But it does.
What I would like to know is whether or not you can get away with removing a cat on a pre-cat requirement car, or can they tell from the VIN that the car should have one and fail it?
For the record, MB started putting cats on 190es back in 1990. They are very rare- unfortunately I have one. Bugger.

 

[panason1c]

As far as i know you may remove the cat without any probs regarding the MOT. The cat was compulsary from '92 onwards.
In many pre '92 cars the cat was offered as an option.

 

[TheJim]

So the cat was an optional extra, therefore if removed the mot guy would have no way of knowing.....
Is there any way of finding the exact spec of a car from the VIN? Just paranoid!

 

[tarmacsurfer]

If memory serves we right a number of Premium brand vehicles (ie Merc) fitted Cats before they were legally required...and it is my understanding that MOT test reflect that not all vehicles of the period yours was built come with them...as such if you put a standard system in, and there is no Lambda probe issues (ie the probe is in the exhaust outlet pipes and not screwed into the Cat), then you should be OK. But this is assuming your car is of the period where it was not a legal required fit?!? Confused, I know I am...best bet is to check with MOT station before. I have found that they will be quite happy to tell you what will and won't fail, in fact ask a few different ones because some interpret the rules differently (that is my own personal experience though!)

Hope this helps?!?

 

[TheJim]

yep, that is cool and makes sense!
I was underneath the car the other day and did not see a Lambda sensor on the cat- I shall call an MOT place and find out.
Cheers.

 

[panason1c]

In my opinion, the mot guy is only interested in post '92 vehicles regarding the fitment of the cat as this is when they were legally required to be fitted.
I am certain that the mot will not require the cat to be fitted in your case.

 

[tarmacsurfer]

No no, thank you sir for the advise on the ignition timing (see thread on Super unleaded)

Cheers again.

 

[TheJim]

Good good good.
I understand that if a cat breaks down it is mega bucks to replace!

Perhaps I should go down to Halfords and get them to put on an exhaust that you could hide an elephant in. I would be quite the man about town in Wycombe. Chavtastic!

 

[panason1c]

If you visit this site you can enter your vin and it will tell you the spec on your car as it left the factory...it may even show the cat as a 'extra'............

www.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/index.html?lng=eng

 

[TheJim]

No probs Tarmacsurfer. Cool Avatar BTW. I look like Timmy as a matter of interest!

 

[TheJim]

Cheers Panason1c, that is exactly what I need!
I shall write down the VIN and see what it says later. Probably come out as a cut and shut knowing my luck!

 

[tarmacsurfer]

Off topic I know but go here to create your very own South Park character!

http://www.southparkstudios.com/games/display_games.php?id=16

and if you are going for the full Chav look don't forget the Burberry interior cloth!! With the money you save on the Cat this could well be an option?

 

[TheJim]

Oh yes.
Tell you what, if you appreciate chav cars in all their glory, check out
www.stupidnorthernmonkey.co.uk

Enjoy!

Jim

 

[Spike]

Your 1991 model probably did have a cat but dont despair, you can just cut it out and replace it with a straight thru pipe. As long as the lambda sensor is still in place, (slightly upstream of the cat) everything will be OK.

does yours look like this?

 

[mlc]

I think that the first stop is to get your tame MOT tester on board. I am sure that the rules are that you can not "down grade" a car from it factory spec, If it comes out of the factory with a Cat, even if it is not a requirement due to age it should be their and working. the same rule means that you cant remove ABS, air bags, front spots and the daftest of them all - we drive around on tyres with 150 mph capability when you cant exceed 70!

That said I feel sure that for most testers they look at the underside of the car, see no cat and assume. You would be unlucky to get one that either remembers the model from new or starts checking the VIN.

Mark.

 

[Terminator]

I have a 1991 300CE which has had a decat but most importantly retains the lamba probe. If you go the de cat route and dispense with the lambda probe the car will not run properly as the ECU is configured to recognise signals from the probe. The normal cause of a cat failing is a faulty lamda probe so it is vital that this is tested and replaced after the cat is removed. Even with the cat removed but the probe in situ the car should sail through the emissions test unless there are engine wear or fuel mixture issues. To be completely safe come MOT time take your V5 along which proves the year of registration.

 

[TheJim]

so broadly speaking, MOTs can be a pretty hit and miss affair. Maybe I should do some research and find out where my most cretinous MOT tester works.
In the Haynes manual it says somewhere that there is quite a lot of leeway for the tester and most will judge the overall condition of the car if something is borderline. So I had better get the polish out!

 

[Spike]

No, MOT's are not hit and miss - the law is clear and you do not need a CAT as long as you pass the emmissions test which is pretty lax for a car of this vintage.

 

[mlc]

Just spent a bit of time trying to pin down the correct answer on removing the cat. It seems that lots of people remove them from cars where they are not a legal requirement (early 90's models). Spike is certainly correct that you dont have to pass the CAT emissions test if your car is too old (reg before 8/92). I still suspect that removing the unit is breaking the general rule that you cant downgrade from factory gate spec.

Spike - I cant let you get away with "No, MOT's are not hit and miss"! Testing is subjective and every town has the favoured test centres - how many second hand car dealers run a car into a main dealer for PDI and MOT before handing over to the new owner? Better still try taking a five year old car to Kwik Fit for MOT, that could cause a heart attack.

I suspect this could be the start of a lively thread

Mark.

 

[TheJim]

Sorry, I'll get my coat!