Catalytic Converter price shock - any advice?

[brax]

Hello

I have an e240 Avantgarde 2.6, Nov 2001. I have only had it for 3 months, and when it went for its service in Oct at an authorised dealer I asked them to check for a slight rattle in the exhaust.

They didn't check, and it has got worse. It's now like a cough, and, it turns out its the cats.

I've now been quoted a whopping £759 and £625 for both cats, and with labour this is looking like a £2k job. I know mercs are expensive to maintain but this is a silly amount.

Does anyone have any advice on this? I have tried to source parts from a cat supplier in notts but they dont make them, and euro car parts are quoting the same prices.

If anyone has any help I would be grateful, as I am still reeling from the shock....

Cheers

brax

 

[television]

try these people, there is one listed for you car.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=bmcatalysts.co.uk&btnG=Google+Search&meta=


Malcolm

 

[Bolide]

I've been advised as follows: aftermarket cats - if you're selling the car. MB cats - if you're keeping it

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

I've been advised as follows: aftermarket cats - if you're selling the car. MB cats - if you're keeping it

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Thats not bad advice, with a original = 1 hour to fit, after market, 2-3 hours.

Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Buy the Mercedes parts, but don't get a dealer to fit them. You can do the job yourself (lump hammers are handy), or get any competant mechanic to fit them.

Make sure you idle the engine for a good 10-20 minutes before driving away. Helps the cats bond to the exhaust, so I'm told. Drive carefully for the first few miles.

http://www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk/

 

[jberks]

My Dad had a Qwikfit cat put on the C220 and regretted it. Always had a tinny sound after that, so yes, get a proper MB one. That said, MB don't make cats themselves and I am told that if you know where to look you can get outside the dealer network.
Our non MB mechanic reckons he can get them so ask around locally - I'd start by ringing round the non franchised exhaust places.

Not sure who made it but http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-Mer...ryZ10398QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[GEORGEROV]

Hi Brax, You can get both cats for £280 plus vat and postage for your car from : www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk. I've dealt with them in the past and quality and fit are excellent.

 

[brax]

Feedback and thanks

Well, I have emailed the various places recommended, so I should be able to get this job done for much less than quoted.

Firstly, it's probably obvious that I am MB newbie, so thanks so much for the comments. I was unaware of the MB / aftermarket issue and also about the general availability of parts outside of the dealer network.

I know that new posters asking obvious questions is a little dull for really knowledgeable forums, so thanks a lot. Much appreciated.

I will post up the final outcome when I have the job done

Cheers

brax

 

[television]

Do not turn you nose up at all of the after market options,in the trade press many firms have designed them better than the original, this is due to the constant research. When MB do one it stays for life the same.

Where some firms offer a metalized version,they should last a long time.


Malcolm

 

[rajinder_1]

cats

My Dad had a Qwikfit cat put on the C220 and regretted it. Always had a tinny sound after that, so yes, get a proper MB one. That said, MB don't make cats themselves and I am told that if you know where to look you can get outside the dealer network.
Our non MB mechanic reckons he can get them so ask around locally - I'd start by ringing round the non franchised exhaust places.

Not sure who made it but http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-Mer...ryZ10398QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Hi Jberks/brax ,
Dont think thats original, looks like aftermarket, they are 2 a dozen from euro car parts to joe bloggs on the net. As you have said about your fathers car, DONT PUT ON AFTERMARKET!!!!!! unless they can give you full money back gurantee if it is does not sound the same as OEM..... i am talking from past experience. Get original you cant go wrong.... but if you decide to take the alternative make sure the supplier is agreed with you to take them back should they rattle or resonate..

Raj

 

[poseidon]

Hi,

I am surpriced about the price. I bought my catalytic converter from MB for GBP265, just few months ago (C220D 1996). Surely, my engine is smaller but still the price difference is enormous.

On the good side, the scrap metal people love the old converters. They paid me GBP25 for the broken one.

Poseidon

 

[citroennut]

hi, i have the same model briefly as it's being replaced by a c220. my cat broke up 21/2 yrs ago, it was replaced with a national tyres one - guarantee 2yrs and has now gone again. it is always the smaller of the two -apparantly a common fault. i was advised by service manager at mb to try local s/steel exhaust maker. they replaced cat then cut both out and replaced with small silencers, car should have more power and return better fuel economy - suppose it couldn't be much worse! both cats would then be replaced for mot. the only option is that £500 for mb but 5yr warranty
cheers

 

[television]

.

On the good side, the scrap metal people love the old converters. They paid me GBP25 for the broken one.

Poseidon

I feel ill now reading this, I threw away two. :sad:


Malcolm

 

[Parrot of Doom]

bah, I threw one away too

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I hate to bang on about this but my Audi (or Skoda as Blobcat will no doubt point out) still had the original exhaust and cat on it when I sold it with 160,000 miles on it. All was still in perfect condition.

Apart from driving through 3 foot deep puddles is there anything you can do to damage a cat and end it's life prematurely?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Mine didn't need replacement until 175,000 miles, it wasn't rattling it just rusted away at the seam and was pretty much not worth repairing.

 

[RFdesigner]

Apart from driving through 3 foot deep puddles is there anything you can do to damage a cat and end it's life prematurely?

Get rear ended by an idiot in a van... that's what did for my old 124.

I would want to keep the lamda sensor working, I guessing here but if it says there's oxygen when there is none, then surely the engine will dump fuel into the cat, not a recipe for success.

Derek

 

[television]

I hate to bang on about this but my Audi (or Skoda as Blobcat will no doubt point out) still had the original exhaust and cat on it when I sold it with 160,000 miles on it. All was still in perfect condition.

Apart from driving through 3 foot deep puddles is there anything you can do to damage a cat and end it's life prematurely?

Parking or driving through long grass will do it and it wrecked mine.

What happens is the outer casing is at 400-600c when you drive through wet/long grass,the outer casing cools rapidly before the ceramic cat can cool and this crushes the cat. It is then lose and will tinkle for ever more.

Malcolm

 

[poseidon]

I hate to bang on about this but my Audi (or Skoda as Blobcat will no doubt point out) still had the original exhaust and cat on it when I sold it with 160,000 miles on it. All was still in perfect condition.

Apart from driving through 3 foot deep puddles is there anything you can do to damage a cat and end it's life prematurely?

Hi,

I think with the exhausts deteriorate with age, not miles. The rust eats them.
Mine needed replacement at 70K. Yet consider this good reliability since car was 10years old.

Poseidon.