CLK320 - React CAT or genuine CAT?

zedmeister

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CLK C208/2002/3.2, C Class S205/2019/220d, E class cab A124/1996/2.2
My 2002 CLK320 W208 needs a new Right Hand Cat. :( This is a pricey job and Merc want about £1500 for it. I am also told that React make a Cat for the car which is about half the price fitted. Speaking to a couple of people, I am told that the React cats are not as good and could cause problems with sensors, also noisier, etc. Any comments as there is a huge difference in price! The company quoting for the React cat of course say its as good as the genuine thing! Help!
 

type49

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Can't speak for that make but I've seen many non MB cats fail MOTs due to not being effective enough to cut emmissions. Seems to be worse with bigger engines.
 
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zedmeister

zedmeister

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Anyone had any experience with 3rd party cats?
 

ant500sl

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Had one from here for a BMW 740 I had a couple of years ago:

http://www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk/

Reasonable quality and alot cheaper than oe prices. Not as heavy duty as the original but performed adequately for mot puposes.

Two questions I would ask before spending any money.

1. What caused the failure in the first place, do you have an engine misfire or has some road impact damaged. If you have something like a faulty coil or dodgy oxygen sensor it will wipe out a new cat in no time at all regardless of quality!

2. If there is no obvious cause for the failure then with the original only lasting 5 years is it worth the money? I have a 1996 C36 with 158,000 miles on the original cat, well worth £1500 if it was to last this long but not for 5 years.

Hope this helps.
 

robbo

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Cut open the faulty cat, break up and remove the ceramic matrix and weld shut. It'll still easily pass an MOT emission test due to the precats near the engine.

much cheaper than buying a new one!
 
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zedmeister

zedmeister

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CLK C208/2002/3.2, C Class S205/2019/220d, E class cab A124/1996/2.2
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Had one from here for a BMW 740 I had a couple of years ago:

http://www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk/

Reasonable quality and alot cheaper than oe prices. Not as heavy duty as the original but performed adequately for mot puposes.

Two questions I would ask before spending any money.

1. What caused the failure in the first place, do you have an engine misfire or has some road impact damaged. If you have something like a faulty coil or dodgy oxygen sensor it will wipe out a new cat in no time at all regardless of quality!

2. If there is no obvious cause for the failure then with the original only lasting 5 years is it worth the money? I have a 1996 C36 with 158,000 miles on the original cat, well worth £1500 if it was to last this long but not for 5 years.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the link - seems pretty good price-wise. Don't know who would be able to fit it locally though (they only send out mail order?) I'd need it fitted in NW London, Harrow or Watford area.

No misfires and when it was up on a ramp, did not appear to be any damage or scrapes on it. The Kwik Fit guy said that they only last about 5 years on the 320's generally. My brother's E320 estate which is 2001 had one go last year also. BTW, Kwik fit cannot change it (not that I would get it done by them) so the guy had no interest in misleading me. Don't know about coil or sensor but it passed the MOT emission tests last time around. Anyone else found that they go at this age?

Totally agree with point 2 but just worried if it will end up sounding like a tank with a 3rd party cat or failing MOTs! AA reckoned that post 2001 cars have stricter emission regulations and therefore cars are more fussy as the sensors could shut down or cause problems with cheap cats.

There seem to be 2 options on the website - ceramic or steel cats - what the difference?
 

television

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Steel CATs last for ever.

The last guy that I helped took the lower ones out, and it passed the MOT with ease
 
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zedmeister

zedmeister

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Are the genuine ones steel or ceramic?
 

jberks

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We had a cat fitted by Kwkikfit. It spolied the whole sound of the car. Be very wary of cheaper cats. I'm sure there are very good after market ones but they really have to be to MB spec.
 

robbo

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The last guy that I helped took the lower ones out, and it passed the MOT with ease

I don't think anybody is listening television :(

your approach would save a hell of a lot of money and grief.
 

television

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I don't think anybody is listening television :(

your approach would save a hell of a lot of money and grief.

Thank you Robbo, I know of 8 cars that have done this, and all passed the test
 

FELLOW

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Hmmm

Must be lucky (touch wood) my 320 CLK '99 still has the original exhaust and cats at 70K..was stored while playing in the city. Great roads in Scotland are now putting up the miles though. When I come to replace the exhaust what do people suggest? Brabus/Kleeman units ..one of the stainless steel made to measure jobs or mercedes parts?
The trick with mashing up the cat sounds interesting..do you remove the pieces and does improved flow increase performance?
Engine on mine and exhaust sound sweet although of late I've heard a sound like someone putting a metal stick in a fan when pulling away/reversing but only when engine warm with no gear sticking or problems with power or clutch slip. Does this ring any bells (alarming or otherwise)? (The fan is fine)
(Due for a service in the next couple of weeks.)
 

robbo

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you remove all traces of the catalyst material and weld shut. There are small pre-catalysts near the engine and these are enough to pass the MOT test.
 

bigasotonuk

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Hi,
So how would you know your lower CAT is gone if your upper ones are ok, it would still pass the MOT.
I ask this as I,ve got my MOT on the C43 Friday and one of my lower CATs has a dent in it, if you tap that CAT it does sound different, it did make a tinkling noise which now has gone.
My understanding of the MOT procedure in this matter is as long as the Exhaust is sound, not blowing, fitted securely, and passes the emissions, its ok.
Is this correct?
Reading the original post made me think how zedmeisters CAT had been diagnosed as needing replacing.
 
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zedmeister

zedmeister

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My Cats are rattling - you can flick the lower cans and they rattle.

Fellow, the test is if you put your car in reverse, it puts the car under load and the cats rattle then. It then gets worse and rattles most of the time, but particular revs seem to make it rattle more.

Television, would you seriously recommend this? Do you know anyone that would do this in NW London, Harrow or Watford? How much would it cost?

Someone mentioned that 3rd party cats are fine as long as to MB specs - can anyone recommend any makes or companies in this respect? How can you spot a good one versus a cheap one BEFORE you have it fitted and all the trouble?
 

bigasotonuk

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Hi,
Try these people, I have trawled the internet for weeks now trying to find a new replacement lower CAT for my C43 these were the only ones that would even give me a price they said they would remanufacture mine by splitting it open and putting in new guts and welding back up, this he said was because they have had a lot of problems with pattern Mercedes CATs especially AMG vehicles. They quoted me £205 per CAT
Hope this is of some help.

http://www.catalyticuk.co.uk
 

television

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My Cats are rattling - you can flick the lower cans and they rattle.

Fellow, the test is if you put your car in reverse, it puts the car under load and the cats rattle then. It then gets worse and rattles most of the time, but particular revs seem to make it rattle more.

Television, would you seriously recommend this? Do you know anyone that would do this in NW London, Harrow or Watford? How much would it cost?

Someone mentioned that 3rd party cats are fine as long as to MB specs - can anyone recommend any makes or companies in this respect? How can you spot a good one versus a cheap one BEFORE you have it fitted and all the trouble?

I know of two more that past the MOT last week by taking out the lower CATs Though I spent most of my life where you live, I am out of touch now.

Any small garage will do it, you just cut a hole with an angle grinder,take out the CAT and weld it shut. I did it on my 320 engined car
 
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zedmeister

zedmeister

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Thanks to everyone - especially Robbo and Television. I had them removed a couple of months ago and it just passed the MOT. Top advice!
 

arm 33

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ive got a clk320 convertible that has rattling cats too! really fed up.
Got them replaced with new from euro car parts but they still rattle. Guy at euro says that they have not warmed up properly - the adhesive needs time to stick the catalyst to the shell. ant comments please!

also could you please tell me it is defo ok to cut these cats out. I can see there is a cat on each pipe out the v - engine then directly behind this a main cat - if i cut these two cats out will the main cat cope with the emissions?

cheers
 

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