Is a broken catalytic converter damaging my car?

[tobyd]

Hi,
The cat converter on my 94 E280T has been rattling like its full of bolts for a while now but I have yet to bite the bullet and get it replaced (it passed its emissions test ok) but I was wondering if it is likely to be doing any other damage to the car?
Thanks for looking.
Toby

 

[rf065]

I had one that rattled on a car years ago, it partially blocked the exhaust and stopped the engine revving like it should. I think you will still pass the emissions without one, why not just remove it?

Russ

 

[The Pan Man]

Same Thing last Friday

The same thing happened to me last Friday and caused me to break down the car going into limp mode and the engine management light coming on in lane 3 of the M5 South.
Breif history a few weeks ago on a 10 mile journey the car dropped into limp mode twice.
A couple of weeks ago as I was putting the car in the garage the wife says "When you put the car away there was a strange rattling by the rear nearside wheel" Next day get the car out of the garage and listen, no obvious noises. When we got to our destination I had another listen and there was a slight rattle. On the way to the motorway into limp mode twice and just prior to the first time I remarked "The car does not seem to be going very well" Got the all clear from the mobile mecanic "Just use a gentle throttle" The upshot is a £1700.00 bill and a E270 CDi which goes like stink. So the question here would be "How long has something been going on?" Not cheap but sorted. I was going to change it for a 280 or 320 sport but that will be on hold for a few months.

 

[television]

The V6 has 4 cats,,its the upper ones that normally block and the lower ones that rattle,,at least 25 cars that I know of have now removed the bottom CATs by cutting open and the cars all pass the MOT,,I did this on my car

 

[zedmeister]

Mine passed the MOT after having the lower ones removed, but some time after the upper ones failed as well so I had the whole lot changed.