R129 Exhaust

[Richard Moakes]

Has anyone fitted an aftermarket, stainless steel or otherwise, exhaust to their R129 SL? Were you happy with the quality and sound ?

I need a new cat-back exhaust, and this morning I have just been told that there are none available in the UK or Germany, they are on back-order, and no estimate of when they will be available!

Any assistance or clues for alternatives gratefully received.

 

[television]

There are some good after market ones around Richard. You could do a search.

It could also be worth asking performance Exhaust what they would charge, they do nice work and in Southampton I believe

 

[Richard Moakes]

I have looked at a number of performance or stainless steel options today, I just worry what they will sound like and don't want to cut the rear bumper.

I am sucker for originality, and I just can't believe there are none of these available in UK or Germany right now.

....and the worst part is, they can't tell me how long it will take to fulfill the backorder until I actually commit and order the part. It could be months

 

[psi310398]

Hi

I put a Remus twin back box on my 1990 300SL a couple of years ago.

It is a bit noisier than the refined sound of the previous MB box but it does the trick and no cutting is required for the bumper.

You can find them quite easily from dealers on the web.



Peter

 

[Richard Moakes]

In case anyone else is looking for an R129 exhaust at the moment or in the next few weeks, then don't bother with the dealers, gsf, eurocarparts or kms.

There are NO back boxes in the supply chain at the moment, and no-one is able to quote when they will be back in stock.

I have settled on a clone of the OEM system in 304 grade stainless, even the tailpipes are curved down like the OEM exhaust. Not cheap, but comes with a lifetime vehicle guarantee http://www.pdgough.com/

I will report back with fitting experiences and what it sounds like.

 

[television]

Good luck Richard,, the sound will change as the box gets sooted up, after 10k miles

 

[stats007]

AMG rear boxes appear on eBay Germnay from time to time - expect to pay £300+. The centre sections need replacing if you want to beef up the sound however.

Eisenmann etc all make aftermarket exhausts for the R129. Non OEM factor boxes tend to be a bit tinny and just don't last.

 

[television]

Is there not a risk of LHD and RHD differences on the exhaust parts

 

[stats007]

No - all R129s have exhausts on the left hand side.

 

[Richard Moakes]

All fitted and sounding nice

I fitted the new exhaust from PD Gough yesterday, the full details of the project will follow on my old thread.

I am pleased to report the exhaust sounds lovely, I was assured it would sound like a genuine system and it really does.

Fit and finish were excellent, just had to bend the rear bracket on the back box to stop the box knocking on the heat shield. Thats just one of those fettling things you have to do when fitting any exhaust.

So, as far as I am concerned, it may have been expensive, but it was worth it

 

[television]

I fitted the new exhaust from PD Gough yesterday, the full details of the project will follow on my old thread.

I am pleased to report the exhaust sounds lovely, I was assured it would sound like a genuine system and it really does.

Fit and finish were excellent, just had to bend the rear bracket on the back box to stop the box knocking on the heat shield. Thats just one of those fettling things you have to do when fitting any exhaust.

So, as far as I am concerned, it may have been expensive, but it was worth it

As you are coming to the meet we can see what you have been up to, great news on the exhaust and that decision of after market or not.

 

[television]

When Richard arrived to the meet I was standing with SAM as the car went by, Richard is correct in saying that the exhaust will sound like an OE part, SAM said wow, that sounds nice, and it did.

I did have a sneaky peep under the car, and your engineering skills are second to none, congratulations on all the work that you have done

 

[Richard Moakes]

It's nice to know others appreciate the hours of hard work, I like nice paintwork and bodywork as much as the next man, but only when the mechanicals are sorted

Thank you Malcolm, it's nice to know you and SAM like the sound of the exhaust.

 

[El Guapo]

Hi.....Reading your threads with interest as I am the owner of a 92' 500SL which has a collapsed cat..nightmare!. The original part lasted 130k and whilst I would love to replace the thing for a genuine Benz part the price tag of £1500 is slightly off putting!. Considering the whole exhaust needs replacing too, sensors included the price is more like £3000!!, ouch. I have a 220CE which has a nasty aftermarket cat which ruined the car (more noise, less economy) and I desperately want to avoid doing that to my beloved V8. Would appreciate advice from anybody who knows anything about the quality of aftermarket cats for R129's, there appear to be several available at very different prices. Cheers.....

 

[television]

Hi.....Reading your threads with interest as I am the owner of a 92' 500SL which has a collapsed cat..nightmare!. The original part lasted 130k and whilst I would love to replace the thing for a genuine Benz part the price tag of £1500 is slightly off putting!. Considering the whole exhaust needs replacing too, sensors included the price is more like £3000!!, ouch. I have a 220CE which has a nasty aftermarket cat which ruined the car (more noise, less economy) and I desperately want to avoid doing that to my beloved V8. Would appreciate advice from anybody who knows anything about the quality of aftermarket cats for R129's, there appear to be several available at very different prices. Cheers.....

I can assure you that what Richard does is done to a very high standard, he chose that system with care, and after hearing the car it is very very good, if you do what he did you will not go far wrong

 

[Richard Moakes]

Hi.....Reading your threads with interest as I am the owner of a 92' 500SL which has a collapsed cat..nightmare!. The original part lasted 130k and whilst I would love to replace the thing for a genuine Benz part the price tag of £1500 is slightly off putting!. Considering the whole exhaust needs replacing too, sensors included the price is more like £3000!!, ouch. I have a 220CE which has a nasty aftermarket cat which ruined the car (more noise, less economy) and I desperately want to avoid doing that to my beloved V8. Would appreciate advice from anybody who knows anything about the quality of aftermarket cats for R129's, there appear to be several available at very different prices. Cheers.....

I would be tempted to decat a 1992 car, you don't need them for pre August 1992 registered vehicles in the UK.

Easiest option would be to remove the downpipes and catalysts, then get someone to weld in new pipe to replace the cat section, leave a boss for the oxygen sensor so the ecu doesn't get upset.

Alternatively, EPC lists two downpipes for pre-cat vehicles which don't join like the catalyst version, which would then connect to the middle and rear boxes.

I think you have options, which is nice Or is it a post August 1992 car?

 

[El Guapo]

Thanks for your interest and apologies for taking so long to respond. My car was unfortunately registered post August '92 so I had to suffer a cat being part of the system. I used a company called Longlife exhausts, in Berkley, Glos. They made up a stainless steel system for under £1500 which sounds much nicer than the original and thus far ( 6 months on) is performing perfectly. Seems a bit of a con that a vehicle that cost as much as a small flat when new didn't arrive with a stainless system from the factory.....still, the thing now runs like a new car and with 134k on the clock too. Thanks for your posts, I made enquiries based on your recommendations but opted to go locally to save some pennies!. V helpful nonetheless.....cheers.