Stainless Steel Exhaust.

[Bay Leaf]

Has MB ever fitted stainless steel exhaust's to any of their models. As my 2013 SL 350 with 34k on the clock the exhaust still looks in remarkable condition. I'm sure the complete system hasn't been changed. Or is it that OE systems are made from high grade steel. If so how long can I expect it to last roughly.

BL

 

[Blobcat]

They’re normally pretty good quality steel. Brackets can rust off but the system is usually good

 

[jp williams]

They’re normally pretty good quality steel. Brackets can rust off but the system is usually good

Mine is the original at 18 years and 247,000 miles.
Others have longer lasting ones.

 

[Wighty]

Mine is the original at 18 years and 247,000 miles.
Others have longer lasting ones.

Show off

 

[Blobcat]

Mine is the original at 18 years and 247,000 miles.
Others have longer lasting ones.

It shows they’re better off being used than sat around. Not much opportunity for condensation to sit and rot out the exhaust with than many miles

 

[davemercedes]

My S203 is a 2007 reg - at the MOT they warned me there's a "tiny hole" in the tail pipe silencer that I should monitor. Next time it goes in for service I'l ask the garage if they cam weld a little plug in it. But I think I may look for a stainless steel replacement when it's necessary. 13+ years for a car that's had to stand outside all its life is really good, I think. Cars badged with one of the then Leyland Cars group bvrands were warranted for 1 year of 12000 miles when I was a Parts Manager. Their exhausts generally lasted 12001 miles and even in 1976 (the year of the l-o-n-g and h-o-t summer applications for "sympathetic policy" warranty support were usually rejected "due to the amount of salt used by various councils all over the country"!

 

[jp williams]

Show off

Is that a Russian exhaust ?

 

[00slk]

Pity MB didn't build the cars out of exhaust steel

 

[LostKiwi]

Exhaust from after the cat was completely original on my 1993 SL. Most of it still is (only removed a section and added another to remove first silencer box).
E class still has original exhaust too at 19 years old now. Exhaust doesn't rust but the bodywork does!

 

[Bay Leaf]

Wow!

 

[Donald McPherson]

I replaced the two boxes. The front with the cat was good. My problem was the flange bracket was so rotten that it broke. How do you get a new bracket to fit over the flange? So I cut off both flutes and put on one of those straight joints. The ****** thing just sagged at this point and took any speed bumps I went over. I separated the pipe again and slid in an inner sleeve extending as far as I could on both sides. I also put back on the straight joint. Now it is up high enough.

 

[Bay Leaf]

I replaced the two boxes. The front with the cat was good. My problem was the flange bracket was so rotten that it broke. How do you get a new bracket to fit over the flange? So I cut off both flutes and put on one of those straight joints. The ****** thing just sagged at this point and took any speed bumps I went over. I separated the pipe again and slid in an inner sleeve extending as far as I could on both sides. I also put back on the straight joint. Now it is up high enough.

And was that the original exhaust?

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

They’re normally pretty good quality steel. Brackets can rust off but the system is usually good

That’s my experience the OEM MB part is good for circa 15 years - if you want SS it will no doubt last a lot longer. Diesel exhausts tend to be thicker grade steel due to the nature of the beast my S210 diesel back box went at 15 years but the rest of the system was still good at 20 years old when the car was sold.
Judging by owner’s experiences on here I expect the petrol model exhausts have a similar life my S124 did

 

[Bay Leaf]

Yes I agree with you on the diesel one lasting longer. Also diesel's don't generate water at no where near the rate (if at all ) of a petrol engine. I once read for every gallon of petrol burned it produces two gallons of water,that may have changed a bit now with the introduction of catalytic converters etc. As you probably know exhaust's rot from the inside out. But the longevity of the MB system is excellent.

BL

 

[Donald McPherson]

And was that the original exhaust?

Most likely. I have only had this car for a couple of years.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Talking about silincers . I was looking at the silincer not long after i had the car , Back in 2010 . And I had a shock,. the first owner had fitted a stainless steel silencer. Talking to him [cousin] said he had it fitted back in 1995 . And it is still good .

 

[Headhurts]

I once hit a steel bar when leaving a gateway the noise was horrendous and I believed serious damage must have been caused.
At the earliest opportunity the car was booked into the dealership, I was taken into the workshop and whilst car was still on ramp shown the damage which was a small nick on edge of the silencer, the whole system looked extremely well made so I asked the technician how often they need changing and he told me he had never changed one and it’s a rare occurrence for one to be in for this, possibly due to the eye watering cost.

Robin

 

[mioba]

MB exhausts are top quality.
The exhaust on my W124 was original and perfect. Rust killed the rest of the car.
My w220 exhaust is original (16 years young).

You dont want to change the entire system. The cost would be eye watering if original and I doubt you would get comparable quality going second source.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Well not for me,, the silencer went years before tha car did .

 

[Bay Leaf]

I see that a lot of these post's are for cars with diesel engines. Mine's a petrol but even so it's in remarkable condition for the year.