W124 cat question

[Fredrc30]

Hi all- my first post here- seems to be a good technical site. I have asked this question elsewhere but not had much in the way of knowledgeable replies.
Simply, to meet recently revised import regulations in New Zealand, I am trying to find out how complex it would be to retrofit a cat exhaust system with lambda sensor etc to my 1990 300TE 4Matic. I bought this car new, without the cat option. I now want to export to NZ where I am planning to live; it is a great car; was fully optioned and would be a shame to have to sell it, knowing what kind of price it is likely to get in the UK.
I note that cat exhaust systems are available at reasonable prices if you look around; the sensor also appears to be relatively low cost; I'm just not sure what else is involved in the conversion- whether the ECU would need to be replaced, that kind of thing. Would appreciate any wisdom.

 

[Telegraph-Hill]

Hi,
going to New Zealand is a good Idea. I will follow you but I don't know when I'm driving the same model without the 4WD but most of the M103 engines are ready for a catalyst (RUF) . I don't have an Idea now how to add the Kat. But I can get more informations from my German board If needed. I'm sure you will find more Informations also in your Owners Handbook

Greez,
Oli

 

[Fredrc30]

But I can get more informations from my German board If needed. I'm sure you will find more Informations also in your Owners Handbook

Greez,
Oli

The owner's handbook doesn't go into much detail about specific fitment issues regarding the catalyser; it's all pretty much about daily use of the vehicle. If you do have a source of information in Germany about this it would be great to know- I believe they are tightening up on emissions from older cars too, and there seems to be a lot of retrofit activity. All useful info welcomed.

 

[Telegraph-Hill]

Hi,
the Cat is still the same and there are no newer Cats available as the original one.
I'll come back to you.
Greez,
Oli

 

[Telegraph-Hill]

Please look for the WIS (Technical Information System) You'll find it at your dealer or just look at Ebay. You should be able to find all information in there e.g. P/N of ECU to be used and so on.

Regards,
Oliver

 

[Bolide]

What do the regulations require? A specific emissions level or that a cat is fitted?

There would certainly have been versions of the 300TE with Cats so it would be feasible, though probably expensive, to retrofit them

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Fredrc30]

Nick- the standards now require that the car meets Euro 2. At the time of purchase, I had the choice of cat or non-cat- of course hindsight being a wonderful thing...

Oli- thanks for the suggestions re literature- what I'm really looking for is someone who is familiar with these cars and can tell me specifically what is involved. Things like- I know I need to install a cat exhaust system and lambda probe; what is then required as far as the ecu goes? Would I need to fit EGR and auxiliary cold start air valve too? There would seem to be several people on here who have de-catalysed their W124's- perhaps they would have a clear idea of what the various hookups are.

 

[Bolide]

I'd MOT the car (and make sure it's smoking hot when they do the emissions test) and see how far off Euro 2 it is. Then I'd see what you need to do

I don't know if the older cars had a closed-loop catalyst system, where the Lambda probe monitors the CO and alters the mixture to suit, but I doubt it. It could be that just adding a cat will bring the CO down to levels that meet te standard

The other way to look at the problem is to check the figures for 300 4-Matics from different territories and see if they meet Euro 2. If they don't you'll have look at something like a Megasquirt system, cat & lambda probe to cook up a bespoke system

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk