Catalytic converter replacement -- OEM or aftermarket?

[garydoyle1]

I took my 2002 E320 wagon to the dealer, 65,000 miles, and they want $1500 to replace the right (passenger seat) catalytic converter. Ridiculous. Is this something I can go aftermarket on with my independent mechanic?

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[ejsheltra]

Yes.

[kevinC]

Originally Posted by ejsheltra

Yes.

Go on...

[Musikmann]

That sounds like the dealer price for a brand new one but you can get factory rebuilts from MB too. Most people recommend Magnaflow cats and allexhaust.com sells those.

[desired_speeds]

independent shops can obtain rebuilt units from MB dealer for a fraction of the cost.

[ohlord]

If not in California you can install a universal Cat. Is it the pre or post cat that is making the fuss? No need to get MB units or have the dealer install. Even if you needed to replace the whole side stem to stern you can get a complete stainless steel unit from germanstar.net for under $500 total.
Magnaflow 53005 60 bucks on amazon if it is only the secondary cat.
If not in Ca. you could also delete the secondary cat and enjoy a bit more growl.

[petkennel]

just had an aftermarket Magna Flow Cat put in for $325 at a performance exhaust shop for my 98 E320. It was the drivers side front. Benz wanted $1200.

[blacked210]

i would day just go with a rebuilt MB replaces both cats on one side and from what i remembered i payed 375 and 150 of that was for a core charge so 375-150=225 a side replacing both cats on a single side.

[jed clampit]

Originally Posted by blacked210

i would day just go with a rebuilt MB replaces both cats on one side and from what i remembered i payed 375 and 150 of that was for a core charge so 375-150=225 a side replacing both cats on a single side.

I know this is an older thread but where on earth are you going to find reman MB cats for 225/side??? More info please if you're still tuned in. I just broke down in seattle on I5 with a broken cat, mechanic pulled the 02 sensors routed them into the engine bay, and I drove the car home, until I can find a reasonable way forward, she's parked. Sure glad our other wagon is a volvo at the moment.

[desired_speeds]

I'm not sure if you can get it that cheap, but I think $500 was reasonable already for the OEM remanufactured unit.

[jed clampit]

Originally Posted by desired_speeds

I'm not sure if you can get it that cheap, but I think $500 was reasonable already for the OEM remanufactured unit.

I guess I need to know where people find the reman units online. I think its even more $$ for the 4 matic, which we have.

[wallywagon]

Originally Posted by garydoyle1

I took my 2002 E320 wagon to the dealer, 65,000 miles, and they want $1500 to replace the right (passenger seat) catalytic converter. Ridiculous. Is this something I can go aftermarket on with my independent mechanic?

Having a similar problem. I recently found out that my rear passenger converter had gone bad, I went to a local Meineke Shop who replaced same with an aftermarket unit. The car was not running very well on the way to the shop having an obvious loss of power. After the repairs were make late that afternoon, I started to drive home and the problem was even worse. The car lost all power several times and stalled. I finally got home and parked in the street. The next week I had the car towed to a local shop that specializes in MB. I had been told that other things could be wrong from a stopped up fuel filter to needing a tuneup as the car had 113,000 miles and was past due on Service B. The MB shop disconnected the right exhaust from the engine and that seemed to solve the problem. His reasoning was that after market converters will not work on a MB. Since then I have joined this form and learned otherwise.
I therefore have 2 questions and certainly would appreciate any other advice.

1) are there certain brands of aftermarket converters that will not work

2) Are there sensors in this car that will cause problems and also will check engine light warning light be affected

I appreciate any advice anyone has to offer. Thanks.

[firedragon1964]

I am having a similar problem with my '03 E 500 with just 52K miles, I think I will replace the OEM catalytic converter with the Magnaflow alternative. It is unreal that a catalytic converter will go bad at such a low mileage.

[Paronoff]

Check with MBZ. Emissions control systems should have a 10 year 100,000 warranty.

[firedragon1964]

Actually Federal Emissions Law protects you for 8 years or 96,000 miles whichever comes first. Since my vehicle is a 2003, my warranty has already expired. However, I still think that the quality of this Mercedes Benz factory catalytic converter is very poor at best, I have never seen one of these units fail at less than 200,000 miles in other cars. So at this point I am not inclined to buy a factory OEM product since it is obviously not that great.

[Paronoff]

Sorry for wrong info. In 1995 they switched to the 8/80,000.

[firedragon1964]

I was very lucky, i doubted the diagnosis of two mechanics (first said it was the catalytic converter $1,500 dollars and second mechanic said it was the ignition coils and spark plugs $900 plus dollars) and of all places i went to a Pep Boys. The chief mechanic attached my car to their computer and pointed out that there was nothing wrong with the car, he said that it appeared as dirt had gotten into the fuel injectors and he recommended to fill up the tank with premium gas from BP - Amoco or Chevron (before I used Costco gas). It cost me $100 dollars to have him clean the injectors and after filling my car with Amoco premium gas, the beats is back to normal. Unfortunately many mechanics see that you own a Mercedes Benz and after that all you can see is the dollars signs in their eyes.