figure1a

So, about a year and half ago my left front cat went out. I was still under warranty so MB replaced it no charge ($1200 part). A few months later (about a year ago), I heard the same tell tale signs of a catalytic converter failing. My mechanic put it up on a rack and we tapped on the cats to find out which one was disintegrating. Very faintly we could hear that the front right cat had some loose pieces in it. So I took it back to MB right away since my car had 69,700 miles on it and the emissions warranty expires at 70K. The dealer said the cat was fine and the only thing that might be making noise under there was my resonator which was not covered under the emissions warranty. So for the the past 12 months the noise has gotten louder and louder until finally a few weeks ago it just sounded like I had a pound of rocks in my engine. So I took it back to MB the other day (and now I have 80K miles on it) and explained the whole situation. They put it up on a rack and confirmed the cat was indeed falling apart. Since I had brought up the problem a year ago when it was under warranty and they missed it, they went ahead and replaced it for free.

The moral of the story here is if you're near the end of your emissions warranty on your W210, have them check out the catalytic converters. That way if they fail in a few months after your warranty expires, you'll have a leg to stand on when you try to get MB to pay for it. My mechanic says the W210 catalytic converters are notorious for going out around 70K miles. Same with the mass airflow sensors--those are like clock work.

Messerchmidt

so leave it broken, have your mechanic gut it and put it back on.

for god sakes, DO NOT BUY OEM MERCEDES CATS! you can get a high flow racing cat off the web for liek $200 if you shop around.

or you can be like me and leave it broken

E55Cent

My cats blew out at 65k and I guess they cost about $4k a side. "crazy" I took it to the dealer and they only would replace one side, they said the other side was fine. I was getting worried that soon I would be over 70K and the other side would go out causing me to pay out of my own pocket. So I took it to another dealership about a week later and they said no problem and replaced it for free and gave me a C class as a loaner for the day. So the moral of the story is if you don't get what you want at the first dealer go to another because each dealer opperates differently.
Mario

E-Klasse

Federal Emmission laws say 8 years or 80k miles. If it is after that, then go with the aftermarket high flow ones.

E320Star

Perfect answer. 8/80K warrantee.

MB AMG

That's just wonderful. My warranty has expired already and I know one of my cats is broken and it's driving me crazy sometimes!!

figure1a

Depends what state your are in. They all differ. Here in CA it is 7/70.

E320Star

How the hick do u know it is broken !! CATS on a Ford Temp lasts for a very long time. Surely MB can surpass a Tempo !!!!

figure1a

You'll hear it. First it will be a faint sputtering type sound. Over a few months it will get louder until it becomes a rattle that sounds like you have rocks in your engine (especially when you car is idleing or the last sound you hear when you turn off the engine.

E320Star

Wow. A $48k high dollar car makes all that at a such low mileage !!! Wow. At least Ford Tempo's do not do that !!!

Ben'z

$4000 for only one?

mysticblu999

where can i get a high flow one?

brettg1

Then, drive a ford instead!

Air Marshall Eldritch

I thought the 8/80k coverage was federally mandated?

adv074

Yep federal 8/80k takes over after the 7/70k. Either way your covered until 8/80k.

I wonder if anyone has bought the aftermarket high flow catalytic converter. I know I saw them on evosport a few months ago.

gstigler

Yep, 8-80 no matter what state you are in.

bevarmstrong

Own a S430 and took auto into dealership to have cat replaced under warranty. They replaced. This auto has duel cats. Shortly thereafter the other cat went out and took it into dealership to have that cat replaced. They did so again under warranty. However, this dealership, which is the only one in my city, is terrible. They replaced the same cat that had just been replaced instead of replacing the bad cat. Every time I have something done to my auto there, they do some sort of damage to my car and I hate taking it into them because they've lost my trust. I've spoken with Mercedes Benz Corporation about this dealership and they seem uninterested. We have owned Mercedes since the 80's and at one time owned two at once. Everyone in our neighborhood has at one time or another owned a Mercedes and was dissatisfied with their service with this dealership, not the autos but the dealership. I have vowed I will never own another because of the service that's provided or the lack of it. When you pay the prices that you do for these autos you shouldn't have to deal with these hassles. I now have a very expensive s class MB that looks amazing but sounds like a piece of junk, it's embarrassing! Does anyone have any suggestions for me?