Aftermarket performance cats?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
Aftermarket performance cats?
I want to do some exhaust work in the near future.
True dual exhaust with secondary cats swapped for aftermarket performance cats and keep stock mufflers.
Few questions:
Is it worth doing only secondary cats or should I do all four? (I am not trying to spend a lot of money so I wanted only secondary ones done)
Also Any recommendations for aftermarket cats from any one here???
Will it pass CA smog??
True dual exhaust with secondary cats swapped for aftermarket performance cats and keep stock mufflers.
Few questions:
Is it worth doing only secondary cats or should I do all four? (I am not trying to spend a lot of money so I wanted only secondary ones done)
Also Any recommendations for aftermarket cats from any one here???
Will it pass CA smog??
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 88
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From: North Idaho
2002 E55, 2003 ML500
Nope, but from what I have been told, anything newer than 02 only needs to be plugged in. If the computer shows everything on/ready/monitoring, no CEL's you should be fine. My car passed without secondaries, and the previous owner had scabbed a generic replacement in on one of the primaries too (with a fat leak).
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 611
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From: USA
2005 Mercedes Benz C55 AMG..1967 Lotus Europa..1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HCI..2020 Mercedes Benz E350
v8sonly......
California does a visual check but only the engine to verify that smog pump and OEM exhaust manifolds (not headers) are operational. They no longer "sniff" the exhaust or test the gas cap or look for secondary cats although I believe they can see the right side cat but can't visually see the left cat (driver's side)!
Rob
California does a visual check but only the engine to verify that smog pump and OEM exhaust manifolds (not headers) are operational. They no longer "sniff" the exhaust or test the gas cap or look for secondary cats although I believe they can see the right side cat but can't visually see the left cat (driver's side)!
Rob
Last edited by Robjr; Apr 29, 2019 at 12:42 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,566
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05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
I recently did a smog check on my c55 and I recall the guy going under the car and looking. What was he looking for??
Btw how will it sound with no secondaries and the stock mufflers still in place?
Btw how will it sound with no secondaries and the stock mufflers still in place?
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 611
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From: USA
2005 Mercedes Benz C55 AMG..1967 Lotus Europa..1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HCI..2020 Mercedes Benz E350
PJmak.....
That's surprising to me that a smog check station would look under the car! You must look "shifty" and up to no good!! lol!!!!
Removing the secondaries, etc., will probably sound more throaty and pronounced! Do you have headers?
Rob
That's surprising to me that a smog check station would look under the car! You must look "shifty" and up to no good!! lol!!!!
Removing the secondaries, etc., will probably sound more throaty and pronounced! Do you have headers?
Rob
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,566
Likes: 421
05 c55 silver, 98 Imperial Red C43
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 611
Likes: 197
From: USA
2005 Mercedes Benz C55 AMG..1967 Lotus Europa..1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HCI..2020 Mercedes Benz E350
PJmak..
That law passed in 2018 which was after my last smog test in Sept. 2017. At that time, my smog tech did not do the gas cap test or the tailpipe test! Nor did he look under the car for the O2 sensors. Apparently, now they're back to gas cap testing, snooping under the car, and a engine timing check, too, but no tailpipe sniffing!
Who knows what's next with this crazy state!
Rob
That law passed in 2018 which was after my last smog test in Sept. 2017. At that time, my smog tech did not do the gas cap test or the tailpipe test! Nor did he look under the car for the O2 sensors. Apparently, now they're back to gas cap testing, snooping under the car, and a engine timing check, too, but no tailpipe sniffing!
Who knows what's next with this crazy state!
Rob
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: East Bay, Bay Area
2002 C32, 2012 S550
I have headers and I have always passed smog in CA, last guy asked about the headers and I just said they're OEM.
They have no idea. Even with all my Mods, it passes fine.
They have no idea. Even with all my Mods, it passes fine.
