teflonvest

I have a 2002 clk430 and I am in california and i am having a problem with both of the small cats. They are rattling. My car is over th emileage so the warrenty wont help. The dealer wants about $850 a piece for the parts alone. Has anyone went with straight piping, and if so has any problems came up such as idle.. check engine light etc. Or does anyone know where i could get them for cheaper? thanks alot

Jay9722

Ok, I just went through this but thankfully I was still within the 8 year 80K mile warranty for the cats. Are you over 80K miles? If not, then MB has to replace them at no charge to you. If you are over...search Ebay! I found cats for my 2003 CL 500 for 215 apiece. Yeah, I know that works out to 430 for parts and then another 200 for labor but...it saves a couple hundred. Go to a muffler shop if you aren't covered under the warranty. MB will up the labor time and will be about 15 to 20 higher an hour. Anybody can do the cats. If you just cut them off...you will have trouble with CA emission laws, no? And the loss of backpressure might affect your performance and the sound will drive you crazy. Take the time to search for parts, it'll pay off.

lancemb

my left cat was rattling too. my warranty ran out, so i went to my nearest muffler shop, the guy hooked me up 100 dollars and i was out the door. never had a problem with it since.

teflonvest

thanks ill check ebay out because the dealer wants $859 for the left and $879 for the right plus $125 hour labor.

DropTop208

These cars have 4 cats. Which ones are you talkin about exactly?

MarcusF

Like others have said, you can get aftermarket cats installed cheap. For a little more money, you can install metal substrate cats (replace them in pairs at a minimum). Replacing the cats with straight pipe may result in a failed smog test. The smog test is supposed to include a visual inspection. That inspection is supposed to include seeing four cats on the car.

Two parts comprise all four cats. Three on one pipe (which lists for $1100), and one on another ($600). If BOTH precats are rattling, your local dealer will replace both pipes. That's why they want $1700.

da_guitarist

I hear from an exhaust expert that when the cats rattle, it's usually just something a little loose inside, and putting a screw through the outside that pierces the next layer stops the sound and the cat still functions fine...anybody know about this?

MarcusF

Inside the converter, the ceramic substrate (the honeycomb core) is welded to the shell. When the weld breaks, the core rattles. A hole can be drilled in the shell, a screw can be run through it, and the rattle will temporarily stop. The stop will be temporary because the ceramic center will crack and/or wear around the screw. People have run long screws with a JB Weld seal through the entire width of the converter and they still eventually rattle again.

coupe55

mr marcus, i live in socal and need that entire pipe with the 3 cats so where can i find that for $1100, sold! thanks for your input i greatly appreciate it everyone.

The Jury

Too much money for cats. When mine go south me and a cutting torch are coming to them for a visit.

Ets C320

I heard there is some power gain by ommiting the catalytic converter. In South Africa we don't have tests, so it's no problem omiiting the part. Is it true that there is a power gain? Or does it just sound faster? :-)

djdorifto

so if you get rid of the cats does the Check engine light comes on or anything?

OPALW208

i have a pair of secondary cats and resonator, off my clk55, for sale. I removed the entire system from my exhaust.

Let me know if you are interested.

Please Email or PM me for details.

J56BP

they just fixed mine today.....by state low 8 years 80K warranty!!!!

J56BP

any1 had the resonator deleted on a 2002 clk430 , its ok to do it, sounds better or no diff ????

plz advice

gregory13lil

So if mine is a 2000 CLK 430 mine could just be covered then??? I am also having problems with the MAF...oh and I am at 107,000 miles!!

Greg