So my front left catalytic converter on my 2000 w210 AMG is failing, and my mechanic says there's no more remanufactured cats available and that my only option is to wait to see if more become available, or pay $2000 for the MB catalytic converter. I dont have a CEL on, it's just rattling terribly..

Then after some quick googling I found a magna flow replacement which is said to fit the E55 and is CA / CARB compliant http://www.magnaflow.com/products?partNumber=444105 . Will this work? Should I verify that the catalytic concerts are really out of stock?

Any insight / info / advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

It's on it's way, I'll see what he says.

Thanks,

My 02 E55 had the same problem. I just changed straight pipe... lucky me, my smog shop did not say anything in the visual inspection.

How do you like the straight pipe setup? and what was the cost roughly?

From my understanding that's just removing the secondary pipes? is there any downside or issues with going this route?

thanks again for the reply

My front left is rattling too and I don't have a CEL but I do have a stored code. I think I am going to replace the primary with hi flow 200 or 300, then x pipe then delete secondaries. I have not decided on brand yet but the Magnaflow should do the trick for you.

I replaced mine last year with a Davico unit. They still make them and I've had zero problems with mine.

Steve

Not to hijack, but is there any re-coding that has to be done with the change to high-flow primaries/deleted secondaries? My '99 can't just be re-flashed like the 2000 and on models.

I have the eBay # save down in case I need a cat. It's 170862884170
2.5" Magnaflow Universal 59956 High Flow Spun Metallic Catalytic Converter
This is what I'll get if my primaries go. This one is 200 hi flow. I had deleted my secondaries a few years ago and had x-pipe in place. I haven't had any issues with this set up and the sound is better. Seriously, these cars never really sound loud unless you had the muffler delete but for normal daily driving, it only growl when you step on the gas

Thanks for all the responses.. I called magna flow and they gave me the engine family the cat pairs with and when I took my car in to the mechanic part of my emission sticker was torn off, so he said I need to take it to a smog shop to check for sure.. So that's next on my list.. However, when I got my car back today for an unrelated repair (suspension replaced) the rattle is gone.. So tomorrow when I take my car to get smogged (hopefully rattle stays gone) I'll see if the smog tech can verify the cat. Best case I pass smog and wait for rattle to return and I have the right cat for when I need it..

I'm still not convinced on the 2ndary mod. The sound is great tho.. Maybe when the 2ndary cats fail I'll be more inclined to make that mod.

Thanks again,

BTW.....I sold my secondary cats to some precious metal guy for $150

I had an awful rattling cat noise last year, and like yours, mine also disappeared one day. I took it to my exhaust guy and when he cut off the cats they were both 100% empty. It's a '99 and had about 165,000 miles at that time...he was able to find me some cats for about $200 each. However, I decided to ditch those for straight pipes as I was already running a resonator delete and an x-pipe in place of the secondaries, stock muffler...the sound is AMAZING. And, I passed emissions first try at a random Jiffy Lube...thanks to the O2 spacer trick!!

Sorry for the late reply. The straight pipe cost about $200 include labor and car sound louder but not too bad. I still have the resonator.

So, just an update... My car passed smog, and the rattle had not returned.. Then this morning I noticed something in my tail pipe and it was a large piece of the internal catalytic converter.. I couldn't pull it out so I just broke it up, and I'm sure it was the cause of the rattle. Currently I'm not getting any CEL, and I won't need to smog for another 2 years, so for now I'm chalking it up as being extremely lucky.. From my research this won't affect performance, and I just need to watch out for the CEL.

Thanks again for the responses

My turn is up for x pipe within the next week or when parts get here.

I am going to go ahead and replace my primaries with high flows upon delete and x. My question is what is the size of the oem primaries? Do these need to be modified to fit? Can I get any cat as long at they are metal and the same size as these?