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I'm looking to possibly make a cash purchase on a 2003 E55 AMG, but the biggest hold up is the exhaust. The car has an aftermarket exhaust with no cats, which is a no-no here in NY. The reason I care is because the car won't pass inspection like this, thus making it unable to be registered in NY. Does anyone have any suggestions, or know where to find a stock E55 exhaust w/cats? This vehicle does have aftermarket headers, so would a stock exhaust even work? If not, what options would I have to get this car to pass inspection? Safety inspection isn't the concern; just the emissions part.
I really like the car, but I've realized I may need to keep searching if the cost to get this to pass inspection is too high. Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!
I went through an emissions headache after buying mine with mid length headers / no cats and found out the following - something to consider if you find yourself putting stock exhaust on and it fails OBD2 readiness
Rear o2 sensors can be turned off in the ECU tune and/or in STAR. If coded OFF in the ECU tune regardless of OFF or ON in STAR there will be no CEL but the car won't pass the OBD test because they'll report as Not Ready. To pass inspection I needed to get a new ECU tune (Not eurocharged original purchaser) with them coded ON and then go and have them coded OFF in STAR.
Not sure if it is a visual and or sniffer in NY that you are worried about, but I'd hook up a scanner to it and check emissions readiness to see if they're reporting Not Ready
Also, it's technically possible to pass emissions/readiness without cats if you use spacers/foulers on O2 sensors, but you'll fail visual/safety inspection if they check underneath and see no cats. I haven't tested this on MB, but I've been able to pass emissions with correct readiness codes by using 45 degree angle adapters for O2 sensors in other cars, without cat(s).