| Welcome to Mercedes-190.co.uk We are the Mercedes 190 owners forum, the place to be for all owners and fans of the Mercedes 190E, 190 and 190D cars. Including Cosworth (2.3 16v and 2.5 16v), EVO 1 and EVO 2 models. Modified and concourse, track cars and daily drivers, all are welcome. This free UK based forum was started back in November 2005 to serve the Mercedes 190 W201 community and now has over 9000 members from all around the world and 600,000 + posts. The members welcome you and encourage you to stay a while and have a look around. We offer you friendly chat and access to some very useful information as well as tutorials with photos and videos for many common repair and maintenance jobs. Whatever your needs there is a good chance you will be able to find what your looking for. Such as our Mercedes 190 buyers guide Sign up to gain access to all areas including for sale / classified areas and country wide meetings and events. Many forum features and sections are only available once you sign up. Join our forum at mercedes-190.co.uk! If you're already a member please log in to your account: **New members signing up** please check your junk mail for the email authorization email otherwise we cannot verify your new account. I have noticed a lot of unauthorized accounts in the system. Regards Admin |
| Cat Or Not To Cat? | |
|---|---|
| Tweet Topic Started: Tue Oct 2, 2007 10:33 pm (1,049 Views) | |
| malco | Tue Oct 2, 2007 10:33 pm Post #1 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Right, my Cat has finally given up the ghost (not me moggy, me merc :P) and needs sorting. Forgive me for going over old ground but I've yet to find a definative answer so here goes: I have an early 91 (Jan) 190e 2.0 with single cat, it looks like the lambda is in front of it so my question is (no prizes for guessing) can I realistically decat it? 1. I believe that it wasn't until 93 that cats became fully the norm so a 91 should be ok on emissions, correct me if I'm wrong. 2. I'm not chasing performance, I'm merely keeping the budget down as a standard downpipe is one hell of a lot cheaper than a cat. 3. Am I right in thinking that all I need do is drill the new pipe and fit the sensor? How tricky is this? And finally... 4. What setting should the EZL dial be on after the cat has been removed? Feel free to blow me out of the water on this one as I may have got it all totally wrong! |
![]() |
|
| JensonGB | Tue Oct 2, 2007 10:38 pm Post #2 |
|
I Will Find One That I Keep!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Bin the Cat mate, you're fine on a 91 car, keep the sensor in place and stick the highest octane fuel in you can i.e. Optimax, V power etc and put the EZL to S |
![]() |
|
| malco | Thu Oct 4, 2007 10:32 pm Post #3 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Thanks Jenson, do you know the best way to remount the lambda sensor on the new straight through? Is it screw fit? |
![]() |
|
| malco | Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:10 pm Post #4 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Just to update for anyone thinking of doing the same: Got her decatted today at my local specialist. They advised against a straight through downpipe as they tend to be raspy and noisy (not good noisy for all you cherry bombers out there ). They cut out the cat leaving the downpipes and lambda sensor inplace and welded in a box. Now it's quieter than ever and seems to purr more, plus the whole drive feels a bit perkier! MOT's not until March so I'll let you know how it gets on on the emissions! |
![]() |
|
| basil1 | Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:33 pm Post #5 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
how much did it cost? |
![]() |
|
| RobertE | Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:47 pm Post #6 |
|
Serial victim...
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
I would have thought that the Lambda thing is u/s by now. I think you did the right thing by getting rid of it - you don't have to have one unless (I think) it's registered after August 1991. Might be prudent to hang on to it just in case. But a waste of good rare metals! |
![]() |
|
| malco | Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:38 pm Post #7 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
The cat was shot, it had rusted right through and holed (looked like the original). But fingers crossed on the emissions, it definately runs smoother. basil1: It cost me £100 including vat so a damn site less than a replacement cat! Just got to refurb the alloys and replace the track rods ready for Brooklands! |
![]() |
|
| Matt | Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:40 pm Post #8 |
![]()
Administrator - Hawk Eye
![]()
|
They did cut the correct parts out didn't they? <_< Just to clarify, the cats are circled in the picture below. Just making sure they haven't just cut out one of your silencers. |
![]() |
|
| Lewis 190E 2.5 16 | Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:54 pm Post #9 |
![]()
W201
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Yeap Matts right, are you sure they did cut the right bit out? And wouldnt it be better to source a second hand downpipe or a new one from ECP/GSF etc they are not expensive, A second hand good cond non cat downpipe would have been better. GSF do a downpipe for £75 Lewis |
![]() |
|
| malco | Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:59 pm Post #10 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Ooooops!! I guess they took out the silencer after the sensor then!! Ah, well, it needed doing and still saved me buying the cats/downpipe and box. Guess the cats are fine then! ohno.gif Cheers for the correction Matt and Lewis! |
![]() |
|
| Lewis 190E 2.5 16 | Thu Oct 11, 2007 7:09 pm Post #11 |
![]()
W201
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Fair enough, glad its all sorted. |
![]() |
|
| JensonGB | Thu Oct 11, 2007 10:07 pm Post #12 |
|
I Will Find One That I Keep!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Now i understand the confusion from a similar thread a couple of months back, i always assumed the cat was the first big box. Its completly clear now, why Matt was so adamant that the sensor was after the cat..................i'll listen nxt time |
![]() |
|
| malco | Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:51 pm Post #13 |
|
Part of things
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
You and me both! |
![]() |
|
| 1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous) | |
| « Previous Topic · Exhaust · Next Topic » |







![]](http://z2.ifrm.com/static/1/pip_r.png)



).



9:28 AM Jul 11