w114 muffler system

Post by **thirstymerc** » Thu 06 Jun, 2013 5:26 pm

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone has had to replace the muffler system in their w114?

The baffles have died in the arse in mine and the rattle is driving me nuts.

My mechanic has recommended a new system for the old girl, but just wanted to check if these systems are basically a custom build now or can they still be sourced?

Gather the muffler guys just make one up to fit these days?

Anyone in Sydney recommend a good place to get it done?

Cheers

Steve

Post by **New123** » Thu 06 Jun, 2013 5:43 pm

I'll soon be needing a front-to-back system update for Calvin, too. It'll be interesting to see what everyone thinks.

Post by **Giles** » Thu 06 Jun, 2013 8:55 pm

New123 wrote:I'll soon be needing a front-to-back system update for Calvin, too. It'll be interesting to see what everyone thinks.

Me too, I've kept the 280E exhaust purely as a template. I'm not too worried about the originality factor.

Giles

Post by **ansteadeh** » Thu 06 Jun, 2013 9:57 pm

It would be cheaper and equally as effective I would think to get an aftermarket system fitted. I would assume your exhaust shop should be able to recommend resonator and muffler combinations that would suit.

On my coupe it is straight thru to a stainless muffler about the size of 3 coke cans end to end. It sounds very nice and not at all obnoxious.

My parts 114 has the original exhaust but I think the baffles are loose in the resonator. Believe it or not the parts car exhaust note is not too much different to the one with just the rear muffler. I figure less restricted though.

Post by **Greg in Oz** » Thu 06 Jun, 2013 11:53 pm

Mercedes of the 1960s and '70s had pretty much "straight through" exhaust systems without any baffles obstructing the gas flow. The mufflers and resonators usually just had perforated tubes surrounded by glass and/or metal wool. Removed from the car it was usually possible to look straight through from one end to the other. Even in the instances where the perforated tube didn't run straight through from one end to the other, they were almost a straight through design with a central chamber with just a slight offset between the incoming and outgoing perforated tubes.

If you choose to have a non-genuine system fitted, be sure that the replacement system is also a straight through design or one that offers no significant restriction to the gas flow otherwise performance will suffer.

Post by **thirstymerc** » Thu 04 Jul, 2013 10:41 am

I happened to see this on flea bay:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171068603814 ... 1423.l2649

Has anyone bought from these guys before?

This may save me and my mechanic alot of time shipping this up for him to then add only a rear section onto.

It looks like the right fit?

Anyone think this is the way to go, our just build a custom system from scratch?

Thanks all!

Steve

Post by **ansteadeh** » Thu 04 Jul, 2013 12:28 pm

That one look okaaayyy. The support hangers are missing at either end of the muffler. I'm actually not sure that the muffler is in the right place actually.

I'd be going to a place you know to get the work done. Some of your existing pipe may be useable and you'd be better putting the money into the custom made one as they can bend and weld at exactly the right places.

Make sure your engine mounts are still serviceable as the exhaust may not fit if you replace the mounts and the engine sits higher as a result. It only needs to out by 1/2 inch in height for the exhaust to foul on the subframe or not fit at all.

Post by **John Green** » Thu 04 Jul, 2013 9:22 pm

We sell the original pattern parts, and last time I quoted one it wasn't that bad. Might be worth checking.

Post by **thirstymerc** » Mon 08 Jul, 2013 4:49 pm

Thanks John,

Well after spending Sunday afternoon underneath the car to go over the exhaust system, I had a nice win.

I double checked along the entire system for any play or points where the pipe was making contact with the chassis in case it was a case of contact noise rather than collapsed baffles.

It seems there was a very small point where the back of the muffler touched the chassis ever so slightly. A little bit of cut garden hose and glue to create a buffer, and all that terrible noise has now gone.

Looks like I can put off any more muffler problems for a while!

Thanks all

Steve

Post by **John Green** » Mon 08 Jul, 2013 7:18 pm

A little known fact is how much an exhaust system grows when it is hot. The W123 series is famous for this problem. Fit the fuller and go for a test drive all good. Customer drives 20kms home and then wonders what the terrible noise is. The entire system can grow by up to 2-3 cms when really hot. So when gauging clearance to any body parts you need to take this into consideration.

Post by **thirstymerc** » Tue 09 Jul, 2013 9:53 am

A little known fact is how much an exhaust system grows when it is hot. The W123 series is famous for this problem. Fit the fuller and go for a test drive all good. Customer drives 20kms home and then wonders what the terrible noise is. The entire system can grow by up to 2-3 cms when really hot. So when gauging clearance to any body parts you need to take this into consideration

Thanks John, seems this was the case with mine, as the noise became bad once the system heated up.

Glad I didn't go ahead and get the system changed over before double checking.

Cheers

Steve

Post by **76Benz** » Tue 30 Jul, 2013 11:28 pm

I had the exhaust changed on my coupe a few years ago by a place down the road which did a custom installed system.
It set me back $185 fully installed, not stainless but for that price I didn't worry too much. They didn't recommend stainless systems when I asked but can't for the life of me remember their reasoning.
Have had no problems with it
Kurt