# Mercedes E320 1999 sedan **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 25, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970 "2009-05-25T21:17:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oma1949](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/71e660/32.png) [@oma1949](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oma1949)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970/1 "2009-05-25T21:17:53Z")
My catalytic converter is making a rattling noise and the car vibrates a bit on idle. Are the two problems related? Also,I have been told that the cat will eventually need a replacement although it just passed emissions, with mileage at 100,000 miles. Any idea on where i could this job done in Fairfield County, CT or the tristate area at a competent garage with an economical cost? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970/2 "2009-05-25T21:24:19Z")
If you passed emission’s, there’s nothing wrong with the cat. The noise you hear might from a loose heat shield on the cat. But that’s no reason to replace the cat. Take it to a muffler shop and ask if they can find a loose heat shield. If they do, they’ll either find a way to reattach it, or remove it. Tester ---
**Author:** ![oma1949](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/71e660/32.png) [@oma1949](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oma1949)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970/3 "2009-05-25T22:42:39Z")
Tester, are you suggesting that the mercedes dealer has probably wrongly diagnosed it as a breakdown of some elements within the cat which are now rattling? Also, should I take it to Meinecke or someone like that or another mercedes dealer, if the work involved is complicated. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970/4 "2009-05-25T22:51:42Z")
The LAST place you want to take it is the dealer…The most likely cause of the rattle, as Tester said, is a loose heat shield. At a dealership, that’s reason enough to replace the entire exhaust system. Benz Over… Most of todays cars use a stainless steel exhaust that lasts forever. At least, on a Benz, one would hope so… But first have any local garage take a look at it before you spend serious money on a new exhaust system. If needed, an aftermarket system will be fine… ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970/5 "2009-05-25T22:58:09Z")
No matter if it’s heat shield or the cat, your vehicle is old enough where if a cat is needed, an aftermarket cat can be installed at a much lower cost than the dealer. But it doesn’t sound like a problem with the cat. But instead with a heat shield. Tester ---
**Author:** ![oma1949](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/71e660/32.png) [@oma1949](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oma1949)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercedes-e320-1999-sedan/30970/6 "2009-05-26T04:47:13Z")
Many thanks for the replies received thus far. Does any one know of a reliable local garage in the Fairfield County, CT area who would be able to work on a Mercedes with this type of a problem?