Noisy catalyst

[Derek Smith]

I've had a light rattle from under the car. A garage has just diagnosed a rattly catalyst.

It is on a 2004 SLK 320 Merc, so not worth an awful lot of money. It is rev specific. Blip the throttle and it is noisy. Drive the car and it is fine.

It comes to an incredible amount via Merc, well over £1000 fitted.

Any chance of it getting better?

I'm reluctant to go pattern.

[Derek Smith]

I've bought two pattern exhausts on line. The first didn't fit. The replacement was the same. I went to a different seller only to find it was the same damn manufacturer. I bent this one to fit with the help of a chap with a welder. It lasted less than two years. It was also noisy.