need help please

hi there everybody, i've just bought my first benz, a 2002 E320 avantgarde and i'm having a few problems with it. Sorry but i've tried searching the forums adn can't find an exact answer to my problems....... first off, the service light flashes and beeps everytime i switch on the car. I just had the oil changed but it still beeps and flashes when i turn the car on. How can i disable this beep??

second, i have a rattle from my exhaust. I've ben told its the cats. the exhaust shop says i could take out the cats and just replace them with a straight pipe and have no cats on the exhaust. This is very cheap but what would it do to the car?? i've been told its legal in my country to do this. Alternatively, what kind of price in US$ would new catalyctic converters cost? is there any other way to fix this problem without replacing the whole cat??

Oh, also, my car didn't come with a manual. is there any website where i can find an online manual becasue there are so many gadgets i don't know how to use, like the tv and other little things? Thanks a lot, i appreciate the help.

I'm not up to date on all Mercedes or for that matter..any newer car electronics but the check engine light usually flashes when the computer throws out a trouble code indicating a problem with one or more sensors. You might want to have that checked by someone who has a code reader. Regarding your catalytic converter...well if it is a problem internally with your cat. converter and you want to take it off and replace it with straight pipe it won't hurt your car any. In fact your car should have more power due to the reduced exhaust backpressure resulting from removal of the cat. converter. Just make sure it really is legal in your country. The only down side of not having a cat. converter on is that you increase the amount of harmful emissions your car releases..if you're concerned with environmental issues you may want to factor that into your decision. Now let me say this....before you agree to having a straight pipe put in, make sure that the rattle is not caused by loose exhaust hangers. Sometimes things can rattle if they're loose. Also, most cat. convertres have a heat shield on top of them, as they get extremely hot and run up close to the underbelly of the car. Often times the heat shield can come partially loose and rattle as well.

CATS DO NOT RESTRICT EXHAUST BACK PRESSURE!!! A defective cat will. If there are downstream Ho2 sensors on the vehicle, IT WILL RUN LIKE CRAP!!!! A loose heat shield is just that......loose. Nothing is "partially loose". What a dumbass.