I bought a 1997 SL600 for my wife in November and have had it to MB dealer to check it out entirely. for $700 they changed the oil and scratched the air dam. They also could not find out why the car stutters at about 2000 rpm when it is cold (for Texas). I have been told it could be a bad throttle actuator (fortunately on $1350 not the $3500 for the 1995s) What do ya'll think. Just for grins, the air dam was torn off when it was backed off the delivery truck, dealer dinged it, port rear fender hit and run in parking lot & while that one was in the body shop a worker there backed a truck into the starboard rear fender. Is this typical?

 

Don't tell me .... you're in San Antonio.
Have the Catalytic converters checked at a reputable Muffler shop (like Midas or Meineke) they might find a crack or cracks.
Have them weld them back together. At low revs in "cold" weather, that leak will wreak havoc with the sensors and tend to load up one bank of cylinders with fuel (hance stumbling...really embarrassing at a stop sign huh ?). You may not even notice any noise from this kind of exhaust leak. (my leak was all the way around the can and didn't even show any soot around it). Welded it up for $185.00 instead of paying $1,300 for new CAT. Hasn't stumbled since.

 

Thanks, I am actually in Katy about 20 miles towards S.A. Thanks for the tip I will have local shop check it. $185 is better than both $1300 for a new CAT or $1350 for an actuator.