Universal catalytic converter vs. OEM - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

stooken · 06-03-2009, 01:00 PM

GF needs a new one for her RSX and OEM is a bit out of the budget. Anyone with experience using universal ones?

ragingclue · 06-03-2009, 01:21 PM

I thought CA required replacement cats to be OEM only...?

lyjw88 · 06-03-2009, 01:27 PM

cat delete

ZJP · 06-03-2009, 01:29 PM

Buy a Magnaflow cat off ebay.

stooken · 06-03-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragingclue

I thought CA required replacement cats to be OEM only...?

i have no idea. should probably look into that.

shops were quoting $1000-$1500 for a new cat + labor

bogdan · 06-03-2009, 02:26 PM

What year, how many miles?

Warranty on Cats and DME's is 8yrs/80k per federal guidelines.

Heinzftw · 06-03-2009, 03:37 PM

Where in Nor Cal are you located? I have a hookup at a local muffler shop that does awesome work.

stooken · 06-03-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogdan

What year, how many miles?

Warranty on Cats and DME's is 8yrs/80k per federal guidelines.

2002 approaching 80k miles i believe.

if it's within guidelines, where do i take the car to get it fixed under that warranty?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heinzftw

Where in Nor Cal are you located? I have a hookup at a local muffler shop that does awesome work.

san jose.

ptack · 06-03-2009, 05:05 PM

Be careful. I don't know what that car's computer is like, but some cars won't read a non-stock cat and while it works fine, the check engine light may never go off whch would be an inspection problem in some states.

shadowiix · 06-03-2009, 06:36 PM

i live in ca, replaced the cat on my 93 318is with magnaflows cat and passed emissions just fine.

ENINTY · 06-03-2009, 08:17 PM

I did a new exhaust on my '96 Jeep. Used an aftermarket Cat. No problems. I wouldn't use a "universal" Cat, but rather an aftermarket Cat made for the RSX. Hell, do a complete high flow system while your at it.

ragingclue · 06-04-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowiix

i live in ca, replaced the cat on my 93 318is with magnaflows cat and passed emissions just fine.

Well, the shop I went to while I lived out there passed my E30 without giving a hoot about anything at all really, as long as I paid them. They were very *ahem* lax *ahem*....

However, I did have a buddy who failed at some nazi smog station which informed him that his cats had to be replaced with OEM ones.

SSG S · 12-01-2009, 02:22 PM

Im down in So Cal, LA Area and my cat went bad. Are you saying that since my car is a 2003 3.0i and has 56000 miles on it then any bmw dealership should honor a replacement for free??? That would be awesome!!!

ChrisV · 12-01-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSG S

Im down in So Cal, LA Area and my cat went bad. Are you saying that since my car is a 2003 3.0i and has 56000 miles on it then any bmw dealership should honor a replacement for free??? That would be awesome!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bogdan

What year, how many miles?

Warranty on Cats and DME's is 8yrs/80k per federal guidelines.

Clean Air Act Warranty Provisions (42 U.S.C. S 7541 (C) (3) (B))

The federal Clean Air Act requires vehicle makers to provide two emissions-related warranties -- a production warranty and a performance warranty. The production warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle is designed, built and equipped so that it conforms with emissions requirements at the time of sale. The performance warranty requires the vehicle maker to warrant that the vehicle will comply with applicable emissions requirements as tested under state vehicle emissions inspection programs for the warranty periods specified in the law (for model year 1995 and later vehicles, the warranty is 2 years/24,000 miles for all emissions-related parts and 8 years/80,000 miles for the catalytic converter, electronic emissions control unit and on-board diagnostic device). The performance warranty is conditioned on the vehicle being properly maintained and operated.

......................................

So, if your car is under 8 years/80k miles and your cats are going bad, definitely call the dealer.

06-03-2009, 01:00 PM	#1
stooken Brigadier General Drives: E92 BSM 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NOR*CAL Posts: 4,251 iTrader: (2)	Universal catalytic converter vs. OEM GF needs a new one for her RSX and OEM is a bit out of the budget. Anyone with experience using universal ones? __________________ 2010 E92 BSM 335i \| M-Sport \| ST Coils \| Linea Corse Lemans \| Cobb AP \| BMS DCI \| Cyba Tips
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06-03-2009, 01:27 PM	#3
lyjw88 Major Drives: E92 335, W212 E350 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 1,343 iTrader: (6)	cat delete __________________ AW E92 335i - OEM Aero Lip - Vorsteiner CF CSL Trunk - 19" ZCP CSL's - KW V2 - Hammann Side Skirts - M-Tech Rear - DD CF Quad Diffuser - GPthunder 8500K - Painted Reflecter - Matte Black Kidney - Bastuck Quads - Code3 Spearco FMIC - Forge DV

06-03-2009, 05:05 PM	#9
ptack Brigadier General Drives: 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 4,093 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 135i [3.00]	Be careful. I don't know what that car's computer is like, but some cars won't read a non-stock cat and while it works fine, the check engine light may never go off whch would be an inspection problem in some states. __________________ 135i, SGM, Coral, Sport Package, Auto, Premium Hifi, USB/ipod, Forgestar F14s, PPK Stage II

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06-03-2009, 01:21 PM	#2
ragingclue My interior is turrible Drives: stickferanaxle Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville Posts: 6,667 iTrader: (1)	I thought CA required replacement cats to be OEM only...?

06-03-2009, 01:29 PM	#4
ZJP Lieutenant Colonel Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: LI, NY Posts: 1,756 iTrader: (7)	Buy a Magnaflow cat off ebay.

06-03-2009, 06:36 PM	#10
shadowiix Second Lieutenant Drives: 128i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: irvine Posts: 202 iTrader: (0)	i live in ca, replaced the cat on my 93 318is with magnaflows cat and passed emissions just fine.

06-03-2009, 08:17 PM	#11
ENINTY Banned Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,415 iTrader: (0)	I did a new exhaust on my '96 Jeep. Used an aftermarket Cat. No problems. I wouldn't use a "universal" Cat, but rather an aftermarket Cat made for the RSX. Hell, do a complete high flow system while your at it.

12-01-2009, 02:22 PM	#13
SSG S Private First Class Drives: DINAN Z4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: 626 Posts: 195 iTrader: (5)	Im down in So Cal, LA Area and my cat went bad. Are you saying that since my car is a 2003 3.0i and has 56000 miles on it then any bmw dealership should honor a replacement for free??? That would be awesome!!!