joshespdx
06-04-2011, 12:19 AM
Here are a few specifics regarding my car before I give some background, a description of the current problem and ask a few questions:
1998 528i Automatic, 130,154 miles, Manufactured 11/97
VIN: WBADD6326WBW36194
I purchased the car at Zimbrick BMW in Madison, WI during October of 2008. The car was a single-owner car with 92,000 miles on the clock. All service had been done religiously at the dealer and it had never seen an accident. Aside from a very small, vertical door-ding on the passenger front door, the vehicle was flawless. The day I drove it off the lot (a Sunday), the CEL illuminated on the dash. Having just been filled with fuel, I wondered if it was vapor seal code. I turned around and went straight back to the dealer. Being a Sunday, no service techs were anywhere to be found. Frustrated, I went home and retrieved my Mac Tools OBDII code reader and hooked it up. One can imagine my frustration when the P0420 code popped (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 1). Having in the neighborhood of 5,000 tech hours working on Honda's (Beaverton Honda in Oregon), I knew this wasn't good. I left a voice-mail for the salesman that I would be back first thing Monday morning.
What eventually ensued was drawn out battle of wills. They didn't want to fix this car because it was going to cost a fortune to do so. OEM catalytics and O2 sensors run in the neighborhood of $2000 to $3000 for the dealer, depending on metal and commodity prices. To make a long story short, I wound up with a set of DCS catalytic converters and the original O2 sensors. It took us 3 months to get to that agreement, one that I ultimately wasn't happy with. The catalytics came with a 2 year, 50,000-mile warranty that has since, come and gone.
Here's my problem: Over the past week or so, I've noticed some rattling when I start the car and under certain acceleration conditions. There was also a slight burble in the exhaust note at idle. I figured I had a rock rattling around somewhere, along with a loose clamp or a gasket that was going. I put the car up on some ramps today and started doing some old-school exhaust system troubleshooting by way of the rubber hammer. It didn't take long for the hammer to figure things out: my catalytics have started falling apart on the inside. As the innards get blown out the back, the exhaust is picking up a bit of a burble. It's not a good burble, but it might get there if I just let it be. Wishful thinking, me thinks. As a note, I throw a P0420/P0430 code about once every other month. Far less than expected, considering the circumstances.
Here's my question: Are there any legitimate mods that remove the catalytics and use dummy O2 sensors? Is there a source for dummy 02 sensors, or would I have to fabricate them from my existing sensors?
I've seen quite a lot of talk regarding the Magnaflow catalytics. Summit Racing list's two: 46105 and 53004. Any bias either way? The price difference is significant at $209.98 and $63.27, respectively.
In addition to this, I'd like to attempt the post-resonator exhaust removal. It looks pretty simple and those of you that have done it seem to be satisfied with it.
Thank you in advance for your responses. Also, my apologies in advance for asking about the Magnaflow's, as I have yet to make it through all of the posts regarding them.
Best,
Josh
Gig Harbor, WA
1998 528i Automatic, 130,154 miles, Manufactured 11/97
VIN: WBADD6326WBW36194
I purchased the car at Zimbrick BMW in Madison, WI during October of 2008. The car was a single-owner car with 92,000 miles on the clock. All service had been done religiously at the dealer and it had never seen an accident. Aside from a very small, vertical door-ding on the passenger front door, the vehicle was flawless. The day I drove it off the lot (a Sunday), the CEL illuminated on the dash. Having just been filled with fuel, I wondered if it was vapor seal code. I turned around and went straight back to the dealer. Being a Sunday, no service techs were anywhere to be found. Frustrated, I went home and retrieved my Mac Tools OBDII code reader and hooked it up. One can imagine my frustration when the P0420 code popped (Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold, Bank 1). Having in the neighborhood of 5,000 tech hours working on Honda's (Beaverton Honda in Oregon), I knew this wasn't good. I left a voice-mail for the salesman that I would be back first thing Monday morning.
What eventually ensued was drawn out battle of wills. They didn't want to fix this car because it was going to cost a fortune to do so. OEM catalytics and O2 sensors run in the neighborhood of $2000 to $3000 for the dealer, depending on metal and commodity prices. To make a long story short, I wound up with a set of DCS catalytic converters and the original O2 sensors. It took us 3 months to get to that agreement, one that I ultimately wasn't happy with. The catalytics came with a 2 year, 50,000-mile warranty that has since, come and gone.
Here's my problem: Over the past week or so, I've noticed some rattling when I start the car and under certain acceleration conditions. There was also a slight burble in the exhaust note at idle. I figured I had a rock rattling around somewhere, along with a loose clamp or a gasket that was going. I put the car up on some ramps today and started doing some old-school exhaust system troubleshooting by way of the rubber hammer. It didn't take long for the hammer to figure things out: my catalytics have started falling apart on the inside. As the innards get blown out the back, the exhaust is picking up a bit of a burble. It's not a good burble, but it might get there if I just let it be. Wishful thinking, me thinks. As a note, I throw a P0420/P0430 code about once every other month. Far less than expected, considering the circumstances.
Here's my question: Are there any legitimate mods that remove the catalytics and use dummy O2 sensors? Is there a source for dummy 02 sensors, or would I have to fabricate them from my existing sensors?
I've seen quite a lot of talk regarding the Magnaflow catalytics. Summit Racing list's two: 46105 and 53004. Any bias either way? The price difference is significant at $209.98 and $63.27, respectively.
In addition to this, I'd like to attempt the post-resonator exhaust removal. It looks pretty simple and those of you that have done it seem to be satisfied with it.
Thank you in advance for your responses. Also, my apologies in advance for asking about the Magnaflow's, as I have yet to make it through all of the posts regarding them.
Best,
Josh
Gig Harbor, WA