anyone have issues with universal cats?

[SilverBeam]

My sister needs a cat to pass smog. However, a shop told her not to get a universal because it would only give her problems. The guy said he had installed many on BMWs and they all came back, and to "do herself a favor and spend the extra 500 bucks on an OEM one". Any thoughts on this? California smog too.

[SilverBeam]

^

[mbanks21]

Cats are expensive as hell. Id say get a name brand Magnaflow or something like that and you should be okay.

[DU09]

As long as it has the same amount of filtering material as stock she should be fine, or if shes obII just get o2 sims to pass if she needs to pass it really bad.

[Kevlar]

I've used a variety of high performance cats ... never had any problems with them. But the again, FL didn't have very specific SMOG testing either.

[parabellum]

What about sourcing used BMW cats from a junkyard?

[ted13b]

I have a friend who had a set on his 99 540, and had constant CEL's. He went back to OEM, and no problems.

[aaronmjr]

aftermarket cats on an E36 I know from experience will make your car throw codes. I just went for a low mileage used set. $500.

[Ferris]

Let's not forget cali is strict on emissions, I wonder if she failed simply because they weren't OEM approved and not CARB certified. What I'm saying is it's not an emissions problem but a CARB thing

[SilverBeam]

SHe has the original cat on her car, but it is bad. Dealership confirmed it. But OEM ones are about a grand. If universal ones won't work, I won't suggest them.

I heard from somewhere that buying used cats in CA was illegal. Is that true?

[Geoff.T]

Look up miller catalytic converters, they rebuild them and you can get them for $500-600. That's what I had to do a year ago. They come with a 5 or 6 year guarantee. Miracle Muffler in anaheim is a seller of Miller cats.

[CABMX78]

I've got magnaflow cats on my car. I think that the check engine light came on twice in the past year because of them. Just had the code reset by a friend and went on my way, no big deal. I'm not sure if how they would do on a CA SMOG test though...

[SilverBeam]

Look up miller catalytic converters, they rebuild them and you can get them for $500-600. That's what I had to do a year ago. They come with a 5 or 6 year guarantee. Miracle Muffler in anaheim is a seller of Miller cats.

THanks Geoff, are they guaranteed to pass smog? If not, is there a return policy for them?

[White94RX]

BMW cats are really efficient. some of the aftermarket cats don't work as well, and will still throw the cat converter efficiency codes. have seen it first hand.

OEM cats by the way, are usually $1200-ish.

[Ben Carufel]

Just be glad she doesn't have an E38 750iL...

I know Magnaflow makes a line of CARB approved generic replacement cats, but from what I've heard from everyone I've talked to about them they simply will not last as long as an OEM cat -- "You're gonna replace them every 2 years", a couple people said.

[Ben Carufel]

BTW, did you try BMA Parts in Glendale for a quote on the OEM cats?

[parabellum]

Jeez...BMW cats are crazy expensive.

I would be calling junkyards for sure.

Did anyone try Bavarian Auto Recycling? They are a forum sponsor and probably have great deals on stuff like this.

[SilverBeam]

BTW, did you try BMA Parts in Glendale for a quote on the OEM cats?

Yeah, Aren sent my list over to the, I'm just waiting to hear back.

The 7 series was 3 grand for OEM cats, so yeah, she is lucky.