Ya I will have to agree with you on the cost. so I go to PULL THE TRIGGER on the magnaflows they don't make one for the 96 M3.
every single aftermarket i have used and/or have experience has failed in a yr - 1.5 yrs.
incl magnaflow. Just saying. Its how it typically goes.
Did you buy two converters or one - realoem.com shows the 95 with two converters side by side. Is one #36004 enough to replace the pair of converters there now?
It's TWO units. A pair of 36004's.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
Glad you got it all worked out.
I was thinking of getting the exhaust shop to make a cutout of just the CAT section and replace it with regular pipping with bolt on flangs. Then when the time comes to smog, the CATS can be bolted back on. Did you ever consider this?
Yeah, but the fit is REALLY tight when you look at the Y where the O2 sensor sits and the exhaust cats. The CARB guidelines has a strict code of where the cat can be up/down stream in the exhaust track. Kinda nuts really.
Most of the track guys just run a track pipe and for SMOG, bolt on the stock system.
I say system as we're talking cats and piping.
There were a lot of people here willing to let me either borrow their system or sell me one. I decided on going a bit more permanent for this gig - and as much as I liked the price of a used system, there's no guarantee it'll work or last. I'm getting old now (41) so the song and dance to get past smog is a bit of a hassle and I tend to like things to just work and not worry about them.
The other thing is getting an exhaust shop to work with you. CARB has a lot of these guys pretty spooked. Offenders are publicly humiliated via a newsletter all the shops gets. Whack if you asked me considered they get heavily fined too.
Last edited by LuxoM3; 03-19-2011 at 04:10 PM.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
So just to make sure I am understanding correctly. You had TWO cats installed at your shop, and only paid $429? From what I have been seeing, ONE CAT is like $400, how did that work?
The reason I am asking is because I might be in the same boat soon. I just got my DMV renewal, and I need to smog. 2 years ago I just barely passed, and was thinking that maybe the CATs were starting to go south on me.
Last edited by 2K6TBSS; 03-19-2011 at 05:15 PM.
Yes, see my 1st post.
I also posted a pic... there are TWO cats... and yes, got both units installed for $429!
[IMG]http://www.percydesign.com/********S/cats-magnaflow.jpg[/IMG]
Last edited by LuxoM3; 03-19-2011 at 05:42 PM.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
Thanks. I didn't realize that the $410 that Magnaflow has listed on their site was for 2 CATs, not per CAT.
Yeah, the Magnaflow site isn't too clear about it. It just says #36004. And shows a single cat photo. No help really. It took a chat with my muffler guy to figure that one out.
But keep in mind this unit is just for the OBD1-BMWs like the 95 M3.
If you are looking for your 97+... you are pretty much stuck with one from BMW. Although East Bay BMW can be talked into getting you one for $1400-ish if you ask and mention you are a BMW CCA Member. Retail is $2300+
Last edited by LuxoM3; 03-21-2011 at 04:11 PM.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
I thought the 96 and later factory cars were reasonably priced...will the 3.2L manifold fit the '95 which allows you to use the 96+ cat if you do it yourself - not suggesting anyone break the law, but does the manifold fit and is the later cat cheaper? You would need to plug one o2 sensor port.
Thanks Neil - small issue, DEC only warrantees it for 2 years. We do our SMOG (CA) every 2 years so that can be a crap shoot. BavarianAutosport sells it for $750-ish.
It's a screwy dilema for owners in CA. :\
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
Man am I glad I live in the midwest
Washedit1 by thedude60526, on Flickr11/10's Racing
94 325i #36/64 TEAM PENISTON OILS/ LARSENS BISCUITS
Let's say you bought a direct replacement system & bolted it up & passed smog.
Save the old system.
Gut the cat on the old system & then put it back for 2 years until next smog.
That way you don't "wear out" the cat.
Rinse & repeat.
Would your car run ok with the gutted cat? Any engine codes? Ck engine?
07 328i coupe, 95 M3 coupe, 04 Z06 Corvette, 04 Lexus IS300, several SUV's.
I have a Bentley service manual & still want to post this question, thanks.
Check out my DIY videos http://www.youtube.com/user/1947froggy?feature=guide
I wonder if this cat setup would work for the 97. The Magnaflow site says for OBDII Caifornia systems, but it shows for a 99 M3.
http://www.magnaflow.com/02catalytic...niversal=46104
Will have to wait and see what my smog comes back with this year.
2K6TBSS
if it's ok for the 99, then its okay for the 97... same cats, same part numbers from BMW.
FROGGY
I'm not a huge fan of gutted or cat-less systems. Call me an environmentalist or liberal. But from a more scientific view - guys running catless or gutted made 1 hp less than a fully flowing CAT system last I remember. So from a performance and emissions standpoint, I'd just rather breathe easy and such.
And FWIW, the Manga cats after 2 weeks are awesome. Man talk about A LOT of torque.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
Thanks for the post.
My concern is not making more power at all.
My concern is having to spend from $500 to $1500 every 2 years to pass a (rigged) smog law. I call it rigged because even if you pass sniffer with flying colors, they can fail you on visual for not having a CARB # for some stupid little (inconsequential) part. So it's really not only about clean air, it's about CONTROL & PUNISHMENT by the state. Some of us are getting to that clarity.
Those of you on the forum who live in the other 49 have no idea the c**p laws that comes out of the Sacramento legislature. They have spent themselves broke, but still keep churning it out.
07 328i coupe, 95 M3 coupe, 04 Z06 Corvette, 04 Lexus IS300, several SUV's.
I have a Bentley service manual & still want to post this question, thanks.
Check out my DIY videos http://www.youtube.com/user/1947froggy?feature=guide
Sorry to resurrect and old thread, but I'm now in the same boat as LuxoM3 and others: just failed smog and need new cats etc.
I brought my '95 M3 to an exhaust shop this morning to see about installing some MagnaFlow 36004's and we discovered that there would be no way to install them without losing about 2" of clearance under the car.
Because of the oval shape of the cats and the flange that goes around the outer edge, they will need to be turned at an angle to fit them in and because of this, they will protrude downward a couple inches.
If I were to have these installed, I would be really concerned about hitting these on speedbumps and the like.
LuxoM3, is there any way you could post some pics of your cat installation? Did you lose clearance? If so, what has your experience been? Have you hit them on anything?
I'm really hoping you can chime in here.
Thanks!
Hey Cycle - my exhaust shop is considered well THE shop to go to in my area.
The guy cut the old ones out, welded in the Magna's at a light angle AND added about 6" of additional tubing to get it all to curve/flow right and NOT hang too low. At most, it's maybe 1/2" lower than before... but after about 6 months of driving (and I'm lowered by an easy 2") no scrapes or bad noises from speed bumps. Heck my X-Brace hits the bumps before the cats do!
Also, man the additional torque from the Magnas is AWESOME. I had to sell my TRM chip/Euro intake to get money to do this - but it REALLY doesn't feel like I lost that much power.
And now the car NEVER PINGS. I'll do 5th gear pulls at 25mph and the car won't PING.
So for $400 installed, hard to beat that performance.
Last edited by LuxoM3; 07-26-2011 at 04:12 PM.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
Luxo,
Looks like a great install! Going to take the picture to my muffler shop to see if they can do mine as nicely as yours.
Thanks a lot for posting the picture. It is a big help. Nothing like clarity!
Last edited by Cycle; 07-27-2011 at 12:30 AM.
Glad I could help - even better I saw this thread! I'm gonna bet you are going to be crazy stoked when you get them on. It's amazing how much more power you get back.
BMW CCA Member 186373 - Golden Gate Chapter
Former (e)Bombe Magazine Editor, "The Toy Box" product review writer | Current member of Team Jesus
Gone: 1995 E36 M3 Arctik Silber, 1996 E36 M3 Cosmos, 1991 E30 318is Cosmos
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