» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 07-29-2006, 09:29 AM | #1 | Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 45 | how hard is it to change a cat. converter i need to get a new cat cuz mine is junk now i cant pass smog n the shop is telling me it will be 1200 to put it in and im like wtf id rather do it myself.it cant be that hard riiiggghhhtttt??? | | | 07-29-2006, 10:42 AM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Port St. Johns, Florida Posts: 2,242 | not hard at all. the part is the $$, but any muffler shop can cut and weld it in for less than 50$ least that's the price around here in Florida. But we don't have emissions. | | | 09-20-2006, 05:01 AM | #3 | Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Filthiest city in the world, USA Posts: 60 | Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but wondering if any one had anything to add. I'm pretty sure my catalytic converter is on its way out. I know I can buy an aftermarket unit and have a shop weld it in for between $200-150 (that's with parts included). Or, I can buy a complete direct fit DEC unit with the pipes for $270 and do the work myself. Installation seems pretty cut-and-dry, but doesn't it always? Any one tackle the job and have any hints, especially around the manifold? I plan on doing the O2 sensor as well, anything else? | | | 09-22-2006, 03:52 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 | Where can you buy the unit for $270? Cheapest I've seen is closer to $350. You'll need a special tool for the oxygen sensors, and I'd probably buy all new bolts because I'd guess you'll end up cutting or breaking the heads off of the old ones due to rust. Go for it. I'm doing mine in the spring. | | | 09-22-2006, 04:17 PM | #5 | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 | Quote: Originally Posted by IndianaTravis Where can you buy the unit for $270? | Drivewire has a Magnaflow unit for the M44 priced at $78.28 with free shipping. According to the response from Drivewire Customer Service... " It will work with 49 state emissions and will have a lifetime warrenty against defects." The "against defects" bit tells me to not expect it to last very long. For comparison, Midas quoted me $560 for a remanufactured unit, but that includes a 5-year, 50,000 mile warranty. Meineke quoted $750 for the unit. Oops, I forgot to ask about the warranty. Both of those prices are for the unit only, not including installation. I'll be calling my mechanic today to see what he can come up with on parts, etc. Regarding the original question of "how hard it is to install"... if your exhaust system is all welded together, and it seems that most are, the biggest issue may be whether or not you have the tools and skills to cut and weld the tubing. JMJ __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | 09-22-2006, 04:58 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: PA Posts: 822 | 359.95 for a direct replacement Cat. from bavauto.com | | | 09-22-2006, 05:05 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | http://www.randomtechnology.com/ Smaller lighter good warrantee and outflows just about anything. (Especially in the all metall unit.) Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 09-22-2006, 05:24 PM | #8 | Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Filthiest city in the world, USA Posts: 60 | A not-so-thorough search yielded the following: partsandaccessories.com $246.39 with free shipping catalyticconverters.com $253.04 with free shipping car-stuff.com/autopartswarehouse.com $269.01 with free shipping Bav Auto $309.95 BMP Design $329.95 Bimmerworld $359.99 Ultimate Garage $395 From what I could see, the particular part is manufactured by DEC, which is recommended by the last two sites in the preceding list. The part number is BMW1435, but may also be 18 30 1 737 983 (I'm not sure about this). The first several sites have the lowest price, but it may be worth it to support the specialty websites. They also list other manufacturers on their site. Ultimate Garage offers free technical support, as well as all the hardware needed for installation, i.e. bolts and gaskets. Bav Auto sells a kit for $50 or so, but I'm not sure what is included in the kit. The oxygen sensor is $72 at Bav Auto, compared to $78 on Pelican. I believe you can rent the tool at AutoZone for the sensor? If it's anything like the spring compressors they have available, I'm sure it's unwieldy and weighs more than the car... | | | 09-22-2006, 05:35 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | FYI to change an O2 sensor... Removal tool is called a pipe wrench. Works great. I usually just break the old o2 sensor off and use a big socket. The new one only goes in firm not much torque required or reccomended. Usuallly come with antiseise pre applied on threads. Works best if you run the car til the pipe is just uncomfortable to touch then remove sensor and install new one. The warm pipe is expanded and the cold sensor threads in nicely. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 09-22-2006, 07:08 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 236 | Okay, the prices above are for the '95 cars. Mine is a 96, so the converter is more expensive. It also takes two oxygen sensors, which are also more expensive. From what I've seen, though, the exhaust is not welded on at all, but held with bolts. Probably very, very rusty bolts. | | | 09-27-2006, 11:33 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 1,085 | hmmm.. looks random technologies it is.. Just discovered that I need a new catalyst as well | | | 09-28-2006, 01:31 PM | #12 | Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Orlando/ UCF Posts: 52 | Hey my Cat just died, has anyone installed any of these "performance" cats? Which one do you think would work best? $1,300 is a little pricey for a '96 ti with 120k miles on it. Thanks. | | | 09-28-2006, 05:53 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Quote: Originally Posted by roadrash | This is the converter that I bought. My mechanic said wouldn't work because the shape of the cat...BMW's OEM cat is offset, so the input tube and output tube are not lined up through the center of the cat. This magnaflow unit is straight-through. I believe I still have that cat laying around. | | | 09-28-2006, 07:29 PM | #14 | That's not Millpoint Blue Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: BNA Posts: 3,161 | Luckily, my CEL went away, so I'm in no huge rush to replace my catalytic converter. I still want to replace the muffler because it's too loud for my taste. That's relatively simple to deal with though. :-) __________________ Real men know how to SEARCH! THIS IS A MILLPOINT BLUE INTERIOR Mods 'n' stuff: Star Spoke 43 wheels - X-Brace - Mason Engineering front strut brace - CF gauge overlay - ZHP shifter knob - Racing Dynamics cat-back - Doubled brake lights - M-tech rear spoiler From Page 68 of the 1997 Owners Manual: "Vehicles equipped with ASC+T remain subject to the laws of physics." | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |