M50 swap and CA BAR - go with used E36 cat or new Magnaflow?

[sneakyRedPanda]

Title says it all - is it worth going for a new magna flow CA smog legal cat, or finding someone who's selling a used E36 one? As far as I understand, both will pass smog and BAR as long as the exhaust manifold is stock E36.

The magnaflow cat is $199 retail.

[ak-]

Used probably.


Everyone and everywhere I've read says Magnaflow will be a 1-time-pass solution (meaning the cat will burn out in two years) and/or not be good enough to pass.

[dude8383]

Used probably.


Everyone and everywhere I've read says Magnaflow will be a 1-time-pass solution (meaning the cat will burn out in two years) and/or not be good enough to pass.

bit of a blanket statement there, could you back it up? i have no affiliation with them but they've been in the business for years, i feel like that would be more widespread...

[ak-]

bit of a blanket statement there, could you back it up? i have no affiliation with them but they've been in the business for years, i feel like that would be more widespread...

Personally, no. I've always used OEM. Friends, yeah. Online reading, yeah.