To Californians. Catyletic Converters...

[88SuperETABD]

So, I smogged my car before I did the 2.7i and cam. And I BARELY passed smog last year...very scared about next year...is everyone just replacing their cats with oem? Or is there a cheap aftermarket version...I've looked at some universal ones...but do those work with california...and is there any hi-flow or what would be the best cat to use..

[MR 325]

The OEM E30 cat doesn't go bad too often. I'd say just find a used 325i/is system from somebody else. (Or borrow one)

[alwaysclean]

Magnaflow high flow.
See koko @ supertuning that guys the shit

[hotballs]

Depends on how you "barely" passed smog. My smog guy tells me what the different tests are and mine also just barely passed but he said the Cat was fine....so it's not the cat.

[MR 325]

Magnaflow high flow.
See koko @ supertuning that guys the shit

Magnaflow cats are garbage.

[Jean]

I passed with flying colors with a new magnaflow...and it was only $120 shipped.

[Lunner]

I passed with flying colors with a new magnaflow...and it was only $120 shipped.

+1

My magnaflow has treated me well too after my oe cat started letting massive amounts of pollutants through.

But I paid even less, thanks BAR's consumer assistance program!

It's the only time I was ever glad my car was being smogged in CA.

[88SuperETABD]

Depends on how you "barely" passed smog. My smog guy tells me what the different tests are and mine also just barely passed but he said the Cat was fine....so it's not the cat.

thats true...how could i find that out...do they keep records? I didnt ask how...I hope i saved the paper thing he gave me...gonna have to look thru my glove box for it haha

[hotballs]

thats true...how could i find that out...do they keep records? I didnt ask how...I hope i saved the paper thing he gave me...gonna have to look thru my glove box for it haha

Someone might know. Look at the numbers. (NO) or one of them is generally high if the cat is bad. The smog guy should be able to tell you.

[JayH]

+1

My magnaflow has treated me well too after my oe cat started letting massive amounts of pollutants through.

But I paid even less, thanks BAR's consumer assistance program!

It's the only time I was ever glad my car was being smogged in CA.

Thanks for posting that. I wasn't even aware of this program and now I'm going to see if they'll pay for a new ICV and possibly a muffler.

Since I'm unemployed I qualify for this assistance.

Were you allowed to purchase and install the equipment or did a certified shop have to do the work?

[Lunner]

Thanks for posting that. I wasn't even aware of this program and now I'm going to see if they'll pay for a new ICV and possibly a muffler.

Since I'm unemployed I qualify for this assistance.

Were you allowed to purchase and install the equipment or did a certified shop have to do the work?

Glad to help.

The program may have been revised since we all went broke, but here's how it went down for me:

1) You have to fail a registration required smog test. And be poor ("meet eligibility criteria").

2) You then apply to the program, and if accepted they'll give you temporary registration (I'm sure that bit has changed, don't know the details) and the requisite paperwork. Takes about a week or two.

3) You then get all your paperwork together and go to a CAP program approved smog/repair station to get "smog-able", as it were. You pay the first $20, the state pays the next $500, you pay the rest. And the state will not pay for anything, (like a muffler presumably, but I'm not 100%) that isn't smog/emissions related. They're just trying to get you to pollute less basically, not a bad concept IMO. However, here's where it doesn't exactly work like all us DIY e30 owners would like:

Just like a regular mechanic, even if you know 100% what the problem is, they will not touch anything without doing a diagnostic, i.e. charging two hours worth of labor presumably sitting with their thumbs up their asses. In my case I went in and told the guy that every emissions related piece of equipment was brand new, and that the twenty year old cat was without a doubt to blame for my gross polluter status, if for no other reason than to save time. Obviously the state was footing the bill so I wasn't as cantankerous about as I otherwise would be, and $120 later I get a phone call saying "Your catalytic converter needs replacing." Cue the shock and awe.

Anyway, they then repair your car based on the diagnosis, smog it, and if all goes right the first time (like it did for me) you just pay the remainder of the bill. The state will have already been invoiced for the $500, so you don't have to worry about it. In my case, I paid $20 toward the diagnostic, and then the remainder of $100 for the magnaflow cat installed with a smog test.

$120 for a new cat, I didn't even have to get dirty or bust my knuckles, and a smogged car.

Thank you BAR for doing something right.

Website for more info: www.bar.ca.gov

-Brett

[88SuperETABD]

Is that gonna work for me tho...considering I'm a student...and my parents still claim me as a dependent?

[Lunner]

Is that gonna work for me tho...considering I'm a student...and my parents still claim me as a dependent?

Depends on how much your parents make. They have a rubric for household income + number of occupants in the household.

[u3b3rg33k]

Don't you have e85 in CA? or ISO-HEET? Those both make tired cars pass emissions like nobodies business.

[Lunner]

Don't you have e85 in CA? or ISO-HEET? Those both make tired cars pass emissions like nobodies business.

Yeah, e85 is everywhere nowadays, and I've heard of people using that stuff, but honestly I'm not comfortable throwing anything in my gas tank that the car wasn't designed for.