Cut off catalytic converters?

[ashtonhyatt]

2013 128i, 45k miles. So both of my catalytic converters are bad, was given the option to replace them for ~2,000 or straight pipe it for ~800. Was wondering if this would cause more problems? Is there a way to get rid of the check engine light if I do this?? Also I live in Illinois where it's legal to do this.

[TboneS54]

The one's in the headers or in the midpipes (secondaries)?

If you have secondaries, then I don't think you'll mind the smell as they should clean it up if you cut the cats out of the headers.

If removing these cats will leave your car completely catless, then the smell will probably bother you. Cheap fix would be to buy midpipe with cats in it like a lot of n52 cars have. or just buy some stock headers off a lower mileage car and install them.

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

2013 128i, 45k miles. So both of my catalytic converters are bad, was given the option to replace them for ~2,000 or straight pipe it for ~800. Was wondering if this would cause more problems? Is there a way to get rid of the check engine light if I do this?? Also I live in Illinois where it's legal to do this.

I'f you have not done so, get a second opinion on your cats

What error codes does the car show?

[TboneS54]

Ya, forgot to touch on that. No way your premium, high quality, OE cats are done after 45k unless you're blown and and pushing 20psi or something.

Also didn't see the prices you quoted. I'm assuming you're not DIYing it, esp as a header job is not fun, but for $800 why not just buy some used headers off ebay and install them? $800 just to hack up your OE headers? Robbery. $2000 for new headers? That's like a quart of the car's value on a part that you could get lightly used off the forums or ebay for like $100-200. Crazy what shops tell people. If you were local, I'd do it for you for super cheap. GL.

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by TboneS54

Ya, forgot to touch on that. No way your premium, high quality, OE cats are done after 45k unless you're blown and and pushing 20psi or something.

I was trying not to say that but ya, really unlikely that he has damaged both OEM cats. Really very hard to do.

[ashtonhyatt]

Originally Posted by TboneS54

Ya, forgot to touch on that. No way your premium, high quality, OE cats are done after 45k unless you're blown and and pushing 20psi or something.

Also didn't see the prices you quoted. I'm assuming you're not DIYing it, esp as a header job is not fun, but for $800 why not just buy some used headers off ebay and install them? $800 just to hack up your OE headers? Robbery. $2000 for new headers? That's like a quart of the car's value on a part that you could get lightly used off the forums or ebay for like $100-200. Crazy what shops tell people. If you were local, I'd do it for you for super cheap. GL.

Originally Posted by rjahl

I was trying not to say that but ya, really unlikely that he has damaged both OEM cats. Really very hard to do.

Originally Posted by TboneS54

Ya, forgot to touch on that. No way your premium, high quality, OE cats are done after 45k unless you're blown and and pushing 20psi or something.

Also didn't see the prices you quoted. I'm assuming you're not DIYing it, esp as a header job is not fun, but for $800 why not just buy some used headers off ebay and install them? $800 just to hack up your OE headers? Robbery. $2000 for new headers? That's like a quart of the car's value on a part that you could get lightly used off the forums or ebay for like $100-200. Crazy what shops tell people. If you were local, I'd do it for you for super cheap. GL.

Had a oil filter that was bad that blew my oil filter gasket, makes this weird smell come thru very strongly after about an hour or so of driving. I posted something about it I'll go find it real quick

[ashtonhyatt]

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

Had a oil filter that was bad that blew my oil filter gasket, makes this weird smell come thru very strongly after about an hour or so of driving. I posted something about it I'll go find it real quick

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

Had a oil filter that was bad that blew my oil filter gasket, makes this weird smell come thru very strongly after about an hour or so of driving. I posted something about it I'll go find it real quick

Weird smell??? https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1760885

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

Weird smell??? https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1760885

So you are contemplating replacing $2,000 worth of cats based on input from your nose? No warning lights or error codes recorded?

If your Cats were bad, the DME would pick up on it before your nose.

[ashtonhyatt]

Originally Posted by rjahl

So you are contemplating replacing $2,000 worth of cats based on input from your nose? No warning lights or error codes recorded?

If your Cats were bad, the DME would pick up on it before your nose.

Originally Posted by rjahl

So you are contemplating replacing $2,000 worth of cats based on input from your nose? No warning lights or error codes recorded?

If your Cats were bad, the DME would pick up on it before your nose.

Was contemplating cutting them off. It just sucks because I've been to 5+ people and no one can figure it out last guy said it was my primary cats. But if my cats are bad then it had to have been caused by something. Also it does happen right after the cat egg smell comes thru

[rjahl]

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

Was contemplating cutting them off. It just sucks because I've been to 5+ people and no one can figure it out last guy said it was my primary cats. But if my cats are bad then it had to have been caused by something. Also it does happen right after the cat egg smell comes thru

Check your valve cover gasket for leaks. The leaks can start out slow and will drip oil directly onto the exhaust manifold.

The burning synthetic motor oil has a horrible smell and may burn away without leaving oil stains on you garage floor.

[Olgeezer1]

Bad primary cats in 45k.? No warning lights? Really unlikely. You need to find a BMW specialist who actually knows what he's doing. Look at "bimrs.org" for someone near you or contact BMWCCA for help.

[NorthernDancer]

https://windycitybmw.org/

http://badgerbimmers.org/

[ashtonhyatt]

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

2013 128i, 45k miles. So both of my catalytic converters are bad, was given the option to replace them for ~2,000 or straight pipe it for ~800. Was wondering if this would cause more problems? Is there a way to get rid of the check engine light if I do this?? Also I live in Illinois where it's legal to do this.

Originally Posted by ashtonhyatt

2013 128i, 45k miles. So both of my catalytic converters are bad, was given the option to replace them for ~2,000 or straight pipe it for ~800. Was wondering if this would cause more problems? Is there a way to get rid of the check engine light if I do this?? Also I live in Illinois where it's legal to do this.

Soooooo basically, I had a oil filter gasket leak. When that was fixed they must've used copious amounts of engine degreaser and it eventually burned all off took like 6 months to burn off. But the smell was coming through the vents and kind of out the exhaust. It must've got into places it wasn't supposed to.