Catalytic converter removal |
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Savo
Senior Member I :-) Joined: 26-July-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 128 |
Topic: Catalytic converter removal Posted: 30-November-2004 at 16:56 |
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Hi, my 525 is registered 01.01.92. Am I right in thinking I can get away with removing the Cat? If I do is there any improvement in power or mpg and is it easy enough to do? I probably won't do it anyway, I'm just interested if anyone else has tried. Thanks Andrew |
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1992 525I Sport, Bilstein Sport Suspension. Viper 2 Chip |
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Phantom_Mark
Senior Member II Joined: 21-September-2004 Location: Lincoln UK Status: Offline Points: 194 |
Posted: 30-November-2004 at 20:08 | |
Im looking at doing mine aswel, also wanting that Viper2 chip when I can find time to go down and have it done, hows your car with that chip then mate ? mines a '91 model so same engine I do believe. Also looking at those Stone Brother Racing header pipes, they claim between 15bhp and 30bhp extra power - 200 quid on ebay atm |
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<<<<< The only way is up >>>>
( unless your in a 5 series, then sideways is cool too ) 91' 525 24v Sport, Stainless Race Manifolds, PowerFlo Stainless + Decat, Big Bore Throttle Body, Viper 2 Chip + 17's, std BMW Air Filter :D |
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579 |
Posted: 01-December-2004 at 03:13 | |
The all important cut off date is 01.08.1992. Ref source www.buypartsby.co.uk/catalytic_mot.php Cars registered before 01.08.1992 do not need to have a cat fitted to pass the emissions tests. Cars registered after 01.08.1992 need to have a cat fitted to pass the emissions tests. Removing a cat is bit of a pointless exercise in cars registered before 01.08.1992 because you will need to faff around with the engine management settings to cope with the different exhaust back pressure, for example you don't need a lambda sensor anymore. You will need a straight thru replacement pipe that bolts in the gap left from the cat or a complete new exhaust. I had a 3.0i 24v Vauxhall Senator before which had twin cats (£700 worth if they went belly up!) but as mine was registered on 04.09.1990 it didn't need them for the emissions test. Other Senator owners talked about removing them and fitting them with two straight pipes of the same length, they reckoned the power gain was about 10% or 20 bhp but if you didn't remap or re programme the ECU to run without the cats it would cause bother later. And sorting the ECU on such an old car isn't worth doing. It's a lot of work to do it properly for not much gain so it's up to you. Andrew |
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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Big Red
Groupie Joined: 09-May-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 57 |
Posted: 01-December-2004 at 17:31 | |
Removing the cat will make a slight difference in performance, as the exhaust gases will flow through the system easily. You will not need to make any other modifications if you remove the cat. Do not remove the 02 sensor, as you will put the engine management system into open loop all the time and will be overfuelling it. The o2 sensor has no bearing on whether you have a cat fitted or not. The o2 sensor senses oxygen in the exhaust gases, and adjusts the mixture accordingly. The cats job is to burn of any excess gases as they are passed through it. Once a cat reaches operating temp, the monolithe lights, and as the exhaust gases pass through it, the dangerous ones are burnt of. Whether it has a cat or not, the o2 sensor still has to manage the engine fuelling. cat just finishes the process of.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Gordon |
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If it isn't broken, Don't try to fix it.
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Savo
Senior Member I :-) Joined: 26-July-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 128 |
Posted: 01-December-2004 at 18:16 | |
Thanks for the advice Andrew & Gordon, I think I'll leave the car as it is though its good to know that if the Cat ever gives me any bother I can just remove it. The Viper 2 chip has made a noticeable improvement to the car. When I first installed the chip I went out for a blast, first impressions where that there was not really any change but later I took the car for a longer drive and was really surprised with the difference. The car feels a lot more responsive and pulls a bit harder from low revs. I managed to drive the car for four miles on the motorway keeping the mpg thingy on the dashboard above 30 varying my speed between 50 & 70 (up and down hills). This would never happen normally. I have just done 140 miles on £20 of petrol @ 84.9p per litre which I think is pretty good for my car considering in the past I have had it well down below the 100 mile mark! I don't know anything about the Stone Brother Racing header pipes. Edited by Savo |
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1992 525I Sport, Bilstein Sport Suspension. Viper 2 Chip |
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dave 328
Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 835 |
Posted: 02-December-2004 at 05:09 | |
Or you could just knock out the cat's insides, then you'll be cat free and won't need to replace the pipe. Quite a few modern turbo diesel owners do this for better turbo spool up and the cat sin't required ona diesel for an MOT. And as said you won't need to adjust ECU settings as the lambda corrects fuelling whether cat is fitted or not. Edited by dave 328 |
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328 Coupe Sport, Digital climate, full leather, OBD computer, De-restricted with M50 manifold, big bore throttle, chippeduk remap, custom cold cone intake and X-brace |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 02-December-2004 at 05:36 | |
does this apply to the E39? Any adverse effects? My cat is dead and with road tax due (€850), christmas (€loads) & an inspection II (€loads & loads!) on the horizon I would prefer to save some money!
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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dave 328
Really Senior Member II Joined: 21-October-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 835 |
Posted: 02-December-2004 at 06:58 | |
Yours is too new kbannon. Has to be made/registered before August 92. So unfortunately you need to get a new cat. Whats wrong with your cat? I have seen some stuff called Cat Back (I think) which is added to the fuel and supossed to recoat the cat with the 'special' metals so it works again - not sure how affective it is, but they offer a guarantee!! |
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328 Coupe Sport, Digital climate, full leather, OBD computer, De-restricted with M50 manifold, big bore throttle, chippeduk remap, custom cold cone intake and X-brace |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 02-December-2004 at 08:51 | |
I figured it wouldn't work! Forgot about the car test! My cat now sounds as if it is well and truly broken with a spluttering/marbley noise. The car feels as if there is a constant rev limiter fitted onto it. Last week whilst driving up a ramp to a motorway I overtook a Pug 206 but it took a real long time to do it! |
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 14-December-2004 at 16:52 | |
Cat was finally replaced today. Haven't been able to drive the car since it decided that 2k revs is way too much! It feels absolutely marvellous now. Power, performance, everything. I had obviously become used to the restriction on it (prior to Sundays tantrums!). Only problem is that I have to cancel Christmas as it set me back €1118 @ a main dealer! I thought it was originally going to be about €800 or 900! Still the lighter wallet reduces weight in the car improving the power/wright performance! |
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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Savo
Senior Member I :-) Joined: 26-July-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 128 |
Posted: 14-December-2004 at 17:59 | |
Oh my god! |
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1992 525I Sport, Bilstein Sport Suspension. Viper 2 Chip |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 14-December-2004 at 18:09 | |
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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topazman
Bavarian-Board Contributor Joined: 02-April-2004 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2629 |
Posted: 14-December-2004 at 18:18 | |
Was that when you handed the cash over to Kelvin and he grinned back at you, how much of that was for labour? Topazman |
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Now 2004 M3 Coupe Silver Grey with all the bits
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 03:22 | |
Oooooouuuucccchhhh Sorry to hear that Killian, I was wondering how you were getting on with your knackerd cat just yesterday. Thats about £800 I reckon. Sure your original quote of 800-900 Euros wasn't in pounds sterling? Did they smile nicely at you when they took your money? It does make parting with that amount of cash so much easier! NOT! Does the Mrs make you feel guilty about having to fork out lots cos its a BMW after making you feel guilty about forking out lots to buy the sodding car in the first place? Or is that just mine? Andrew |
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 03:26 | |
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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Andrew Rolland
Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 03:38 | |
Yeah but have you told her exactly how much it cost? There is no point fibbing to them how much it costs, they find out in the end, they always do. I just honestly tell her, saves the turbo strop and whinge later when the bank statements come in. Andrew |
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Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series!
Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 03:46 | |
I did tell her your honour!
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 05:12 | |
Ouch indeed! I better start saving for mine! Just out of curiosity Killian, why did you decide to go main dealer rather than source it through ECP, GSF, etc? |
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Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93.
Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i. |
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Toxic
Really Senior Member II Joined: 14-October-2003 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 841 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 05:41 | |
Je$u$ H. I got a price from my local tyre & exhaust centre for about €600 for a Bosel one and I laughed at that. Drivin' on with the noise for a few more months. Probably would have got it done by now, only budget blown on replacing the tyre/rim and suspension/steering arms last few weeks and the xmas shopping for the 2 little toxics. Local indy is on the look out for a used one for me but will only take it he knows the car and there are only less than 40k on it. TBH, I might bite the bullet after xmas when the bonus gets here and get one from GSF. Their cost for one is about €385 inc. VAT and my indy will fit it for about €100. |
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Tom
E39 1997 523i Oxford Green (Sold) ___________________________ |
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kbannon
Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508 |
Posted: 15-December-2004 at 05:50 | |
was going to go gsf but the car got so bad I had to leave it at my parrents last sunday on the far side of Dublin and ended up getting stealer to sort it out.
BTW €1118.62 is after 10% discount and credit after giving back old cat (€181.33) to BMW. |
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Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
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