Cat Reconditioning?

[mikesr]

I know the general consensus on cats is to remove and save them for the MOT (and Trackcar's latest decat pipes nearly convinced to do that) but the cats are wrecked anyway and need a recon to bluff their way through the MOT :)

Anyone know of a supplier that rebuilds cats?

Blackthorne don't do it anymore and I can't find the crowd in Mansfield that Joo suggested.

thanks

Mike SR

[simonsparrow]

I know a local branch (Basingstoke) of the 'topgear' chain of car exhaust places could build some custom ones using standard cores for about £450 a pair (I think).

[Nickccc]

Just borrow a pair for the MOT,
I am sure a few pairs are floating about on garage shelves. Borrow mine for the MOT if you like, no point spending £450 for one day a year is there?
Nick.

[trackcar]

www.bmcatalysts.co.uk/contact.html


lol i gave you a wrong letter .. it bm not bw, sowwy

[mikesr]

Thanks guys.

Thanks for the offer Nick but I am going to keep running it with cats on. Mainly cos its the family runabout at the weekend and the existing cats are getting a tad smelly (and probably sapping power). So its new/rebuild cats and hope they last a reasonable amount of time.

MOT isn't for another two months so a bit of time to get them sorted.

Joo
BM? BW? freudian slip? are you missing your BMW

[gazzab]

Just keep your existing cats but remove the internals - then no smell and a decent noise.
if you have a standard exhaust then keeping your cats is a mortal sin.

[mikesr]

The shame, the shame.
Yes cats and a standard back box.
I'll have to join CABBA (Cats and Back Box Anonymous).

"Hi, I'm Mike and I have a Cerbera with cats and standard back box."

[gazzab]

Mike - I have had every permutation of exhaust and cats / non- cats set up.
The best is standard exhaust without cats.
The worst is standard with cats. That set up really doesnt do the car any favours noise wise.
The standard without cats is still great if you are pootling around and want to be anonymous but is great when you press on or want to do a 21 gun salute on overrun.
Each to their own BUT I would receommend giving it a try without cats. Save yourself at least £450 (which doesnt gurantee an MOT anyway!) and spend £50 on some by pass pipes plus £20 to fit. If you need CATS for an MOT then you can borrow mine!

[trackcar]

Mike's car is a family car though, so needs to transport wife and kids around in reasonable comfort, speed and conversational quietness. also decats can stink when the side windows are down and the fumes get pulled back into the cabin .. not always but some can be really pungent.

[mikesr]

Just got a reply from BM Catalysts. They don't recon and don't manufacture for my car (98 4.2). Does this mean cats from a 96 4.2 (which they do supply) are different to a 98?
I have emailed them back to confirm.

Maybe I'll have to decat after all.

"I know I said we'd keep the cats but we saved £450 + VAT."

"Oh, but you are worried I can't hear you speaking."

"And that we can't tell the children in the back."

"So theres a problem...."

[gazzab]

My kids didnt mind the sports exhaust and cats.
My kids didnt mind the standard exhaust and de-cat.
My whole family hates the sports exhaust and de-cat (except when the kids are in the mood).
I am looking for some ear muffs for the kids plus a hearing aid for when I am a little older.

[trackcar]

Mike .. they used to list the 4.2 in their catalogue from last year ..

all it means though is a change to 4.5 cats and longer intermediate pipes .. adds to the bill though that's the problem

wonder why they don't do them? it's the same honeycomb in both i think, certainly the same external diameter .. if they can do one they can do them both surely? makes no sense.

[mikesr]

I guess they would have jig setup costs to cover. Maybe they haven't had enough requests to justify doing it. Which is understandable when comparing the cost to decat pipes and given that every one is else seems to have gone/be going decatted

[mikesr]

Got a reply from BM they do have a 4.2 cat. I've asked for confirmation of the size.
Stax also do 4.5 and 4.2 cats but a tad more expensive.
Can't find anyone who does reconditioning of the existing cans.