M44 cat convertor 18301435668

[jonco]

Hi - has anybody bought an M44 cat recently that they could recommend?
MoT due soon and it only scraped through last time on emissions. EuoCarParts have a React listed with a 2 year guarantee but they are for collection only and none in my area - CP4less, CES and other usuals not listing any. Some available on eBay but don'y know supplier reputations. TIA

 

[Ianmc]

My experience was that only an OEM cat would get the M44 engine through the MOT; tried a couple of good brand aftermarket ones to no avail. Hope you have better outcome, as it was a circa £1200 hit.

 

[jonco]

My experience was that only an OEM cat would get the M44 engine through the MOT; tried a couple of good brand aftermarket ones to no avail. Hope you have better outcome, as it was a circa £1200 hit.

Thanks for cheering me up Ian - fortunately I had a different experience last time. I fitted a Re-act cat and new Lambda from ECP 6 years ago with 74k on the clock and it passed comfortably for 3 years but then started to struggle - now at 88k - we will see.

 

[Synclare]

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[spurs fan in a coupe]

I may have a genuine, obviously no idea if it’s any good

 

[jonco]

I may have a genuine, obviously no idea if it’s any good

Thanks for response Andy - the other problem would be pick-up as I'm in North-West. I have spoken to indy garage, which I've used for many years, and booked in for MoT on 9th - will see how that goes from there. Cheers

 

[IainP]

I'd try spraying/misting water into the intake if it were me, an Old Skool trick for reducing emissions. It works, almost every time with petrol engines, not so good with diesels.

Take top off air filter housing, rev to 2500-3000, spray water in from a garden spray/mist bottle. The finer the spray the better.. Engine will start to bog, increase revs to steady it. Repeat 6-10 times. Lots of 'smoke' out the back, in reality steam. Steam is an excellent scouring agent, removes lots of deposits from the seats, chambers and pistons.

Sounds mad, looks brutal the first time you do it, but it doesn't half work well.

 

[jonco]

............. Steam is an excellent scouring agent.............

Agree - used it regularly during a career in chemical industry but never thought of using it that way - thanks for suggestion.

 

[Andyboy]

Given that an original BMW catalytic converter is worth £400+ even when knackered DO NOT throw the old one away!

I fitted an Ebay £60 converter to my Compact (same part) because of the theft risk, keeping the original tucked away.

Catalytic converter theft on older BMW's is now a real problem and replacing it with an Ebay ceramic unit (worthless for scrap) is a very good idea.

 

[jonco]

MoT today - all Ok except emissions (CO) fail as expected. Only doing low mileage these days, not just due to lockdown, so indy fitted a BM cat and it flew through re-test.
CO .04, HC 19, Lambda 1.018 - not bad for a 23 year old car with 89k on clock.
Test fee, new cat and joint, brake fluid change plus labour - £219 total.

 

[t-tony]

Not too bad at all Colin. Those BM cats were made in Mansfield, don't know if they still are. Usually good for 2 years, sometimes 3.

Tony.

 

[jonco]

Not too bad at all Colin. Those BM cats were made in Mansfield, don't know if they still are. Usually good for 2 years, sometimes 3.

Tony.

Don't know Tony - there are a few on eBay - I could have shopped around but just let the `Indy' who I trust get on with it.

 

[Ianmc]

That's an amazing outcome; did you see the live emissions reading on test?

 

[Ianmc]

flew through re-test.
CO .04, HC 19, Lambda 1.018

Interesting.
For comparison my last measured results (M44 with OEM cat) were: CO zero, HC 59, Lambda 1.001.
Max valves are (according to Test report): CO 0.20, HC 200, Lambda 1.03

 

[jonco]

That's an amazing outcome; did you see the live emissions reading on test?

Not this time Ian. I usually do, but this time left it with them as they were doing brake fluid change and had to wait for cat and joint to be delivered plus of course Covid restrictions. Lambda range is between .97 and 1.03.

 

[Ianmc]

MOT yesterday showed CO at minus 0.01 (last year was zero). Max allowable for the M44 engine is 0.20. Car is getting greener (in more ways than one) as it ages - tree huggers please note.
Wonder how much CO is produced in generating and transmitting electricity for a car?!!