Cat removal (from headers too)

[msm]

I'm looking for someone that can remove the cats from my standard headers and also from the exhaust (and put in straight pipes) at a reasonable price (E46 330i).

Just for comparison, TNT quoted me headers + full S/S exhaust for R5k (including fitment and a workaround for the cat sensors). However, my car "only" has around 100K KM and I don't want to ditch a decent working exhaust yet if I can achieve 90% of the same result while keeping it. Exhaust cat removals seem to go for about R300 to R1k. Hence, I'm using this as a bit of a benchmark. My "guesstimate" is that it should be around R1k - R1.5K to do this (header + straight pipe)...

Any recommendations on who I can go to? I want to go to someone that has experience on these cars so that I do not have issues with cat sensors, EML light, etc. Depending on total price, I may chip the car at the same time (or a bit later).

 

[moranor@axis]

Are you sure you have cats in your branches? Some 330i don't if you do have them gutting them is not the best way to go...

 

[Sankekur]

I have to agree, i don't like the idea of gutting the cats, I would rather save up and replace the entire exhaust from the headers to tips, and keep the OEM exhaust intact. The reason for this is that we never know when the government will decide they want cars to do emissions tests before a new licence disc is issued and pay tax accordingly (or the declare the car unworthy if it is above the norm) so then at least I can just re-install the OEM one one instead of buying new cats (which is insanely expensive, even by BMW standards ), but that is just me

 

[moranor@axis]

Besides that the void created will not flow very well at all rather get aftermarket branches or cattless branches from an older e46 like I said in the other thread you won't need the extra flow aftermarket branches will give you if you keep your stock boxes...

If you are going to change the boxes later then it might make sense to get some branches from viper or tnt

 

[Sankekur]

Yeah the cavity left will probably cause turbulent gas flow resulting in some resistance, granted it will probably be less than with the cats in place, but just feels to me that if something is going to be done you might as well go all the way.

 

[moranor@axis]

Yip you get maximum flow with just the right size too big and the turbulence causes issues too small and it can't flow enough...

 

[msm]

Thanks for the useful info guys. Will keep the current system intact and do a proper replacement at a later stage.

 

[moranor@axis]

It really depends on what kind of exhaust you want if you want it to be quite then cattless e46 branches as well as removing the other cats... This should give you a good gain but won't increase the sound too much.

If you want a look at me exhaust that will give you maximum power then tnt or viper do good systems that are not excessively loud

 

[Gizmo]

I have posted threads regarding headers for the 330i before, the cheapest option is to replace the 330i cat headers with e36 328i headers. They run you back about R600 from a scrapyard and they already have the bungs for the O2 sensors. They flow much better than stock headers and give a big increase.

If you want to go for maximum performance then get a set of 328i headers from TNT, include a s/s freeflow exhaust system and you will have optimized the whole exhaust system. The TNT headers don't have bungs attached but they do supply 2 with the headers, I paid R1200 for them.

 

[moranor@axis]

Viper headers have two bungs for the pre cat sensors not sure where you would be able to put the post cat ones because I'm not sure the cable is long enough... But there must be a way...

All cattless e46 headers are the same so you could get some from the 320,323 or 328

I'm guessing the total cost for full decat with e46 headers will be between 1.5 and 2k

 

[SirSparky]

ok,i actually had mine removed from my ex e46 320i.made a differancance but i soon got used to it.i had mine done here at noiseboise bfn.they removed the cats wich took 2 days because its quite a k@k job.cost me about R800,this was about 2 years ago.At that time i got a qoute from other guys and it started from R3K and upwards.

 

[moranor@axis]

the labour for making two down pipes should be less than gutting the cats because its way easier to do...
here's my thinking:

secondary decat: +-600
e46 catless branch: +-600
down pipes: +-600

the only thing i have not priced is the down pipes but they should not be very hard to make...

 

[msm]

the labour for making two down pipes should be less than gutting the cats because its way easier to do...
here's my thinking:

secondary decat: +-600
e46 catless branch: +-600
down pipes: +-600

the only thing i have not priced is the down pipes but they should not be very hard to make...

I think that's gonna be the plan :thumb: