Catalytic converters stolen!

[andrewwynn]

I have a pal in Chicago with the 4.4 2001. I think I may light a fire under my butt and start working on the design.

[mention]X5only [/mention] do you have photos of both missing cats where I can see where the attack was carried out? If I can use for good I would like to do that.


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[X5only]

Have some pics. I hope they're useful. Angle of attack obviously from below and side ways (constricted space), but notice in the first pic how the O2 sensor frustrated the thief. The saw must have cut through the thin exhaust walls like butter, but not the area surrounding the OS sensor. Notice the several attempts to cut through. A biffy plate below the cats would be a great deterrent. Also notice how the thief avoided cutting the O2 sensors. Why? There are other spots of least resistance but why did the thief avoid them?Afraid of setting off the vehicle alarm? Not sure if O2 sensor circuit break would trigger alarm system. In any case, should the protective plate then somehow trigger the vehicle alarm if tampered with? Hhmmm. I can take more pics or video.

Have to say it's a nightmare getting the cats replaced. Forget about OEM (new or used)- no stock and months on waiting list. And then getting a TIG welder since our exhaust pipes (practically all BMWs for that matter) are steel. Not to mention the thief made very bad cuts that needs repair. At least a month on waiting list, and hardly any exhaust shop does TIG welding. Found a steel works shop in Seattle that's willing to do TIG weld on my exhaust.

Folks, keep a keen eye on where and how long you park your vehicles. It's a real PITA to make your vehicle whole again when cats are stolen.

[Henn28]

The HJS cats sound like a good alternative to stock for a better sound and a more free flowing setup. Is there a concern that it will screw up the down-stream O2 sensor and throw a Check engine light?

Let us know what model of cat you ended up with, how the install went and if there were any issues. I don’t know much about exhaust, but I do want to upgrade it in my 4.4i to 4.6 swap for a better sound and maybe a little power bump. I thought I read that there was a right amount of back-pressure for best torque on a motor?

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by Henn28

The HJS cats sound like a good alternative to stock for a better sound and a more free flowing setup. Is there a concern that it will screw up the down-stream O2 sensor and throw a Check engine light?

Let us know what model of cat you ended up with, how the install went and if there were any issues. I don’t know much about exhaust, but I do want to upgrade it in my 4.4i to 4.6 swap for a better sound and maybe a little power bump. I thought I read that there was a right amount of back-pressure for best torque on a motor?

The problem with the HJS cats is that they're very expensive because they're real cats made with OE level amounts of precious metals.

If I were the OP, I'd be scanning craigslist and FB marketplace for people parting out X5s, or even considering buying an entire N62 X5 if that's what it takes to get at the cat pipes.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by nick325xit 5spd

If I were the OP, I'd be scanning craigslist and FB marketplace for people parting out X5s, or even considering buying an entire N62 X5 if that's what it takes to get at the cat pipes.

I was going to suggest the same, even scanned CL in the Seattle area. A couple of 4.4s for sale but both priced a bit above desirable as a parts truck I think. One at $3500 and the other at $5000.

There was however a nice 4.8is for sale in LeMans blue for $7000. Glad it's not local to me... High mileage, but looks good.

[X5only]

Yep, I tried all those options. The part-out folks are haunted by catalytic converter buyers and it's a hit-or-miss. I got feed up and opted to upgrade my X5 with HJS Universal Tuning Catalyst 90950092 (240HP / up to 2600 ccm). Got two of them in the UK for $1,231.71 shipped to my door by DHL. Also found a skilled TIG welder in Seattle ($500). So, $1,731.71 for new cats and improved sound. . Will update when all is done. Thanks to a forum member here who helped a lot to find a HJS vendor in the UK and has HJS installed in one of his BMWs.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by X5only

Yep, I tried all those options. The part-out folks are haunted by catalytic converter buyers and it's a hit-or-miss. I got feed up and opted to upgrade my X5 with HJS Universal Tuning Catalyst 90950092 (240HP / up to 2600 ccm). Got two of them in the UK for $1,231.71 shipped to my door by DHL. Also found a skilled TIG welder in Seattle ($500). So, $1,731.71 for new cats and improved sound. . Will update when all is done. Thanks to a forum member here who helped a lot to find a HJS vendor in the UK and has HJS installed in one of his BMWs.

Right on! Nice looking cats, by the way!

[nick325xit 5spd]

Congrats on that!

[Aleman]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

Wow. A buddy of mine and I are working on an anti theft cat saver device. Two part design:

1) alarm uses continuity of the exhaust pipes to set off an extremely loud alarm right under the car. (no accessible wires).

2) hardened steel cuff for the attack areas where they are cut.

I guess I better get into high gear.

Are the cats much more accessible on the 4.4? They seem very hard to get to on the 3.0 (and quite literally impossible on wife's car). (n63 motor the cats are on the top of the engine at the firewall).

Could you make it electrify a would-be thief, like an electric fence? Or maybe when they start to cut, the air suspension drops to the bottom to flatten the dirty f*cker? But seriously, #2 above would probably be the most practical - for a while - until the crooks get stronger saw blades. I still like it, and it's definitively better than nothing.

A bigger concern is - who the hell is BUYING the stolen cats? They need to be held accountable too. I know my local power company dyes all their copper wire purple, so if someone tries to sell it at the scrap yard, they are rejected.

[X5only]

Originally Posted by Aleman

Could you make it electrify a would-be thief, like an electric fence? Or maybe when they start to cut, the air suspension drops to the bottom to flatten the dirty f*cker? But seriously, #2 above would probably be the most practical - for a while - until the crooks get stronger saw blades. I still like it, and it's definitively better than nothing.

A bigger concern is - who the hell is BUYING the stolen cats? They need to be held accountable too. I know my local power company dyes all their copper wire purple, so if someone tries to sell it at the scrap yard, they are rejected.

Apparently there was already a device in the market with the same concepts in 2013:

https://www.catstrap.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfm-UnwYuJI