I think that the theif extracts the Platinum into raw metal. I'm guessing they find precious metal buyers that will buy ingots.

I spoke with a guy parting out his X5 4.4 N62. He sold the cats to a recycler for a cool $700. He was parting out the whole front exhaust system with cats for $750 but no one wanted to buy. He'd already sold the cats when I spoke to him. He had like 20 people calling him for the cats and they thought he was nuts asking for $750.

Meth heads will go at any length to steal your cats for that amount offered by recyclers. I hear even residential driveways are not safe. Keep your eyes open, folks. It's a mighty PITA to find replacement cats.

Some metal recyclers around here are asking for documentation like ownership of the vehicle or at the very least ID.

I know a couple guys in the used Catalytic game around here. They buy in bulk fill a shipping container and send them overseas where they're broken down.

In the last year the price for catalytics has dropped significantly from it's peak. Mind you that's still a LOT more than they used to sell for. 3 years ago recycling a catalytic would get your between $50-$100 depending on which vehicle they were from.

The price surges of scrap metal go up fast and down even faster as they're usually tied in to some global event that doesn't seem to last more than a couple years.

http://australiancar.reviews/_images...ne_ser1_16.jpg

here's the best cat anti-theft design. one added bonus on the 50i that wasn't planned.

Cool!

Yeah it would pretty much take an excavator bucket to pull cats off N63 motor. Hopefully theives know this before climbing under 50i.

I'm going to put some fake high temp straps that pretend to be cat strap on any cars I maintain in the near future. I know the high temp material to use just have to figure out how to mark it up. Stitch or high temp in weld and stencil. I'll share what I figured out

Lady luck came calling:D, scored in craigslist from a 2005 X5 4.4 part-out. Patience pays :thumbup:. So, I might end up with two catalytic converters to get rid of, what a paradox on how things have panned out :bustingup.

And here's the beast looking all tough but neutered:rofl:.

I just purchased new cats via the dealer for my 4.8is. Mine were clogged and throwing codes. Also could not pass my state emissions.

I kept searching and looked near me, but was worried other used cats would clog eventually also; especially with the mileage getting so high.

The cats were NLA through BMW, not even special order for what seems like 2 full years. My buddy that works at the dealer called me randomly and mentioned a few were available in inventory.

I jumped at the "opportunity", spent almost $1300/side but the power is finally back! Check engine light is gone.

Awesome! So that's what they look like when new - shiny, shiny:D. Yeah, I'll be installing after-market catalytic converters (HJS 90950092). They're not a direct fit, so I needed the front stubs of the OEM cats which were terribly sawed off. My front exhaust was essentially destroyed with cuts through O2 sensor holes requiring a rebuild. So the plan is to neatly saw off the cats from this exhaust system I bought and have the new cats TIG welded nicely. The old cats fetch around $700 from the recyclers.

The new catalytic converters just arrived. The challenge now is finding a TIG exhaust welder up-to the task of fitting them in. My current TIG welder grew cold feet.