Hmm.... the exhaust is starting to rust. No holes yet, muffler's fine - but pretty much everything in between is starting to go. Will the car go crazy if I put in new piping along with a generic cat? I was thinking something like this:

http://www.planetmagnaflow.com/shop/...53033-654.html

I will probably replace the oxygen sensors at the same time (not generic here of course)

Anything wrong with what I'm thinking here?

 

Yes you can use a universal cat, but it will need to have similar specs of the OEM. Just go to a muffler shop an tell them you need a new cat, and the guys should be able to match you with a similar size one.

 

Ahh.. good news.

The car is at a shop right now because frankly I don't have the time to work on it unfortunately.... I was talking about the exhaust with him and mentioned to him I wanted to use non-volvo parts. The guy did give me an estimate that was far lower than OEM parts, but still waayyy too high for what i KNOW it can be done for.

 

The cat will most likely be the most expsensive part of the exhaust...well depending on which cat you get. You do save using universal, but the cost of labor will still set you back.

Do you mind sharing how much the shop is charging for the whole exhaust?

 

They only threw numbers around losely, but the guy basically said that the Cat alone is $1100 from Volvo..... if I went aftermarket I could do the whole thing for $1100 (cat, 02 sensors & piping)

It should be noted that I find BOTH numbers absolutely insane! That cat I posted a link to is 75 bucks, figure $100 with shipping, 300 for sensors and $50 for piping and maybe some beer for my welding guy.... $450 bucks.

 

$1000 sounds about right for a complete SS MB system at a shop. i forgot about the O2 sensors, which are also exspensive.
if you know someone that would take beer as payment, that would be the best way to go.
just hope you dont have to get an OEM BMW cat ($2000 for a 540i). well dont know how much your 3 seires cats cost.

good luck

 

I'm not sure what SS MB is, but I still think those prices are insane!

I did the thermostat & coolant temp sensor and cleared out the codes, HOPEFULLY this will mean a few more months w/o' the other codes.

 

MB = Manifold Back

If the cat has failed you might as well replace the entire system.

In the meantime hone your welding skills, and if it needs replaced later you can do it yourself for much less.

 

SS = Stainless Steel

 

GRRRRR!!!

I did an oil change, and thermostat along w/ coolant temp sensor (Those were the other codes it was throwing on a consistent basis)

36 hours later the CEL is back on .... looks like I really will need to do oxygen sensors. I will try to stop by a lift this weekend so I can get the car up in the air and get some diameters and figure out how much pipe I am going to need...... I was really hoping I could fool it for a few weeks but oh well....

 

And thanks for the acronym clarifications TIPSP hehe.

 

Hope it all turns out for you.

Oh..and make sure that they mandrel bend pipes. It flows better then crush bending.

Good luck.

 

You know what annoys me the most? For a friggin month almost - it did not throw a code.

We just sold the house we have been trying to sell for 14 months! Well guess what the only car i have registered at that house is? Yep... the V70 - and it's in MA and I'm in CT right now, which means I have to get CT plates for it which means.... Inspection.... which means whatever is throwing the code has to get done now. The useage of this car is going to drop 95% after March 1st because I'm taking the 330 out of Winter Storage.... you couldn't have waited tillthen to start w/ the codes?

OH well....

 

That sucks man.

Good luck.

 

HOLY CR@P..... Light went off..... Maybe the coolant work I did really was what was causing the other codes. It's been off for 2 days now. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope it's still off tomorrow. If it doesn't come back on I'm' going to try to get emissions done!

 

Got emissions done today and I passed!!!! Holy cr@p I cant believe this worked out.