Does anyone know if i can remove the catalytic converter on my 1991 3.6 M5.
Just wondered if this is possible or whether there are any sensors that may need to be bypassed.
Any comments will be appreciated.
Any car sold new in the UK after 1st January 1990 was required to be fitted with catalytic converters. BMW started earlier, most mid 1989 cars onwards had them.
If you remove the cats, then theorectically the car is an MOT failure.
Therefore you will need to be on friendly terms with your testing station before doing it; Might be worth a word in their ear first to make sure that they won`t get funny about it.
Aggro to put them back on again just for the test!
Ivan.
__________________
"Never enter Karussell when on the brakes! I have gone round there on the roof, I know what I'm talking about." ~ Sabine Schmitz
Any car sold new in the UK after 1st January 1990 was required to be fitted with catalytic converters.
Ivan
Sorry, but that's wrong.
Passenger cars with engines fuelled by unleaded petrol and registered on- or after 1 August 1992 are subject to a more stringent emissions test during the MOT - one which is practically impossible to pass unless you have a catalyser.
So in essence, what you're saying is correct - but you got the date wrong.
Has anyone done this, removed the cat? If so what did you replace it with, just a straight pipe or some mufflers? I've been thinking about removing it but don't really want it to get much louder.
Has anyone reflected over the environmental consequeses?
I understand that you might get a bit more power and sound, but you will increase pollution. Is it worth it?
Ivan
Passenger cars with engines fuelled by unleaded petrol and registered on- or after 1 August 1992 are subject to a more stringent emissions test
Oops, my mistake.
I was getting mixed up, compounded by the fact that my 1989 535i has no cat and a larger filler neck, while the 1990 M5 has cats and a narrower filler neck that only accepts unleaded nozzles.
I stand corrected for the second time in two days, having raised the wrath of Mr Levinson in another thread. Gulp!
Note: Unleaded fuel nozzles in the UK will also fit diesel cars. Don`t ask how I know this. I`ve not tried it the other way round, but feel free...
Ivan.
__________________
"Never enter Karussell when on the brakes! I have gone round there on the roof, I know what I'm talking about." ~ Sabine Schmitz
Has anyone reflected over the environmental consequeses?
I understand that you might get a bit more power and sound, but you will increase pollution. Is it worth it?
You 'might' increase pollution if you remove the cat, as all that pollution that the cat is 'saving' will eventually have to be released from the cat when it is 'recycled'!
Don't forget, cars contribute less than 5% to overall polution - industry produces over 80%.
__________________ "If you're not producing skidmarks you're not trying hard enough"
No, that is a misconception. If the cat would be filled with the pollution, e.g. it stays in the cat, it would get clogged in no-time, or I would need a 30 cubic metres container pulled behind the car to store the pollution after having done 250.000 km with the car.
It creates a chemical reaction that reduces pollution. The metal in the cat is only there to create and maintain the chemical reacion. It does not "store" any pollution, nor does it get consumed by the reacition. It is there as a catalyst, hence the name
You 'might' increase pollution if you remove the cat, as all that pollution that the cat is 'saving' will eventually have to be released from the cat when it is 'recycled'!
Don't forget, cars contribute less than 5% to overall polution - industry produces over 80%.
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