Supersprint catalytic converters - NEVER!!! - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Richard M539 · 23rd November 2009, 15:48

Hi!

Here is my original post on "personal experience". Now it is approx 2 years and some 40000km later! And over these two year the catalytic converters from Supersprint have made me go (almost) crazy! ...

Check-engine light on every 500-1000km (You can multiply that by approx 30 euro that the diagnostic test cost here!), problems passing emissions, etc.

Good advice: DO NOT BUY SUPERSPRINT RACE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS!!! ... Well, unless you only use your car as a racer, but then you are anyway better with just two straight pipes and you can save yourself few thousands!!!

My car is being pampered with all the good stuff (check my signature), but this was the worst investment ever!!! The worst thing actually is that I did not keep my stock converters, so now exhausted and defeated I will actually have to buy some new catalytic converters from the dealer and spend some more cash! Great!

P.S.: Please, let me know if you have a spare set of OEM converters with less than 100000km (and can prove that)! I would be very interested to buy them for a fair price!!! THANKS!!!

M5 London · 23rd November 2009, 15:51

They can't be that bad if you are registering 451 HP though ....

Perhaps a silly question but I presume you have 4 new 02 sensors also right, and also no leaks at any of these 4 02 sensor bungs ?

PS : Why didn't your custome software tune guys disable your post cat 02 sensors anyway ?

Cheers

Richard M539 · 23rd November 2009, 16:01

Quote:

They can't be that bad if you are registering 451 HP though ....

Yeah, they are worse: At the emission check-up, the guy told me that the numbers he is reading are 10-times higher than they should normally be! This (to me) means that these cats basically do not do much!

Quote:

Perhaps a silly question but I presume you have 4 new 02 sensors also right, and also no leaks at any of these 4 02 sensor bungs ?

O2 sensors are new and OK! Both cats trigger the same error in the EMU!

Quote:

PS : Why didn't your custome software tune guys disable your post cat 02 sensors anyway ?

Yeah, well, kind of done it, but still getting errors! Need to talk to the tuning expert too! ;-)

M5 London · 23rd November 2009, 16:06

Please tell me exactly what codes you have.

Also if you are confident that you have 4 good 02 sensors, FOUR, and also 4 non leaking 02 sensor bungs and no leaks elsewhere in the intake or exhaust systems, then I would concentrate on the below ! :

Quote:

Originally Posted by M539

Need to talk to the tuning expert too! ;-)

Richard M539 · 23rd November 2009, 16:11

Quote:

Please tell me exactly what codes you have.

Do not remember them exactly, but something about converter 1 failure converter 2 failure ... Normally, they tell me that they can not remove that error, but then anyway my check-engine light is gone for some while.

Quote:

Also if you are confident that you have 4 good 02 sensors, FOUR, and also 4 non leaking 02 sensor bungs and no leaks elsewhere in the intake or exhaust systems, then I would concentrate on the below ! :

Well, honestly, I am not 100% sure about all the above. The tuning expert says that he disabled the post cat sensors!

Anyway, I had been getting these same errors even with the stock software before the camshaft and the software went in!!!

E55AMG2 · 23rd November 2009, 16:12

I will echo his sentiment. Ive had SS race cats, and the only time they actually "work" (ie, not set off the CEL for catalyst efficiency) is when they are very very hot. I've confirmed this by resetting the light after the car had been thoroghly warmed up and driven hard and not having it come back on until the next cold start. This didnt change even after 4 new O2 sensors, and there are no leaks anywhere on my exhaust.

Short of having the post cat sensors disabled, there is no way to avoid the CELs. To be honest, if you dont live in an area with emission controls, these are a bit of a waste (if you care about CELs). They will pass a sniffer test when hot, but you'll need some way (ie, peake reader) to reset the CEL prior to going in for an inspection.

M5 London · 23rd November 2009, 16:17

Just a quick question : Do the SS Cats come ready for pre facelift '99/'00 cars with an extra bung for the Exhaust Gas Temperature sensor (sensor deleted in face lift cars) If so has this been plugged properly, adequately, on your 02 M5 ?

Cheers

E55AMG2 · 23rd November 2009, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5 London

Just a quick question : Do the SS Cats come ready for pre facelift '99/'00 cars with an extra bung for the Exhaust Gas Temperature sensor (sensor deleted in face lift cars) If so has this been plugged properly, adequately, on your 02 M5 ?

Cheers

There is an extra bung location, but it must be cut with a torch to be opened.

Richard M539 · 23rd November 2009, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5 London

Just a quick question : Do the SS Cats come ready for pre facelift '99/'00 cars with an extra bung for the Exhaust Gas Temperature sensor (sensor deleted in face lift cars) If so has this been plugged properly, adequately, on your 02 M5 ?

Cheers

Well, if I remember right, there are only 4 points / holes for the 4 O2 sensors on the cats! Nothing else! Nothing else to plug!