non-T25 - aftermarket catalytic converters

[discipleofsketch]

Sorry for the non-T25 post, most of the car specific forums seem to be US orientated, so thought I might get some more relevant advice here.

Besides my T25, the other burning hole in my pocket is a 2.0 petrol 1998 "new" beetle. The cat makes an annoying rattling sound and M.O.T. is imminent. I had always assumed that a replacement cat would be more than the car is worth (not much at 140k miles and 17 years old), but a bit of googling has led me to some cheap aftermarket replacements such as this:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-OE-Quality ... 1604471260" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Should I run away, or do you think i'd get a few more years out of something like that?

[randamonia]

Can't really offer any advice only to say i'm in a similar boat with my pocket burner Eunos Roadster (MX5). I need a new CAT and while replacements aren't a fortune the non-approved units are a fair bit cheaper.........

[colinthefox]

I got a new aftermarket cat for my Vol-vo from GSF eight or so years ago and it's been fine.

[itchyfeet]

Afaik a rattle is not a fail so I'd leave it.
when I had a rattle on one car turned ouf it was ths heat shield that was loose, have you checked it's not something else?

[petethefeet]

I have just replaced the front section of my sons 206 exhaust including the cat; like you I thought it was going to right the 13 year old car off, worked out to be £65 including a gasket set and a rubber exhaust hanger.
The exhaust and cat was an 'approved' one from Eurocarparts. Time will tell how long it lasts, the old one only failed because the joint at the rear rotted off, nothing to do with the cat.

[California Dreamin]

Had the same issue on my 8 valve 2 litre beetle. It went through 2 MOT's with the aftermarket part. However, I was told that it only just passed on the 2nd of the MOT's due to the very small quantity of precious metals used in 'said' pattern part compared to the original.

Martin

[davegsm82]

The catalyst on my mk4 golf rotted through a few years ago, I welded in a section of straight pipe and it passed every emission test just fine. Had to replace it this year (last week) though as the MOT tester decided to do his job properly and failed it for being visibly missing. Cost me 98 quid for a new approved one, not bad.

Dave.

[discipleofsketch]

Cheers guys, this gives me hope - it's down there for MOT now, gave it a good run first (difficult in Bristol at rush hour), but I now have hope that if it fails on emissions it's not a write-off!

[California Dreamin]

Obviously a loose 'rattling' ceramic monolith is going to allow gasses to by-pass the active 'honeycomb' (around instead of through) but as this may only be a small percentage of the gas and the majority will have undergone the catalytic process.
TBH...it was more about the god damn awful rattle for me than failing the MOT.
Early passats TDI's used to suffer poor performance issue's when their ceramic monoliths would 'rotate and block' the gasses, I don't think this is an issue on Beetles.

Martin