Catalytic Converter Advice

[brandonf]

Hello, I had one of the catalytic converters stolen out of my 2015 Golf TDI S last summer. Apparently there are two of them, and they stole the more expensive one. I had a mechanic install a straight pipe then due to cost, but am now going to have the cat replaced.

The car has ~146k miles and I only owe $1,000 on it. Is it worth getting the OEM replacement, or should I consider a cheaper third-party replacement?

 

[Mongler98]

Go 3rd party since you are not in a CARB state. All EPA approved cats are alike.... the difference is in the materials and quality of welds ect.... in the sheet metal and heat shield.
Assuming it actually is legit epa aproved and not some hack

 

[turbobrick240]

Bastards. The insurance won't cover an OEM replacement?

 

[DivineChaos]

Hello, I had one of the catalytic converters stolen out of my 2015 Golf TDI S last summer. Apparently there are two of them, and they stole the more expensive one. I had a mechanic install a straight pipe then due to cost, but am now going to have the cat replaced.

The car has ~146k miles and I only owe $1,000 on it. Is it worth getting the OEM replacement, or should I consider a cheaper third-party replacement?

Shouldn't car insurance have covered the cost? It is vandalism which is covered.

 

[Mongler98]

i did not know you could say that... you must be special....

 

[JELLOWSUBMARINE]

Non O.E. cats will flag and fail here in California. Non O.E. will pass in some states.

It can/will fail the smog ultimately if the (known OVERLY sensitivs) code conditions are met

P0420 Code: Meaning, Causes & How To Fix It (Full Guide)

P0420 is one of the most common error codes. This guide applies to most vehicles and explains what the code means, what causes it and how to fix it.

mechanicbase.com

I'm not sure if VW is less sensitive than my Toyota with a set of non O,E.M. cats. They can/will throw a P0420 and/or P0430 code due to the aftermarket cat(s) not having sufficient amounts of metals. (Not enough oxygen saturation under rare conditions).

There is a couple of practical ways around it however using o2 spacers. This "numbs" the over zealous hypersensitive parameters. Kind of like the VWs counterintuitive new deiselgate tune. It is sooo sensitive it kills major smog components creating more demand for dwindling components, Gotta laugh (SMH) at the ultra green people who more often than not shot themselves in their own carbon footprint!