WTB ALH CAT for California Smog (must be OEM)

[machinebaby]

The 2003 ALH TDi wagon I bought from out of state in 2018 just failed smog check for not having a CAT. It passed the first three no problem. I didn't know it had been cut out, but the previous three inspectors were lazy, I guess. Anyway, there are no aftermarket CCs aproved for CA and I spoke to the dealership who said they are NLA and he couldn't find any (thank goodness, they are $1600!!!!). I am wondering if someone has one they cut out they would be willing to sell me so I can pass visual? I am in Los Angeles but will happily pay shipping.
Thanks!

 

[jettafool]

Hi, I'm far away in quebec but right beside the Vermont border. I have the original Cat from my 01 TDI kicking around, been saving it because they worth a few bucks .I swaped my exhaust for a 2.5" catback a while back. I do travel to VT often for diesel ($3.32 a gal last week) and could probably ship it too you. If no one pops up closer soon, we could work something out. Would have to figure $$ out somehow, I don't E-transfer. Not to sure what its worth either, hard to find at scrap yard, they sell for $$ immediately. Good Luck PS- Cat is fine and car ran good with it on. probably has 160K miles on it...

 

[machinebaby]

Thanks for replying!~
Yeah I am not sure what to price them at either.
Want to propose a figure?

 

[GlowBugTDI]

I have one from a 01 beetle with 212k miles. It's just the cat though. The downpipe was broke, so it will need to be welded in.

 

[fatmobile]

I have some TDIs I need to scrap - are the cats worth anything? | TDIClub Forums

 

[jettafool]

yes, they are worth something. makes a big difference if you sell to a middleman or directly to someone who is extracting the valuable metals. Like anything. They are on the low end as far as cats go, some of the mercedes/BMW ones can be crazy valuable. also depends on metal prices which can fluctuate wildly.

 

[Mozambiquer]

I've got one in a car I have. It's a 2003 Sedan all stock. Will be going with aftermarket with the build I am doing and am willing to sell the downpipe with the cat intact.

 

[pkhoury]

I'm not sure on a timeline when I'm going to tackle my cars in question, but hopefully I'll start pulling some parts and scrapping things soon. I guess the other concern is figuring out what size box I need to ship them, given they're rather long. I have one car I've needed to take to the junk yard for several years, and AFAIK, it should have an intact cat on it. That and whatever's in the fuel tank needs to come out before it goes to the recycling yard, anyways.

 

[325_Guy]

I've never bought or sold one, sorry. The perfect price will be cheap enough to make you not want to scrap your car, and expensive enough to compensate the seller's time & labor to dismantle & ship the part. Good luck to you both.

Not an ALH, but as a price point I bought a BRM cat and downpipe from a member on Vwvortex for $200 plus shipping. I used my own account for shipping so it came out to about $30. Long box, but it's not too heavy. I found the price fair for an OEM NLA part.

I would imagine that amongst our membership there wouldn't be too much price gouging.

Also PSA for everyone, it may be a good idea to hold on to NLA emissions parts to help out those that will need them in the future.

 

[pkhoury]

Not an ALH, but as a price point I bought a BRM cat and downpipe from a member on Vwvortex for $200 plus shipping. I used my own account for shipping so it came out to about $30. Long box, but it's not too heavy. I found the price fair for an OEM NLA part.

I would imagine that amongst our membership there wouldn't be too much price gouging.

Also PSA for everyone, it may be a good idea to hold on to NLA emissions parts to help out those that will need them in the future.

Being this isn't ebay, I have no desire to price gouge fellow members. I think $200 is pretty fair, and on that note, I have a 2006 BRM that i don't know what I'll be doing with still. It needs new lifters/cam, but I don't have the time (nor energy) to fix and flip as I was originally planning back in 2022.

 

[Strykeviper]

I have a fully intact cat and downpipe from an alh if you still need one.

 

[machinebaby]

Thanks all. Got the needed part at a reasonable price. Installed and smog passed.
FYI, the car is a little slower. Sad face.

 

[325_Guy]

Being this isn't ebay, I have no desire to price gouge fellow members.

I hope that my comment about price gouging wasn't taken as directed at you. If it was, I apologize. I just meant that this community would be the best place to find a needed part.

 

[325_Guy]

Thanks all. Got the needed part at a reasonable price. Installed and smog passed.
FYI, the car is a little slower. Sad face.

"Disassembly is the reverse of assembly"

 

[Ajlal24]

...I spoke to the dealership who said they are NLA and he couldn't find any (thank goodness, they are $1600!!!!).

Some wisdom on CA and smog with NLA emissions parts: friend of mine had a diesel pickup truck with this issue. Cat was stolen, come smog time, it failed because it was missing. Manufacturer stopped supplying the part and there was no CARB approved aftermarket option. CA Referee was able to legally make his vehicle compliant and gave him a special sticker in the door jam stating his truck was road legal without the cat.

 

[Ajlal24]

Here's some information:

" If the correct CAT for your vehicle cannot be found and is confirmed unavailable, you may be able to qualify for a Limited Parts Exemption. "

 

[machinebaby]

I guess I was afraid they would total my car given that the part wasnt available. I didn't know about the law here. I was on a waiting list to talk to a referee, but they didnt call ntil after they saw that I passed. Their system is weird, you call the operator who puts you on a list to get contacted by a referee. You cant call them directly. Then they will try you three times from an unmarked number within two weeks and if you dont answer you're at the back of the line. Meanwhile you're driving a known illegal car. Anyway, it would be great to get that sticker but I think I am out of luck.

 

[Fvheslin]

I will have on from a 2003 availible next week in Ft. Lauderdale Fl if anyone still needs it, also whole down pipe if desired as I’m going 3 inch

 

[machinebaby]

Keep the dream alive