Catalityc converter?!

phlfly · 04-24-2009, 09:38 PM

I have 2003 325 i Touring with 48,000 on it. What do you think about this troubleshooting by BMW. How do i make them to change this part accordingly federal law for free?
Any ideas are welcome. If any BMW dealers is reading this forum and ready to replace this part I will drive there. BTW, I have sent msg to BMW USA and then talked to guy, he said it's up to BMW dealer, or manager of service department. It's making a rattle noise when car has reached full operation temp.

P.S. I'm not a dealer, the address they have there is a dealer I bought from. It looks like this car was in service there before I bought it.

iansanderson · 04-24-2009, 09:56 PM

Simple. Catalytic converters are covered for 7 years, 70,000 miles by federal law. Just find a new dealer that isn't going to tip-toe around the law or your CPO coverage. It has failed if it is making rattling noises.

BMWNA · 04-28-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phlfly

I have 2003 325 i Touring with 48,000 on it. What do you think about this troubleshooting by BMW. How do i make them to change this part accordingly federal law for free?
Any ideas are welcome. If any BMW dealers is reading this forum and ready to replace this part I will drive there. BTW, I have sent msg to BMW USA and then talked to guy, he said it's up to BMW dealer, or manager of service department. It's making a rattle noise when car has reached full operation temp.

P.S. I'm not a dealer, the address they have there is a dealer I bought from. It looks like this car was in service there before I bought it.

I am with BMW of North America, LLC. I've passed this message on to a BMW NA Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.

carbon323 · 04-28-2009, 04:07 PM

BMW NA...

Join date Dec 1969?? Am i the only one confused by this?

MachRc · 04-28-2009, 04:18 PM

^ O.G.s have join dates of 1969 (if you joined in late 2000 or 2001)

mr repersentative posted a thread regarding failing m3 engine years ago, and provided info on extended engine warranties on the bearing recall and he's still on board with us, so consider ourselves very lucky.

paraklas · 04-28-2009, 04:32 PM

Are you sure it's not a heatshield resonating on engine when it's warm (low rpm) ?

MachRc · 04-28-2009, 04:38 PM

the rattle can also be the rectangle DISA box attached to the driver side of the engine.

the broken catalytic converter rattle should sound like actual tin or metal sound during acceleration.

ive seen many merc with bad catalytic converters but none in a e46

phlfly · 04-28-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW NA Customer Relations

I am with BMW of North America, LLC. I've passed this message on to a BMW NA Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.

Thank you,
Do you need my phone number and/or email address? Let me know.
I didn't troubleshoot this, BMW dealer technician stated it.

Thanks to everyone.

Searich07 · 04-28-2009, 04:50 PM

I just knew someone from BMW monitored this site. Ahhhh Haaaa - BMW lurkers.

Richard

phlfly · 05-01-2009, 10:01 PM

So someone called me from BMW USA. I have already had a two conversations, we are still arguing about what is failed and defective part. It's a big problem, a BMW is recognizing only a full failure, where epa.gov is defined - "The law does not require that you fail every I/M test in order to trigger the warranty. If a valid test shows that you have an emission problem or there is a defective part, you should get it fixed, while your vehicle is still within the warranty period."
So I'm in process of fighting between BMW USA and dealer.
here website
http://www.epa.gov/obd/warranties.htm

BodyMan · 05-01-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW NA Customer Relations

I am with BMW of North America, LLC. I've passed this message on to a BMW NA Customer Relations Representative who will be in touch with you soon.

That is awesome!!

shadyb421 · 05-01-2009, 10:31 PM

any ideas on how much a new catalyitic converter is cus i hit a pretty decent size boulder at school and dented my catalyitic converter and two resonators pretty bad along with some other stuff under my car and im hesitant to bring it to BMW for a estimate

phlfly · 05-01-2009, 10:42 PM

New catalytic is about 900 bucks, the dealer told me it's about $3000 job.

ferrarix99 · 05-01-2009, 10:58 PM

get these headers for 800 with an added 20 HP if your going to do anything! Link to headers

TxZHP04 · 05-02-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadyb421

any ideas on how much a new catalyitic converter is cus i hit a pretty decent size boulder at school and dented my catalyitic converter and two resonators pretty bad along with some other stuff under my car and im hesitant to bring it to BMW for a estimate

You may have banged up your exhaust but you didn't hit the cats. They are integrated into the exhaust manifold and well out of reach of any "boulders" you may have driven over.

phlfly · 05-14-2009, 01:04 PM

Hi,
I'm keep moving forward with my cat's problem. I have had already a couple conversations with BMW NA Customer Relations Representative, so they will inspect it again on May 26 at dealership. I will post update.
A big Thanks to BMW NA Customer Relations and this forum. This forum is really working and sending a msg to BMW NA.

aggieE46 · 05-14-2009, 01:19 PM

I don't know that they'll replace them because there's a rattle, only if they won't pass inspection.

Anyway, good luck.

hudini34 · 05-14-2009, 03:37 PM

just gut em that'll make em fail the inspection..haha...

jbeurotech · 05-14-2009, 05:16 PM

Make sure its the cats and not a heat shield rattling heat shields are not covered the Cat is!!! There is a difference... Search my oterh posts I poste dup how to make them pay on another thread.

phlfly · 05-26-2009, 02:23 PM

Update: today after inspection at Sterling BMW, shop foremen didn't find or hear rattle noise that is coming from cat. converter. But he told me, the noise is coming from exhaust lifters. He told me it's normal for some M54 engines at idle.

04-24-2009, 09:38 PM	#1
phlfly Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leesburg N. VA Posts: 397 My Ride: 325i wagon View My Garage	Catalityc converter?! I have 2003 325 i Touring with 48,000 on it. What do you think about this troubleshooting by BMW. How do i make them to change this part accordingly federal law for free? Any ideas are welcome. If any BMW dealers is reading this forum and ready to replace this part I will drive there. BTW, I have sent msg to BMW USA and then talked to guy, he said it's up to BMW dealer, or manager of service department. It's making a rattle noise when car has reached full operation temp. P.S. I'm not a dealer, the address they have there is a dealer I bought from. It looks like this car was in service there before I bought it. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Last edited by phlfly; 04-24-2009 at 09:42 PM.

04-24-2009, 09:56 PM	#2
iansanderson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 2,778 My Ride: 2001 330CiC View My Garage	Simple. Catalytic converters are covered for 7 years, 70,000 miles by federal law. Just find a new dealer that isn't going to tip-toe around the law or your CPO coverage. It has failed if it is making rattling noises. Last edited by iansanderson; 04-24-2009 at 09:58 PM.

04-28-2009, 04:18 PM	#5
MachRc "Have some candy!!" Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: City of Angels Posts: 6,212 My Ride: 2003 Technik S1 M3 View My Garage	^ O.G.s have join dates of 1969 (if you joined in late 2000 or 2001) mr repersentative posted a thread regarding failing m3 engine years ago, and provided info on extended engine warranties on the bearing recall and he's still on board with us, so consider ourselves very lucky. __________________ Bimmerfest 2013 Photos here!!! "The road was miles ahead..It fell away, now I'm at thee end... Just a sky, the fall, and you..I got holes in my para~chute...... Then-you-say,' never gonna find all the answers~ answers will find you..Don't know how I'll feel tomorrow~ Don't know the truth. But we can lie,.. lie.., lie.., lie here together..lie..,lie..,lie..,lie here together..'"

04-28-2009, 04:32 PM	#6
paraklas OEM ///Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cyprus Posts: 5,411 My Ride: ESS TS2 320ci View My Garage	Are you sure it's not a heatshield resonating on engine when it's warm (low rpm) ? __________________

04-28-2009, 04:38 PM	#7
MachRc "Have some candy!!" Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: City of Angels Posts: 6,212 My Ride: 2003 Technik S1 M3 View My Garage	the rattle can also be the rectangle DISA box attached to the driver side of the engine. the broken catalytic converter rattle should sound like actual tin or metal sound during acceleration. ive seen many merc with bad catalytic converters but none in a e46 __________________ Bimmerfest 2013 Photos here!!! "The road was miles ahead..It fell away, now I'm at thee end... Just a sky, the fall, and you..I got holes in my para~chute...... Then-you-say,' never gonna find all the answers~ answers will find you..Don't know how I'll feel tomorrow~ Don't know the truth. But we can lie,.. lie.., lie.., lie here together..lie..,lie..,lie..,lie here together..'"

04-28-2009, 04:07 PM	#4
carbon323 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 471 My Ride: RIP View My Garage	BMW NA... Join date Dec 1969?? Am i the only one confused by this?

04-28-2009, 04:50 PM	#9
Searich07 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Redmond Washington Posts: 237 My Ride: BMW 2002 330i View My Garage	I just knew someone from BMW monitored this site. Ahhhh Haaaa - BMW lurkers. Richard

05-01-2009, 10:01 PM	#10
phlfly Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leesburg N. VA Posts: 397 My Ride: 325i wagon View My Garage	So someone called me from BMW USA. I have already had a two conversations, we are still arguing about what is failed and defective part. It's a big problem, a BMW is recognizing only a full failure, where epa.gov is defined - "The law does not require that you fail every I/M test in order to trigger the warranty. If a valid test shows that you have an emission problem or there is a defective part, you should get it fixed, while your vehicle is still within the warranty period." So I'm in process of fighting between BMW USA and dealer. here website http://www.epa.gov/obd/warranties.htm __________________

05-01-2009, 10:31 PM	#12
shadyb421 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 186 My Ride: 2001 325i E46 View My Garage	any ideas on how much a new catalyitic converter is cus i hit a pretty decent size boulder at school and dented my catalyitic converter and two resonators pretty bad along with some other stuff under my car and im hesitant to bring it to BMW for a estimate

05-01-2009, 10:42 PM	#13
phlfly Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leesburg N. VA Posts: 397 My Ride: 325i wagon View My Garage	New catalytic is about 900 bucks, the dealer told me it's about $3000 job. __________________

05-01-2009, 10:58 PM	#14
ferrarix99 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wayne, New Jersey Posts: 3,297 My Ride: 87 325e - 05 M3 Vert View My Garage	get these headers for 800 with an added 20 HP if your going to do anything! Link to headers __________________ click for pics of the old ride... -Nick the Greek- euro.techniks Bimmerworld Epic Tune \| OEM Euro Headers \| CSL Brakes \| B&B TriFlo \| aFe SuperStock \| PSS10 \| Varrstoen TE37 \| V1 \| ZKW Lens Swap \| Orion Golds Want your car coded? PM me.

05-14-2009, 01:04 PM	#16
phlfly Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leesburg N. VA Posts: 397 My Ride: 325i wagon View My Garage	Hi, I'm keep moving forward with my cat's problem. I have had already a couple conversations with BMW NA Customer Relations Representative, so they will inspect it again on May 26 at dealership. I will post update. A big Thanks to BMW NA Customer Relations and this forum. This forum is really working and sending a msg to BMW NA. __________________

05-14-2009, 01:19 PM	#17
aggieE46 Keep it clean Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Royse City Posts: 8,011 My Ride: Evo, 330Ci, Xterra View My Garage	I don't know that they'll replace them because there's a rattle, only if they won't pass inspection. Anyway, good luck. __________________ ^No longer looks like this Buy my:: 3.46 Differential Coolant hard line European Head Unit

05-14-2009, 03:37 PM	#18
hudini34 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: McAllen Posts: 28 My Ride: 323CI View My Garage	just gut em that'll make em fail the inspection..haha...

05-14-2009, 05:16 PM	#19
jbeurotech Regional Sponsor Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Brighton MN Posts: 5,019 My Ride: 2000 E46 with 254K View My Garage	Make sure its the cats and not a heat shield rattling heat shields are not covered the Cat is!!! There is a difference... Search my oterh posts I poste dup how to make them pay on another thread. __________________ Seth Thorson Service Manager/BMW Tech JB Eurotech Service "Your Reasonable Dealer Alternative" General Questions can be sent to appointment@jbeurotech.com 1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. 2. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

05-26-2009, 02:23 PM	#20
phlfly Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Leesburg N. VA Posts: 397 My Ride: 325i wagon View My Garage	Update: today after inspection at Sterling BMW, shop foremen didn't find or hear rattle noise that is coming from cat. converter. But he told me, the noise is coming from exhaust lifters. He told me it's normal for some M54 engines at idle. __________________

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