Okay Ive been toying with the idea of getting new Cats and I just wanted to make sure that the Magnaflow 53005's will fit. I saw that someone purchased a 94000's series or something like that and it didnt work. Im going to buy them from this Ebay seller and get this, for 2 Cats shipping to Honolulu will be $8.00 Priority Mail. This is too good a deal to pass up, but if they dont fit, im SOL.

Any comments from anyone thats used Magnaflows?

Ebay Link (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2469738659)

hopefully they'll work...if mine ever fail im going to put high flo cats on... who cares about smog my buddy owns a smog shop ;)

I have sent an email to a couple people who I am sure will know the answer. If the answer is "they will work" am right with you on these. looks like he has 10 for sale. If you find out before I do, please post here or email me, OK?

Bear

I had them installed and they fit, no problems. I still have the Check Engine light, but I think it's related the O2 sensors...

Later,

I had them installed and they fit, no problems. I still have the Check Engine light, but I think it's related the O2 sensors...

Later,

I have done some researching and what I found out was that 95's have only two 02 sensors pre-cat and 96+ have 4 02 sensors 2 pre-cats, and 2 post-cats. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. What this means is any 96+ will get a check engine light with these cats like what you are experiencing. Right..?

Honolulu,
What year is your car?
Randy

Honolulu,
What year is your car?
Randy

The Good ol 95! :(

Hmm, I am interested in your research as well. It seems to me I read something on RoadKill about 95's and Magnaflows. Have you looked there are on BB?

Hey with a valve body update, our old 95's are good to go on the Super Charger issue, which no other year can claim. I am happy with my old 95 and probablty will stay with it as I am pretty sure to go down the forced induction road. TC
Randy
Words from the unwise

On behalf of Rob at UUC Motorwerks, who was nice enought o respond to my email on this subject...

"Bear

Yes and no.
They're no OBD-II cats, which simply means two things:

1) single O2 sensor port, not two per cat as required.

2) no EPA/DOT paperwork.

I'm going to be completing a replacement cat project on my 750 in
the
next couple of weeks, to be made available with the cat-back exhaust
system

- Rob"

What is with the license plate covering? Am I missing something here? I truly don't understand why people do that.
Randy

What is with the license plate covering? Am I missing something here? I truly don't understand why people do that.
Randy

Me neither, I don't see anybody covering them on the road!!! :nono :nono :nono


John

Registration Expiration:
03-05

Title Certificate Issued (TCI):


County of Registration:
Honolulu

License Number:


Emblem Number:


Make:
BMW

Body Type:
4-door Sedan

VIN:
your vin here

Net Weight:
4,250

Year/Model:
95

Color:
White

Tax Rate Classification:
Passenger Rate

Exemption:
None

Date First Sold:
03-09-96

Electronic Title:
No

Legal Owner Name:
blank
Legal Owner Address:
blank
Legal Owner City:
blank
Safety Expiration:
02-05

Odometer Reading:
51,226


With your license plate number and last 4 of your vin, in Hawaii I could find this info. Its public record from the City Website, or I could follow your @ss and jack you in the parking lot.

Registration Expiration:
03-05

Title Certificate Issued (TCI):


County of Registration:
Honolulu

License Number:


Emblem Number:


Make:
BMW

Body Type:
4-door Sedan

VIN:
your vin here

Net Weight:
4,250

Year/Model:
95

Color:
White

Tax Rate Classification:
Passenger Rate

Exemption:
None

Date First Sold:
03-09-96

Electronic Title:
No

Legal Owner Name:
blank
Legal Owner Address:
blank
Legal Owner City:
blank
Safety Expiration:
02-05

Odometer Reading:
51,226


With your license plate number and last 4 of your vin, in Hawaii I could find this info. Its public record from the City Website, or I could follow your @ss and jack you in the parking lot.

So, what do you do with that info? You could do the same with any car in a parking lot.

John

Well I use it for my job. For Insurance Companies we look to verify the "Passenger Rate". That tells us if your vehicle is registered as a Commercial Vehicle or Private Passenger Auto. You could also check for Salvage Title, or Surrendered Plates. For anything else, who knows.

Well I use it for my job. For Insurance Companies we look to verify the "Passenger Rate". That tells us if your vehicle is registered as a Commercial Vehicle or Private Passenger Auto. You could also check for Salvage Title, or Surrendered Plates. For anything else, who knows.

I have nothing to hide here......Good Luck with checking mine out.....

John

On behalf of Rob at UUC Motorwerks, who was nice enought o respond to my email on this subject...

"Bear

Yes and no.
They're no OBD-II cats, which simply means two things:

1) single O2 sensor port, not two per cat as required.

2) no EPA/DOT paperwork.

- Rob"

So Im guessing their okay for 95's but not 96+ then.

Hey John, this plate is available

http://sosntsl01.sos.state.mi.us/plates/myPlate.asp?phrase=E38&plateType=UNIVERSITY&plateID=uofm&vType=auto&hndCap=false

Hey John, this plate is available

http://sosntsl01.sos.state.mi.us/plates/myPlate.asp?phrase=E38&plateType=UNIVERSITY&plateID=uofm&vType=auto&hndCap=false

Thought about it but that's one thing my wife will not let me change. Can you check "DUST"


John

On the subject of cats, the 53005 doesn't have any sensor connections. The single sensor connection cat is the 53035.
http://www.car-sound.com/universal/530.htm
Been checking into this tonight. They do show a dual sensor cat, the 53064, but it only comes in the 2" or smaller pipe.
Randy

Edit:
They do have a 94165 with two sensors which is ophysically the same size as the 53035.

http://www.bmwpartsplace.com/images/e38pics/e38_740_exhaust_95.jpg
Well here is the picture I found, I remember seeing someone on Cardomain with pics of their cats but I cant find it. I wonder if the bend in the front of the cat will be a problem for the universal?

OK, I went to RoadKill and found a guy ("TH") with a 95 that claimed he had 20k miles on "aftermarkets" with no problems. I have emailed him and asked if he used magnaflow, and if so, what the part numbers were. I tried to copy Jason, but no email addy in his profile...

Cheers,

OK, I see that nobody followed my advice to do a search on Magnaflow at RoadKill... I found all kinds of info in the archives regarding Magnaflows and 95. I also sent an email to two of the 95 owners who had done the conversion for verification.

Here is an excerpt from "95740inGA" in a 11/2003 post:

Subject: I just had mine done. I used 54305 Magnaflows...
Message: from www.performance-curve.com. According to my installer the reason the aftermarket cats give the codes on OBDII systems is because there is a difference in the distance from the back of the catalyst BRICK and the oxygen sensor. He said a difference of +/- 1/2" would cause the fault codes. I think 96 is the first year for the OBDII system. Mine is a 95, so no problems; only 2 O2 sensors before cats. Hope this helps. Talk with your installer and see if this sounds right to him. Good luck, Brad

The search button - a wonderful thing.

I'll pass on any other info from the two other 95 owners that I sent emails to.

Cheers,

Guys,

just wanted to point out that the connections for the O2 sensors are part of the downpipes, and cat-back pieces not the coverters themselves (see Honolulus picture). Whatever your 95 or 96+ is wired for will stay regardless...

I would be more concerned with OD/ID on the coverters and whether they can handle the flow/heat. From my research, I found out that most of the issues people had were related to 2.25" inlet/outlet, etc. I thought the options were limited and the only choices were, one looked OE/standard (53005) and the other was polished (94 something or other...).

Good luck,
RC

OK, I went to RoadKill and found a guy ("TH") with a 95 that claimed he had 20k miles on "aftermarkets" with no problems. I have emailed him and asked if he used magnaflow, and if so, what the part numbers were. I tried to copy Jason, but no email addy in his profile...

Cheers,

Oops sorry the email was disabled. BTW I did a search over there but my dumb@ss didnt search under magnaflows. :( Im going to order these babies today. Dont know why someone would order the Mirror finished Cats? Muffler & Tips yes, Cat polished hmm...

Hey Jason,

No problems - please post a follow up as there are several others besides myself with 95's on the board here (Randy for one) and it is only a matter of time before we are going to have to get new cats...

Cheers,

OK, I went to RoadKill

Jack,

I thought you were banned...?

Jack, I thought you were banned...?

I go back to RoadKill to search archives once in a blue moon but never post and refuse to support their advertisers (unless they advertise here). Too much bad blood there. ...but I'm also a realist and know that for a few years myself and many others regularly posted on RoadKill resulting in a rich archive of info. It would be just plain stupid not to utilize this resource.

As for the ban - this is a joke. I registered under "FlyingLow" with no problems about 3 weeks after they banned me. These guys are not rocket scientistis over there and most 10 year old's could overcome a ban - simply change your - well - I'll leave it at that.... ....but I have no desire to post there, so...

Cheers,

I go back to RoadKill to search archives once in a blue moon but never post and refuse to support their advertisers (unless they advertise here). Too much bad blood there. ...but I'm also a realist and know that for a few years myself and many others regularly posted on RoadKill resulting in a rich archive of info. It would be just plain stupid not to utilize this resource.

As for the ban - this is a joke. I registered under "FlyingLow" with no problems about 3 weeks after they banned me. These guys are not rocket scientistis over there and most 10 year old's could overcome a ban - simply change your - well - I'll leave it at that.... ....but I have no desire to post there, so...

Cheers,

Gotcha.

here's my email i sent to flyinghigh re the carsound cats.. it should answer your questions..


check out my post on roadfly that includes all the info you need to know, including a scan of my smog results showing it passed:

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/1870944-1.html

I know there's always a debate on these cats because carsound simply does not know shit. Their catalog and their reps will tell you to buy the 94xxx series cats or something even though those will not fit in our cars. I've seen the carsound catalog and it shows the schematics for the e34. I got burned on this because i bought the wrong size and didn't know they were wrong until i had the car up on the lift at the muffler shop. The piping size is also in controversy. Some have reported 2.5" in/out as working. I bought the 2.25" in/out version 53005 cats.

the 95 e38 (OBDI) takes 2 o2 sensors. One pre-cat and one post-cat. later models (OBDII) take 4 o2 sensors.

I've never had a check engine light as a result of my cats. They're cheap, they do the job and ther'es just no reason to pay for the crazy OEM cats. Just make sure you get a reputable muffler shop to weld in the new cats.

by the way, i've got about 25k miles on these with no problems.

Excellent piece of information. Thanks.
One question, I noticed that the sensor is actually in the down pipe and not part of the cat. You utilized the 53005, which is the one with no sensor connections. My question is more an assumption that you didn’t need to mess with the original sensor at all. Correct?
Thanks.
Randy

You know, I just looked at the price on the auction for Honolulu and the price is incredible. Check it out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2469738659

Yes they are, I bought 2 so when I get them Ill post a f/u

Excellent piece of information. Thanks.
One question, I noticed that the sensor is actually in the down pipe and not part of the cat. You utilized the 53005, which is the one with no sensor connections. My question is more an assumption that you didn’t need to mess with the original sensor at all. Correct?
Thanks.
Randy

correct.. i did not touch the O2 sensor at all when i replaced the cat. Incidentially, after changing the cats and after passing my smog check, i had a check engine light come on as a result of my O2 sensors being shot.. they were individually replaced and were not mechanically connected to the 53 series cats. Also, the high NO measurements in my smog check might have just been a result of the worn out O2 sensors..

i've had some mechanics tell me that those cats are too small to last very long.. personally, i'm ok if they only last 40k miles.. they're cheap and they appear to work well..

You can buy a couple dozen of these for the price of the BMW ones. Amen to your comment and thanks.
Randy

correct.. i did not touch the O2 sensor at all when i replaced the cat. Incidentially, after changing the cats and after passing my smog check, i had a check engine light come on as a result of my O2 sensors being shot.. they were individually replaced and were not mechanically connected to the 53 series cats. Also, the high NO measurements in my smog check might have just been a result of the worn out O2 sensors..

i've had some mechanics tell me that those cats are too small to last very long.. personally, i'm ok if they only last 40k miles.. they're cheap and they appear to work well..

I wonder if the torch and welding work on the cat pipes damaged the sensors? Do you remember how much the replacement sendors cost you? Tanks.
Randy

Randy,

I'm going to chime in here, since I've gone through this installation myself. The welding should not harm the sensors because they should still be a couple of inches away from the torch and the weld spot itself. The sensors were about $90 or so each. In my case I needed 4. 95's should need only two but I think they are more expensive, last time I checked...

Anyway, good luck!

Randy,

I'm going to chime in here, since I've gone through this installation myself. The welding should not harm the sensors because they should still be a couple of inches away from the torch and the weld spot itself. The sensors were about $90 or so each. In my case I needed 4. 95's should need only two but I think they are more expensive, last time I checked...

Anyway, good luck!

i believe the sensors for my 95 were about the same or about $100-125..

in any case, if your cats are gone, there's usually a good chance the O2 sensors are gone or close to it.. might as well change them.