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Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHTime for new cats? Hi-flow?
Leading reported evidence
Test state any time soon
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suggestion
I live in Houston and do not plan on selling the vehicle or moving to CA / smog test state any time soon.
Leading evidence: 'Test state any time soon' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Test state any time soon' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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8 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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I've mentioned in a few threads about the CELs received recently; first a P0430 which I cleared, then a P2098 and some misfires a few months later. Prior to all these CELs my exhaust started rattling. To confirm it's my exhaust, I simply knocked on the cat and can hear the rattle. So rather than messing with switching around o2 sensors, is it safe to say it's time for new cats? Bear in mind these where flooded with blow by due to bore scoring when I first purchased the car and drove it at least 10K miles prior to my rebuild (and who knows when the bore scoring started prior to me buying it). FWIW, my current exhaust is the PSE with non-functional valve - they were welded open by prior owner. I'm trying to decide whether to go with OEM spec like MagnaFlow (~$1,700), or something higher performance like Soul or Fabspeed sport cats (~$3,000). Is the approx. $1,300 increase to high-flow worth it?
I have had MagnaFlow for about 15 months and am very happy. Before that I had TopGear sport cats for a few years and hated them. It's not that they were "too loud" per se, it's that they made a harsh, unpleasant sound.
I�m currently catless and I can attest to the harsh sound. I�m looking to get high flow cats soon. I�ve been pointed toward the soul cats by Brandon at Slakker and Darin from FD Motorsports so that�s what I would do.
As far as the cats themselves, I�d say it�s the best�and very possibly the only�place to get reliable bolt-on power.
Good cats aren't cheap and cheap cats aren't good (precious metals = $$$) - I've done a ton of Fabspeed/SOUL catted set ups over the years and have been very happy in the increase in sound/volume, power and lack of CELs.
Give me a shout if you'd like forum pricing on either brand
This post is extremely timely - I have a 2004 996 911 Carrera and just started hearing a rattle in the engine. After some sleuthing, I was able to confirm it was one of the cats. I got the OEM sticker shock so was looking for other options. Appreciate the recommendations.
I have a set of 36k mile OEM cats from my 2003 996.2 X51. No issues, but went cat-less. I live in Houston and do not plan on selling the vehicle or moving to CA / smog test state any time soon. Please let me know via DM if there is interest.
