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Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Mar 06, 2019 12:49 AM
by Mike W.
blackmamba wrote:The guy at the smog shop did show me the info on his computer with the cats that are compatible for the 535i.
They were all made by Airtek & the part numbers were 65068, 65454, 83312, 58068, 58454. I find it rather suspicious that only one manufacturer makes catalytic converters that are good enough for California.
Not saying it's fair in any way, but I bet the only ones that have a chance of getting approved are the one submitted by manufacturers. Hence if the mfr doesn't submit it for approval, it's not going to get approved no matter what.
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Mar 06, 2019 1:46 AM
by pamnhg2345
Great Information
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 7:22 PM
by ccchrisss
Sorry to bring back an old thread but I don’t have many permissions being new. Just failed visual inspection on my 535i because the EO numbers on my cat were scratched. Anyone know an aftermarket part number that can be ordered? Shops near me are having trouble finding a replacement in their system and recommend calling the state ref for recommendation. Called state ref but have to wait 10-15 business days for a response
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 7:38 PM
by Theotherotter
Chris,
I live in Chicago, but I have an E12 that I bought in the Bay Area at the end of May and drove home. The PO had to replace the cat to get it to pass smog before he sold it. I went and looked at the invoice to see if it had any useful information. All it gives me for the cat is a (part? EO? Who knows?) number of “81130”. It was done at a place in San Rafael called Johnny Franklin’s - if that number doesn’t help you, perhaps you could call them and ask them. Sorry I can’t get under the car to look at the cat, but if you still need the info when I put the front end up to do the bushings, I’ll look for you.
ccchrisss wrote: Aug 07, 2023 7:22 PM
Sorry to bring back an old thread but I don’t have many permissions being new. Just failed visual inspection on my 535i because the EO numbers on my cat were scratched. Anyone know an aftermarket part number that can be ordered? Shops near me are having trouble finding a replacement in their system and recommend calling the state ref for recommendation. Called state ref but have to wait 10-15 business days for a response
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 7:39 PM
by Theotherotter
Theotherotter wrote: Aug 07, 2023 7:38 PM
Chris,
I live in Chicago, but I have an E12 with a BAR-legal B35 swap that I bought in the Bay Area at the end of May and drove home. The PO had to replace the cat to get it to pass smog before he sold it. I went and looked at the invoice to see if it had any useful information. All it gives me for the cat is a (part? EO? Who knows?) number of “81130”. It was done at a place in San Rafael called Johnny Franklin’s - if that number doesn’t help you, perhaps you could call them and ask them. Sorry I can’t get under the car to look at the cat, but if you still need the info when I put the front end up to do the bushings, I’ll look for you.
ccchrisss wrote: Aug 07, 2023 7:22 PM
Sorry to bring back an old thread but I don’t have many permissions being new. Just failed visual inspection on my 535i because the EO numbers on my cat were scratched. Anyone know an aftermarket part number that can be ordered? Shops near me are having trouble finding a replacement in their system and recommend calling the state ref for recommendation. Called state ref but have to wait 10-15 business days for a response
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 7:57 PM
by ccchrisss
Theotherotter wrote: Aug 07, 2023 7:38 PM
Chris,
I live in Chicago, but I have an E12 that I bought in the Bay Area at the end of May and drove home. The PO had to replace the cat to get it to pass smog before he sold it. I went and looked at the invoice to see if it had any useful information. All it gives me for the cat is a (part? EO? Who knows?) number of “81130”. It was done at a place in San Rafael called Johnny Franklin’s - if that number doesn’t help you, perhaps you could call them and ask them. Sorry I can’t get under the car to look at the cat, but if you still need the info when I put the front end up to do the bushings, I’ll look for you.
ccchrisss wrote: Aug 07, 2023 7:22 PM
Sorry to bring back an old thread but I don’t have many permissions being new. Just failed visual inspection on my 535i because the EO numbers on my cat were scratched. Anyone know an aftermarket part number that can be ordered? Shops near me are having trouble finding a replacement in their system and recommend calling the state ref for recommendation. Called state ref but have to wait 10-15 business days for a response
Thanks for looking! That helps I'll try to call them now.
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 8:15 PM
by ccchrisss
unfortunately the walker 81130 won't work, they do have an 81133 that shows approved for an 85 535i but that's listed as a 3.5L there, and they have nothing for a 3.4L 535i. Might fail if I put a 3.5 cat on as per the OP
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 9:18 PM
by topher800
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 10:34 PM
by Theotherotter
ccchrisss wrote: Aug 07, 2023 8:15 PM
unfortunately the walker 81130 won't work, they do have an 81133 that shows approved for an 85 535i but that's listed as a 3.5L there, and they have nothing for a 3.4L 535i. Might fail if I put a 3.5 cat on as per the OP
That’s so freaking weird. Can’t you just tell the test station that it has a 3.5? As if there’s even a difference.
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 07, 2023 11:06 PM
by kojo96
I've been smog testing in N CA since the 1990s. In many different cities, and in different counties and have never, ever had a smog tech look under the car to verify that the car has a California legal catalytic converter. Once, a tech put a stick mirror under the car to check that the car had a catalytic but that was only once.
I've put on some "NON 50 State cats" and all have sniffed clean.
Latley, in the last 10 years or so, I've gotten better at keeping my cars running well and in good tune. My last 2 smog tests blew really clean, perfect numbers and NOX numbers were two digits.
Re: Replacing California catalytic converter
Posted: Aug 08, 2023 12:47 AM
by Mike W.
Theotherotter wrote: Aug 07, 2023 10:34 PM
That’s so freaking weird. Can’t you just tell the test station that it has a 3.5? As if there’s even a difference.
Sure you can. But you would have to go thru the referee process, have ever i dotted and t crossed and smog it as a 535. Mostly meaning different evap system, but even the idle system might cause a fail as they're different. They would look at the engine to see if it has a date code on it or the car VIN. Plus the emissions standards it has to meet might be different. Even if it has a small block Chevy in it, tell the smog guys it's dead stock. Play dumb, anything you say can and will be used against you.
kojo96 wrote: Aug 07, 2023 11:06 PM
I've been smog testing in N CA since the 1990s. In many different cities, and in different counties and have never, ever had a smog tech look under the car to verify that the car has a California legal catalytic converter. Once, a tech put a stick mirror under the car to check that the car had a catalytic but that was only once.
I've put on some "NON 50 State cats" and all have sniffed clean.
Latley, in the last 10 years or so, I've gotten better at keeping my cars running well and in good tune. My last 2 smog tests blew really clean, perfect numbers and NOX numbers were two digits.
Being out in the hinterlands, Calif wise, I no longer have to do the biannual dance, just smog on transfer, so not as many interactions in the past 15 years. But with one exception, they've all been BMW OE cats, and that one exception failed miserably, but on emissions, not because it was a non approved cat, they didn't even look IIRC. I did have one guy try to check the timing one time though on a Motronic car. I told him it was not adjustable but he said he had to check anyway. I don't think he was able to, but it was stock anyway.