2009 Grand Touring (automatic)

My car failed its compression test at the dealership. They are willing to install an engine, but they are requiring me to replace the cat (we gutted it a year ago).

OEM will cost $2912 just for the part! They're not $1200 anymore...

They have made a concession and will allow me to replace the cat with an aftermarket, but it must pass emissions (Texas) before they will replace the engine.

I am searching online, but would like some suggestions for one that will work.

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Mary (I LOVE THIS CAR!)

 

That's way too much.
Don't take their word for it, call around to other dealers.
I might even try calling MNAO for verification.

 

Yeah that's crazy. I can't even see that for labor plus the part, the thing is stupid easy to replace.
I'm gonna agree with the possible calling MNAO to verify, and shop around.

Seriously, that's nuts.

 

That's the MSRP for N3R42055, you can find it online for less, but still expensive.

 

Good grief.

 

Just buy a used one on here?

 

Step 1.) Find someone going BHR.
Step 2.) Buy their "lightly" used oem catpipe
Step 3.) ???
Step 4.) Profit.

 

I'll cut you a great deal and sell you mine for the low, low price of $1,912.

How about this? "I don't know what happened to the cat. It just started smelling one day. Say, those have 8 year Federally mandated warranties, don't they?"

 

It's about $850 through MazdaSpeed Motorsports Development.

 

If you were closer to me, I would let you borrow mine till they replace your motor. Like Zig said, buy a used one form here.

 

$850 is for a Series I. The Series II cat (P/N N3Y6-20-55X) is $1747.14 through MazdaSpeed. Ouch!

 

OP, what did you end up doing? You can get a BHR midpipe with an aftermarket Cat for $575. This should be able to pass emissions, but this Cat is not robust for the track, if that is in your plans. HJS has more expensive Cats that are supposed to be able to withstand track use. Even HJS will be cheaper than OEM.

 

you should go with the $1747.14 Cat or an aftermarket one.

 

i dont get why they oblige you to change your cat...

I got a used s1 for sale if you need it

 

+1 for aftermarket, but no for anything OEM over $1200. For $1200 you can get a brand new BHR midpipe with a new HJS cat welded in, which will perform better than OEM from both emissions and power standpoint.

EDITED: Per IamFodi's reply

 

Better emissions, too? That's a grand statement. Source?

 

You can buy an HJS cat that meets Euro 5 specifications. AFAIK our cars only ever satisfied the Euro 4 spec. I believe Euro 5 has a lower limit for NOx.

HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD 9095 0182 - HJS North America, LLC : Hi-Flow Universal Catalytic Converters

 

^ That is the cat I had welded into my BHR midpipe. I have only had it for a couple of months, but so far, so good. No CELs and very little stench. I have 3 track days on it, and it it holding up fine for now.

 

If I'm reading correctly, that cat is for Euro 5 applications -- i.e., if you use it on a car that is already Euro 5 compliant, the car will still meet Euro 5 requirements. A Euro 5 car will be burning MUCH more cleanly than ours in the first place, so there's less for the cat to do. I don't think that says much about how it'd do on an RX-8, which needs a huge cat just to meet Euro 4.

Seems safe to assume that this is one of the better aftermarket alternatives in terms of efficiency, though.

In short: Would I expect better equal-or-better emissions with this compared to OE? No. But, does this look better than most aftermarket options? Heck yeah.

 

Good point Fodi,

I stand corrected.

 

Yep, S2 Cats (OEM) are more expensive as they have more precious metals inside and I think are a few centimeters longer in Cat body..

 

I don't really care. I will purchase the 1,700 HKS 33005-AZ001 Metal Catalyzer; but realistically for others, $1,200 would be a better choice

 

Sorry for the thread hijack, but I cannot locate the exact information Im looking for and cannot post a new thread.

I am aware that a series II cat has a different part number, and most of the series II parts are not interchangeable with series I. However, I have seen a couple of guys slightly modify their set ups to say run an 04-08 catback on an 09+ (longer hangers for example). Anyway, simply to try and pass smog, would it be possible to run an older cat on my 09?
Would it throw a code if I ran the correct o2 sensor?
Thanks

 

Yes.....you don't need anything post O2 sensor to pass smog from a CAT perspective. You might have issues with them not passing you on an inspection if the exhaust doesn't fit properly though

It won't throw a code for the rear O2 if there is a working CAT

 

Well thats actually what Im wondering about with fitment. What exactly changed between the two mid pipes? Would the newer o2 sensor fit in the old cat? Are the lengths different?
Ive seen pictures and they look almost identical.