cat problems or more

[atlanta98]

rattling under car diagnosed as convertor failure, set up to get new one
car suddenly has very little power/acceleration, engine revs fine,worried about ability to get car to shop on own.check engine light on..but engine fluids fine.

cat replacement I can live with..but overnight change in everyhing else scary

car checked out recently..98 auto..72,000 miles..has run beautifully the 3.5 months I have owned

could I have additional problem as well?
transmission?

[Kraln]

depending on how your cat failed, it could definitely be causing those symptoms. It's worth it for the extra money to get a BMW replacement cat, btw...

[roadrash]

Originally Posted by Kraln

depending on how your cat failed, it could definitely be causing those symptoms.

Could you elaborate, please? I was about to suggest the same thing, but wasn't sure that I was correct, so I didn't say nuthin'. :-)

Originally Posted by Kraln

It's worth it for the extra money to get a BMW replacement cat

As opposed to what? I'll agree with you that it's better to avoid the "cheap" cats (<$100) but is the reconditioned BMW unit worth the extra $200-300 over what you'd pay for, e.g., a Midas unit with the same 5-year, 50,000 warranty?

As you can probably guess, I was recently shopping for a catalytic converter. I couldn't justify the extra cash for the BMW unit based on them having the same warranty, so I got the Midas unit.

[atlanta98]

check engine light on for month
slight rattle, especially when starting for three weeks
major rattle two days ago, that day, loss of speed/acceleration over couse of morning, but engine would rev as normal
overwork causing very minor overheating, I stopped driving out of concern

other minor problems:
as weather has gotten colder, a little rough at first in morning until warm up
need right front fork sometime over next year, need to check power steering
fluid. these are things I have found info in forums
I have been careful to warm up in morning

I am worried about slow poke, non highway drive to get new cat tomorrow,
should I spring for tow?maybe diagnostics will reveal more..

this car has been such a blast as urban transportation, I need resolution and correction so I can resume careening through Druid Hills (few speed bumps on most of Lullwater Drive, great scenery too )

[pdxmotorhead]

Originally Posted by atlanta98

rattling under car diagnosed as convertor failure, set up to get new one
car suddenly has very little power/acceleration, engine revs fine,worried about ability to get car to shop on own.check engine light on..but engine fluids fine.

cat replacement I can live with..but overnight change in everyhing else scary

car checked out recently..98 auto..72,000 miles..has run beautifully the 3.5 months I have owned

could I have additional problem as well?
transmission?

The sudden change is symptomatic of the matrix style cat converter. They fail suddenly and with little warning.
Don't worry about it...

I would do a full tune up and O2 sensor with the cat, Often a cat failure is the result of the fuel system suddenly getting too rich. O2 sensors fail to a lean reading and the engine management tries to compensate floodingthe cat with fuel, and then it melts down. Have the coodes reset ont he computer and then after a day or so get it checked again for codes. You should be clean at that point.

Dave

[mooseheadm5]

The guts of your cat have broken loose and plugged the outlet hole. Your check engine light came on to tell you that the cat efficiency had fallen below spec. Listen to pdxmotorhead. I think youneed to go with OE cat here. We have installed only a couple of aftermarket cats at our shop on OBDII cars only to have them turn on the check engine light for cat efficiency. Also, we had a customer that went through 3 cats on her 95 318i within the warranty period (12 mo/ 12k) so we won't be doing that again. Go OE or regret it, especiall if you have emissions testing in your area (which I believe GA has everywhere.)
-Paul

[mooseheadm5]

BTW, what are you doing driving around with your check engine light on for a month? Not trying to be rude, but are you trying to kill the car? I just picked up my 318ti for <$300 because the owner ignored the signs of a problem too long (oil leak, she kept driving it and didn't check the oil, now it needs a motor.) Ignore your baby, and your shop may be in a similar situation. Don't drive it if you think it may overheat during the drive. The exhaust gasses being forced back into the combustion chamber can cause problems, and overheating will hurt the motor. I usually tell customers to buy the tow just to be safe. You can easily cause $1000s of damage trying to save $50!
My $0.02
-Paul

[atlanta98]

drove short distance very slow and mostly downhill, at or below normal 11:59 position temp.
Magniflow cat being installed, to be followed by major tune up
codes indicate cylinder missfire, old cat was non oem universal model

Muffler King on Moreland doing work (referred by Jordan Garage on Dekalb), although I know some may shudder at that, owner has been very very knowledgeable and helpful, I think he was a mechanical engineer in the old country.

client referred certified mechanic will be doing tune up, I may go ahead and change O2 sensors.

Appreciate advice and help sent over T Day.

[mooseheadm5]

Ahh, now we know why it came apart! Sounds like you didn't do any harm. You would be surprised where you find great mechanics. You may also be surprised where you find horrible ones (cough dealer! cough.) If it never had a 60k service, a tune up is a good place to start. Air filter, fuel filter, plugs (Bosch or NGK of proper fitment, please,) cabin air filters, BG 44k fuel injector cleaner or similar, and check for vac leaks. You could take a wait and see approach to the O2 sensors, but if the CEL light comes on again, go straight in to have it scanned and see if it picks up a problem with the sensors or cat.
-Paul

[pdxmotorhead]

Watch out on the codes for O2 sensors though.

I had a crack in the intake tube (Big rubber pipe from air flow meter to throttle body) and it threw O2 codes. Also caused rough idle. Had to take tube off to see it. Tube is < 30 bucks at dealer.

Good Luck
Dave

[mooseheadm5]

Originally Posted by pdxmotorhead

Watch out on the codes for O2 sensors though.

I had a crack in the intake tube (Big rubber pipe from air flow meter to throttle body) and it threw O2 codes. Also caused rough idle. Had to take tube off to see it. Tube is < 30 bucks at dealer.

Good Luck
Dave

A good mechanic will be able to tell by checking the live data on a scanner if it is the sensor itself or something causing the sensor to read lean/rich when the car throws an 02 sensor code, so find a good mechanic (you may regret finding a cheap mechanic for your Bimmer- we have had to charge lots of money to fix other shops' hack jobs and unfinished business!)

-Paul

[2002mcs]

FYI, BMW has extended the warranty on certain 318ti cats to 10 years unlimited mileage. You should be sure to check with a dealer regarding any cat problems

[Kraln]

Originally Posted by 2002mcs

FYI, BMW has extended the warranty on certain 318ti cats to 10 years unlimited mileage. You should be sure to check with a dealer regarding any cat problems

I was about to post asking for details, as my heatshield has come off (long story), but then I realized that in 2006(almost 7!) it's past the 10 years that the '95 that I have would have been covered. Oh well.

[Phil Marx]

As far as we know, that extension was only for '98 models, anyway. Hopefully I can get a second one before I'm out of the extended period!

[Dueller]

Phil or 2002mcs...any details on the 98 cat recall? I'm about to pick a 98 up in Fla...

Thanks, Jims