So what are my options for replacing a bad catalytic converter?

[Eyerate]

Car has 89k miles so it's out of the 80k mile emissions warranty.

I don't want to pay a $1,000 for each OEM Cat, but are there any other alternatives? I don't want a high-flow cat either.

Any companies out there that make cats for the 3.0 model?

thanks

[Pufftrees]

Why is it that you don't want a HFC. There is really no down side to it. You will still pass emissions, you will have better performance, and it is cheaper than an OEM cat, I don't see the downside... Enlighten me.

[Ill 3.0]

There is really no down side to it.

Agreed, however...

You will still pass emissions,

You might still fail emissions due to readiness codes, or stored CELs. The emissions part, would be no problem. But sometimes even with O2 spacers, you can get post cat O2 sensor codes.

[eurogruppe]

Straight pipe it.

[98A4TQ]

http://www.primepartssuperstore.com/...layCatalogid=0

oem about $750 each save $500

but HFC would be the cheapest way to go.

[Undisputed]

Straight pipe it.

X2. And get a smog hookup guy and enjoy.

[pkny]

I dont mean to steal this thread.
But what is this 80k mile warranty on emissions?
I just brought a car used, is there any place on here that talks about all the extended warranties that A4's has?

[pondside36]

It is a federal law for all cars post a certain year I believe that covers Cats and exhaust system parts up to 80K miles.

[Eyerate]

Why is it that you don't want a HFC. There is really no down side to it. You will still pass emissions, you will have better performance, and it is cheaper than an OEM cat, I don't see the downside... Enlighten me.

no, you'd still fail the emissions test.

[Eyerate]

straight pipe it? Are you people on crack or something?

I want it to pass emissions and not have the check engine light on.

[98A4TQ]

http://www.audipartssuperstore.com/catalog/

whatever you do dont get a cheap aftermarket cat,it wont last.

[Eyerate]

Has anyone put on any Universal Cats?

[JEENYUS]

straight pipe it? Are you people on crack or something?

http://www.siliconeintakes.com/produ...51357c7c40eca8

maybe...

[Ryan.]

http://www.siliconeintakes.com/produ...51357c7c40eca8

maybe...

"This product may cause cancer."

LMAO

[pondside36]

I passed readyness and emmisions with my high flow cat. If you buy high quaility you should be ok, but not positive on a 3.0. I've only heard of people using universals on american cars and trucks. In the end the cost to fitt them at a muffler shop my save a few $$$. I believe they were offering universals on ECS.com. Here you go:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...ust/Universal/

You would still need to decide on how to attach it to the ystem since your oem piping is flanged and these are straight on the end and would either need couplers (flanges removed) or flanges made and welded

[CoreyRS]

well the CHEAPEST option....just drill out all that wonderful stuff inside of your cat haha

[collegedude10]

wasnt the cat warranty extended?

[msharifi]

Car has 89k miles so it's out of the 80k mile emissions warranty.

I don't want to pay a $1,000 for each OEM Cat, but are there any other alternatives? I don't want a high-flow cat either.

Any companies out there that make cats for the 3.0 model?

thanks

I say stick with OEM CAT and E-Bay might be your friends... I see some for $100.... Search ebay

[Eyerate]

High-Flow Cats and universal ones dont have the OXS sensor bungs on them, therefore triggering the check engine light.

I guess I'm SOL and need to get an OEM one if I dont want the light.

[mnkyA4]

Look at 034 HFC or Techtonics. They both have the O2 sensors and spacers so you won't have a CEL. onlyaudis has the 034 HFC and passed smog. AFAIK the only CARB approved cat right now for our cars are OEM. The Magnaflow ones don't as of this past January, at least for us CA folks.

[eurogruppe]

I passed emissions with a test pipe. Since my car is tuned for it, it doesn't throw any codes there for when they hook it up to the engine, which is what they do to any car 10 years or newer, they couldn't detect anything. Just to be safe I was pretty much WOT on the way there to get rid of any carbon build up lol. So no we're not on crack, just know how to get around certain things.

[nezach]

As far as I know only Labree makes HFC for 3.0, they also have CA smoke legal version of it.

http://www.labreemotorsports.com/products_vw.html

[Eyerate]

anyone else?

[davidlizard]

1- replace with new stock cat
2-replace with used stock cat
3- replace with universal cat
4-replace with HF cat
5-go straight

WTF you want more??

[NeoAngelicRage]

The labree will throw codes and get constant cel I had to get a test pipe file to get it to stop throw cel's and now it won't pass readiness tests, but I live in a place that doesn't test.

[AZUltra]

If price is your number one priority I would order the universal from ECS or similar and go to a local exhaust shop and have them either build a custom piece for the universal or put the universal in the stock pipe. If you can find a local shop run down there and ask them and fabrication is actually quite cheap. Exhaust works is a local shop in AZ that does good work. The only cheap option is ebay you can always find something out there but you never know if it will fit properly or last very long. As with everything you get what you pay for and IMHO I would either throw in a cheap universal or go with a high flow, might as well drop the coin on something that will improve performance.