Hey all, I was on here a while back hoping that the crazy readings (and CEL) I was getting from my passenger side rear 02 sensor were a result of an air leak somewhere in the system. Well, after the car seemed to respond to a new exhaust manifold gasket and a good torque on the manifold bolts, it has now finally decided that the CEL will remain on full-time just in time for inspection. It seems that it's about time for some new cats (still seems early at <70K miles, but apparently the car was in water at some point, so maybe that led to the premature death). This particular car is my fiancee's Sunday cruiser so there's no call for anything radical, but since the price isn't too different from other aftermarket systems (and certainly cheaper than the OEM) I was thinking about going with the Magnaflow 93988 direct fit system. I just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on the system, or had another system in that price range to recommend, and I was also curious how it bolts up directly with no welding when the pictures I have seen don't have flanges on the downstream end... I would love to upgrade to an x-pipe system at the same time, but I haven't seen any packaged with the cats and I'd like to avoid chopping and welding if I can, so if anybody knows of a system I've just missed in my research I'd like to hear about that too.

Thanks!
Erik

 

Just to answer one of my own questions, I called Magnaflow and confirmed that the photographic evidence is correct and the system does require welding. Would still be happy to hear other suggestions if people have them.

 

If you need new cats and only have 70k miles, they are still under warranty per federal law until 80k miles. While the addition of a Magnaflow exhaust is a good thing (I have one and love it), you do not need to buy cats. Your dealer should replace them under warranty. BTW, a Magnaflow catback with a set of headers with full exhaust will really wake up your car, both performance and sound wise. I have a LG system which has an x-pipe and high flow cats. After getting the car retuned, it sounds awesome and you can really feel the powr difference.

 

You know I was thinking the same thing and got really excited about the prospect of a free fix, but unfortunately the federally mandated warranty on the cats is 8 years/80K. I had the dealer check my VIN and the 8 years ran out in August of 2007.

Did you go with an X-pipe as well, or just the direct fit cats? Another option might be the Random Technology kit which does include the X-pipe, but that's more than twice the price and many websites mentioned extra kits being necessary to install it. I'm not interested in being nickeled and dimed and having to make a bunch of runs to a specialty shop.