incredirog Posted July 26, 2022 Report Share Posted July 26, 2022 had to park the car on the street as we’ve got scaffolding on the drive for a loft conversion, neighbour just came and knocked at the door to tell me 3 masked men have kindly jacked my car up and relieved me of my catalytic converter. absolutely raging, what’s the cheapest way to fix this? second hand or after market? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 quick update I’ve had it up in the air, to their credit they jacked it on a jacking point and made the cuts between the two oxygen sensors causing no additional damage. so it’s just a replacement cat I’m looking at, what’s my best option out of, pattern, OEM, secondhand and aftermarket/sports? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 I'd look at the price of all of them tbh then decide from there. There's a guy on Facebook called Nick Jupp - he is an E46 breaker so always has things like this in stock. Dealt with him a few times and cannot fault him at all. Really nice guy! If he can supply one you can bolt on - then it's a nice, quick fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 thanks for the tip, I’ll look him up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunk1 Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 Nick's the man from what I can see on the facebook group. My concern is will they come back ? A classic Range Rover restoration shop was destroyed by scum doing this and set cars on fire in their compound which spread to the workshop. momo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 (edited) Is there much you can do apart from weld a plate over the top of it? Bit extreme.. Here's Nick's profile: https://www.facebook.com/nick.jupp.5 Edited July 27, 2022 by momo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 well that’s the catch 22 isn’t it, will they come back? I had it parked way down the road and it hadn’t moved for a few days so it had obviously been cased, they knew it was a 4pot as 6pot cats are up in the engine bay hanging off the manifold and it’s debadged so they knew enough about it to identify that from the tailpipe. I’m considering some kind of chicken wire cages, moves and deforms when attempts are made to cut, with exhaust wrap dampening to prevent horrible noises, enough to slow down an attack to the point that it is considered too high risk for the attackers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted July 27, 2022 Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 They usually come along with one of those big, battery powered reciprocating saws so anything small/soft like that will just get cut like butter. From the videos i've seen, they jack the car up and start hacking away. A few extra minutes with wire cutters to remove chicken wire probably won't make much difference. I wonder if the best option would be some sort of chav-like sticker saying "Dis MoFo DECATTED YO! Com race me innit!" 🤣 This is interesting: The welding of the extra steel to the exhaust is probably the most readily available at any local garages. Might just be enough to make the twonks think twice and put the car back down and move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 27, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2022 from that video the grate/mesh looks promising. honestly I’m annoyed I even have to give this any thought I was perfectly happy with the cat I had momo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 little update found a pattern part for £183 which is on its way to me as we speak, I know they don’t last as long but the engine is at the end of its projected life mileage wise anyway, hopefully I can get a couple of MoTs out of it on the emissions. If the scumbags come back and I’ve fitted a second hand OEM cat or a cheap knock off they might just leave the knock off alone especially if I’ve painted it bright pink VHT and engraved my reg and vin on it! momo and dunk1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted July 28, 2022 Report Share Posted July 28, 2022 Bright paint and engraving is worth a go at the very least! No respectable place would buy that if it was painted/engraved without proof of ownership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2022 (edited) this job is a f’ing nightmare on your back! - but I got it done, blows obviously because diy exhaust with cheapest possible parts! going to visit someone who can weld and seal up the joints! thanks for everyone’s input on the topic, this whole thing has really made me consider my options on the E46 and being under her again I’ve spotted a few things that might be big trouble come MoT time so I might be bowing out in September and moving on to a different model. Edited July 31, 2022 by incredirog momo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted July 31, 2022 Report Share Posted July 31, 2022 Same boat as me then. My E46 wont pass the next MOT so I need to get rid unless I put SERIOUS money into it. It's not worth it, even if values are starting to creep upwards again. Problem is - i've got no idea what to get! Was wanting to stay in the BMW family but can't look past the N57 timing chain issues. 80k life expectancy on the 308bhp engine!!! BELTS last longer than that! Getting quotes around £2k for preventative chain change or upwards of £4k if the chain snaps. Absolutely nuts! Some people say the issue is fixed post 2016 but the chain and guide part numbers are the same, they're just a 3rd revision and speaking to specialist - THEY still snap too but generally they're still under warranty so get replaced by the stealers. I'm thinking I might leave the BMW scene but again, there's nothing great out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted July 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2022 (edited) I actually quite fancy a 130i with the N52, I don’t know if I’d change manufacturers, I hate working on other half’s VW Edited August 1, 2022 by incredirog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted August 1, 2022 Report Share Posted August 1, 2022 Tbh that's what i'm personally leaning towards - an Audi A6. Belt drive and just the normal/usual issues you get with every car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
incredirog Posted August 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2022 Well I can’t fault VAG for their engineering but they don’t disassemble and reassemble as nicely when they’re 15+ years old like BMWs that’s my experience! momo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
