I'm new to the BMW community but anxious to dive in. I'm posting this message in two forums as I'm ignorant to both of their capabilities and prescence. I apologize for any annoyance I've caused with this, but I'd like to find a home, and the only way to do so is by correspondance, eh?
So, I just bought my first beamer. I had a Mercedes before ('84 300D) and fell in love with German manufacturing, but I did not realize the extent until I drove this car. It's a 1992 318iS that has been very very nicely maintained. There are a few minor imperfections, but they are mostly cosmetic. When I bought the car, I was warned that the catalytic converter was rusted, but hadn't yet show signs of malfunction. A few weeks later they started to.
A slight rattle at first turned into my baby sounding like it was Japanese and it's only gotten louder. So, it's about time to make a move. I checked out the heat shields, and one of them does need to be replaced, but the noise was coming straight from the cat. Now my question is multi-part:
a) What has my delay in fixing the cat done for harm to my car? Could it have hurt the oxygen sensor used for monitoring (the second one), and how do I test this?
b) Where can I locate heat shields at a decent price? Is Bavarian my best bet?
c) What should I look at for Catalytic Converts? I basically have four choices here, as far as I know, due to the fact that I definitely don't have the money for a stock one ($1,000 from Bavarian).
1. Aftermarket direct fit cat like http://www.all-catalytic-converters.com/bmw-318-converter.html which would run me about $250.
2. A name brand aftermarket direct fit, which I've yet to find.
3. A universal weld-on which I can have put on locally for $50.
4. A higher quality (high flow?) universal weld-on which I can either buy from the shop that puts it on, or order myself.
What I'm looking at here is a ratio of price to advantage. I'm honestly unaware of the difference in performance of the options, and I'd like any help/insight that anyone has to offer.
Thanks a lot!
James
ps. What differentiates between a Newbie post and one for the perspective forum (E36)?
So, I just bought my first beamer. I had a Mercedes before ('84 300D) and fell in love with German manufacturing, but I did not realize the extent until I drove this car. It's a 1992 318iS that has been very very nicely maintained. There are a few minor imperfections, but they are mostly cosmetic. When I bought the car, I was warned that the catalytic converter was rusted, but hadn't yet show signs of malfunction. A few weeks later they started to.
A slight rattle at first turned into my baby sounding like it was Japanese and it's only gotten louder. So, it's about time to make a move. I checked out the heat shields, and one of them does need to be replaced, but the noise was coming straight from the cat. Now my question is multi-part:
a) What has my delay in fixing the cat done for harm to my car? Could it have hurt the oxygen sensor used for monitoring (the second one), and how do I test this?
b) Where can I locate heat shields at a decent price? Is Bavarian my best bet?
c) What should I look at for Catalytic Converts? I basically have four choices here, as far as I know, due to the fact that I definitely don't have the money for a stock one ($1,000 from Bavarian).
1. Aftermarket direct fit cat like http://www.all-catalytic-converters.com/bmw-318-converter.html which would run me about $250.
2. A name brand aftermarket direct fit, which I've yet to find.
3. A universal weld-on which I can have put on locally for $50.
4. A higher quality (high flow?) universal weld-on which I can either buy from the shop that puts it on, or order myself.
What I'm looking at here is a ratio of price to advantage. I'm honestly unaware of the difference in performance of the options, and I'd like any help/insight that anyone has to offer.
Thanks a lot!
James
ps. What differentiates between a Newbie post and one for the perspective forum (E36)?
As per "performance" cats, I guess we'd mostly be talking about "high flow" ones? I'm sorry, I'm somewhat ignorant in this area. 
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