[BentAxel]

Hi all, Long time reader, second time poster. Father of a Beautiful Girl 07 e90. Our second to her older sister 86 e30.

Check engine light came on (72000) out of the blue yesterday, as a concerned father she went to see the doctor. Not the BMW shop (she was adopted with 50K on her speedo) but to the local guy who has the identical car. There is a a fair amount of trust with him.

I'm told her Cat is bad. I am in Southern California, Catalytic's are very important here. Reading up, there are two cats. This is a part I am not familiar with failure on. I have also never had a car with a stainless steel gas tank because emissions before.

1. Is this normal?
2. Some threads mention testing again to confirm that its not the Cat.
3. Previous cars tell me check engine for Timing Belts that fail (is this a concern?)

Any fellow Southern Californian's experienced this?
In short, am I getting snowed on a summer day? This seems like an odd part to go out. I can replace it but I don't want to chase further errors.

Thank you for your help and all your help in the past.

[chili36]

You need to Read the code(s).
How or why did he come to the conclusion that it's a bad cat?

[rowingone]

I have heard that extended idles can damage a cat as there is no airflow to remove the heat . .

[BentAxel]

Originally Posted by chili36

You need to Read the code(s).
How or why did he come to the conclusion that it's a bad cat?

I am told he did read the codes. So, that would point to the cat.
My questioning the cat being bad, I am unfamiliar with this part failing like this on a car with limited (less than 250K miles) and one that has no rust problems.

There is no idle difference from before and after.

Thanks.

Is this a common problem?

Thanks again.

[chili36]

Originally Posted by BentAxel

I am told he did read the codes. So, that would point to the cat.
My questioning the cat being bad, I am unfamiliar with this part failing like this on a car with limited (less than 250K miles) and one that has no rust problems.

There is no idle difference from before and after.

Thanks.

Is this a common problem?

Thanks again.

And what code was it?

[BentAxel]

Originally Posted by chili36

And what code was it?

That I do not know. The shop I took it to, diagnosed the car. Thus the question here. I have never had a Cat go bad on any of the 10 other cars I have owned.

I ask again; Is this a common failure on this car that anyone knows of?

[r8ders]

Did you start having the problems diagnosed before 70K miles? If you did then under CA emissions warranty code it would be covered under the 7yr / 70K mile warranty. If it's just passed the 70K then you may want to go to a BMW dealer and work w/ them to see if BMW will work w/ you and still cover it under warranty.

[ALPINWEISS330i]

The last time I read, under federal law, emission components are under warranty for 8yr/80k. You're in luck OP.

[r8ders]

Originally Posted by ALPINWEISS330i

The last time I read, under federal law, emission components are under warranty for 8yr/80k. You're in luck OP.

ALPINEWEISS is right. I just did a web search and 8yrs or 80K. http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/warranty.pdf

[chili36]

Originally Posted by BentAxel

That I do not know. The shop I took it to, diagnosed the car. Thus the question here. I have never had a Cat go bad on any of the 10 other cars I have owned.

I ask again; Is this a common failure on this car that anyone knows of?

I am very curious as to what code they saw to come to that conclusion. I would ask them for the codes they pulled.
This is the first I hear of a bad cat on this platform.

And as others have said emission components are covered under warranty.

[techwhiz]

If the cats are actually bad.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/warranty.pdf

you say it's got 72K miles.
Contact BMW.
In Ca. cats are covered 7 years/70k miles.
72K, ask BMW for some help.

[Jeef]

maybe you bought it modded