My wife's '04 Cooper needs a new catalytic converter. The quote I for the job is $1,081 for the parts and $120 for the labor (which is probably $80 an hour or so). I see I can get the parts for about $450, but I'm curious about how hard it is to install. Do I have to tear down half the engine to get it in, or is everything fairly accessible. Is it much harder than fixing brakes? Anyone have a quick link to some installation instructions?

Thanks for the help!

 

just need to cut the exhaust manifold where the cat is, place new cat and weld in. OEM cats are expensive. and if your not a master welder, you could bring it to a muffer shop and have them weld it in, install piece seems about right, same with cat price, but there are aftermarket cats, like im sure you have found

 

I'm not a welder, but I was looking at the aftermarket cats that come with the exhaust manifold and mount right to the engine block. I took another look at it last night and I can see that there are about eight bolts holding the manifold to the engine. That part doesn't look too difficult to access, but I haven't crawled underneath yet to see what else might have to come out to pull the cat & manifold out and get the new one in.

 

I've watched the pros do one at MINI event. Didn't appear that they took much of anything off. 8 nuts on the exhaust manifold and two at the exhaust. Not sure if they use salt in Maine, but I'd liberally pre-lube the exhaust bolts and the 02 sensors.
See if you can loosen them before you go get the part.

 

Thanks for the advice Eric. Yes, we use A LOT of salt here in Maine. Good cars die young here, and exhaust systems crap out early if you don't wash your car enough in the winter. Parking salty cars in heated garages doesn't help much either.

 

i have an oem header / cat if you want to purchase....
no rust, no codes.

 

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