New OEM cats = FINAL BILL

[Larz]

Recently, I had to have 02 sensors replaced and about 2 weeks later, same issue. The techs determined that my cats are causing low oxygen levels. Remedy is to replace both cats.
Unfortunately, warranty does not cover exhaust systems. I tried to riggle with them stating it's not exhaust but a federally mandated EPA requirement. I thought that might let it slip by, but they weren't having any of that so I have to pay.

The dealer estimate was $1235 for left and $825 for right + $1200 "shop supplies / parts" and labor = $3260 !!!

I went to Infiniti parts online and paid $835 left and $693 right with $71 shipping. They come with new gaskets, bolts, etc so no parts needed. Installation will be about $500 for an estimated total of $2728. PLUS, when I ship the old units back for a core exchange, I will get $284 back (less shipping back to Inifniti) which lowers the bill to $2444.
I saved nearly $800 by NOT getting the parts through the dealer. Again, what dealers call a mark-up, is actually ROBBERY plain and simple!
Now I see why some peeps opt to delete the cats or use a cheaper off-brand unit.

[Ilya]

Yep...I'm looking at this repair on my M56x and I saw someone else with the same get quoted about the same. Man I miss the days where I could do stuff like this myself. The way they designed the last two generations of M's has completely forced people to go the shop.

[cruzad3r]

ebay will save you a whole lot. the installation might be a pain due to rust to old nuts and bolts but it's definitely worth saving the 2k.

i bought my right side cat from ebay for about 200$. this is a direct fit and works since a year and a half ago.

[Ilya]

ebay will save you a whole lot. the installation might be a pain due to rust to old nuts and bolts but it's definitely worth saving the 2k.

i bought my right side cat from ebay for about 200$. this is a direct fit and works since a year and a half ago.

Did you have to pull the motor on your car? I guess on my car, since the cat is part of the header, you have to pull the motor. Freakin moronic and asinine design. Whoever thought that was a good idea is 100% getting a cut of dealer labor rates. No other explanation. I have a lift and lots of tools at home and even for me, that's a job I won't be able to do when the time comes to do it.

[LIBRILZ]

Yep...I'm looking at this repair on my M56x and I saw someone else with the same get quoted about the same. Man I miss the days where I could do stuff like this myself. The way they designed the last two generations of M's has completely forced people to go the shop.

Not quite, I have an M45 and it's pretty easy to remove the Manifold/Cats.. I did an exhaust manifold gasket and it wasn't hard at all

[EdBwoy]

Thanks for sharing the numbers Larz.

Recently, I had to have 02 sensors replaced and about 2 weeks later, same issue. The techs determined that my cats are causing low oxygen levels. Remedy is to replace both cats.
...

Curious here. What were they going off of the first time? Were there codes that sent them to the oxygen sensors or was it an attempt to solve a catalytic code with the O2 sensors?

[EniGmA1987]

Dang that really sucks, not too far out of the mandatory 8 year warranty too

Do they know why the cats failed?

[Ilya]

Dang that really sucks, not too far out of the mandatory 8 year warranty too

Do they know why the cats failed?

Wait...our cats are covered by a warranty that is 8 years? So I still have time to get mine replaced for free if they fail within the next 6 months or so (car is a 2011, so I presume it was built in late 2010?)?

[midnightclub619]

in CA looks like extended warranty for CATS are 8 yrs/80k miles and i assume it applies to all states.

[Larz]

Thanks for sharing the numbers Larz.

Recently, I had to have 02 sensors replaced and about 2 weeks later, same issue. The techs determined that my cats are causing low oxygen levels. Remedy is to replace both cats.
...

Curious here. What were they going off of the first time? Were there codes that sent them to the oxygen sensors or was it an attempt to solve a catalytic code with the O2 sensors?

First, it was just the code for a bad O2 sensor (I'm a**-uming it was which ever one is connected to the CAT. Two weeks later that same sensor was reporting again. They replaced it, hoping the sensor was defective and told me if it goes bad again, it has to be the CATs. Well, it did go bad again, they tested the CATs (however they do that) and that's why it's at the shop.

[Larz]

Dang that really sucks, not too far out of the mandatory 8 year warranty too

Do they know why the cats failed?

Wait...our cats are covered by a warranty that is 8 years? So I still have time to get mine replaced for free if they fail within the next 6 months or so (car is a 2011, so I presume it was built in late 2010?)?

You may want to double-check coverage. I have a MaxCare warranty which beats the Infiniti warranty hands down, but one of the very few things not covered is exhaust. They don't consider CATs as a seprate EPA devise - it's considered (by my warranty) to be just another part of the exhaust like a muffler. My car is 9 years old with 102k miles but my warranty goes till 150k miles or Sept 2019. And no need to pull the engine. Just a simple bolt-on which makes the labor charge highly suspect for me.

[Ilya]

Nevermind, that doesn't apply to me. It's 8yr/80kmi. I'm WAY past 80kmi lol. So I'd be up a creek regardless of if NY or the Fed had some extended law covering all cars regardless of warranty.

[EniGmA1987]

Nevermind, that doesn't apply to me. It's 8yr/80kmi. I'm WAY past 80kmi lol. So I'd be up a creek regardless of if NY or the Fed had some extended law covering all cars regardless of warranty.

Ya its a federal thing, part of the Clean Air Act:

The Clean Air Act requires manufacturers of light-duty vehicles to provide two federal emission control warranties: (A) "Performance Warranty" and (B) "Design and Defect Warranty." These warranties are provided by the vehicle manufacturer and apply to used vehicles as well. The warranty period begins from the date of sale to the original owner.

The Performance Warranty covers repairs which are required during the first 2 years or 24,000 miles of vehicle use (whichever first occurs) because the vehicle failed an emission test. Specified major emission control components are covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles (whichever first occurs). The specified major emission control components only include the catalytic converters, the electronic emissions control unit or computer (ECU), and the onboard emissions diagnostic (OBD) device or computer.

I assumed it was from manufacture date until I looked it up just now. So if you have a 2011 for instance and it was manufactured in April 2010, but you didnt buy it till April 2011 then it would go until 2019 or 80k miles.



Larz, you are out of federal warranty anyway so maybe it doesnt matter much now, but even if MaxCare doesnt do catalytic converters under their warranty it is at least federally warrantied through Infiniti for the 8 years.
Though you may try arguing with your MaxCare coverage and try to get them to cover you. Regardless that they claim the cats are not an EPA device, the federal government does call them that. So the governments definition should superceed what MaxCare tries to pretend they are.

[Ilya]

Good to know for my next car. My current M is at 110kmi so unfortunately I can't use this to my advantage.

[Larz]

Turns out, the estimate for installation on my part was off - by ALOT! My savings by not buying the CATs from the dealer remain near enough the same.
However, the labor / parts charges were completely wrong. There were parts needed that did not come with the CATs from Inifniti parts online. as follows:

1 "tube" that needed replacement as it was not suitable for re-use with the new CAT in the left side: $ 62.48
2 bolts that had to be cut off instead of re-used: $ 27.38
2 new self locking nuts for those cut bolts: $ 17.46
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total parts charge: $ 107.26

Then there was the labor portion of the bill. I estimated maybe $500-600 to remove and replace both Cats. Turns out it was ALOT more!
total labor charge: $ 980.00

Since the car would be at the shop for two days, I decided to get the oil / filter changed to avoid a trip next month. ($39.00 cuz I supply the oil)

Total bill waiting for me today: $1,173.48

I checked online and found that the average labor charge for CAT replacement plus new parts is between $350 - $600 per CAT. So, as predicted, Inifniti comes in at the high side of that range.