Hi guys
My catalytic converter is dying, and the dealership wants to charge me 1700$ for a new one.
I have been searching the interwebs only to find out that every catalytic converter for the rx8 is illegal in my state.
If someone can refer me to a website that can help me or a shop around the La/Oc area it would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT:
Any opinions on the Magnaflow catalytic converter #49150?

 

What are your plans with the car? You can start with searching for a used Cat in Craigslist, this forum, and/or the junk yard. Cheaper. You could go to the SoCal regional forum here and ask local member if you could borrow one if you need it for a smog test; oftherwise, just gut the cat and buy an ODB II reader to clear the P0139 and P2096 CEL for the gutted cat. Mind you, it will smell. I replaced mine with an aftermarker for this reason. I'll put it back on two years from now for the smog test.

 

In CA, the only legal cat that I know of is the expensive OEM. Finding a used one, even if you have to have it shipped from Maine, is going to be your cheapest option. Contact Mazmart and see what they have.

 

@Grace I was planning on modding my car later on but I guess I'm just gonna have to start sooner than planned

@Alnielsen Do you mind providing a link to a place that sells the OEM cat. Thank you I will contact mazmart to see what they can provide.

 

You can buy them new at your local Mazda dealer, but they are something like $1500-1700. Try keeping track in the Classifieds Forum for a used one. They come up intermittently.

 

Do what most of us owners in L.A. did. Replace the OEM Cat with a midpipe and store the OEM for the test. If you are in SoCal, I saw Craigslist had one in Santa Barbara and up in Fresno.

 

I currently use the RP supercat and still pass smog thus it's legal enough for me. Never been pulled over for it or anything. But it always depends what you're trying to do with your car, If you're modding it for street, a midpipe would be the last on your list imo if you're worried about legality. I track my car a lot and drive it as a weekend car, that's why i went with the supercat rather then a race pipe.

 

Your smog tests are every 2 years? I wish they were the same out here in Nevada, but then again we don't have the visual or sniffer test.

 

Supercats have been known to burn out faster than oem.

 

Yep, I read this about the 1-1-13 New Smog Law California last month. I was just at the DMV last week to renew my tags, apparently it hasn't taken effect yet. Hopefully, by my next smog test it will.

RX-8s actually has pretty good emissions:

 

So the best option would be to buy the mazmart one and install it myself, if I didnt want to switch it out every 2 years

 

bamp for edit

 

i'm considering four options.

1. buy another OE cat, i bought a cat and an engine last year, and i'm the 18th best customer at the dealership. its still $1000 i don't feel like spending

2. borrow a good one, kind of a PITA, and its temporary.

3. remove the heat shield, replace cat with aftermarket, put heat shield back.

4. the really super stealth way, replace the silencer with a cat! the magnaflow spun cats look pretty similar to the presilencer, and since the smog guy is looking at the cat, and not the muffler, it should sneak by

5. just buy the $300 magnaflow bolt in cat, and hope nobody looks, which isn't very realistic

 

I'm in the same boat bro I have failed smog four times and it's driving me crazy I have high hc and nox replaced spark plugs wires and o two sensor in it about four hundred bucks and still nada now to spend another thousand bucks is a joke stupid ca and there laws if you find a solution let me know good luck man I feel your pain

 

Stock cat from mazdatrix is only 1k.

If you want to keep it 100% legal that seems like your best bet.

 

New guy sorry for possible dumb question when it may be off basis. Read through and saw about rp super cat. If I was to install that I Wouldn't pass smog?

 

You may or may not a sniffer test. If your in California, it wouldn't pass the visual test.

 

Al is correct
Some here have been able to pass the sniffer test with a brand new RP cat and new ignition coils but it's still a 50/50 shot
You will however instantly fail the visual inspection if the technician bothers to inspect the car.

 

so if I do get the rp super cat Def keep my original stock cat and mid pipe for smog testing?

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

 

It would be a good idea. If you have friends, they may need to use it to get by too. They better be good friends. You want to get it back.
I had a friend that ran one of those. At night you could see a nice little blue glow come out of the pipes when he shifted. No ecu tuning necessary.

 

Omg that's awesome. MAKES ME WANT IT MORE. but no none of my buddies have a rx8. I'm lone. I saw some people are in my area on here but no luck with contact to meet up n go on drives or grab some beers

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

 

I have a stock midpipe with cat that I can sell and ship to you email me at jtvandemar@yahoo.com