Hello first of all, new to the forum and this is my first post. Anyhow, I hope someone on here can offer some advice or suggestions to my current issue. My wife has an 02 Mini Cooper S, that she has had since almost brand new (I think we bought it back in 03). Anyhow, we took it to get service yesterday because the exhaust was making a really loud sound. Turns out the catalytic converter is cracked in half (Not sure how that happened).Have any of you ran into this on this model car? I am wonderingwhat is involved in fixing this. Does the complete exhaust system need to be changed? If so, should we gofor aftermarket exhaust instead of OEM, thinking the price might be similar? Or should we just replace it with OEM and let it be. I figure if theOEM part cost the same as aaftermarket preformance part, might as well go with OEM. LAstly, howhard is this to fix? Ihave installed an exhaust on my sport bike, and I am curiouse if it is a similar process. I am sure it will bemore difficult than the bike, but is this ajob for a serious mechanic or can a do it your selfercomplete it? Anyhow, please let me know/ Thanks.

Elliott
Austin, TX

 

The Cat is part of the manifold , The Aftermarket exhausta are cat back meaning they connect behind the bad part ...

I'd try to find an intake manifold/cat assembly from someone who has went headers ... Or find a cat and weld it in ...

http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ad.php?t=12491 Actually here's both

 

THanks for the info, now I know what they mean when they say Cat back, never knew that.