The exhaust system converter isn’t working and the service recommended you buy a new one? Don’t rush to throw away the used part or leave it to the service station specialists. Even a non-working converter can be a source of income if you take it to a buy up.
You can buy back the catalytic converter BMW, where you will be offered to buy the unmarketable parts at good prices. You can get a good sum of money by handing over the converter for recycling. A new converter has a high cost, so selling the old part is necessary to recoup at least part of the money that will go to purchase an analogue.
How to determine the value of a non-working converter?
It will be difficult for the average motorist to understand how much a used exhaust system part might cost.
The valuable metals inside the converter are not visible to the naked eye. To measure their quantity, special equipment is required. It does not make sense to buy such a device for one-time use, as it is not cheap.
- Professional buyers, when estimating the neutralizer, use diagnostic equipment.
- The price is influenced by the condition of the converter, the presence of dirt, and the integrity of the body.
- The higher the class of the car, the higher quality parts are installed in it.
- The most expensive converters are made in Europe and Asia.
According to the world rules the owner of a used converter will get 75% of the price for the precious metals in the part. This is a common practice. For this reason, you should turn only to well-known buyers with a good reputation and feedback in order to get the maximum benefit from the deal.
After conducting diagnostics, the car owner will be informed at what price the catalytic converter is accepted for recycling.
Next, buyers take the converter to recycling, where valuable metals are extracted from the non-working parts, which are then also used in the automotive industry.
Why is there a need for a converter in the exhaust system?
The role of the converter is to clean the exhaust so that no toxic substances dangerous to nature and humans are emitted into the air. The gases are purified by the precious metals contained within the converter construction.
When the catalytic converter is operating at full capacity, the level of emission purification complies with environmental standards and EU laws. If the neutralizer gets clogged, it can no longer properly clean the exhaust. At an early stage of clogging, the converter honeycomb can still be cleaned by flushing, which is carried out at service stations using special equipment. If the clogging is severe and the catalytic converter honeycomb is damaged, it can no longer be repaired.
How to determine if the converter is clogged?
The converter’s service life is 100-150,000 km under ideal conditions. The manufacturer’s technical manual for the car indicates the warranty period for this part. But many converters can fail even before the stated period due to low-quality fuel, use of additives or mechanical damage.
Signs of a non-working converter:
- the car slowly picks up speed in a low gear;
- check appears on the dashboard, which means that the engine is malfunctioning;
- fuel consumption increases;
- smoke from the exhaust pipe has a foul odor and becomes darker.
It is not allowed to drive for too long with a non-working converter, because it can cause engine damage.
The car owner receives not only a financial gain by recycling the converter, but also saves the environment, because by simply throwing away the part, the soil can be polluted due to the toxic substances accumulated inside the converter.
