I have a 2000 Beetle that needs a CAT. The dealer said the replacement price would be $1,000.00. I learned of a universal replacement for $300.00 but was told it was not guaranteed to pass inspection. What are the options and what is meant by “direct replacement”?
witch engine do you have? direct fit is a better term to describe how it fits the car. and how many miles on your vw? is the cel on?
Find a good independent mechanic and get a second opinion. There is no need to go to the dealer if your warranty is up. Catalytic converters are needlessly replaced every day because a CEL code is misread or misdiagnosed. It usually turns out to be an 02 sensor in most cases. A second opinion will save you money. Did the dealer give you a reason that the Cat needed to be replaced?
You did not mention what state you live in. Relatively few aftermarket catalysts are approved for use in California. California approval has to do with how long the manufacturer is willing to guarantee the replacement cat. Since many replacement cats are put on older cars that have other problems that are beyond the control of the catalyst manufacturer, it is unreasonable to expect manufacturers to warranty replacement catalysts for as long as they would warranty new car catalysts. This concept is too complicated for California regulators.
Getting a good name brand 49-state replacement cat past California inspection depends on whether the cat is visible from the engine compartment. If the tech notices a brand new cat, he is supposed to check it to see if it is a California-legal model. If he does not notice the shiny new cat, you should be fine.
A 2000 Beetle probably has less than 200k miles on it, right?. If it really needs a new cat, try to find out what is wrong with the car that caused the cat to fail. Weak coils? Consuming oil?
The only truly bad cat converters I’ve personally seen were rusted out and leaking.