Type approved?

[Captain Jack]

Que? I am looking to buy a new flexi/cat exhaust pipe for the HDI as the fuel smell is becoming unbearable when I am idling. Keep having to turn the aircon to recirculate the cabin air. Also, there's a nice rumble at low revs which I want to eliminate.

So, after looking around, I noticed that some cats are "type approved" and some aren't. Those that aren't are around a third cheaper than are, so I wonder if I can get away with fitting a non-type approved on my 2002 model? Or will I get a slap come MOT time?

[jasper5]

I believe it is a legal requirement to fit a type approved cat to a vehicle made after 1st March 2001. I tried to buy a non type approved cat for my brother's Vectra (petrol) and I was told by my local factor that they could not sell me a non type approved cat as his car is registered after 1st March 2001.
As you say there is a vast difference in price, my brother's cat cost £290....the other type was around £100.
I'm not sure if this applies to diesels. I don't believe you would have any problem with the mot being diesel.

The non type approved cats on petrols don't last very long.

[Bailes1992]

You should get away with a complete decat on a diesel. It's what I'm planning for mine in the next couple of weeks to be honest.

[sirwiggum]

Got a new cat on mine because the Flexi was ripped, £200 fitted, and it has started rumbling at low revs, so either I've got a dodgy pattern-part cat, or the cat isn't the problem (I was thinking engine mounts)

[Welly]

Cap'n - you get what you pays for an all that

[sirwiggum]

Cap'n - you get what you pays for an all that

Official cat vs Beer tokens

[Captain Jack]

I don't think I will gain anything by decatting the thing, as I only need to replace the flexi-hose, which has a leak. Thanks to stupid design, I have to get a cat to. And knowing "performance" companies, the straight decat pipe will cost more than a proper cat/flexi pipe.