Rx400H Catalytic Converter Theft

[Andre2000]

Hi

Where can I get a Cat as mine was cut and stolen yesterday. I know Lexus would be very expensive.

[Herbie]

http://catman.co.uk

[Lager shandy]

I would just get a slip on flexi pipe for now and fit the new cat on mot day then refit the flexi slip on .

[Andre2000]

3 hours ago, Herbie said:

http://catman.co.uk

Thanks for the Link. Do you have any idea of the quality of these? Also if I ordered the Cat would it be a simple fit ( no idea if they caused more damage from the picture).

I contacted  my Insurance and they will fix, 2.5k from Lexus if a simple job. I have £300 excess plus possible increase in premium though I have protected no claims 17 years, so thinking about the correct course of action.

 

Thanks again.

 

 

 

[Andre2000]

2 hours ago, Lager shandy said:

I would just get a slip on flexi pipe for now and fit the new cat on mot day then refit the flexi slip on .

What about the poisonous emissions? MOT due in December so not long.

[Herbie]

9 minutes ago, Andre2000 said:

Thanks for the Link. Do you have any idea of the quality of these? Also if I ordered the Cat would it be a simple fit ( no idea if they caused more damage from the picture).

I contacted  my Insurance and they will fix, 2.5k from Lexus if a simple job. I have £300 excess plus possible increase in premium though I have protected no claims 17 years, so thinking about the correct course of action.

Sorry Andrew, I have no idea what they're like as (thankfully) I've never needed to buy one but they must be alright or the guy wouldn't have any customers.

From other posts on here I think the cost of buying and fitting was somewhere around £350 to £400 so no point involving the insurance. It can't be a difficult job as it's basically only a device that fits to a pipe at either end.

[Herbie]

13 minutes ago, Andre2000 said:

What about the poisonous emissions? MOT due in December so not long.

Hybrids are not tested for emissions but will fail if the cat is missing, so you'll have to have your new one on for the test.

[Andre2000]

14 hours ago, Herbie said:

Sorry Andrew, I have no idea what they're like as (thankfully) I've never needed to buy one but they must be alright or the guy wouldn't have any customers.

From other posts on here I think the cost of buying and fitting was somewhere around £350 to £400 so no point involving the insurance. It can't be a difficult job as it's basically only a device that fits to a pipe at either end.

I have decided to go for a metal one as opposed to the ceramic  a Magnaflow Zeller metal. The only Issue I see is where they have cut is around 15 inches gap and the CAT is around 12 inches, so I guess I will need to get 3 inch or so length of piping. I considered going the Lexus route via Insurance but the cost is high and even worse they would come back and possibly do the same thing.

 

Thanks again to both of you for your help.

[Andre2000]

One other point is I wondered why my alarm did not sound. So I checked that it does sound and for some reason it does not. Do the thieves have the ability to disable alarms?

 

 

 

[phb10186]

22 hours ago, Andre2000 said:

Hi

Where can I get a Cat as mine was cut and stolen yesterday. I know Lexus would be very expensive.

well they cut more of yours off than mine... looks like they also cut off a small weight that fits round the exhaust too... probably wont make any difference

[phb10186]

Update: I took the car to Lexus today for the timing belt at 10 years, and upon questionning (and i've had a few discussions with them), Lexus have lowered the price of the replacement cat exhaust section (the entire piece of the exhaust, not just the cat.... I was quoted 1200 + vat (and probably fitting), and now it has been reduced to about £700 - not sure about the VAT and fitting.

However, that still poses a better option - 40-50% reduction. Had that have been the case, my choice may have been to go back to Lexus for an original part. Still poses risk of repeat theft, but just fit a Cat guard.

Also makes the used market supply from breakers pointless, as those were the quotes I got for used...

 

Oh, and they still don't have any available for a few weeks, they are on back order. 

[Andre2000]

1 minute ago, phb10186 said:

Update: I took the car to Lexus today for the timing belt at 10 years, and upon questionning (and i've had a few discussions with them), Lexus have lowered the price of the replacement cat exhaust section (the entire piece of the exhaust, not just the cat.... I was quoted 1200 + vat (and probably fitting), and now it has been reduced to about £700 - not sure about the VAT and fitting.

However, that still poses a better option - 40-50% reduction. Had that have been the case, my choice may have been to go back to Lexus for an original part. Still poses risk of repeat theft, but just fit a Cat guard.

Also makes the used market supply from breakers pointless, as those were the quotes I got for used...

 

Oh, and they still don't have any available for a few weeks, they are on back order. 

I rang Lexus sidcup and she told me to factor in around 2.5k. I thanked her and promptly put the phone down and went to plan B. She also stated a month waiting for stock..

[Andre2000]

8 minutes ago, phb10186 said:

Update: I took the car to Lexus today for the timing belt at 10 years, and upon questionning (and i've had a few discussions with them), Lexus have lowered the price of the replacement cat exhaust section (the entire piece of the exhaust, not just the cat.... I was quoted 1200 + vat (and probably fitting), and now it has been reduced to about £700 - not sure about the VAT and fitting.

However, that still poses a better option - 40-50% reduction. Had that have been the case, my choice may have been to go back to Lexus for an original part. Still poses risk of repeat theft, but just fit a Cat guard.

Also makes the used market supply from breakers pointless, as those were the quotes I got for used...

 

Oh, and they still don't have any available for a few weeks, they are on back order. 

I rang Lexus sidcup and she told me to factor in around 2.5k. I thanked her and promptly put the phone down and went to plan B. She also stated a month waiting for stock..

 

 I also got in touch with some breakers..£700 inc VAT I was quoted for something that is 10+ years old. No thanks.

 

Interesting that they have now reduced the price. But no stock.

[phb10186]

Just now, Andre2000 said:

I rang Lexus sidcup and she told me to factor in around 2.5k. I thanked her and promptly put the phone down and went to plan B. She also stated a month waiting for stock..

 

 I also got in touch with some breakers..£700 inc VAT I was quoted for something that is 10+ years old. No thanks.

Ring Lexus Hatfield and ask to speak to Dale - I had the discussion with him yesterday about the cat cost when booking my car in for the timing belt today... once you have his quote, go to your nearest dealer and present them with it. All the dealers are ordering the same part off the same system from Lexus, and they are on back order from Japan due the sheer numbers... worth a call i'd say.

Tell him you just spoke to Ben with the Silver 400h that's in there now.

[phb10186]

18 hours ago, Lager shandy said:

I would just get a slip on flexi pipe for now and fit the new cat on mot day then refit the flexi slip on .

you cant - the pipe diameter to the cat is 60mm, and the one coming out of it is 50mm (or the reverse, I can't remember) - but a standard flexi pipe will not fit.

Plus de-cat is not legal, and they don't emission test hybrids anyway.

[Andre2000]

18 minutes ago, phb10186 said:

Ring Lexus Hatfield and ask to speak to Dale - I had the discussion with him yesterday about the cat cost when booking my car in for the timing belt today... once you have his quote, go to your nearest dealer and present them with it. All the dealers are ordering the same part off the same system from Lexus, and they are on back order from Japan due the sheer numbers... worth a call i'd say.

Tell him you just spoke to Ben with the Silver 400h that's in there now.

I think I would still go for an Universal part primarily because they will just come back and steal it again. Also I have already embarked upon another supplier so it’s on the way. I wonder where they sell these stolen catalytic converters and what they get for them. I presume the after market ones have no value for the thieves.

[phb10186]

5 minutes ago, Andre2000 said:

I think I would still go for an Universal part primarily because they will just come back and steal it again. Also I have already embarked upon another supplier so it’s on the way. I wonder where they sell these stolen catalytic converters and what they get for them. I presume the after market ones have no value for the thieves.

Fair - that was my decision too, based on the original quote from Lexus. They could steal a genuine replacement part, but you can buy securing locks now, which probably work.

No idea where they sell these platinum based cats... I bet they go on containers abroad somewhere... or scrap metal dealers - who knows. Google indicated £40-80 scrap platinum value... which if you look at the cost of platinum means there is about 1-3g of the stuff in there.

Aftermarket ones are ceramic, not platinum based - so no value, assuming the thieves know the difference.

Cant see any reason why an aftermarket one isn't fine, unless you are in warranty, or specifically have some anxiety about not fitting a more expensive option from Lexus.

[rich1068]

4 minutes ago, Andre2000 said:

I wonder where they sell these stolen catalytic converters and what they get for them.

In a way you already answered that question.

30 minutes ago, Andre2000 said:

I also got in touch with some breakers..£700 inc VAT I was quoted for something that is 10+ years old.

There are plenty of people around who never question where used parts come from.

[phb10186]

3 minutes ago, rich1068 said:

In a way you already answered that question.

There are plenty of people around who never question where used parts come from.

all my used quotes were for the entire exhaust section (as specified by me)... mirroring your thoughts. they tend to be 500-800 used. Anyone quoting for just the cat section should probably be reported.

We could possibly be looking at supplier-induced demand!

[Andre2000]

57 minutes ago, phb10186 said:

all my used quotes were for the entire exhaust section (as specified by me)... mirroring your thoughts. they tend to be 500-800 used. Anyone quoting for just the cat section should probably be reported.

We could possibly be looking at supplier-induced demand!

Catalytic Converter £508.00

VAT £101.60

Delivery 2-3 Days

Total price £609.60

[Andre2000]

Am not saying whom offered this or weather or not there is something odd about the quote.

 

Just replying to the above and obviously the thought went through my head as to the margins for 2nd hand Lexus CATS 

[jonnybgood]

does anyone know the rough dimensions of a genuine Lexus replacement cat?

I'm looking for the right size catloc to fit over it the new one...I've decided to make a claim on my insurance and I've asked the garage who are fixing it to also fit the catloc to stop them coming back a 2nd time!

thinking of going for a catloc 1001 or catloc 1002. any advice appreciated.

[Lager shandy]

How much of the pipe does the catlock cover ,surely they will just cut it further up the pipe then any cables etc as well Battery powered disc cutter will slice through anything you bolt on .i don't think they are worried about being seen or heard .

[jonnybgood]

See following link for pic

https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk/products/hellingly/specialist/catloc-cat1001-1.html

4 hours ago, Lager shandy said:

How much of the pipe does the catlock cover ,surely they will just cut it further up the pipe then any cables etc as well battery powered disc cutter will slice through anything you bolt on .i don't think they are worried about being seen or heard .

 

See following link for pic

https://www.sussexinstallations.co.uk/products/hellingly/specialist/catloc-cat1001-1.html

 

[Lager shandy]

i would prefer to see a complete shield cover so they cannot just recut the pipes then cables .