A cat (catalyst) usually costs more than any other vehicle element. The exact price depends on many factors: engine type and size, vehicle brand and model, etc.
For example, a new middle-range original car catalyst costs $500-1,000. This is not the limit. Let’s find out what vehicle models require the most expensive catalytic converters. Please, note that the prices are not fixed and may vary significantly, but the tendency is preserved.
TOP-10 cars requiring the most expensive catalysts:
- BMW E36 Compact (≈ $2,500);
- Fiat Ducato (≈ $2,300);
- Fiat Multipla (≈ $1,600);
- BMW E39 (≈ $1,200 );
- Citroen Xsara Picasso (≈ $1,250);
- Honda Accord 1.8 (≈ $1,080);
- Mazda MX 5 (≈ $1,060);
- Volvo 960 (≈ $980 );
- BMW 5 Series (≈ $900);
- BMW X5 (≈ $700).
Why Are Catalysts So Expensive?
The price of a catalyst depends mostly on how many precious metals (as a rule, Pd, Pt, and/or Rh) it contains and the market value of these materials. Scrap devices can be used to recover the metals for further recycling and use in many industries.
New catalysts are so expensive due to the catalytic coating. Its function is to clean exhaust fumes from carcinogenic toxins. But a catalyst has a limited service life. As a rule, the old one needs to be replaced after 100,000 km driven. Nevertheless, a device that can be no longer used is still a source of Pt, Pd, and Rh. The amount of these metals is much less compared to new devices, but the materials can be recovered and recycled.
How Much Precious Metals Can Be Recovered
Recovering precious materials can be a profitable business for those who know where to buy used cats with a relatively high content of PGMs. If you are looking for spent catalysts, check out subaru catalytic converter scrap prices by subaru catalytic converter scrap prices by https://autocatalystmarket.com to find the best deals.
Unfortunately, the exact amount of precious metals cannot be identified in an assembled catalyst. First, you need to extract its honeycomb element.
Here is a small tip: you can recover much more Pt, Pd, and Rh if you would buy clogged or damaged devices. There are dozens of factors that can cause a catalyst to fail. For example, using bad fuel. As a result, a catalyst may trigger engine problems. That is why such devices are considered to be scrap.
Pay attention to the vehicle type and the catalyst size. Thus, SUV or large-engine track cats may bring up to 1,05 oz (or 30 g) of PGMs while spent car catalysts usually contain not more than just 0,2 oz (6 g).
Buses and trucks can be even more!