The most expensive catalytic converters

A cat or, in other words, a catalytic converter is one of the most expensive parts of an exhaust system with the price ranging from several hundred to even several tens of thousands of zlotys. What is the reason for such high prices? It is the content of noble metals in the converter. Several tons of worn out converters contain approx. 1 kg of platinum.

A cat, being a part of an exhaust system, is the common name for a catalytic converter. When viewed from the outside it looks like a can but it contains a monolith which resembles a honeycomb coated with specific elements. Catalytic substances in a converter are usually platinum, rhodium and palladium which are expensive noble metals. It is why the price of a catalytic converter is so high and also the reason why the converters are recycled.

Catalytic converter buying-in price

Buying-in prices range from PLN 100 to PLN 300 per kilogram of a catalytic converter which translates into PLN 200 to even more than PLN 1,000 for a worn out converter. The actual prices depend on the content of noble metals. Each honest buyer uses a spectrometer to measure the content of noble metals which provides a basis for price assessment. Recycling of catalytic converters is profitable not only for the seller who may recover a part of the price paid for a new converter but also for the collector as about 1 kg of platinum can be recovered from several tons of worn out converters. This compares with approx. 150 tons of ore which need to be extracted to get a similar amount of platinum. Additionally, the recycling process is better for the environment, cheaper and more effective.

The most expensive new catalytic converters

We already know that cats are expensive parts of exhaust systems. How much do we need to pay for a new one then? Prices of catalytic converters for the most popular car makes start with PLN 1,500 and may reach up to several thousand PLN. If the car is more than 10 years old the amount to be spent for a cat may be equal to 50% or even more of the car value.

The most expensive catalytic converters are installed in SUVs, light commercial vehicles, vans or luxury car makes. E.g. the value of a catalytic converter installed in one of Infinity models is more than PLN 11,000 and that intended for Porsche Spyder exceeds PLN 25,000.