brandon524

I brought my wifes 99 es300 (built 10-98) to lexus for a emissions failure. I was told by them and another service facility before them I needed the bank 1 catalytic converter and that code p0420 was present. A detailed scan at Lexus determined we needed a bank one catalytic converter set up, which I guess is a 4 fot combo of a act, pre cat like thing and flex pipe. The California cat is 470 dollars and the non california cat is just over 300. I checked everywhere for this item and found it with mac auto parts in NY. They have the only direct fit cat for this car that I could find. The units they have is 49 inches long, has a y pipe with one side of the Y pipe there is a flex pipe, on the other side of the Y there is what looks like a coffee can. The unit then turns into 1 pipe with a 10-12 inch cat almost at the end. I have pics of the unit. They told me to check the catalyst sticker under the hood to check if the car has federal emissions or california emissions. There is a 160 dollar price difference between california and federal cats. They state that if the word california appears anywhere on that sticker I needed a CA cat, so the CALIFORNIA CATALYTIC CONVERTER is the one they sent me. I received the part the other day and brought it to a mechanic to put in. He swears to me that this is not the right cat and that I need the other one. I relayed this info to MAC who has a 100% return policy if the wrong part is supplied and they are swearing that this is the right one. They both are 49.2 inches long and both will fit. They are both definately for a 99 ES300, and one of the two is right. They do not look identical to the factory unit in the car now, but they both fit fine. I was told that the fact they don't look like the factory cat does not mean anything since they both fit perfect. However if I install the one I have it can not be returned. COULD ANY 99 OR 2000 ES300 OWNERS TELL ME THE EXACT WORDING ON THEIR CATALYST STICKER UNDER THE HOOD.

My question is how can I determine whether I my car needs a california cat or federal cat. My sticker under the hood reads this car applies to all FEDERAL NLEV REGULATIONS AND CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS. However I have a 2000 BMW 740IL and a 1999 Dodge Caravan and there stickers read identical to my sticker on my ES. I attached pics of the cats that came factory with my car. Any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you, Russell Alexander