Where can I buy an OEM spec Catalytic converter for my 2005, 2.5, S-type at an affordable cost? I need to have mine replaced urgently as an MOT is due next week and the RHS (driver side) catalytic is completely melted in the middle section. I would highly appreciate any leads. Thanks.
A little background if this might help someone else diagnosing their car's issues. The car was purchased from a previous owner who probably desperately tried solving the issues with makeshift repairs. Bank 1 had a misfire on cylinder 1,3,5. There was a vacuum leak and oil leaking at the lower IMTV solenoid due to original worn out o-rings and excessive use of gasket maker. I also found a doggy repair on the RHS (bank 1) cam sensor connector (which is my guess to the misfires on a complete bank). The OBD shows the car has been driven in Restricted Performance Mode and the check engine light has been on and flashing intermittently for over 40K miles, the total being 118000 miles as off now.
After sorting out the cam sensor connector the car only goes into restricted performance and the check engine light only comes on at low RPM's. I switched O2 sensors from Left to Right and vice versa and still had the same issues. I finally managed to get a borescope and check both ends Upstream which has an intact honey comb structure and downstream which has alien like formations on RHS catalytic converter.