Nissan GT-R Catalytic Converter Replacement Parts

Yes, all road-going Nissan GT-Rs are petrol-engined and carry catalytic converters as standard emissions equipment. The R35 GT-R, sold in the UK from 2009 onwards, uses a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 (VR38DETT engine) and has cats fitted as part of its exhaust system. Because the GT-R is not available with a diesel engine, there is no DPF to consider, but the catalytic converters are still emissions-critical components that affect MOT compliance.

The R35 GT-R received a notable update around 2011 and a further significant facelift for the 2012 model year (UK deliveries following shortly after), with refinements continuing into later years, and while the core VR38DETT engine carried through the entire R35 generation, exhaust and emissions components can differ between production runs. A cat from an earlier car may physically resemble one from a later car but could differ in internal specification, lambda sensor positions, or emissions calibration. You must confirm with the breaker that the part number or specification matches your exact registration before buying, as fitting the wrong cat could cause an MOT failure or trigger warning lights.

The Nissan GT-R has been sold in the UK in variants including the standard GT-R, GT-R Premium, GT-R Track Edition, and the Nismo GT-R, but trim level alone does not change the catalytic converter specification since all variants use the same VR38DETT engine. The Nismo model does use a revised exhaust system, so if you have a Nismo GT-R you should specifically confirm with the breaker that the cat being offered came from a Nismo rather than a standard car. For all other trim levels, the trim name is not the deciding factor — the model year and any engine or exhaust specification changes for that production period are what matter.

No — the GT-R is only available with a petrol engine, so it has never been fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The emissions equipment you need to concern yourself with is the catalytic converter and associated lambda (oxygen) sensors. If an MOT tester or diagnostic tool is flagging an emissions fault, the catalytic converter or sensors are the area to investigate rather than any diesel-specific components.

The R35 GT-R's twin-turbocharged V6 exhaust system includes multiple catalytic converters — typically pre-cat and main-cat sections — so it is important to identify exactly which cat has failed before approaching a breaker. When contacting a breaker, confirm whether you need the nearside (NS) or offside (OS) unit, and the position in the exhaust run (pre-turbo, post-turbo, primary or secondary), as these are not interchangeable with one another. Confirm all of this against your registration and a visual inspection of your existing system before agreeing a purchase.

A used catalytic converter from a GT-R of the correct specification can pass MOT provided it has not been gutted, damaged internally, or mismatched to your car's emissions calibration. When speaking to a breaker, ask them to confirm the donor car's registration or model year so you can verify it matches your own production period, and ask whether the cat is complete with its lambda sensor bungs intact. Catalytic converter interchange specifics for the GT-R are strong confirm-with-breaker territory — never assume a physically similar unit is a direct swap without checking part numbers or getting the breaker's assurance against your registration.