Opel catalytic converters run about $25 to $300 for one original unit in 2026. The GM 142 family leads at $100 to $300, Insignia, Vectra and Omega units bring $75 to $275, Astra, Zafira and Mokka units $75 to $225, Corsa and Agila units $50 to $175, and CDTI diesel catalysts $25 to $125.
The number on the shell is a GM number
Opel converters are not catalogued the way most brands on this site are. Instead of a long serial unique to one vehicle, the trade files them under short references in a GM series: GM 28, GM 36, GM 122, GM 142, GM 223, GM 228, GM 229 and so on, usually alongside a longer factory number.
That is genuinely helpful once you know it. A GM number identifies a specific converter design rather than a specific car, so finding it tells a buyer exactly what they are pricing, and it usually covers a group of models rather than one.
So the instruction on this brand is short. Look for a short GM reference on the shell or heat shield, photograph it along with any longer number next to it, and quote that. The model name is the least precise thing you can offer.
Opel catalytic converter scrap prices by model
Model Years Notes Indicative range (USD) Measurement Model years covered What sets the unit apart Buyer quotes for one complete unit, honeycomb intact GM 142 family (Insignia 1.8, Astra J) 2008 to 2017 Johnson Matthey; also fits the Holden Cruze $100 to $300 Insignia, Vectra, Omega and Signum 1986 to 2017 Larger saloons; two units on V6 models $75 to $275 Frontera and Monterey 1991 to 2004 Isuzu hardware under an Opel badge $75 to $250 Astra, Zafira, Meriva and Mokka (petrol) 1991 to 2020 The volume Opel units $75 to $225 GM 36 family (1.7 CDTI and DTI) 1998 to 2012 Ceramic plus ceramic plus ceramic; three bricks in one shell $75 to $200 Movano and Vivaro (diesel vans) 1998 to 2020 Commercial; Renault-shared on later models $50 to $225 Corsa, Adam, Agila, Karl and Tigra 1993 to 2020 Small hatchback range $50 to $175 CDTI diesel particulate filter 2005 onward Platinum-bearing filter, priced separately $50 to $250 CDTI diesel oxidation catalyst 1998 to 2020 Mostly platinum, almost no rhodium $25 to $125 Manifold pre-cat, any model Various Small unit close to the engine $20 to $100 Aftermarket replacement, any model All years Universal unit, trace metal $5 to $50
Ranges are compiled from published core-buyer code lists, catalyst exchange transaction data and current scrap guides; they are not a live per-code feed. Figures are per unit.
Three references worth knowing
Examples make the system clearer than description does.
GM 28, also numbered 90473852 and 2508F9, is listed against Opel and Vauxhall and covers the Vectra B 1.6 and the Astra.
GM 36, also numbered 24406017, 9202470 and several F-series codes, is a diesel unit covering the Astra G 1.7 DTI, the Astra H 1.7 CDTi, the Corsa C 1.7 CDTI and the Meriva A, under both Opel and Vauxhall badges. It was built by AC, and its internal construction is recorded as ceramic plus ceramic plus ceramic, which is three bricks in one shell rather than the usual one or two. Its high over a recent six-month window was 193 US dollars.
GM 142, also numbered 55572912 and 55562440, was built by Johnson Matthey and covers the Opel Insignia 1.8, the Vauxhall Astra and the Holden Cruze. Its recent high was 293 US dollars.
That last one is the highest verified figure in the Opel range, and it is worth checking for specifically if you have an Insignia or a later Astra.
One part, several badges
Opel sits at the centre of a large General Motors family, and the references show it plainly.
Every Vauxhall is an Opel. Catalyst databases list the two marques together on the same entries, covering the Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira, Insignia and Mokka under both names, because Vauxhall is the right-hand drive version sold in the United Kingdom.
Beyond that pair, single references reach further. One covers an Opel Astra J GTC 1.4 together with a Holden Cruze, an Opel Mokka, Meriva, Insignia, Zafira and Corsa. Another covers an Opel Adam 1.4, Meriva, Astra J and Corsa D alongside a Chevrolet Aveo 1.4.
And two models in the range are not General Motors designs at all. The Frontera and Monterey are Isuzu underneath, so the Isuzu figures are the right comparison for those. The Holden page covers the Australian side of the same family.
The diesel split
Most Opels on European roads are diesels, so this matters more here than on the American brands covered elsewhere on the site.
A CDTI oxidation catalyst brings $25 to $125, because it is platinum-led with very little palladium and essentially no rhodium. On 2005 and later cars there is also a diesel particulate filter downstream, a separate and larger component worth $50 to $250.
The GM 36 family above is the exception worth watching for: a triple-brick diesel unit reaching $193, well above the ordinary diesel catalyst figure. If your 1.7 CDTI unit carries that reference, it is not an ordinary diesel cat.
As always, if a buyer offers one figure for a diesel exhaust, establish which component it covers.
Opel prices around the world
Platinum, palladium and rhodium settle in US dollars, so an Opel reference holds the same metal value in every market. Currency and local buyer depth are what change. The table converts the Opel span into each market's money at today's rate.
Market Currency Unit Equivalent range United States USD per unit $25.00 to 300.00 United Kingdom GBP per unit £18.49 to 221.92 Canada CAD per unit C$34.58 to 414.92 Australia AUD per unit A$34.69 to 416.30 Germany EUR per unit €21.53 to 258.32 India INR per unit ₹2,364 to 28,364 Bangladesh BDT per unit ৳3,073 to 36,878 United Arab Emirates AED per unit AED91.81 to 1,102 Saudi Arabia SAR per unit SAR93.75 to 1,125 Turkey TRY per unit ₺1,212 to 14,538 South Africa ZAR per unit R398.94 to 4,787 China CNY per unit CN¥167.98 to 2,016
Opel sells across Europe, and the same vehicles appear as Vauxhall in the United Kingdom, Holden in Australia and occasionally Chevrolet elsewhere. Whichever badge is on the car, the GM reference is the same.
Questions people actually ask
How much is an Opel catalytic converter worth as scrap?
Between roughly $25 and $300 for one original unit in 2026. CDTI diesel catalysts bring $25 to $125, Corsa and Agila units $50 to $175, Astra, Zafira and Mokka units $75 to $225, Insignia and Vectra units $75 to $275, and units in the GM 142 family $100 to $300.
What is a GM number on an Opel converter?
It is the trade reference for that converter design, written as a short code such as GM 28, GM 36 or GM 142, usually alongside a longer factory number. It identifies the part rather than the car, which is why one GM number often covers several models and more than one badge.
Are Opel and Vauxhall converters the same?
Yes. Catalyst databases list both marques on the same references, covering the Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira, Insignia and Mokka under either name. Vauxhall is the right-hand drive version of the same vehicles sold in the United Kingdom.
Which Opel converter is worth the most?
The GM 142 family at $100 to $300, covering the Insignia 1.8 and later Astra, which reached about $293 over a recent six-month window. Among diesels, the triple-brick GM 36 unit reached about $193, well above an ordinary CDTI catalyst.
Why is my Opel Frontera priced as an Isuzu?
Because it is one. The Frontera and Monterey were Isuzu designs sold under the Opel badge, so their converters sit with Isuzu hardware rather than with the General Motors European references that cover the rest of the range.
Figures on this page are indicative buyer ranges for complete, uncut original units and are not offers to buy. Converter types, codes and selling rules are covered on the main catalytic converter price page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Opel catalytic converter worth as scrap?
Between roughly $25 and $300 for one original unit in 2026. CDTI diesel catalysts bring $25 to $125, Corsa and Agila units $50 to $175, Astra, Zafira and Mokka units $75 to $225, Insignia, Vectra and Omega units $75 to $275, and GM 142 family units $100 to $300.
What is a GM number on an Opel catalytic converter?
It is the trade reference for that converter design, written as a short code such as GM 28, GM 36 or GM 142 and usually printed alongside a longer factory number. It identifies the part rather than the vehicle, so one GM number often covers several models and more than one badge.
Are Opel and Vauxhall catalytic converters the same?
Yes. Catalyst databases list both marques on the same references, covering the Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira, Insignia and Mokka under either name, because Vauxhall is the right-hand drive version of the same vehicles sold in the United Kingdom.
Which Opel catalytic converter is worth the most?
The GM 142 family at $100 to $300, covering the Insignia 1.8 and later Astra and also fitting the Holden Cruze. That reference reached about $293 over a recent six-month window. Among the diesels, the triple-brick GM 36 unit reached about $193.
Why is my Opel Frontera priced as an Isuzu?
Because it is one. The Frontera and Monterey were Isuzu designs sold under an Opel badge, so their converters sit with Isuzu hardware rather than with the General Motors European references covering the rest of the Opel range.
Are Opel diesel converters worth less than petrol ones?
Generally yes. A CDTI oxidation catalyst brings $25 to $125 because it is platinum-led with almost no rhodium. The particulate filter fitted from 2005 is a separate component worth $50 to $250, and the triple-brick GM 36 diesel unit is a notable exception at up to $193.