318i exhaust problems

[bigmattpowell]

Having a nightmare. Went to buy a new back box for my 1992 318i tourer, but the floating clamp on the otherwise fine front section is rotten so need new mid section. Fine except my 92 has a 23 part exhaust with a cat instead of a box on the front pipe so I'm looking at a new cat too. £400 ish for a back box! Anyone got a cat pipe or any ideas on bodging it or full system alternatives for cheap? If it was fitted with a cat and I stick a straight through pipe on it will it fail MOT? Most exhaust places just look at me like I'm mad when I say I need a cat on an e30!