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Who here has actually passed CA smog with an aftermarket chip

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    Who here has actually passed CA smog with an aftermarket chip

    Hi, all:

    Longtime lurker, first time poster, new to M20s.

    I've done a lot of forum-searching on performance chip upgrades, and here's what I've learned:

    1. There are basically three chips to choose from (not including those $30 eBay ones): Mark D'Sylva/EAT, Turner/Conforti/JC, Dinan.

    2. Dinan is the only one that is officially CARB legal. Most reviews seem to prefer the EAT or JC over the Dinan, suggesting that the Dinan is less aggressive (which maybe is part of why it's the only one that's CARB legal)

    The one thing I was hoping to find that I didn't was concrete firsthand experience of passing CA emissions with either the EAT or JC chip. I realize that neither of these is officially CARB legal, but I figure if the timing is within spec and the tailpipe emissions are good, that's close enough. My engine is otherwise stock.

    (One odd footnote to Dinan--they don't have any E30 chips listed in the 3-series section, but in the 5-series section they list one chip that fits both M20 and M50 models. That can't be right: http://www.dinancars.com/product/eng...ries&mid=1058/.)

    Anyway, if anyone has firsthand experience with CA smogging a car with one of these chips, I'd love to hear about it.

    #2
    Yes, Dinan for sure because they claim to only adjust timing/fuel at WOT when performance is needed most and they are tuned for 91 Octane. Otherwise, they drive like stock with casual driving for fuel economy. The other chips are probably performance tuned across the board for 93 octane. We typically have 91 in CA so this makes those other chips run more on the ragged edge. It doesn't mean they won't pass but you will have to make sure everything is in top shape. This is true for the Turner/JC chip on my M3. I run a iggomotive CA91 chip in my other M3 which passes CA smog with flying colors so I believe the octane rating is the key. I have no experience with Mark D's chip.
    "I'd probably take the E30 M3 in this case just because I love that little car, and how tanky that inline 6 is." - thecj

    85 323i M TECH 1 S52 - ALPINEWEISS/SCHWARZE
    88 M3 - LACHSSILBER/SCHWARZE
    89 M3 - ALPINEWEISS II/M TECH CLOTH-ALCANTARA
    91 M TECHNIC CABRIO TURBO - MACAOBLAU/M TECH CLOTH-LEATHER

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      #3
      check out sssquid his chips are awesome

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        #4
        MarkD passes fine. Dinan is a boring chip but passes fine. the turner chips dont pass well. huge pita to get them to pass as they run too lean.
        I've had 2 turners, 2 markD's and 1 Dinan chip in my cars.
        Much wow
        I hate 4 doors

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          #5
          Passed several times with the Miller MAF/WAR combo...

          Though it cut it close each time and the car ran pretty rich until I added headers.
          87 325iC 90 325iC 88 325iC 87 325i 87 325iS 87 325eS

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