e30 m50 swap - emmissions testing

[Jean]

I was searching for cats today and saw a bunch of '49-state' units and some that were 'CARB Approved'. I think CA still has more stringent (and getting more so every day) emission control parameters than any other state.

Is there a certain model from MagnaFlow that all y'all like for an OBDI S52? This one is $154

CA changed CAT laws this year, you have to buy specific cat to match the year/model/make of the car unless you buy an oem cat.

[416stroker]

are you sure its not only for obdII cars? my cats 50state for obdI no II but i got it last year

They say they cant sell it to CA now.Sorry jean your right.

I was also looking they want me to buy two cats now wtf

[markseven]

CA changed CAT laws this year, you have to buy specific cat to match the year/model/make of the car unless you buy an oem cat.

Crap! The one I linked to... no bueno?

[lifeiskaos]

do a little bit of research on the part number in that auction. i'm pretty sure oem s50 cats are dual in/dual out... and BAR inspections want it set up the exact same way. honestly i think that listing is just an overpriced universal (not legal in CA) advertised as an s50 specific cat

[dougsic]

In Maryland, my s50 with hodge podge e36 m3 to e30 325i cobbled exhaust passed with ease a few years ago.

Installed Schricks, 3.5 MAF, injectors and Turner chip, custom exhaust with expensive cats - failed so bad they aborted the test.

When my tags come up for renewal in two months, I'm in deep doo.

[markseven]

do a little bit of research on the part number in that auction. i'm pretty sure oem s50 cats are dual in/dual out... and BAR inspections want it set up the exact same way. honestly i think that listing is just an overpriced universal (not legal in CA) advertised as an s50 specific cat

The description says "COMPLIANT WITH CALIFORNIA'S NEW EMISSIONS REGULATIONS THAT STARTED JANUARY 1, 2009". It also lists a bunch of other cars this cat works with, so I think they are selling it as a universal.

Maybe $154 shipped is too good to be true?

[416stroker]

do a little bit of research on the part number in that auction. i'm pretty sure oem s50 cats are dual in/dual out... and BAR inspections want it set up the exact same way. honestly i think that listing is just an overpriced universal (not legal in CA) advertised as an s50 specific cat

all I know walkers website wants you to buy two for any of the six cylinders. because of the factory dual in.

[markseven]

all I know walkers website wants you to buy two for any of the six cylinders. because of the factory dual in.

Does California mandate OE cats, or cats that meet standards? Also, does CA mandate stock exhaust configurations (ie, you can't mod your exhaust pipes)?

[g22]

Failed Emissions

So I got the car done. It's an '89 325i with a single vanos M50.

I replaced the o2 sensor and plugs amoung a bunch of other stuff unrelated to emissions. I ran the car for around 20 minutes and brought it to the test station in Atlanta. It failed.

Can someone intrepret the results? What do I need to do? Anyone use the snake oils at the autozone that gurantee to pass?

Thanks

The test results are below.

25/25 test Test Allowed Result

HC ppm 151 144 Fail
CO % 0.25 0.92 Pass
NOx ppm 2009 1014 Fail

50/15 test Test Allowed Result

HC ppm 76 148 Pass
CO % 0.10 0.83 Pass
NOx ppm 1495 1110 Fail

[namsayin]

i'm having my car reregistered at our property where the county doesnt require emissions, super beneficial since i have a 91' :)

[g22]

Glad to hear that. Any thoughts on the test fail?