Passed the BAR exam!

[P.Kelly]

Wow man, that blows. My ref didn't even look at my ECU. I honestly don't remember where mine came from, I believe it was from an E34 525i

One more reason I'm going to come down your way when I have my swap done.

[eandrade]

Wow man, that blows. My ref didn't even look at my ECU. I honestly don't remember where mine came from, I believe it was from an E34 525i

[P.Kelly]

Ernie, what DME did you use? Was it actually for a 95 M3? I'm hearing that the Referee here in Sacramento wants a verifiable DME and not just any 413 red label will do...

[blackhawkimpact]

Nice. Thanks. Doing some work on the e30 before it goes to get the BAR exam.

[eandrade]

Are those two resonators and 2 cats then muffler, right? Are those stock e36 cats?

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I just noticed your question and I hate leaving stuff unanswered.

1) No. It goes exhaust mani --> X pipe --> dual cats --> dual resonators --> muffler
2) Yes, those are stock e36 (OBD-II) cats.

-Ernie

[blackhawkimpact]

• BAR Referee did not ask for VIN of donor car. He did not look for the VIN sticker at the back of the cylinder head (it's pretty much inaccessible anyways) or the model number on the block.
• I explicitly told him it was a motor from a '95 M3.
• I'll post a photo of my engine bay in a subsequent post.

As for photos of the exhaust, these are the only photos I have:

Muffler by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr


Mid pipe by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr


X-pipe by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr

Are those two resonators and 2 cats then muffler, right? Are those stock e36 cats?

[eandrade]

Actually, I'm positive it's true. My uncle runs a smog shop and I've done my fair share of smogging E30's. They can perform the test and charge you more for it sure but the E30 (and most BMW's) are exempt. I've had to tell the smog techs this as most of them don't know. I've smogged both M3's this year...no evap test. One shop knew it was exempt while the other didn't. The smog techs and computer also show the M3 as having a "check engine" light...which it doesn't. It took a while to get the books changed.

Thanks, that is good to know!! One less thing to worry about for the smog check...

[P.Kelly]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/com...0?ie=UTF8&i=50

California Air Resources Board Exempt: Yes; CARB EO: D-269-28

[reelizmpro]

Actually, not true. During the BAR engine change certification, the referee pressurized the gas tank and squeezed the line on the EVAP can. Also, I remember the smog technician doing this when I had my car (with the old M20) smogged 4 years ago.

Actually, I'm positive it's true. My uncle runs a smog shop and I've done my fair share of smogging E30's. They can perform the test and charge you more for it sure but the E30 (and most BMW's) are exempt. I've had to tell the smog techs this as most of them don't know. I've smogged both M3's this year...no evap test. One shop knew it was exempt while the other didn't. The smog techs and computer also show the M3 as having a "check engine" light...which it doesn't. It took a while to get the books changed.

Me in 2008:
Just came back from my uncle's shop and I asked them if BMW's were except, he searched the computer and found that all E30's (and perhaps most German cars) were exempt from the testing. Something about the charcoal canister not being easily accessible.

Schwartzman:
Yeah it is the EVAP tester, effective Dec 1, 2007 not to be confused with just the cap pressure test... basically it is for pre 1996 cars (1976-1995) with OBD I to test for leaks between the gas tank and carbon canister. The cap test is different but you can fail because of that too... which is stupid. But some cars including our BMW's are exempt so don't worry, I will check tomorrow... due to the placement of the carbon canister and some of the EVAP equipment... more BS to try and get rid of older cars like the roadside sniffers & make more $$$ for the state.

[kalib0y]

congrats. Now you can put long tubes on the bad boy

[eandrade]

E - Was it worth the cost/hassle of relocating the ABS so that you could run the stock air box? I ask because the K&N CARB legal unit is about $215 on Amazon. Mine is a cabrio, so my battery is in the engine bay. I could probably relocate it, but that's just one more thing to deal with.

Honestly, not financially worth it if the K&N option is truly a CARB legal unit. There were two reasons I went with the stock E36 M3 airbox:

1. I was struggling with a high-RPM CEL (MAF code) when I was running a 3.5" MAF + custom cone intake. The theory is that a stock airbox would smooth out the intake airflow and resolve this code. Unfortunately, both switching to the stock airbox & going back to a 3.0" MAF hasn't solved the problem. One of these days I'll get around to finally solving this problem.
2. Running a stock E36 airbox leaves me the option of running the Euro box if I decide to go 3.5" MAF -- but that's turning out to be a very pricey "upgrade"

Is the K&N a warm air setup? That would be my only concern with it. Although I'm guessing the intake honk/growl would be much nicer than with the stock airbox...

[Jean]

OP - thanks for clarifying! I thought for a second you went through with OBD2 engine converted to OBD1 and they were OK with it LOL

[P.Kelly]

E - Was it worth the cost/hassle of relocating the ABS so that you could run the stock air box? I ask because the K&N CARB legal unit is about $215 on Amazon. Mine is a cabrio, so my battery is in the engine bay. I could probably relocate it, but that's just one more thing to deal with.

[el bimmer]

Glad I do not have to go thru this, but glad it passed! When I lived in Newark, NJ it was the same way. I had to go thru the same process, but no more for now.

[eandrade]

As requested...engine bay photos

The car is dirty as f*ck, but she goes like hell and is smog legal!

Overhead shot

Untitled by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr

ABS pump relocated to passenger side firewall

Relocated ABS by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr

Passenger side (you can see the OBD-II exhaust manifolds down there)

Untitled by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr

Stock US E36 M3 airbox w/3.0" MAF

Stock S50 Airbox by BrownGuacamole, on Flickr