California BAR smog referee woes

[markseven]

Guerc - congrats! I think having documentation / folder on hand helps for sure. They don't care much past the visual stuff, since you'll be taking it elsewhere for emissions anyway :)

White Nightmare - it does not.

I've seen Ref stickers on the door jamb, but they might have been a different type from the one on Guerc's strut tower.

[eandrade]

Excellent. This confirms the phone conversation I had with the BAR about engine change. The real test is the smog check...But hopefully you've found a smog check station that's not as unforgiving on the visual :)

[lifeiskaos]

It needs to be in the engine bay.

LAME! Shoot, where shall I put mine...

[Jean]

Guerc - congrats! I think having documentation / folder on hand helps for sure. They don't care much past the visual stuff, since you'll be taking it elsewhere for emissions anyway :)

White Nightmare - it does not.

[White Nightmare]

I'd have requested it be placed near the VIN sticker in the jam.

It needs to be in the engine bay.

[markseven]

WOOOOOT! Passed smog referee. Took it in to Alameda Smog Ref. Had a nice folder of documentation, including original engine VIN. I don't think you needed it, but it certainly helped him identify the replacement engine. He looked through the smog books, then visually checked a few items. A peek underneath to make sure there was a catalyst, then "uhhhh.... looks good. Wait here, I'll get you a sticker". Like any good government worker, he slapped the smog cert on the shock tower in a piss-poor manner.

Smog Ref spent most of the time looking through requirements on the computer. Since he didn't ask, I forgot to mention the M3 cams. Whoops.

A smog cert isn't required until registration comes due in June.

Congratulations!

Do you have stock exhaust mani's?

[Farbin Kaiber]

I'd have requested it be placed near the VIN sticker in the jam.

[Guerc]

WOOOOOOOT!!!! Passed smog ref.

WOOOOOT! Passed smog referee. Took it in to Alameda Smog Ref. Had a nice folder of documentation, including replacement engine VIN and its smog history. I don't think you needed it, but it certainly helped him identify the replacement engine. He looked through the smog books, then visually checked a few items. He took peek underneath to make sure there was a catalyst, then "uhhhh.... looks good. Wait here, I'll get you a sticker". Like any good government worker, he slapped the smog cert on the shock tower in a piss-poor manner.

Smog Ref spent most of the time looking through requirements on the computer. Since he didn't ask, I forgot to mention the M3 cams. Oops, my bad.

A smog cert isn't required until registration comes due in June.

[surebimmer]

Where is this place!

Livermore, CA

[JoeMadoo]

I went to the BAR and they could have cared less what was on my car. I told them sated motor in my car and they printed a sticker and told me it was up to the smog shop to make sure i had correct components for said motor installed. Said motor was 95 M3 S50.

Where is this place!

[surebimmer]

I went to the BAR and they could have cared less what was on my car. I told them sated motor in my car and they printed a sticker and told me it was up to the smog shop to make sure i had correct components for said motor installed. Said motor was 95 M3 S50.

[blocke]

So if im understanding this whole thread right, the laws have now changed a bit... You go to the BAR, pass a VISUAL inspection, recieve a sticker, and then take it to a test only and do the whole sniffer/dyno test. Now is the BAR visual any less stringent?
In other words, have the laws changed in our favor, and if so how?

[LowR3V'in]

Still have the stock stuff?

[JoeMadoo]

Yes that is what I mean. "Special" meaning illegal after I put the turbo back in

[hugh jass]

So initially when you go to the bar and pass, you never need to go there again. just for the little sticker right?

Lets say i ran my e30 n/a with motronic and passed the visual, could I add the turbo after I get it smogged and then just get special smogs thereafter?

you have to pass the visual every time you get smogged. there aren't 'special smogs'. the referee process is just to get the sticker, you still have to pass visual and tailpipe every 2 years at a regular smog station.