e30 Smog

[325IDD]

Hey Guys, need my 89 325i to pass smog. 260k on the motor, runs perfect, just did a full tune up/timing belt/water pump etc.....Now it wont pass smog. Im pretty sure the cat is done for. What are my options?

[reelizmpro]

What are the numbers?

BTW: Bolo Yeung is one of my favorite martial artists.

[325IDD]

The HC was a bit high, and the NOX was over....Everything else was in spec. I will post the numbers when I get back from school. How much are cats? Or should I just find a junk yard one? A local muffler shop said it would cost around $350 for a brand new Cat with labor.....I dont really want to spend that much.

[Smash9002]

If your not too far from passing, go drive the car really hard to get the cat as hot as possible. If you find a cool smog tech they will get the cat really hot for you, with the guy I go to I have never had a car fail!

[urbancynic]

i had a similar problem on mine. i have a magnaflow cat on there from the po. first try, the car wasnt warm enough. sencond try i removed the air filter, ran half a gallon of denatured alcohol, and reved it at 3k for about 10 minutes in my driveway. still failed.

in between the second and third try, i did a timing belt service, adjusted valves, adjusted afm screw (it was leaned all the way), and installed a Mark D chip and drove it on the highway for about an hour before i took it in. Damn thing passed with flying colors!

[e30serg]

Whatever you do, don't remove the air filter. This only causes your bearings to have a shorter life.
How long did you drive before getting the smog done? The cat has to be super hot. Give it a tune-up, including valves. Make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks. It'll lean out your mixture and mess up the exhaust.

[325IDD]

I gave it a full tune up including valve adjustment 3 months ago, the car was pretty hot, drove 40min from San Francisco back to San Rafael. I think the Cat is done for 260k and 20years of its life, also the muffler seems to have a hole in it as well, could this be throwing it off?????

[325IDD]

Update....Went for the new hi-flow Cat.....Car passed way below numbers....A new cat works wonders....But at a cost of $350 bucks! Also the car seems to run a bit faster as well, i think the old stock 260k used Cat was pretty restrictive.

[Super Sedan]

$350 doesn't sound too bad for a new cat and labor.

[325IDD]

It just kills me to spend $350 bucks on something that doesnt make your car faster or handle better..haha

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

It just kills me to spend $350 bucks on something that doesnt make your car faster or handle better..haha

It's an E30, get used to it.

[e30trooper]

hey dude, mine faild too, but just HPP, meas: 1800 max was 1100, a smog tech told me its timing or i need a new cat, anyways dude if ur in LA area , theres a place in the valley that will weld a OBD2 cat for 200, allso someone told me there a guy in LA that will weld one for 80, you should change your o2 sensor, oil, air filter, check your ICV (clean it) ajust your timing and get that cat and you will pass no dout, ohh yea run 91 oct gas and drive the shit out of your car b4 test so that cat is as hot as it can be , good luck

[e30trooper]

haha nvm just seen you did pass, good job still 350 is alot

[87e30]

Shit. I'm not passing. I don't want to buy a cat. :(

[Stephen]

it's an e30, get used to it.

truth.

And mine was 150 installed, not 350