To Californians. Catyletic Converters...

[bmwstephen]

how would they know it wasn't the original CAT?

well lets say if I replaced my CAT with a used one before this test. I would've gotten away with it and be stuck in this mess

however, I didn't know my CAT would fail all of a sudden because my car passed smog two years ago. Because I found out the cat failed during the test, they flagged it and marked it on the spot. Now if I retest with a replacement CAT it will have to be a CA approved one.

[bmwstephen]

You should have spent the $20 on a pre inspection.

registration was coming up and I've been procrastinating. now I learned the hard way.

I mean I can easily resolve the issue by tacking on a universal cat but they usually don't turn out very pretty or last very long

[nando]

no as long as you replaced the CAT before 2009. you are good. Cars with their original CATS are an exception.

If you buy the factory CAT brand new it is only 49 states emission legal as of 2009. NAZIfornia did it again...

how would they know it wasn't the original CAT?

[einstein57]

You should have spent the $20 on a pre inspection.

[Thizzelle]

wtf, god damn hippies

[bmwstephen]

how is the factory CAT now illegal in CA? does that mean all the existing cars are illegal too?

no as long as you replaced the CAT before 2009. you are good. Cars with their original CATS are an exception.

If you buy the factory CAT brand new it is only 49 states emission legal as of 2009. NAZIfornia did it again...

[bmwstephen]

say what ? marked your cat ?what smog guys? at the test station ??

yah the new gold shield testing procedures are ridiculous. My Catalytic converter has been flagged for failure and any attempt to replace it with a used one or a non-CA approved version is prohibited.

[nando]

how is the factory CAT now illegal in CA? does that mean all the existing cars are illegal too?

[36brua]

impossible for me now. Smog guys marked my CAT and reported it. Can only get approved aftermarket ones now. Not even BMW OEM because they do not comply with California standards

say what ? marked your cat ?what smog guys? at the test station ??

[bmwstephen]

I have taken an exhaust off one car and put on another so it can pass LOL

impossible for me now. Smog guys marked my CAT and reported it. Can only get approved aftermarket ones now. Not even BMW OEM because they do not comply with California standards

[36brua]

tried them. they do not have any legal direct fits for CA anymore.

dang ! ya the exhaust shop did have to do some cut/ weld . mine were for s5x swap to 89I. required 2 cats. GL

[Thizzelle]

I have taken an exhaust off one car and put on another so it can pass LOL

[bmwstephen]

Check into Walker cats. http://www.walkerexhaust.com/ CALIF direct replacements. in/out has to match stk . I used these on my swap. GL
.

tried them. they do not have any legal direct fits for CA anymore.

[36brua]

bump thread revival!

anyone ever tried the magnaflow direct fit versions instead of the universale ones?

for us californians, aftermarket is the only way to go because they don't even allow brand new OEM ones in your car anymore. DEC brand has crappy fitment despite claims of it being a direct fit.

Check into Walker cats. http://www.walkerexhaust.com/ CALIF direct replacements. in/out has to match stk . I used these on my swap. GL
.

[Cabriolet]

yeah, a friend just installed a "direct fit" one. It's a 2-into-1 design, which is wrong, and it still requires a bunch of welding and generally isn't great.

I got a magnaflow dual in/out universal (for an e34) and passed just fine.

my friend just did this to my extra exhaust system. 1x2" in and 2x1.5" out. ruined the look of the system. so had to buy another. it works in a pinch tho.