E30 Smog Check Help - Visual Inspection Wont Pass

[neocorp]

I live in SoCal and i need your help.

My car will not pass smog "visually". It passes smog otherwise, but visually it has non carb parts.

Can anyone advise me of a shop that will help out if I help them out ;)

In urgent need, please PM!

[charlescho]

with 9 posts, that is some risky business.

which part of southern california are you in

[Jon325i]

I live in SoCal and i need your help.

My car will not pass smog "visually". It passes smog otherwise, but visually it has non carb parts.

Can anyone advise me of a shop that will help out if I help them out ;)

In urgent need, please PM!

I'm in NorCal so I can't help you there. A friend of mine knew of a local smog shop here that would 'turn a blind eye' to non-OEM stuff even if the car passed. Sadly, the authorities busted him a few years ago.

If making the changes to the stock items isn't too much work, just change it out....get the smog done.....then put it back.


Jon

[squidmaster]

I don't have to deal with smog in FL, so I'm just curious as to what constitutes failing a visual inspection? Aftermarket intake? Aftermarket looking exhaust?

[Vivek]

I don't have to deal with smog in FL, so I'm just curious as to what constitutes failing a visual inspection? Aftermarket intake? Aftermarket looking exhaust?

Pretty sure exhaust (muffler) is fine but anything before the cats needs to be stock. Headers, intake, any turbo that should't be there, etc. OP: why is your car failing visual? Not to not trust you…but as the first guy said with 9 posts I wouldn't risk giving you any smog shop information to be honest (not that I personally know of any).

[MR 325]

What's done to the car?

[Thizzelle]

muffler upgrade is fine. but op need to clarify what is different and take pics of engine bay. did you have a gas cap?

[Dj Buttchug]

take off the ghetto hot air intake cone filter and put the stock airbox back in op

[rommaster2]

I don't believe a cone filter will fail visual since our cars do not have heated intakes. Now if the emissions systems are not intact or it has an aftermarket intake manifold or exhaust manifold there isn't much u can do other then change it out.

[neocorp]

The car has headers, catback exhaust and a cone filter.

I dont have the parts! i bought the car 4 years ago like this

[neocorp]

im just a normal guy, not a narc or anything. please help, i'd really like to serel the car as im in dire need of cash

[Jon325i]

The car has headers, catback exhaust and a cone filter.

I dont have the parts! i bought the car 4 years ago like this

California requires smog tests every 2 years. If you've had this car for 4 years (with said headers since you bought it), how did you get it to pass visual inspection of the smog test in 2012?

Edit: maybe this applied to you a couple years ago? http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...85&postcount=3

Jon

[blazinxpk]

my vote is NARC.

[einhander]

I have the name of a shop, but it'd be easier to fix your car than it would be to help you break the law.

Put the stock shit back - you don't need 4 horsepower that badly.

[rommaster2]

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/ftp/pdfdocs/APPENDIX%20G%20final%2012-2009.pdf

According to this BAR guide your cone filter should be smog legal assuming that it still has all the emissions equipment and sensors provisioned for. From there you only have to change your exhaust header back to normal assuming you have a california legal catalytic converter.

The catback does not require an exemption number as well, only items from the engine to the cat require that.

Go to a junkyard and grab some exhaust manifolds so you can smog your car. Even if you have to buy a new cat it will cost you the same in the long run as a dirty smog would and then you can legitimately smog your car and it will run clean.