Help! Need to pass Smog Test

[clayparkley]

I just got '92 325ic from out of state and trying to register.
I failed the smog test and don't know how to go from here.
First shop I've went to is telling me it's probably a carbon build up and he said it'd cost arond $400 to start with but can't guarantee it would solve the problem. I'm on real tight budget and want to know if there's something I could do my self to pass the test.
Here's the numbers to the test.

%CO2 %O2 HC (PPM) CO (%) NO (PPM)
TEST RPM MEAS MEAS MAX AVE MEAS MAX AVE MEAS MAX AVE MEAS
15mph 1964 14.7 0.2 114 31 102 0.73 0.10 0.31 785 237 934
25mph 1934 14.7 0.1 88 20 91 0.61 0.09 0.30 724 199 840

I'm double posting this to the general forum as well. I hope no one minds.

[Robert]

was the car cold when it was tested?

[JBird]

My car didn't pass smog last month. We changed the O2 sensor, changed the oil, changed the spark plugs and it still didn't pass. I need a new exhaust and cat but don't have the money right now. So we took it to a local shop and told them that it's not passing smog and that we needed a cheap fix. So the shop drilled two holes in the catalytic converter which allowed just enough fresh air to pass through making it pass smog. Then after it passed emissions, they welded the holes back up. They only charged me $80 bucks. This gives me more time to save up enough money for a whole new exhaust.

Cheap Solution: Drill holes in catalytic converter - pass smog - weld them back shut.