RI F**CKING Inspection. Advice please.

[providence]

My car is a 1991 325i with some mods, UMHW engine mounts, P/S delete, lowered (uncorrected camber) but generally running fine-it's my DD.. Trying to get my car inspectable after getting a ticket (summons) for no reg/no inspection. Basically I was driving the car with plates from my van, had been off the road awhile. Got the registration sorted out, got new tires.. court date is this friday the 22nd. Took it to a random shop to see if it would pass (it didn't). My fault on most of this stuff, but I'm out of money and time and this shop gave me the following list (a lot of which seems overboard to me) they said they didnt run it through the computer/put it on the dyno. CEL is not on. Looking for any advice on what to focus on out of this list/how to play it at traffic court. The shop has me convinced they wont let me drive the car home from traffic tribunal if I show them the printout (listed below). Thanks any recommendadtions for a more sympathetic shop please PM me.

here's their list:
post cat exhaust gaskets
major oil leak from head down (major?)
steering knuckle shot and binding (don't know if they knew p/s delete)
front pads and rotors
rear pads and rotors
both lower ball joints
rocker ranel rusted blow pass. rear door (on a coupe!)
heavy smell of exhaust in car
heavy fuel smell in car
brake lining light is on
front seat needs to be secured (no clue)
both rear CV axles click (?)

Well, this list makes me sound like a total hack, but the car isnt that bad has gotten me through this shitty winter no problem. Halp!

[TimKninja]

Take it to uncle Henry's in Tiveton and have him Inspect it .

[providence]

Thanks, will try him

[Colby.325e]

I'm unaware of how CT traffic court operates, but here in Maine if the officer doesn't show, they automatically drop the case. Hope for the best. Also, before the actual trials, they will have the District Attorney try to offer you a lower fine, and act like it's a great deal. Go to trial. I saw tons of people pay fines, when some officers didn't even show. It can be a gamble, though. Once you get to trial, the judge may want to stick it to you, and your offer may not be on the table. Everything worked out for me, hope it works out for you!

(I went to court for having an old inspection, too)

[E30SPDFRK]

That is a puffed up list so you wouldn't bring the car back there. Find some shady looking shop that does inspections and give then $100 on top for them to overlook some stuff.

[providence]

thanks for the advice.. I'll let you guys know how it turns out. Just so sick of these shops and tire places that pull the intimidation shit. One time a tow truck driver argued with me for 5 minutes that my car was front wheel drive.

[SlapDash]

The shop may have been overly anal, and some are just to make some moolah off of you, but to guarantee inspection you could, y'know, actually fix the car so it's not only safe for you -- but the rest of us.

[K20RI_211]

Some of those are rather subjective and seem like baloney; some of them seem like legit safety issues. It'd be worth your time to get a second opinion.

For instance: my fiance just took her truck in for its once-in-a-blue-moon oil change and they recommended replacing the brakes, which, coincidentally, is the one service she has had done recently. In addition, they wanted to charge $189 for a new radiator cap. Bunch of BS.