Auto to manual swap - CA smog legal?

[Rusty.Piranha]

Will an e30 that was converted from an auto transmission to 5 speed manual pass CA smog?

Thanks!

[2mAn]

I dont think it matters

[rturbo 930]

I can't see how the transmission choice would effect emissions.

[Rusty.Piranha]

I agree with both of you. I was speaking with someone the other day and they said it wouldn't pass

[2mAn]

I think if you go to the place and say " i swapped the transmission on my car" they will probably freak out, but if you show up and say, " I need a smog" then I ant see it being an issue... It could be if the "wrong" diff is in the car, as they want it in certain gears and RPMs when running it but it would have to be totally off from what should be in there.

[jeffnhiscars]

I think if you go to the place and say " i swapped the transmission on my car" they will probably freak out, but if you show up and say, " I need a smog" then I ant see it being an issue... It could be if the "wrong" diff is in the car, as they want it in certain gears and RPMs when running it but it would have to be totally off from what should be in there.

Most of us don't know what diff comes with which car and I can't see the inspectors going in realoem to see what trans a car left the factory with....spoken from Florida where they don't give a rats ass :)

[laidback93]

Wasn't a problem for my car when I lived in CA. Passed smog no problem.

[2mAn]

Most of us don't know what diff comes with which car and I can't see the inspectors going in realoem to see what trans a car left the factory with....spoken from Florida where they don't give a rats ass :)

Thats not the problem... its that they want to run the 15mph test in 2nd gear, the 25mph test in 3rd and keep it between X-Y rpms and if the wrong diff is in it, it could throw a red flag leading to questions...

[jeffnhiscars]

Thats not the problem... its that they want to run the 15mph test in 2nd gear, the 25mph test in 3rd and keep it between X-Y rpms and if the wrong diff is in it, it could throw a red flag leading to questions...

Gotcha

[abrokenframe]

i swapped mine and passed smog no problem last month.

[MR 325]

You will have no issues.

[decay]

Thats not the problem... its that they want to run the 15mph test in 2nd gear, the 25mph test in 3rd and keep it between X-Y rpms and if the wrong diff is in it, it could throw a red flag leading to questions...

yeah, i hit those "questions" because i went from small-case 4.27 to medium-case 4.10 in the 318ic. the amusing thing was they thought it was supposed to have the 3.73 out of a manual 325i. so yes, gear ratios are in their database, and no, it's not always right. if you keep your auto 4.10 diff you might hit that snag.

my advice is to scratch your head and be like "iuno dood". don't look like a "car enthusiast" (a flat bill cap, a basketball jersey, and a giant vape cloud around you are just as much of a red flag). feign ignorance. deny deny deny.

[reelizmpro]

^ lmao.

[Andre3127]

Most of us don't know what diff comes with which car and I can't see the inspectors going in realoem to see what trans a car left the factory with....spoken from Florida where they don't give a rats ass :)

Use this chart to find out:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Differential

[McGyver]

From my experience, they shouldn't care at all. My 1991 coupe came auto, I swapped it to manual in VA. Then drove it to CA a few years later and registered it. Neither the DMV nor the smog tech cared at all.

As far as smogging it, the process only calls for being withing a few tenths of 15 or 25 mph and in a certain rpm range. The gear really doesn't matter at all. Mine has a 4.10 LSD in it and the tech said it felt fast and asked if I did something to the engine. I just told him it had a 4.10 and he was like, "oh, cool."

If you want a legitimate answer, call the BAR and they will tell you for sure. Otherwise, if a smog tech tries to fail you for a transmission swap (which is not engine or emissions related), ask him to point out where it violates the vehicle code.