How to go about modding a 335 in SoCal?

BOOSTjunky · 01-26-2009, 10:45 PM

Hey guys, just looking for some perspective here. I've lived in Florida all my life and have never had to deal with emissions. But I'm out here in California for a year doing rotations at Loma Linda medical center, and it looks like I'm going to be staying out here and working when I get done in May. I'll probably be at UCLA or maybe Hoag in Newport. I have a highly modded MR-S that has an elise motor and turbo back in florida, i know that will never fly out here in Cali, so im in the process of getting rid of it, and want to pick up an E92 335i or xi, and I want to mod it, but want to know how much I can do before the cops start messing with me..... Like will they pull you over if you just have an exhaust? realistically, i would want to upgrade the intercooler, run a PROcede, probably w/ meth injection and do a full catless exhaust system with possibly one of these stealthy turbo upgrades that is going to gut the factory turbos and put in garrett cartridges. End goal getting up to about 450-500 to the wheels on pump gas all said and done. do you guys see me having any trouble visual wise running around on the streets? I know I wont pass that sniffer, but i would swap the exhaust back when it was time for that. Thanks -Nick

NinetyEight740 · 01-26-2009, 10:53 PM

any modification to the exhaust system can cause you to fail smog... as long as everything looks legit, u should be ok tho...

Gumulri · 01-26-2009, 10:53 PM

welcome!

SfValley335i · 01-26-2009, 11:02 PM

Start off buying my Helix IC for your future 335i. As in FL, socal gets really hot. IC will help greatly.

As for cops... theres good and bad. Some will just pull you over because they have nothing else to do while others wont care. I recently got a ticket & plate ticket at 6am... If you get a new car you're free from smogs/inspections for 3 years. Exhaust really wont get a cop on you, just look out for cops, majority usually have a sweet spot where they hide and bust people. Once you figure out these locations its a breeze.

Theres even cops amongst us on this forum, some even nice enough to write off tickets.

BOOSTjunky · 01-26-2009, 11:08 PM

Thanks for your help guys, yeah, I know a lot of the stuff I want to do will cause it to fail emissions, but am willing to switch the parts back when i have to go in every couple of years to get smogged, I'm more worried about those in between periods when i'm running around modded on the streets, am I going to be getting messed with, and pulled over by the cops? that's what i'm really trying to avoid....

BOOSTjunky · 01-26-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfValley335i

Start off buying my Helix IC for your future 335i. As in FL, socal gets really hot. IC will help greatly.

As for cops... theres good and bad. Some will just pull you over because they have nothing else to do while others wont care. I recently got a ticket & plate ticket at 6am... If you get a new car you're free from smogs/inspections for 3 years. Exhaust really wont get a cop on you, just look out for cops, majority usually have a sweet spot where they hide and bust people. Once you figure out these locations its a breeze.

Theres even cops amongst us on this forum, some even nice enough to write off tickets.

Thank you, good info. I want to do some cosmetic mods too, probably rims, lowered, with some different aero parts, do you think the flags will start to go up then? Also, was the ticket you got for mods? or some sort of moving violation?

aut0sh0cker · 01-26-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOSTjunky

Thank you, good info. I want to do some cosmetic mods too, probably rims, lowered, with some different aero parts, do you think the flags will start to go up then? Also, was the ticket you got for mods? or some sort of moving violation?

ARE YOU KIDDING?? In socal a modded bimmer or merc is about as common as a camry....

Just be nice and respectful to cops (if you get pulled) and dont tint tooooo dark and you shouldnt have any problems!

Happy modding!

BOOSTjunky · 01-26-2009, 11:37 PM

cool, so there's no horror stories floating around of people going through hell and back over emissions w/ the 335 out here? just trying to be careful and do my homework to know what I'm getting myself into here

BTW thanks for all the replies! It's a pretty surprisingly large response in a short period of time for a regional forum, I guess there are a lot of you guys out here in Cali huh?

wj4 · 01-26-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinetyEight740

any modification to the exhaust system can cause you to fail smog... as long as everything looks legit, u should be ok tho...

Catback systems are legal, as long as it's below the legal limit of 92 dB (I think that's the number, I forget). The reason one fails smog is because the removal of cat(s) for straight pipe or hi flow cat(s).

SfValley335i · 01-27-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOSTjunky

Thank you, good info. I want to do some cosmetic mods too, probably rims, lowered, with some different aero parts, do you think the flags will start to go up then? Also, was the ticket you got for mods? or some sort of moving violation?

Cops dont usually bug modded cars that are a little pricy compared to hondas etc.

If you go rolling around on a loud ass exhaust, slammed with a bodykit 2 inches off the street with a bunch of stupid decals, yes expect to get pulled over more frequently.

SoCal is no different from other cities/states, as I said theres good and bad cops everywhere. When I recently got pulled over by the CHP, I was complete catless and my car smelled like shit. Luckly the cop either had a stuffy nose or didnt care to look under my car.

Once you're in socal you'll see everyone and there moms with modded cars. Nothing special here.

evoi19 · 01-27-2009, 01:20 AM

considering the 335i is still a relatively new car still, no one has gone through emissions since new cars don't require smog for the first 4 years. Or is it 6? It's one of those.

dvpouldar26 · 01-27-2009, 01:28 AM

It matters on the office and other factors (other mods to the car, your driving, speed, etc.). I have a friend in LA who has a 1000whp Ford GT that is completely catless and mufflerless. Straight pipes all the way back and he only runs it on 100 octane. He has had no problems. I also have a friend with a 600awhp STi that is catless and he has had no problems. I also know people who have pretty quiet exhausts (in comparison to the other cars) with just new mufflers who have had problems because of the noise. Sam12345 is running catless with a muffler delete, and i dont think he ha had any problems with emissions.

Izzman7995 · 01-27-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew@Karbonwerke

considering the 335i is still a relatively new car still, no one has gone through emissions since new cars don't require smog for the first 4 years. Or is it 6? It's one of those.

hehe it's 5

Izzman7995 · 01-27-2009, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SfValley335i

Start off buying my Helix IC for your future 335i. As in FL, socal gets really hot. IC will help greatly.

As for cops... theres good and bad. Some will just pull you over because they have nothing else to do while others wont care. I recently got a ticket & plate ticket at 6am... If you get a new car you're free from smogs/inspections for 3 years. Exhaust really wont get a cop on you, just look out for cops, majority usually have a sweet spot where they hide and bust people. Once you figure out these locations its a breeze.

Theres even cops amongst us on this forum, some even nice enough to write off tickets.

PM a price for ur helix fmic/pic of your actual IC

mike-y · 01-27-2009, 12:09 PM

As long as you keep it tasteful, and aren't stupid loud, and don't drive like a douche-bag, you'll be fine. I lived in south florida until 1996, and then moved to SoCal, where I started modding the car. My integra had intake, exhaust, throttle body, adjustable cam gears, header, ported/polished cylinder head, R cams, hi-flow cat, and a tune, and it still passed smog just fine (100% legit). I just had to make sure the parts that were visible had CARB EO tags on them (so for me, it was only the intake and header). I had that car for 12+ years here, and the only time I got rolled in it (other than once or twice for speeding) was for a stupid loud exhaust I had for about a week, and no front license plate (which was off the car for about 4 years before I got popped). Each one was a $10 or $15 fix-it ticket.

I know plenty of people with swapped engines and modifications that aren't even close to being legal, and they get through the system just fine. Put it this way, there are a lot of modified cars in california, and there are ways people get them through the smog check. You'll be fine.

E92-Lighting · 01-27-2009, 12:32 PM

guanranteed with lighting accessories, you wont get pulled over

BOOSTjunky · 01-27-2009, 03:58 PM

Do you guys think I would be better off leaving my cars registered in FL and just driving them out here? or will an out of state tag bring more negative attention?

E90SLAM · 01-27-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOSTjunky

Do you guys think I would be better off leaving my cars registered in FL and just driving them out here? or will an out of state tag bring more negative attention?

If you still have registered resident address in FL...i don't see the reason why not....its not illegal...

OH FO SHO · 01-28-2009, 04:07 AM

there are smog shops that can can get your car to pass smog for around $100 ... esp. in san bernardino

your only problem will be fix it tickets

Duke · 01-28-2009, 11:52 AM

I would weigh your chances of being pulled over more on the area youre in. if youre gonna be in ucla/newport, a sweet ass modded 335 will not stick out at all and you should be straight, but if you catch yourself in a not so hot area you should beware of dick head po po. ive been pulled over twice for absolutely no reason what so ever, and I cant blame it on my age/race/appearance since my windows are tinted, plus my rear window is limo too so i know he didnt pull me over for what i looked like. anyways just like everyone said you should be fine everyone has shit done to there cars in socal lol even the ice cream trucks and mini vans

BOOSTjunky · 01-28-2009, 04:04 PM

cool, thanks for your help guys. Yeah my buddy up in Sac was telling me it's all about the area your in. Hopefully I'll land in a good spot. I'm so pumped to get a 335 seeing all this cool stuff coming out, Vishnu just put down like 425 to the wheels w/ bolt-ons, meth and a tune. That sounds fun as hell...

01-26-2009, 10:45 PM	#1
BOOSTjunky Enlisted Member 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: shopping for a 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	How to go about modding a 335 in SoCal? Hey guys, just looking for some perspective here. I've lived in Florida all my life and have never had to deal with emissions. But I'm out here in California for a year doing rotations at Loma Linda medical center, and it looks like I'm going to be staying out here and working when I get done in May. I'll probably be at UCLA or maybe Hoag in Newport. I have a highly modded MR-S that has an elise motor and turbo back in florida, i know that will never fly out here in Cali, so im in the process of getting rid of it, and want to pick up an E92 335i or xi, and I want to mod it, but want to know how much I can do before the cops start messing with me..... Like will they pull you over if you just have an exhaust? realistically, i would want to upgrade the intercooler, run a PROcede, probably w/ meth injection and do a full catless exhaust system with possibly one of these stealthy turbo upgrades that is going to gut the factory turbos and put in garrett cartridges. End goal getting up to about 450-500 to the wheels on pump gas all said and done. do you guys see me having any trouble visual wise running around on the streets? I know I wont pass that sniffer, but i would swap the exhaust back when it was time for that. Thanks -Nick Last edited by BOOSTjunky; 01-26-2009 at 11:19 PM.. Reason: spelling error
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01-26-2009, 10:53 PM	#2
NinetyEight740 Major General 235 Rep 5,691 Posts Drives: 2 - 2013 535i msport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County California iTrader: (2) Garage List 2010 E91 [0.00]	any modification to the exhaust system can cause you to fail smog... as long as everything looks legit, u should be ok tho...
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01-26-2009, 10:53 PM	#3
Gumulri Captain 23 Rep 730 Posts Drives: BMW 335i convertible[sold] Join Date: May 2008 Location: La Mirada iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [0.00]	welcome! __________________ 08 E90 SSII M3 6MT for track 2015 Lexus RX350 Fsport for wife 2012 Honda Oddessey Touring for kids 2014 toyota Fj cruiser 4x4 for me
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01-26-2009, 11:02 PM	#4
SfValley335i Colonel 167 Rep 2,409 Posts Drives: Current:135i Sold:335i sedan Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: City of Angels iTrader: (8)	Start off buying my Helix IC for your future 335i. As in FL, socal gets really hot. IC will help greatly. As for cops... theres good and bad. Some will just pull you over because they have nothing else to do while others wont care. I recently got a ticket & plate ticket at 6am... If you get a new car you're free from smogs/inspections for 3 years. Exhaust really wont get a cop on you, just look out for cops, majority usually have a sweet spot where they hide and bust people. Once you figure out these locations its a breeze. Theres even cops amongst us on this forum, some even nice enough to write off tickets.
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01-26-2009, 11:08 PM	#5
BOOSTjunky Enlisted Member 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: shopping for a 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Thanks for your help guys, yeah, I know a lot of the stuff I want to do will cause it to fail emissions, but am willing to switch the parts back when i have to go in every couple of years to get smogged, I'm more worried about those in between periods when i'm running around modded on the streets, am I going to be getting messed with, and pulled over by the cops? that's what i'm really trying to avoid....
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01-26-2009, 11:37 PM	#8
BOOSTjunky Enlisted Member 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: shopping for a 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	cool, so there's no horror stories floating around of people going through hell and back over emissions w/ the 335 out here? just trying to be careful and do my homework to know what I'm getting myself into here BTW thanks for all the replies! It's a pretty surprisingly large response in a short period of time for a regional forum, I guess there are a lot of you guys out here in Cali huh?
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01-27-2009, 01:20 AM	#11
evoi19 Lieutenant General 1708 Rep 17,450 Posts Drives: 2022 G80C Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (18)	considering the 335i is still a relatively new car still, no one has gone through emissions since new cars don't require smog for the first 4 years. Or is it 6? It's one of those.
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01-27-2009, 01:28 AM	#12
dvpouldar26 Major 65 Rep 1,498 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 328i, Porsche 987.1 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (4)	It matters on the office and other factors (other mods to the car, your driving, speed, etc.). I have a friend in LA who has a 1000whp Ford GT that is completely catless and mufflerless. Straight pipes all the way back and he only runs it on 100 octane. He has had no problems. I also have a friend with a 600awhp STi that is catless and he has had no problems. I also know people who have pretty quiet exhausts (in comparison to the other cars) with just new mufflers who have had problems because of the noise. Sam12345 is running catless with a muffler delete, and i dont think he ha had any problems with emissions.
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01-27-2009, 12:09 PM	#15
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	As long as you keep it tasteful, and aren't stupid loud, and don't drive like a douche-bag, you'll be fine. I lived in south florida until 1996, and then moved to SoCal, where I started modding the car. My integra had intake, exhaust, throttle body, adjustable cam gears, header, ported/polished cylinder head, R cams, hi-flow cat, and a tune, and it still passed smog just fine (100% legit). I just had to make sure the parts that were visible had CARB EO tags on them (so for me, it was only the intake and header). I had that car for 12+ years here, and the only time I got rolled in it (other than once or twice for speeding) was for a stupid loud exhaust I had for about a week, and no front license plate (which was off the car for about 4 years before I got popped). Each one was a $10 or $15 fix-it ticket. I know plenty of people with swapped engines and modifications that aren't even close to being legal, and they get through the system just fine. Put it this way, there are a lot of modified cars in california, and there are ways people get them through the smog check. You'll be fine.
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01-27-2009, 12:32 PM	#16
E92-Lighting 877 Rep 35,253 Posts Drives: Next Generation LED Lighting Join Date: May 2008 Location: Walnut iTrader: (324)	guanranteed with lighting accessories, you wont get pulled over
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01-27-2009, 03:58 PM	#17
BOOSTjunky Enlisted Member 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: shopping for a 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Do you guys think I would be better off leaving my cars registered in FL and just driving them out here? or will an out of state tag bring more negative attention?
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01-28-2009, 04:07 AM	#19
OH FO SHO Captain 16 Rep 615 Posts Drives: z4 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: california iTrader: (0)	there are smog shops that can can get your car to pass smog for around $100 ... esp. in san bernardino your only problem will be fix it tickets __________________ '03 3.0i z4: tiag ext., red int., SMG, sport, premium HAMANN exhaust l HAMANN front lip l 19" Miro type 366 (HAMANN edition race replicas) l RPI air scoop l KW v2 coilovers *-MY PICTURE THREAD-*
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01-28-2009, 11:52 AM	#20
Duke Lieutenant 16 Rep 510 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Hills next to CHINO iTrader: (1)	I would weigh your chances of being pulled over more on the area youre in. if youre gonna be in ucla/newport, a sweet ass modded 335 will not stick out at all and you should be straight, but if you catch yourself in a not so hot area you should beware of dick head po po. ive been pulled over twice for absolutely no reason what so ever, and I cant blame it on my age/race/appearance since my windows are tinted, plus my rear window is limo too so i know he didnt pull me over for what i looked like. anyways just like everyone said you should be fine everyone has shit done to there cars in socal lol even the ice cream trucks and mini vans
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01-28-2009, 04:04 PM	#21
BOOSTjunky Enlisted Member 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: shopping for a 135i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	cool, thanks for your help guys. Yeah my buddy up in Sac was telling me it's all about the area your in. Hopefully I'll land in a good spot. I'm so pumped to get a 335 seeing all this cool stuff coming out, Vishnu just put down like 425 to the wheels w/ bolt-ons, meth and a tune. That sounds fun as hell...
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