[335imobbin]

Hi I just bought a non resident 335i and I'm trying to smog to register it in California but the car has an hks blow off valve.
I was told I would not pass smog with it but also I might have a chance. Is this a problem for CA smog and if so is there an easy way to get around it ?
Also does anyone know if the DMV will really inspect the car since its non resident ?
I would like to know as soon as possible so I can register it

[klepikovp]

I wasn't aware that a BOV has any effects on the smog test?

[tank707]

Originally Posted by klepikovp

I wasn't aware that a BOV has any effects on the smog test?

+1.
They just do a obd sensor test which a bov has nothing to do with.

[andydna15]

If it does not have an EO number you will fail the visual automatically.If you can find a shop that is lenient on visual you may get away with it.

[SSW]

Originally Posted by andydna15;*****715

If it does not have an EO number you will fail the visual automatically.If you can find a shop that is lenient on visual you may get away with it.

+1

The 1st thing any smog testing shop does is open the hood and look at the engine.

Anything the shop can SEE that is visually "aftermarket" connected to the engine must have a CARB sticker on it or they won't even hook up your car for testing and, if you don't have or can't get one, the only solution is to take the offending parts off and put the OEM parts back on before going to the shop.

And, if you have a tune, the only way to pass the smog test FOR SURE after they hook you up, is to return the car to stock and drive it enough so that the ECU has gone through the entire FTP (Federal Test Procedure) drive cycle for "emissions readiness" w/o an internally registered emissions "fault" code.

If you fail any of the criteria for the FTP, it will "may" show up as a fault on the shop's test gear and, if it does, the guy in the shop will usually just tell you to take the car for a 100-120 mile drive and come back. However, there are a very specific set of procedures for the FTP in a BMW, which you can find in the following bulletin:

http://www.europeantransmissions.com...0Procedure.pdf

So, if any fault codes remain after your drive, you'll probably have to drive it around again but this time exactly as stated in the bulletin to entirely clear the ECU of any emission faults codes BEFORE you can get your car smog tested and approved.

Good luck!

[BMWM.D.]

man.... there is some bad information getting passed around.

Pretty much anything modified under the hood of a car in California needs a CARB EO number to be smog legal. A BOV like the HKS dumps charge-air pressure into the engine bay. While this is mostly just air, there is dirty oil and vapors (blow-by gasses, etc.) from the crankcase ventilation system that get dumped too. The OEM diverter valves recirculate this stuff for a reason.

Another big misconception is with smog testing and "tunes". If you're going in for a smog check and you have a flash tune, don't remove it. As long as your monitors are set to "ready" status, you're good to go. When you clear codes or flash the DME, your monitors status gets set back to "not ready", and it will take some time to get everything to set properly. This can be a big pain.

FWIW, The OBD equipment used doesn't look for any tuning changes. The smog test places just want to make sure you don't have a 'check engine' light, and that all the required monitors are set. On some model year cars, you're allowed a certain number of monitors to not be set. On my 2007, 1 monitor can be "not ready" and still pass the testing. Later cars may require them all to be set. Not too sure on the details there.

As far as the DMV inspection goes.... I've bought 2 cars from out of state, so I've been there and done that. In addition to the smog test, you need to go and have your VIN number verified at a DMV office. Depending on the age of the car, they also look at the emissions sticker under the hood to make sure the car has a 50-state emissions package. They don't look for mods or anything else. It's just to verify it's the car you say it is and that it's legal for use in CA.

Hope that helps.

[Jeef]

Originally Posted by tank707;*****605

+1.
They just do a obd sensor test which a bov has nothing to do with.

This. they check to see if your o2 sensors are ready.

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by Jeef

This. they check to see if your o2 sensors are ready.

That would not be true. There is a visual inspection that is usually the fist thing done. Unless the smog tech chooses to look the other way, anything modified after the turbo inlets (without a CARB number) results in an automatic failure.

[stanlalee]

By 2014 you'd think people would know by now just because it has no affect on emissions does not make it legal in California. Other than what can be passed off as oem equivalent require CARB testing and approval to be legal. CARB testing cost money so most companies just have a disclaimer such as "for off road use only" or "49 state legal" "not legal in CA" etc. There are some intakes with CARB approval and plenty of pre OBD legal parts but you won't find much of anything short of a drop in filter legal in CA.
That does not mean some dope doing the inspection will notice or even know what they are looking at but I wouldn't count on it as BOV is pretty obvious. Go borrow/buy a used factory charge pipe and place it on for inspection. NY, NJ, CA and anywhere with state run inspection stations are absolutely the worse places to be for modding legally. In VA $16 and any corner shop authorized to do inspection will get her done. If your grossly illegal (no cats etc) for $50-150 there is always somebody who knows somebody that will get you an inspection sticker. CA is double jeopardy with cops snooping around your vehicle and listening for how loud the exhaust is etc...so I've been told

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by stanlalee

By 2014 you'd think people would know by now just because it has no affect on emissions does not make it legal in California. Other than what can be passed off as oem equivalent require CARB testing and approval to be legal. CARB testing cost money so most companies just have a disclaimer such as "for off road use only" or "49 state legal" "not legal in CA" etc. There are some intakes with CARB approval and plenty of pre OBD legal parts but you won't find much of anything short of a drop in filter legal in CA.
That does not mean some dope doing the inspection will notice or even know what they are looking at but I wouldn't count on it as BOV is pretty obvious. Go borrow/buy a used factory charge pipe and place it on for inspection. NY, NJ, CA and anywhere with state run inspection stations are absolutely the worse places to be for modding legally. In VA $16 and any corner shop authorized to do inspection will get her done. If your grossly illegal (no cats etc) for $50-150 there is always somebody who knows somebody that will get you an inspection sticker. CA is double jeopardy with cops snooping around your vehicle and listening for how loud the exhaust is etc...so I've been told

Agreed. In some counties in CA, they even have mobile roadside smog test stations set up from time to time. One of the reasons I try to keep highly visible parts (like a BOV) stock if I can.

I'd have to argue that an aftermarket BOV does increase emissions, at least at some level. Under load/boost, crankcase gasses (that contain combustion byproducts) get sucked into the rear turbo inlet and back into the charge pipe to get consumed by the engine. An aftermarket BOV dumps these vapors to atmosphere. They're not emissions legal for the same reason modern cars don't have road draft tubes anymore and evaporative emissions system monitoring is so tight.

I'm far from a tree-hugger, but many don't understand the lengths the OEMs go to reduce emissions on modern cars. Every little thing helps. California might be a little uptight with their test standards, but we have to play by their rules if we live here.

[335imobbin]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

Agreed. In some counties in CA, they even have mobile roadside smog test stations set up from time to time. One of the reasons I try to keep highly visible parts (like a BOV) stock if I can.

I'd have to argue that an aftermarket BOV does increase emissions, at least at some level. Under load/boost, crankcase gasses (that contain combustion byproducts) get sucked into the rear turbo inlet and back into the charge pipe to get consumed by the engine. An aftermarket BOV dumps these vapors to atmosphere. They're not emissions legal for the same reason modern cars don't have road draft tubes anymore and evaporative emissions system monitoring is so tight.

I'm far from a tree-hugger, but many don't understand the lengths the OEMs go to reduce emissions on modern cars. Every little thing helps. California might be a little uptight with their test standards, but we have to play by their rules if we live here.

BMWmd thanks for the great answers you covered pretty much everything and i can tell you know what your talking about.
As far as smog goes then I will take it to a place I know won't check or care what's under the hood but I'm not quite sure I understand the part about the tuner.
The car came with a tuner as well, but it still has cats. What specifically do I need to do with the tuner ?
And so the DMV will not care about the mods then but aren't all 2007 bmw 335i 50 state smog legal ?
Thanks much for the help

[335imobbin]

Originally Posted by stanlalee

By 2014 you'd think people would know by now just because it has no affect on emissions does not make it legal in California. Other than what can be passed off as oem equivalent require CARB testing and approval to be legal. CARB testing cost money so most companies just have a disclaimer such as "for off road use only" or "49 state legal" "not legal in CA" etc. There are some intakes with CARB approval and plenty of pre OBD legal parts but you won't find much of anything short of a drop in filter legal in CA.
That does not mean some dope doing the inspection will notice or even know what they are looking at but I wouldn't count on it as BOV is pretty obvious. Go borrow/buy a used factory charge pipe and place it on for inspection. NY, NJ, CA and anywhere with state run inspection stations are absolutely the worse places to be for modding legally. In VA $16 and any corner shop authorized to do inspection will get her done. If your grossly illegal (no cats etc) for $50-150 there is always somebody who knows somebody that will get you an inspection sticker. CA is double jeopardy with cops snooping around your vehicle and listening for how loud the exhaust is etc...so I've been told

Thanks for the helpful response

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by 335imobbin

BMWmd thanks for the great answers you covered pretty much everything and i can tell you know what your talking about.
As far as smog goes then I will take it to a place I know won't check or care what's under the hood but I'm not quite sure I understand the part about the tuner.
The car came with a tuner as well, but it still has cats. What specifically do I need to do with the tuner ?
And so the DMV will not care about the mods then but aren't all 2007 bmw 335i 50 state smog legal ?
Thanks much for the help

No problem. I just don't like seeing incorrect information being passed on to others.

I'm sure your car is 50 state legal, but the DMV still needs to verify it. It isn't a big deal. I had to do it when I brought my ~1 year old C6 into the state, and also when I bought my brand new Grand Sport from a dealer in New Hampshire. If you're a AAA member, they can do this at their office.

All I was saying about the tune is that you don't want or need to do anything. I see so many guys re-flashing their cars to stock before trying to pass smog, and it screws them because doing so resets all the "emission monitors". These are part of the OBD system that makes sure the emission control systems on the car are working properly. These monitors are required by law, and can sometimes take quite a bit of driving to get them all to pass their self-tests. You're better off leaving the tune alone. Don't clear codes or anything else, either. That resets the monitors as well.

All I would do is plug a basic scan tool into the car and check your monitor status. As long as all applicable monitors are set to "ready", then you're good to go in for a smog check. These monitors would be "catalyst", "evap", "heated 02", etc.

Hope that helps

[335imobbin]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

No problem. I just don't like seeing incorrect information being passed on to others.

I'm sure your car is 50 state legal, but the DMV still needs to verify it. It isn't a big deal. I had to do it when I brought my ~1 year old C6 into the state, and also when I bought my brand new Grand Sport from a dealer in New Hampshire. If you're a AAA member, they can do this at their office.

All I was saying about the tune is that you don't want or need to do anything. I see so many guys re-flashing their cars to stock before trying to pass smog, and it screws them because doing so resets all the "emission monitors". These are part of the OBD system that makes sure the emission control systems on the car are working properly. These monitors are required by law, and can sometimes take quite a bit of driving to get them all to pass their self-tests. You're better off leaving the tune alone. Don't clear codes or anything else, either. That resets the monitors as well.

All I would do is plug a basic scan tool into the car and check your monitor status. As long as all applicable monitors are set to "ready", then you're good to go in for a smog check. These monitors would be "catalyst", "evap", "heated 02", etc.

Hope that helps

So basically I should be fine. Going to get it smogged today thanks again

[SSW]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

You're better off leaving the tune alone. Don't clear codes or anything else, either. That resets the monitors as well.

All I would do is plug a basic scan tool into the car and check your monitor status. As long as all applicable monitors are set to "ready", then you're good to go in for a smog check. These monitors would be "catalyst", "evap", "heated 02", etc.

I don't recall ever being able to check the status of any the emissions monitors on any OBD reader that I've used before. Just used them to read and deleted any CELs that came up.

Can you check the monitor status w/the Cobb V3 and, if not, which specific scan tools do you recommend for this?

[techwhiz]

My OBD reader checks the readiness.
I have a BT dongle and Torque.
You are allowed one "not ready". The gas cap can be in the "not ready" state and you can still pass.

I just did this on my other car.

[335imobbin]

Ok I went today and my car read not ready so I cruised town for like 30 miles and mobbed highway for around 20 miles and I still wasnt ready so I'm going to drive thru the bmw cycle and try again tommorow.

The weird part is I didn't do anything which would cause it to reset so we will see

[BMWM.D.]

Originally Posted by swingshiftworker

I don't recall ever being able to check the status of any the emissions monitors on any OBD reader that I've used before. Just used them to read and deleted any CELs that came up.

Can you check the monitor status w/the Cobb V3 and, if not, which specific scan tools do you recommend for this?

Not all generic scan tools can do it. I have a little Matco OBD tool that cost less than $100 and can read readiness monitor status and also gives pretty good fault code descriptions for most things. I mostly use it to check monitor status, as I have access to much better diagnosis tools.

Originally Posted by 335imobbin

Ok I went today and my car read not ready so I cruised town for like 30 miles and mobbed highway for around 20 miles and I still wasnt ready so I'm going to drive thru the bmw cycle and try again tommorow.

The weird part is I didn't do anything which would cause it to reset so we will see

Do you know which monitor/s was not ready? How long have you owned the car and how many miles have you driven it all together? There are certain drive cycle parameters that need to be met for certain monitors to set. Sometimes getting them to set it a situation like this can be a bitch.

Also, what tune do you have on the car?

[335imobbin]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

Not all generic scan tools can do it. I have a little Matco OBD tool that cost less than $100 and can read readiness monitor status and also gives pretty good fault code descriptions for most things. I mostly use it to check monitor status, as I have access to much better diagnosis tools.

Do you know which monitor/s was not ready? How long have you owned the car and how many miles have you driven it all together? There are certain drive cycle parameters that need to be met for certain monitors to set. Sometimes getting them to set it a situation like this can be a bitch.

Also, what tune do you have on the car?

Well I know that it was at the dealer before I got it so they probably reset it but I have driven the car over 300 miles in the few days I've had it but not the way the bmw drive cycle for FTP reset describes. So I'm going to try that today and if it's still not ready i will ask for a printout and take it to a mechanic. I am running vishnu procede tune btw I think v3

[335imobbin]

Btw I am going to do the drive cycle on MAP 0 valet mode hopefully that helps

[WhatDoIPutHere]

don't mean to bump such an old post, but do referee smog check for aftermarket inlets? I have some VTT inlets and there is only one small logo, but I will cover that up with tape or marker. Would wrapping it with heat wrap be a better option?

[IllSic_Design]

Originally Posted by WhatDoIPutHere

don't mean to bump such an old post, but do referee smog check for aftermarket inlets? I have some VTT inlets and there is only one small logo, but I will cover that up with tape or marker. Would wrapping it with heat wrap be a better option?

If they are stock location inlets I highly doubt they will look for or even notice aftermarket inlets(and yes I have dealt with smog refs before), especially if you cover the logo. I have inlets and unless you knew what the stock ones looked like and that they were plastic and not silicone, you would never know they are aftermarket.