failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
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mikey

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« on: September 22, 2007, 06:53:03 PM »
:rolleyes:

I got my 318is smogged today, and it passed emissions with flying colors, far below the average values. HOWEVER, it failed visual because of the "modified" exhaust headers. The smog tech claimed that the plugged ports in each tube (which is how the manifold comes from the factory) may have been for air injection (?), and because there was no CARB sticker on the manifold, it might not be factory and thus fails visual inspection. He called his friends, who told him that they have never seen a header on a "beemer" before. Although I reassured him that my profession is to sell parts for the dealership, I was given a fail overall.

Now I allegedly have to go the the DMV and get a CARB approval sticker for my "modified" OEM headers. Is there anything that I can do to save the headache of going in person to the DMV to argue that my exhaust manifold is indeed OEM? Emissions are not a problem; the car passed with lower values the tech has seen in a long time.

I hate dealing with the DMV, especially when it comes to smog BS.
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ak96ss

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2007, 07:04:36 PM »
Show them the page from the ETK that shows the exhaust manifold AND the plugs to fill the holes as original equipment.
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

Stück

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2007, 07:15:21 PM »

BMW part # 11 62 1 728 370
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Stück

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2007, 07:18:00 PM »
Dated BMW cross section drawing.
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D. Clay

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #4 on: September 23, 2007, 12:26:41 AM »
Any idea what they may have been used for? Only thing that comes to mind is temp sensors or air injection.
From a pollution control website,"To determine if your car has an air              injection system, refer to the Vehicle Emission Control Information              (VECI) label underneath the hood, which will call out this emissions              subsystem if so equipped." This may serve as proof that AI was not a system installed on the car in addition to the above.
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ak96ss

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2007, 07:03:19 PM »
Well, if you wanted to be really fancy, you could run independent exhaust gas temperature sensors on each cylinder...

It would be especially cool if you redid the dash to look more like a cockpit, and particularly if you bracket the 4 EGT gauges with those cool O2 sensor gauges that Autometer has, the ones that swing back and forth wildly...

And a 'KIT' lightbar behind the grill....

:D

Really, other than using the EGT sensors for tuning individual cylinders, I can't imagine what they would be for, unless BMW was anticipating adding air injection at some point.
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John in MD
uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

tjts1

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2007, 08:29:32 PM »
Thats some real bull **** right there. Go to another smog station and have it re tested then call the BAR and report the bastards.
http://smogcheck.ca.gov/StdHome.asp?TextOnly=False
« Last Edit: September 23, 2007, 09:33:16 PM by tjts1 »
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dude8383

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2007, 12:40:09 PM »
Quote from: Stück;34236
Dated BMW cross section drawing.


Do you have a better pic of this by any chance, with the two pages fully spread?
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Stück

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2007, 01:16:48 PM »
I wish. Sadly no. Thats the only photo I've found of that cutaway drawing.
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christophbmw

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failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2007, 02:19:59 PM »
you need a carb sticker? LOL,  maybe the smog tech should do his research (aka, call the dealer) before he tells you to go spend money on it for stuff you dont need.
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sp318

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Re: failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #10 on: August 29, 2013, 07:32:56 AM »
Resurrecting an old thread from the dead.  This just happened to me in CA so am wondering whether a later model exhaust manifold without ports and plugs will swap in.  I can find these on ebay for as low as $70 shipped so it might be easier for me to do the swap than having to argue this point at a referee station.  Anyone done this or know if it can be done?
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bmwman91

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Re: failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #11 on: August 29, 2013, 11:18:10 AM »
The solution is simple. Find a different SMOG shop. I have never once had a tech pull that crap on me in the 13 years that I have owned and operated a 318iS in CA.
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06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

sp318

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Re: failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #12 on: August 29, 2013, 09:04:14 PM »
Actually, it's a financial trade off.  It costs to take it to another smog shop or it costs to replace the header and get a free retest at the original shop.  You are correct on principle but I need to be practical.  I'm still interested in an answer to my original question.
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bmwman91

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Re: failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2013, 01:45:23 AM »
The cost of the headers is as much as the test, and swapping them is a pain. You will likely need to buy all new copper header bolts and replace a few studs if they are all rusty. You'll need a new header-to-downpipe gasket as well. So, $100+ for the header swap, or just go to another shop. Seems more practical to me.

You can try to convince the tech that he is wrong, but in the end they might not go for any reasonable argument. The state of CA actually spends the money to send out failing cars with undercover referees to random shops to make sure that they are not fudging anything. The fine can be enough to shut a shop down, so techs are hyper-paranoid. Ultimately we the people suffer the consequences as you are finding.

Where in CA are you? If you are in the Bay Area, I can recommend the shops that I use with reasonable techs. I JUST went through SMOG earlier this week as a matter of fact. Needed a new cat and O2 sensor (stupid wideband controller crapped out which made me run rich...killing the cat and failing the first run at the SMOG shop). It was like $85 for the tests (including evap system) and the cert.
« Last Edit: August 30, 2013, 01:47:03 AM by bmwman91 »
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06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

sp318

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Re: failed CA smog inspection for OEM "headers"
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2013, 07:46:52 AM »
I'm in Ventura County.  I also failed for excess HC and CO and got labelled as a "Gross Polluter".  The visual fail for air injection was just icing on the rotting cake.  I have to take it to another CA Star Certified test & repair shop to get the emissions within specs.  I suspect the original cat is finally dead.  I'll ask the other shop's tech for his opinion on arguing the air injection fail. 

I recently replaced the exhaust gaskets at the head and collector as well as all the copper coated nuts so am comfortable with doing that myself.  It's a one-beer job in my book.  Maybe two if I have to admire my work when I'm done.

I appreciate the feedback.
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