Any (simple) way of making 3.8 pass smog in US? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

m5ed · 10th January 2008, 00:24

To all you guys in the US running the S38B38 what's involved in making the car pass smog? Can I simply swap a US 3.6 cat and "get by"? I would hate to have to do some major engine work to get it emission compliant...I dont need all the dot stuff just enough to pass smog yearly (without shaking my smog check guy's hand every year). any input would be great thanks

mottati · 10th January 2008, 00:28

from what i've heard, Saliya (of euromcars.com) says the 3.8 can pass california emissions reasonably well, assuming it's in good condition, tuned and is running the US cat. The major issue is getting the car registered in the first place, which is what all of the dot/epa work is for. It sounds like it's a little bit of mechanical work and a lot of leg/paper work to get the EPA approval to import a car.

If you find one that was already federalized and in the US, you should be ok.

m5ed · 10th January 2008, 00:43

thanks mike...car currently has us tags and FULL euro spec...amazing what you can get away with in the other 49 states! tried just smog it straight euro spec and was wayyyy off.

mottati · 10th January 2008, 00:57

what cat is on the car? If it's original, was it really hot? the metallic cats take more to get up to temp than the US ceramic. Get it out on the highway at 4k + rpm for a bit, then go straight into the smog station.

m5ed · 10th January 2008, 01:05

currently it has the original metal cats that the stock 3.8 comes with. on the first and only smog test the co levels were very high. later had all fluids changed and tuned but didnt try again (didnt want to raise any red flags at the local dmv) so wanted to see if a simple swap of the 3.6 cat will do the trick

Alan Archer · 10th January 2008, 01:37

Valve clearances make a big difference come testing time also.

And as Mottati says, you need to give the car a good traffic free
run before hand.
No point service it to the max & then being bumper to bumper on
the way to the testing station...S38's HATE idle.

Good Luck,

Alan.

m5ed · 10th January 2008, 01:42

a little ot..does all e34 m5 have that annoying air intake part for emission that would wake the neighbors when started in the morning? what i noticed is that after 10-15 sec after startup this loud pump would kick in for about 20-30 secs..if unplugged would that make emission unpassable?

Elekta · 10th January 2008, 04:52

I have a US M5 cat for sale if you need one. My Elekta passed the Cali smog check with new plugs and 02 sensors and the Euro metal cat was tested in London and passed the UK MOT before it shipped over.

I bought an US ceramic M5 cat from another M5T importer who bought it brand new and only used it for a Maryland federalization test and then put the Euro metal cat back on. Since I never had to use it, I have it for sale, in the box ready to go.

I never installed it and it has maybe 50 total hours of use on it if that.

pm for price pictures and shipping if you decide to go the US ceramic cat route.

best,
geoff

kupkake · 13th January 2008, 08:49

[quote=kupkake;1225890]My 3.8 failed Colorado emissions recently;realized the O2 sensor was disconnected.Passed w/o trouble once reconnected.Good luck.
Vic