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2008 M5 can't be smog tested in CA

5K views 24 replies 12 participants last post by  BPMSport 
#1 ·
I just bought a 2008 M5 from a dealer in MD (special order) while on a business trip, but had my local San Diego BMW dealer perform a courtesy delivery. I picked up the car last Tuesday!:) The car was in the BMW production / delivery pipeline just as though I had ordered the car in San Diego. I paid all CA tax and registration fees to register the car here but the DMV insisted that the car had to be smog tested because the certificate of origin is from MD. The same certificate clearly stated that the car was built to meet all CA emissions requirements as well as those of the other states.

I tried getting the car smogged at an authorized CA check point last week, but their equipment could not perform the test and they suggested I try the dealer. I dropped off the car at the dealer yesterday for the testing. The issue I've encountered as explained to me by an SA at my San Diego dealership is that the 08 M5 is so new that the current CA smog testing equipment cannot read the cars emissions at the various tachometer threshholds because of a presumed software communiation problem. They are initiating a PUMA. He said that, technically, they didn't expect to have to smog an 08 car for about 4 years. I didn't think that sounded correct, but then I remembered that BMW did software recall on my 2002 M Roadster last year because they thought it would not pass a smog test. Don't know what would have happened had I sold it sooner as a smog test would have been required before I could legally sell the car in CA.

Sorry this is getting long....BUT.....

I am wondering if anyone else on this board has purchased an E60 M5 and had to get it smogged for CA registration, either because it was purchased in a different state or as part of the CA requirement for smog checks upon resale of the car to someone who would register it in CA.

I am especially interested if anyone has dealt with this problem on an 08 M5 and if there is already a work-around of which my BMW dealership is not aware (FYI-it's BMW of San Diego).

Thanks!:confused2
 
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#2 ·
Not much help but ...

I did an out of CA state purchase for my 2006, I did the shipping and DMV stuff myself, yes you have to get it smogged

Dpending on the CA county you register the car in you may need to have a smog every 2 years thereafter and before resale (most inland counties), all other counties you get a 6 year exemption (but have to pay a small fee as part of the annual reg).

As I recall I had a problem with the smog also (in 11/05) as the 06 E60 M5 wasn't in the data base of the machine, don't really remember what had to be done but as I recall the operator had to call some number and get some kind of override code, I did leave with a certifcate which had to be turned into the DMV with the certificate of origin, sales tax, registration fees, ...

Brutus
 
#3 ·
I did an out of CA state purchase for my 2006, I did the shipping and DMV stuff myself, yes you have to get it smogged

Dpending on the CA county you register the car in you may need to have a smog every 2 years thereafter and before resale (most inland counties), all other counties you get a 6 year exemption (but have to pay a small fee as part of the annual reg).

As I recall I had a problem with the smog also (in 11/05) as the 06 E60 M5 wasn't in the data base of the machine, don't really remember what had to be done but as I recall the operator had to call some number and get some kind of override code, I did leave with a certifcate which had to be turned into the DMV with the certificate of origin, sales tax, registration fees, ...

Brutus
Thanks, Brutus. I am doing the DMV stuff myself as well. I hope that my experience is similarly easy to fix (if it's just an override code---that should be simple to find out).:M5thumbs:
 
#4 ·
smog issue

I am having this same issue right now.

I went to get my ride smog'd and the smog station computer couldn't pair with my m5 to read its idle. The tech didn't know what to do, he tried for an hour, and said I should contact my dealer. I have had a software update by EAS in Anaheim in August. Do I go back to the tech and tell him to call a # for an override? or what. Its a newer station that I would think would have the latest updates, not a hole in the wall place.

thanks in advance.
 
#6 ·
I am having this same issue right now.

I went to get my ride smog'd and the smog station computer couldn't pair with my m5 to read its idle. The tech didn't know what to do, he tried for an hour, and said I should contact my dealer. I have had a software update by EAS in Anaheim in August. Do I go back to the tech and tell him to call a # for an override? or what. Its a newer station that I would think would have the latest updates, not a hole in the wall place.

thanks in advance.
This means that the shop you went to is using old machines. This happened to me with my usual smog place, where my guy told me he couldn't smog 2008s because he didnt have the right machine. Apparently, smog stations don't need to have the latest and greatest machines to do all cars, they can be 5 years behind (i.e. in 2013 they had to be able to smog 2007s, in 2014 they need to be able to smog 2008s).

My advice, go to a new station, ask up front if they can smog your year M5 (2008?), if not keep looking. I can refer you to my place in Long Beach if your nearby (their machines can smog 2013 MYs)
 
#5 ·
I had no isssue with my 2008 stroker which I bought in Texas. It was smogged in the bay area.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Bob Lee's automotive on Arestia and Inglewood. Just passed my Maserati there before I sold it and my friend got his 07 M5 passed there. It was only $40s. Can't beat that.
Number is 310-542-4239

There's also a badass VERY knowledgeable BMW mechanic with his own place on the top floor. His names Johnny. He does AMAZING work and will also be doing my rod bearings soon. Just thought I'd throw that in there lol.
 
#12 ·
Dealership can't smog it

Well after going to 3 different smog stations that have been recommended by some other members, I still haven't been able to have my car smog'd. So I bit the bullet and took it to South Bay BMW, where it costs $220.00 to have it smog'd. dropped it off yesterday, and got a phone call today, informing me that they too are having issues. they wanted an additional $195 to trouble shoot it, but stated that I will likely have to go to a state referee to get it smog'd and to explain the issue, because he stated that it seems California isn't up to date with their software??? Any guru's out there have any ideas. I am obviously going to raise issue to pay for a smog if they can't do it, as the 3 smog stations I took it too, never charged me a cent when they couldn't smog it. But how will a state referee be better or more capable than the dealer?

thanks for your help.

Again my car is an 06, 38k miles, euro software, and cat back exhaust. And all the smog stations stated they can't get their computer to read my RPM, but when I went to my Indy shop, he had no problems seeing on his computer that it was idle at 750 rpm. I have had launch issues since I took it to EAS (European Auto Source) to get the software put on it. It does all the other goodies they programmed it to, but when you try to launch the rev limiter either fluctuates and won't hold steady on 4k rmp, or if it does, when you release to launch, it won't engage the clutch. They weren't sure if it was a software glitch in their programming, or if it was my car, but stated they really wont know till they try to program another 06. :grrrrr:
 
#13 ·
Well after going to 3 different smog stations that have been recommended by some other members, I still haven't been able to have my car smog'd. So I bit the bullet and took it to South Bay BMW, where it costs $220.00 to have it smog'd. dropped it off yesterday, and got a phone call today, informing me that they too are having issues. they wanted an additional $195 to trouble shoot it, but stated that I will likely have to go to a state referee to get it smog'd and to explain the issue, because he stated that it seems California isn't up to date with their software??? Any guru's out there have any ideas. I am obviously going to raise issue to pay for a smog if they can't do it, as the 3 smog stations I took it too, never charged me a cent when they couldn't smog it. But how will a state referee be better or more capable than the dealer?

thanks for your help.

Again my car is an 06, 38k miles, euro software, and cat back exhaust. And all the smog stations stated they can't get their computer to read my RPM, but when I went to my Indy shop, he had no problems seeing on his computer that it was idle at 750 rpm. I have had launch issues since I took it to EAS (European Auto Source) to get the software put on it. It does all the other goodies they programmed it to, but when you try to launch the rev limiter either fluctuates and won't hold steady on 4k rmp, or if it does, when you release to launch, it won't engage the clutch. They weren't sure if it was a software glitch in their programming, or if it was my car, but stated they really wont know till they try to program another 06. :grrrrr:
LOL!. Dude your hilarious. You never stated once you had a tune and now you JUST did. That's why your not passing smog.
 
#17 ·
possible resolve

Well, I have talked to EAS and they stated they have a fix for their software that may have been causing the launch issue. They advised that they will reflash my car back to stock to get it smog'd, and will then flash it with the new tune after. I will probably have to do this every other year for smog cert, but good news is South Bay BMW isn't charging me a cent for any of the trouble shooting. they are giving me the car back, and have made notes for state referee if I decide to go that route.

I will keep you posted in the event others have this same issue. I still can't believe an SMG tune does this, so we'll see.
 
#20 ·
I had the SMG and Euro tune from EAS. Went to BPM Sport and they fixed the problem. I had bad files on my ECU that I presume were put on there by EAS because the car passed smog when I bought it used in 2009 and the PO forgot to smog it when I went to register it. I was also informed that software which I paid to have installed by EAS was not on my ECU, and they showed me what software version I was running before they updated me and fixed the corrupted files. And BPM Sport doesn't charge me to take it to them every other year to have the Euro software flashed back to stock to pass smog, then back again, which EAS wanted an additional $95. :grrrrr: And BPM would have just given me the file to do it myself as needed, but I use a Mac, and its much easier with Windows based CPU, and seeing how they are local for me, its easier to just drop by. Takes like 15 minutes. So while I was there, I went ahead and had their stage 1 software put on my car :checkeredflag:
 
#22 ·
passed smog

Well, just wanted to keep you guys up to date. Finally passed smog, and with flying colors I might add. Went and saw the gang at BPMsport, they confirmed I had a bad file in the coding I received from EAS. They removed my SMG euro software, I then went to smog station and passed with flying colors :1: then went right back to BPMsport, and they put their euro software files onto my car. This time, no corrupted files (and if you ask me how I know there was a corrupted file, well after I paid $200 for EAS coding and euro software, I could't launch my car. It would either not engage the clutch when revving to 4k, or the rev's would just be all over the board and not engage, and I used to launch my car prior to going to EAS for coding, so its not like I didn't know what or how to do it. After realizing my car would no longer launch after seeing them, I went back, they reloaded their version of the euro software, then Tom, still couldn't get it to launch. I paid another $100 for them to load the latest BMW software, as they thought that was the problem, but wouldn't guarantee it :confused2, and go figure, still no launch control and I was out $300. I asked them if I should just forgo the software, and they tried to sell me on the city driving and shifting advantages to keeping it. They stated they thought it was my car that was the issue, and I thought it was their software, but until they got another e60 m5 in, they couldn't be sure it wasn't a glitch in their software. grrrrrrr so that's how I know it was EAS. And when I ran into the smog issue and that the SMG software was creating communication issues with CA smog computers, they stated they believed they had trouble shot the issue, but wanted $95 to fix the problem, by removing my loaded euro smg software, then after I smog'd my car, they would load the updated version that would fix my no launch issue??ouich

Now, after seeing BPMsport, having them code and program my car, guess what I can do.... :M5launch:

Thanks BPMsport :applause:
 
#24 ·
Several members have reported difficulty with stock DME tunes, but having the Euro SMG flash. There is some OBD readiness report returned by the SMG module which may not exist in the Euro version, but does in the US version.

It may have been as simple as that, but it's hard to tell.
 
#25 · (Edited)
You are correct about the mismatch with readiness monitors when Euro SMG software is loaded. Fortunately for those with our tuning cable, it takes 5 minutes to switch between versions. This is likely why it wouldn't pass previously.

When SMG software is improperly loaded, or if a mismatch exists between engine and transmission software, LC usually wont function properly. We've seen M6 software in M5 vehicles and the other way around - even though the transmission is the same, the software is different between the variants.

OP: I'm glad you're enjoying the tune and that all is resolved now! :cheers:
 
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