[bigB]

Although the wait has been long, my MCS is finally scheduled for production week 25 of 2004. I just refuse to pay over list, and it works out pretty good in the long run as I have been saving up and won't need to borrow much to buy the car

Now that the time is almost here, I have been considering some performance mods. Looking through the performance posts has been most helpful, and it looks like I can get all of the performance of a JCW kit for about half the price with a CAI, exhaust, pulley, and ECU remap. But I think that there could be a problem worse than the potential warranty issues, and that is California smog.

If you live here, you know that every two years you need to get your car smog checked. It includes a dyno test of the emissions, some checks of discrete components (like the gas cap), and a visual inspection. It doesn't matter what level of emissions are coming out of the tailpipe, if you have modified specific systems in the car with non-CARB approved parts, you fail and can't register your car. Looking at the state's website, it looks to me like all of the above mods are not allowed without approval, and I couldn't find any approvals for parts to the MINI. It sucks, but thats the way it is.

There are plenty of you out there with mods. Can you get approved parts? I guess you could probably get away with a pulley mod and remap without getting caught, but I don't see getting away with an exhaust and CAI. Do you plan to take these off, and refit the stock parts every two years? Has anyone been through an official smog with a modified MC or MCS yet, and how did it go?

[EBMCS03]

Not sure about the Exhaust but for the CAI I think most people just take it off and put the Factory one back on for the test. but dont forget here in CA i think you dont need to get a smog test for 4 years or is it 3 years when its new. And since the MINI is so new I dont think anyone in CA has gone thru the smog test yet. unless they bought out of state, but then they are probably still factory parts when the test was done.

[Mike & Donna in Ca.]

After moving to CA from VA back in November, our tags expire this month. So we just took the MINI this morning to get the smog check. We live in Oceanside which has an even tighter inspection because of the area.

Anyway - we have the Borla exhaust, K & N system, and a pulley - Scooter passed with flying colors without us having to take anything off and replace it with original parts. I hope this helps you out...

Chow!

Donna

[EBMCS03]

Wow thats cool... did you know the tester? or give him a large tip?

[SFJAMES]

I have a few of the mentioned upgrades and want to get a ECU upgrade next. The ECU upgrade is the only one that concerns me though. I heard that Smog stations will be checking out the ECU's and making sure they are within specs. CAI can be taken off, exhaust should be smog legal (Borla "race"), but the ECU is expensive as hell and I could not hack paying for it again and again. Its been almost 2years since we got our MINI and I've been patiently waiting to see what happens personally.
Sorry instead of help, guess I just joined you in the boat.

[EBMCS03]

WHAT?? smog stations are going to check ECUs? how would they know if its "within spec" or not but ummm like Powerchip, dont know about others you bought the right to the software and I think they will reload it for free if anything happens like if your dealer flashes it.

[Mike & Donna in Ca.]

Quote: Originally Posted by EBMCS03

Wow thats cool... did you know the tester? or give him a large tip?

Nope - had never stepped foot into the testing station before. It was the first one on the list we pulled off the DMV web site - after entering our zip code. And no tip...It cost us $64.95 because of where we live....Yikes!!!

Chow!

Donna

[jonkudla]

I beleive any new car purchased in California does not require a smog test until the 5th year of ownership. After that is every two years. So if you purchase a 2004 model, a smog check won't be required until 2008 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 = 5 years).

It used to be every two years for new cars but the lawmakers recognized that new technology made it moot to test emissions on new cars after only 2 years.

[SFJAMES]

Quote: Originally Posted by EBMCS03

WHAT?? smog stations are going to check ECUs? how would they know if its "within spec" or not but ummm like Powerchip, dont know about others you bought the right to the software and I think they will reload it for free if anything happens like if your dealer flashes it.

Thats what I heard...... first thing I thought was how sorry I felt for all the people with modded cars, then we got one that I want to have some fun with and mod a little. My original plan was Intake, exhaust and ECU upgrade and possibly a 15% pully. For now the ECU is out until I know I'll have no problems with SMOG. Glad to hear cars passing with pully though.

[bigB]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike & Donna in Ca.

Nope - had never stepped foot into the testing station before.
Donna

That is great that you passed the test
Was it a regular test station, or did you have to go to a test only?

[EBMCS03]

Hey hey Pasadena... by where? What color your car?

[Mike & Donna in Ca.]

Quote: Originally Posted by bigB

That is great that you passed the test
Was it a regular test station, or did you have to go to a test only?

Hum.....I'll have to check with the other half as he is the one who took the car. I didn't realize there were differences in testing stations..

Chow!

Donna

[bigB]

Quote: Originally Posted by EBMCS03

Hey hey Pasadena... by where? What color your car?

My car isn't here yet, but scheduled for production week 25 (next week?). When it gets here, you'll have a twin - its EB/W.

[EBMCS03]

AWESEOME... where u getting it from? which dealer?

[bigB]

I'm getting it from the only place in the area that sells at MSRP - Long Beach.
I almost bought a Indi blue one that the sales manager at Universal was driving around, but I had already waited for 5 months. Thought I should just wait a couple more and get exactly what I wanted.

[EBMCS03]

Cool! thats the same hospital where mine was born.

[Kurtster]

yeah it used to be every wo years but I heard that everything sionce 2004 is a 4 year check.

[MINIAC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike & Donna in Ca.

After moving to CA from VA back in November, our tags expire this month. So we just took the MINI this morning to get the smog check. We live in Oceanside which has an even tighter inspection because of the area.

Anyway - we have the Borla exhaust, K & N system, and a pulley - Scooter passed with flying colors without us having to take anything off and replace it with original parts

The K&N Typhoon is CARB certified ... so refitting the stock air intake does not apply

[jimskater]

If you do a cat-back exhuast, you're not changing any of the emissions controls or cleaning devices, which is why you'll pass. Change out the entire exhaust, and you might have a problem.