Car failed inspection after not being driven 4 long time,need help pls.

[Fred in Houston]

I haven't really mentioned this here, but I've been having massive registration problems with my car and hardly drove it at all this year.
After paying $600 to a title company, I am finally legaly registered.
My inspection sticker is expired, but I needed a new battery in order to get it inspected.
I purchased the battery this morning, installed it and started the car & took it to a local garage 1/2 mile from my house. They said that my car keeps aborting the inspection process.
Could this possibly be because I need to drive the car 100 miles in order to re-calibrate the computer chip? I passed last year with flying colors and the car runs much better since then.
I have about 1/8th tank of gas, could that possibly be the problem?
It felt great to be back in my E34. I may have put about 500 miles on it since last January and used my E28 which I'm also in love with, and even more so after installing a manual transmission, but I got tired of looking at the 540 in my driveway and dealing with an uncooperative seller that moved and wouldn't return my calls. Her daughter sold me the car and moved to California, but the mom signed the bill of sale...What a mess I had to deal with. Pure red tape.
Thank you
Fred

[russiankid]

Fill it up with good gas and just drive it then get it tested.

[moroza]

You only drove it half a mile after it sat? If this is an emissions test, you need to *fully* warm up the engine and exhaust - drive the piss out of the car for a good 20 minutes or more beforehand.

The chip indeed needs some time to adjust to your engine.

Low fuel causing emissions problems? Possible. Doubt it. Fill it up first to eliminate that possibility.

[kipwinger]

drive the piss out of the car for a good 20 minutes or more beforehand.

Most important part.;)

[jhower08]

Guys, I don't think it failed emissions. The inspection machine can't get "into" his car to make sure everything is working.

OP, I would say drive it and allow the computer to recalibrate everything like you suspect and try again. I'm pretty stumped on this one, never heard anything of this sort happening...

[moroza]

Inspection machine? Was ist das?

Sorry, I've never had any vehicle inspection other than VIN and emissions. Is this some OBD reader or somesuch?

[Fred in Houston]

Guys, I don't think it failed emissions. The inspection machine can't get "into" his car to make sure everything is working.

OP, I would say drive it and allow the computer to recalibrate everything like you suspect and try again. I'm pretty stumped on this one, never heard anything of this sort happening...

Exactly! I've never heard of this before either, it never entered inspection mode in order to fail?
I'll drive the crap out of it tomorrow. I haven't driven the car all friggen year anyways, so it's not like anybody has to twist my arm to drive it ;)
Thanks
Fred

[shelbyz4u2nv]

its pre obd-II, the only test that it should run is the sniffer...i used to be a NYSE, and would always make sure the car was FULLY warmed up then run it on the dyno. if not the car will fail for running too rich..the newer cars (obd-II) 96+ you can hook it to the port and it would scan the car for dtc's and pending dtc's, the machine was smart too b/c it looks for readyness inputs in the ecu. you cant just erase the codes, hook it up and pass..so those cars need to be driven 100+ miles after a check engine reset. we are exempt from that..i dont know what his problem was..maybe he sucks and couldnt keep the vehicle speed w/ in the parameters. 2 mess ups and the state kicks you off for a day on that car if i recall...

i would still rack some miles on the car, get the dme adapted and you should be good

[TouringDan]

There is no OBDII port to plug in to on these cars. They're OBD1 so they only way they can inspect the emissions is to run it on the rollers with a sniffer. The car also does not have an 'inspection mode' for any machine to use, other than the BMW shop computer.

To me, it sounds like your inspector is a n00b.

Some tips on emissions:
- Change the plugs, oil and filter
- Get a tank of NEW gas
- Ge on the interstate and drive the snot out of it for about 20 minutes, then go directly onto the rollers. Do NOT turn the car off and if you have to wait more than a few minutes, go to another shop. The cats on these cars need to be screaming hot in order for them to perform correctly, and they cool off really fast.

[Fred in Houston]

I really appreciate the helpful replies. I found the problem.
When I went to pick up the car after failing inspection this morning...again. I noticed that the power windows,door locks and sunroof were not working. Did a search on this forum and the problem ended up being a fuse under the rear seat that was just lying on the floor? Must have somehow fallen out when I removeed the rear seat?
This time, the machine did not abort and did the entire inspection. I passed everywhere except the HC test.
I've only driven the car 1/2 mile since putting a new battery in, so tomorrow I'm going to drive the hell out of it so the chip resets and I think it will pass.
The search engine on this forum solved all my problems, and with some added help of the users here, this is the BEST forum.
Thanks all for you help.
Fred

[zubbie]

another happy E34 owner.

I'm soooo glad that I:

don't have anything but an annual visual "safety" inspection (my mech knows me so well he gives me the sticker without looking at all);

no sniffer test ever;

cars older than 15 years can have their cats removed legally;

[Fred in Houston]

another happy E34 owner.

I'm soooo glad that I:

don't have anything but an annual visual "safety" inspection (my mech knows me so well he gives me the sticker without looking at all);

no sniffer test ever;

cars older than 15 years can have their cats removed legally;

I can have the cat removed legally? I've never heard that before. Is this a Canadian law or a U.S. one as well?
If this is true, owning a 94 model, I can remove my cat after the new year?
Thanks
Fred

[Deanx2009]

another happy E34 owner.

I'm soooo glad that I:

don't have anything but an annual visual "safety" inspection (my mech knows me so well he gives me the sticker without looking at all);

no sniffer test ever;

cars older than 15 years can have their cats removed legally;

I dont have to have any type of inspection besides emissions.


YAY CALIFORNIA :buttrock

[attack eagle]

I found a place that passes mine again... still have my cats in a box.