Failed smog first and second try, HELP

[Mar325i92]

BMW 325i '92 Automatic 2.5L 207,065 Miles, I use Shell V-Power ONLY. Failed Smog, Bought the car in 2011, had it repaired to pass smog in 2012.

[Repaired/Replaced: MAF Sensor, Vacuum hoses, Ignition Coils x6, Spark plugs x6.] This was done at 197,xxx Miles.

[Over time i have replaced, ICV, Both Belts, Power Steering Pump, Control Arm Bushing, Brackets, Sway bar Links, Cabin filter, Air box filter, Water pump, BMW Coolant, I put Style 68 rims on.] I do my Oil changes every 3000 miles. I gave it an Oil Change at 207,010 miles. 10W40
I do have my break light sensor on, idk if that could possibly be the issue.

The first time i took it to the mechanic who fixed the car and told him and showed him the results. He said just try running some cataclean, and read the directions.(he told me what to do im just not gonna write it out) run that, fill my tank with 91. take it for a spin and take it to get smog after a long drive on the freeway, i did as he said and failed with the same results. now i don't know what to do..
Im thinking of maybe cleaning the MAF sensor along with a few other things.

Thinking i would pass again without any issues but still had the thought of failing in the back of my mind. turns out i failed on the 15mph test. Took the car to the spot i got it fixed the first time

First Test
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/6219/qfxn.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/16/qfxn.jpg/)



Second Text
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/6831/8uxr.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/854/8uxr.jpg/)

[jr02518]

As of January 1st of this year the "Golden" Brown State has lowered the numbers needed to pass our smog test. That said you might need the full monty of tune up parts.

The somg station tec only looks to see if you have an 02 and a cat. They could check to see if your cat is compliant with the current rules, a new 49state cat can give you a "fail".

Until I installed a new cat on my car I was getting close, but I was never going to pass. Lets see, the list for my tune up included: valve cover gasket, plugs, fuel filter, smoke test for vacuum leaks, Bosh 02 sensor, oil and filter, Seafoam in the intake, then 500 miles of Chevron and Seafoam in the gas tank, new fuel pump in the passenger tank to cure the fuel leak at the four pin connector (they might not pass your car if they smell gas when the car is off sitting on the testing rack).

Reality, but the car has passed.

[hakentt]

problem on all older BMW engine is that there is ton of carbon build up on top of the pistons, creating higher compression, and that creates higher NOX and then pre ignition that creates HC. Go get tank full of racing fuel VP117 and run it hard, then take it to emissions, it will pass.

[CMG]

Pretty sure they did not change minimum numbers for smog. Not too much changed for obdi except the star ratings. If car is up to date on maintenance and no cel then 99% of the time you just need to heat the cats real hot.

[fuggle]

^^what hakentt and CMG said. I was in similar sit in feb. ran race fuel and cat super hot = pass. Make sure the operator does let the cat cool. go st8 onto machine.

[JE BMW]

Try denatured alcohol (15 bucks at lowes)with 1/8 gas i was havin the same problem.
Passed then i believe i had 189 meas on hc, when i passed i had like 29..lol
well i did change spark plugs, oil and fixed the elbow thats by the maf. but still didnt pass the second time. the third time it did.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1997272-Another-no-pass-smog-Ca

[Mar325i92]

problem on all older BMW engine is that there is ton of carbon build up on top of the pistons, creating higher compression, and that creates higher NOX and then pre ignition that creates HC. Go get tank full of racing fuel VP117 and run it hard, then take it to emissions, it will pass.

Vp117? When I look this up I cannot find that specific one. And do u mean fill it up, drive it hard, then fill it back with the v-power then test it? Or test it with the vp117

[JE BMW]

if you dont have a check engine light. denatured alcohol WILL work.
but ok then.

[fuggle]

He probably meant vp 113 which is 117 octane. A fill up would be way expensive. IMO test with race fuel. I use Union 76 100 octane. Works for me.

http://www.vpracingfuels.com/master-fuels-table

[Eric93se]

I don't think you should use denatured alcohol, this will not make it burn cleaner. Get the race fuel if you can.

did you use the whole tank of gas with the cataclean? because you have to go through the whole tank before getting checked. You can also try CRC GTP, it has worked for many members here, use a tank with it before filling with some race fuel before you test. You didn't list the oxygen sensor, it cheap on your car and can make a huge difference, Rockauto.com has the NTK brand $53.

Edit: also the thermostat should get changed, if its sticking it will not run right.

[JE BMW]

I don't think you should use denatured alcohol, this will not make it burn cleaner.


.\

have you tried it? it works. and my car passed, went fro 188 hc meas to 29.
and have the papers to prove, so.

- - - Updated - - -

correct me if im wrong, but denatured alcohol had methanol in it, same thing is added to racing fuels.

[fuggle]

Alcohol will work but it damages the fuel delivery system which why you should never use e85 in a vehicle not designed for it.
Street legal race fuel does not have alcohol added.

[JE BMW]

it didnt damage anything on my car, thats why you gotta run it with 1/8 gas tank and 1 gallon denatured alcohol, right before the smog test, then fill up the tank right after.
And even "legal" race gasoline contains methanol.
http://www.racegas.com/article/11

[fuggle]

Keep using alcohol and see what happens. its a known fact. google it.

Alcohol is used as an oxygenator. there is always some alcohol. SS 100 race fuel (street legal 100 octane race fuel) is 5% alcohol. ie. none added for octane boosting.

oh and its ethanol not methanol used as an oxygenator.

[JE BMW]

Imma keep using every 2 years , i did google it. did u? no harm if u use it for a bit and then fill up the tank right after to dilute. As long as the alcohol doesnt stay in the fuel lines, its fine. and yeah i did look into that.

Im not using it everyday. was just to pass the smog and like i said, have the papers to proove it passed, and i have no problems with the car and its been over 2 months.

[earthwormjim]

How long did your car sit before it was tested?

[Mar325i92]

I don't think you should use denatured alcohol, this will not make it burn cleaner. Get the race fuel if you can.

did you use the whole tank of gas with the cataclean? because you have to go through the whole tank before getting checked. You can also try CRC GTP, it has worked for many members here, use a tank with it before filling with some race fuel before you test. You didn't list the oxygen sensor, it cheap on your car and can make a huge difference, Rockauto.com has the NTK brand $53.

Edit: also the thermostat should get changed, if its sticking it will not run right.

I ran cataclean at 1/4tank, drove 20 miles, filled up with v power. Full tank. Ran that whole tank and filled half way and drove for an hour and smogged.

[gc325is]

Your limits were higher than my 1995 tested in 2011. So CA have not lowered them to 95 std yet. HC is 85 max at 15mph NOX 695

[shoman24v]

New catalytic converter.

[Eric93se]

Cats are always last resort. You can get it to pass if you do some more work.

So how old is the oxygen sensor? Also CRC GTP has worked for other members here (follow the directions). Make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks.

[gc325is]

Did you know Iso Heet will dry your gas lines. (but it is made of mostly alcohol).

[Eric93se]

Did you know Iso Heet will dry your gas lines. (but it is made of mostly alcohol).

It's 100% isopropanol, and it won't help in lowering emissions. Rarely is dry gas worth buying anymore since ethanol is standard in most gasoline's in the US.

[jasonk02]

Personally I wouldn't put alcohol in my tank. Thought I'd have a hard time passing but the emissions were fine. I got dinged for my e brake and failed -_-