Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: bmw e36 cold air intake illegal in CA

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    long beach
    Posts
    35
    My Cars
    1998 bmw 323is

    Angry bmw e36 cold air intake illegal in CA

    I have a 1998 bmw 323is and i live in LA Cali and i have smog next month the car has a autozone air filter doesent have a airbox the otiginal will it fail smog?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Pacific Palisades, Ca
    Posts
    454
    My Cars
    1995 BMW 325is
    Yes.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    562/ 949 CA
    Posts
    2,417
    My Cars
    M3 Saloon
    Any mod in cali is restricted without a CARB approval #.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    sunnyvale CA
    Posts
    1,589
    My Cars
    325is
    They may ask to see the CARB sticker that says it is CA approved. But an intake is such a minor alteration I doubt it. If it's a name brand it's probably approved and the shop knows.
    Last edited by gc325is; 08-29-2015 at 02:16 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    562/ 949 CA
    Posts
    2,417
    My Cars
    M3 Saloon
    Then you haven't smogged lately. They will send you home even if you pass the dyno and obd plug. Airbox or CARB sticker.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    31,073
    My Cars
    2004 330 vert 2004 X5
    CAI will fail Cali smog every time. Get a stock airbox and throw it in. Pass smog and throw the airbox away. Reinstall CAI and forget about it for another 2 years

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    72
    My Cars
    04 Honda Accord Coupe V6
    I live in LA CA too and have smogged multiple cars with CAI or SRI both that do have the CARB sticker and some that do not. Usually it's a visual inspection underneath the hood, if the place is new they will fail you. If it's an old place, and everything else checks out good (no cleared CEL code and good on emissions) they usually won't say anything about it. You can also say "it's carb approved but the sticker has peeled off" and that could work. Good luck man.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    110
    My Cars
    1997 328i
    I am so glad I don't live there any more CAI M50 intake swap on my 1997 328i no problem

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Oakland
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    Vw gti mk5
    Anybody got a stock cai in the Bay Area that i could barrow for a smog check MK5 Vw GTI

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    So~Cal
    Posts
    1,228
    My Cars
    2003 E46 M3 / E30 Vert
    I passed CA smog easy with m50 mani, no tune and gutted exhaust. Next year will be with CAI but dought it will make a difference.

    Make your own Carb sticker.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Murrieta, CA
    Posts
    9,528
    My Cars
    '94 325iC, '08 328i, E93
    I'm not sure they care about anything you do before the MAF. I could be wrong, but there is no emission control data collection that happens before the MAF, so you can do anything you want. If the car has a MAF that works, then this is the first check point.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Riverside, CA
    Posts
    345
    My Cars
    98' M3/4/5, 85' 944
    ^^Common sense agrees with you but CAI needs a CARB sticker or it wont pass visual

    btw did no one else notice this guy bumped a 3 yr old thread to find VW parts on a BMW forum? lol

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    98
    My Cars
    '94 e36 325is
    Sometimes it passes though. I don’t know if this matters but my e92 is clear from the cats and back and I have an intake, I pass smog without a problem.
    Btw the intake was made by me and it’s not carb legal. I don’t have an exhaust, just some ricer shit.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •