Emissions question

[b-rad]

I have a few questions for you swap guys.
To start, i live in California, so thanks to the wonderful CARB, modding a car the correct(read: legal) way can be hard. Im in the research stage of motor swap, so bear with me..

How are you dealing with emissions testing/requirements? Are you 'paying extra' for your smog? Have you gotten refereed? If so, how hard was it?
Also, did you convert to or from OBD-I/OBD-II, and did that pose any problems?

Thanks so much guys!

[1996 328ti]

Not familiar with CARB standards, but anywhere you have an inspection or emissions only testing, you are not going to pass if you have a CEL on. Your emission levels are not going to effect you anymore than would a 1.9L.

If it's a +96, you need to be OBD-II.
Your 95 needs and OBD-I motor.
I don't know what will happen with an OBD-II to OBD-I conversion.


I had (5) fault codes. The first time I was inspected for emission, the guy passed me.
Even thought the CEL was pulled. I think the lid just liked the car and waived the test.
It was slammed down to the ground and only a few years old.

I later had the fault codes written out of the software.
Passed my second emissions test.

[tiFreak]

I think you have to use an engine that's from a car that's the same year or newer than your ti, Cooljess would definitely have some more info

[Will'sBimmer]

Originally Posted by 1996 328ti

anywhere you have an inspection or emissions only testing, you are not going to pass if you have a CEL on.

Not true in Memphis, Tn. They don't care about CEL. They just car about the visual inspection (lights, blinkers, and brakes) And then they do an emissions test and you are done. I have had a CEL for three years now and have passed every time. I have friends who have CEL on and still pass.

[b-rad]

Originally Posted by tiFreak

I think you have to use an engine that's from a car that's the same year or newer than your ti, Cooljess would definitely have some more info

This is correct in CA. Which is a major concern to me, as i have a 95! Anything post 95 will be OBD-II, as you know. So would i have to convert to OBD-II, or can i convert the motor back to OBD-I? Im really hoping Jess will chime in!

Steven if you dont mind, what were your codes set for? And how did you write them out?

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by b-rad

This is correct in CA. Which is a major concern to me, as i have a 95! Anything post 95 will be OBD-II, as you know. So would i have to convert to OBD-II, or can i convert the motor back to OBD-I? Im really hoping Jess will chime in!

Steven if you dont mind, what were your codes set for? And how did you write them out?

Motors can be converted OBD-II to OBD-I.

My faults where
fuel pressure (the ti doesn't have a fuel pressure sensor)
exhaust flap
(2) secondary air pump - mine was removed
CEL
http://www.318ti.org/notebook/328ti/index.html

I paid someone to tweak the code.

Amazing how inspection laws vary so much.
In SC, we have absolutely no emissions or inspection.

[cooljess76]

Honestly, I'm not sure if they would hit you for converting to OBDI even if your car was OBDI to begin with. Since yours is a '95, you should just look for an s50 or m50 motor. It'll be a lot cheaper. When I talked to the guy at the smog shop, he said that the motor has to be from the same year or newer. He also said that it had to have all of the factory emissions equipment installed that came on that particular motor. As for the CEL, here in Cali, they won't even hook your car up to the machine if it's throwing a CEL. Sure, some places will, some might even pass you, but they're not supposed to.