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what does is take to pass Cali inspection in a 2002

charbmw

By charbmw
in BMW 2002 and other '02

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charbmw Enthusiast

charbmw

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How's it going guys. Just wondering if anyone knows what it takes to pass California inspection for a daily driven 1976 2002. I currently have the car registered in NJ with historic plates so I've never had to get it inspected. I'm thinking to have it be my daily driver in CA. It currently has an IE header, lynx manifold with a DCOE 45. No front or rear bumpers. And a straight pipe to a magnaflo muffler, although I do have a resonator I could throw in.

Will CA require me to basically bring my car back to stock if I want to have it pass as a daily driver with daily drivers insurance...or do you guys recommend I just keep it as a historic and drive it only occasionally. I love to hear anyone's thoughts or other ideas.

Thanks guys,

Charlie

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path88 Enthusiast

path88

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Will CA require me to basically bring my car back to stock

Yes. Or, you can register it in a CA county that doesn't require smog checks. There are a few.

If you have any friends or relatives in those places, you could use their address.

Alternatively, you can claim you have no paperwork on your car, file new papers from scratch, say it's a '75, and then make an attempt to register it as such by doin' some fibbin'.*

*this advice is for entertainment purposes only! ;-)

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fourtii Community Regular

fourtii

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If you don't drive it constantly...keep in registered in Jersey (at a friend or relative's address) the plates are probably cheaper there too, since they're not as bankrupt as CA.

Even though I don't live there, I have all of my cars registered in CA (since they are "blue plate") but they all pre 1976. The SOB's keep raising the plate renewal every year to make up their deficit.

72 Tii 2761525 Fjord- sunroof

73 Tii 2762870 Malaga- sunroof

73 Tii 2763356 Atlantic- sunroof

73 Tii 2763815 Fjord- sunroof

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tjones02 Grand Master

tjones02

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100% stock.... Or go through the process to instal a later motor, like 320i or E30 318i M10, and go through the approval process with the CA Bureau of Automotive Repair. You can install basically any newer motor you want as long as you also install all of that newer engine's emissions equipment too.

We're in process of installing an '89 325i M20/B25 into a '76 2002... I've done the same with an '85 318i motor into a '76 as well.

Also, I/we've set up/repaired/sourced parts for many '76 '02s that had bad/missing smog equipment to pass the smog test, BUT that's getting harder and harder as the emissions limits for cars that old are getting tighter and tighter.

Tom Jones

BMW mechanic for over 25 years, BMWCCA since 1984
66 BMW16oo stored, 67 1600-2 lifelong project, 2 more 67-8 1600s, 86 528e 5sp 564k, 91 318i
Mom&Dad's, 65 1800TiSA, 70 2800, 72 2002Tii 2760007 orig owners, 03 325iT, 12 328iT

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FunkyLaneO Experienced

FunkyLaneO

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The only thing California cares about is the smog (which you will not pass with a header), there is no safety inspection. The exempt counties do require a smog check at change of ownership and I believe registering for the first time may be considered the same as change of ownership.

Check here and contact the DMV for specifics, if it was a 49 state car I think it would have to conform to the 49 state standards which again yours will not, there is a visual inspection even if it passes the sniffer test and your header replaces a piece of the required smog equipment.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr29.htm

74 Golf

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tashakes Mentor

tashakes

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Here you go:

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/02_SmogCheck/Engineering/program_map.pdf

I live in Chula Vista but my car is registered in Descanso, which is a "Change of Ownership" area, so I do not have to worry about getting it smogged every 2 years again. There is no way in hell my 76 will come even close to passing the visual test with an EFI conversion.

As FunkyLaneO stated above, they may require smog cert when first registering it, so you may want to give the CA DMV a call.

Last resort, use Historical plates (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/plates/specialplates.htm), but you risk a ticket every time you drive it.

76 BMW 2002 Arktisblau M42 5 spd - Born 5.21.76 - daily money pit

06 Aston Martin V8 Vantage 6 spd - garage queen

15 VW Touareg V6 Executive - daily driver 

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dbmw2002 Proficient

dbmw2002

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Will CA require me to basically bring my car back to stock

Yes. Or, you can register it in a CA county that doesn't require smog checks. There are a few.

If you have any friends or relatives in those places, you could use their address.

Alternatively, you can claim you have no paperwork on your car, file new papers from scratch, say it's a '75, and then make an attempt to register it as such by doin' some fibbin'.*

*this advice is for entertainment purposes only! ;-)

I believe all counties require change of ownership smog check, if not shoot a zip code and be prepared for population explosion of the paper kind.

Happy Trails to u~ Dave Miller
76 Golf~Rhiannon~BM Mascot~*~97 328is~Silver Ghost~*~68 1600~Wisperin Beast~*~70-02~Bumble Beast~*~76 02~Beast~

Keep smilin all the way

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