E90Post
 


Extreme Powerhouse
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > USA - California > PITA Smogging Experience Advice



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-24-2022, 05:40 PM   #1
Milkbar
New Member
Milkbar's Avatar
6
Rep
22
Posts

Drives: E92
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: NorCal

iTrader: (0)

PITA Smogging Experience Advice

So I just recently bought a 2012 335i coupe, needed to go get it smogged to get the title transfer. The only mod on the car was a VRSF catback exhaust. The first place I went to, they ran smog on it and it passed with flying colors. Last minute, some other technician gets involved and says, you have a straight pipe there are no cats. I tried to tell him the cats are located on the downpipe, not in the middle of the car where he kept looking (even on the stock exhaust, the e92 coupes did not have the cat located on the exhaust system). At this point they already passed me for smog and are at the screen where they only need to print me a certificate. Basically, they are trying to reverse it but they can’t. They don’t give me the certificate and tell me I need to weld cats on there. I’m pretty frustrated and they just tell me to leave without even charging me and saying they can’t pass me until that is fixed.

Afterwards, I decide to go to another smog place, this time they are star certified, and there are some BMWs out front so I figure they would know what they’re doing. They run the smog which passes with flying colors (including the visual) and I am given my certificate. Has anyone in California dealt with this and did you run into any trouble with transferring the title? Thanks.
Appreciate 0
      04-27-2022, 09:49 AM   #2
R3dLeader
Second Lieutenant
United_States
152
Rep
209
Posts

Drives: e92 and e93 335i
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: West Coast

iTrader: (0)

It is the seller's responsibility to have valid smog before sale. I wouldn't buy a car without a smog up front, or go together with the seller.

e92 coupes do have secondary cats as part of the middle section of the exhaust which is replaced/removed by the VRSF catback, so that first technician that failed you was correct...
Appreciate 1
lowrydr3101576.00
      04-27-2022, 03:31 PM   #3
lowrydr310
Robot
1576
Rep
2,117
Posts

Drives: 2006 330i, 2007 E93 335i
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Souhtrne Califniora

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by R3dLeader View Post
It is the seller's responsibility to have valid smog before sale. I wouldn't buy a car without a smog up front, or go together with the seller.
Correct. Even if there was a bill of sale indicating that the car was sold “as-is” the seller would be legally responsible for paying any repairs to make it smog legal.

OP got lucky!
Appreciate 1
POBEP359.50
      04-27-2022, 03:35 PM   #4
E92only
Second Lieutenant
E92only's Avatar
United_States
77
Rep
225
Posts

Drives: 2011 E92 335i 6MT M-Sport
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Glendale, CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by R3dLeader View Post
It is the seller's responsibility to have valid smog before sale. I wouldn't buy a car without a smog up front, or go together with the seller.

e92 coupes do have secondary cats as part of the middle section of the exhaust which is replaced/removed by the VRSF catback, so that first technician that failed you was correct...
My e92 never came with secondary cats… Unless you think they cut them out at the port before it arrived at the dealer.
__________________
2011 E92 335i 6MT | MHD | AA FMIC | AR Design DP | ER CP | PE | AutoSolutions SSK | SouthBend Stg3 | MFactory SMFW | Bilstein B14 | M3 Arms | -2.75° camber |

2020 Porsche Macan S PASM
Appreciate 0
      04-28-2022, 01:48 AM   #5
autoart
Colonel
343
Rep
2,275
Posts

Drives: 2009 335i e90 M/ 22 X3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: socal

iTrader: (8)

I believe n54 engines have secondary cats and n55 do not.
Appreciate 0
      04-28-2022, 10:55 AM   #6
R3dLeader
Second Lieutenant
United_States
152
Rep
209
Posts

Drives: e92 and e93 335i
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: West Coast

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by E92only View Post
My e92 never came with secondary cats… Unless you think they cut them out at the port before it arrived at the dealer.
Because yours is N55.

Quote:
Originally Posted by lowrydr310 View Post
Correct. Even if there was a bill of sale indicating that the car was sold “as-is” the seller would be legally responsible for paying any repairs to make it smog legal.

OP got lucky!
In theory, you might be right. But when the buyer pays and signs the title, I do not believe the seller has any obligation to pay for repairs or guarantee smog. The buyer has already agreed to take the car and there is no return policy.

The buyer should ensure smog is passed before paying for the car, to protect themselves.

It would take some high priced California lawyers to figure it out, and often times it is simply not worth it in these cases.
Appreciate 0
      04-28-2022, 11:12 AM   #7
E92only
Second Lieutenant
E92only's Avatar
United_States
77
Rep
225
Posts

Drives: 2011 E92 335i 6MT M-Sport
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Glendale, CA

iTrader: (0)

Yes, and his is a 2012 N55
__________________
2011 E92 335i 6MT | MHD | AA FMIC | AR Design DP | ER CP | PE | AutoSolutions SSK | SouthBend Stg3 | MFactory SMFW | Bilstein B14 | M3 Arms | -2.75° camber |

2020 Porsche Macan S PASM
Appreciate 0
      04-28-2022, 09:51 PM   #8
POBEP
Lieutenant
POBEP's Avatar
United_States
360
Rep
543
Posts

Drives: E70 E90 E91
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Christmas Valley, CA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by lowrydr310 View Post
Correct. Even if there was a bill of sale indicating that the car was sold “as-is” the seller would be legally responsible for paying any repairs to make it smog legal.

OP got lucky!
Legally - yes.

I got my E90/335d last year from this forum member.
It was obvious that it would not pass smog "as-is".

It is really not a big deal if you know what to fix and rough estimate.
The ISTA+ would tell you if it is ready for a smog.

The smog place experience vary by price and experience.

STAR place next to my house does thorough visual checks.
However, on my E70/35d they "missed" replacement SCR cat (OE/Certified part) and did not even discovered Provent 200
__________________
Appreciate 0
      04-30-2022, 01:24 AM   #9
Milkbar
New Member
Milkbar's Avatar
6
Rep
22
Posts

Drives: E92
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: NorCal

iTrader: (0)

Turns out all is okay. N55 coupes have the primary and secondary cats located on the DP unlike the N54s, which have the primary cat at the downpipes, and the secondary cats on the exhaust.
Appreciate 2
POBEP359.50
lowrydr3101576.00
      05-02-2022, 11:53 AM   #10
lowrydr310
Robot
1576
Rep
2,117
Posts

Drives: 2006 330i, 2007 E93 335i
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Souhtrne Califniora

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by POBEP View Post
Legally - yes.

I got my E90/335d last year from this forum member.
It was obvious that it would not pass smog "as-is".

It is really not a big deal if you know what to fix and rough estimate.
The ISTA+ would tell you if it is ready for a smog.
I bought my 325i without a valid smog certificate and there was no way it would have passed, though I knew that and it was priced to account for that. In my case the SES light was lit so definitely not passing, and I drove it home on 5 cylinders, but after new coils it was good.

Agree it’s not a big deal if you know what you’re getting, just something to consider if you’re ever selling a car without a smog certificate. Could be the next scam, buyers getting cars cheap then going after the seller to pay for smog repairs.

335d is nice. A friend of mine sold his last year. I absolutely LOVE those cars but wouldn’t own one without removing all the difficult equipment.
Appreciate 1
POBEP359.50
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:03 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST