C230 Sport Coup

I'm wondering, did they crawl under the car to look at the Catalytic converter and verify it?
New aftermarket ones have large numbers and letters on them, to make them visible from a distance.
New laws as of Jan 2009 specify that only oem or cats specifically called out for our cars can be used, and the smog guys are supposed to check.
Unfortunately the only one specified or available for our vehicles is
the MB one at like a grand.

So, anyone have a smog recently? Did they check the cat?
Having one soon? Please post only if you are in CA.

mleskovar

No, but he did spend some time under the hood checking things out along with the usual OBD II port plug in and tailpipe sensor. Just go for it and act dumb if they catch it.

C230 Sport Coup

Good thats what I was hoping. How long ago was this?
My car is so low, ha, doubt he could see crap without raising the car.
My old (magnaflow) cat passed with flying colors, too bad it only lasted 2 years and 30K miles.
The new one is the direct replacement.

mleskovar

February, after the recent smog changes came into effect.

XsuperbeeX

If you are scared that it won't pass there is one in millbrea... cant really remember of the place... he is like specialize in exhaust so he knows a place that you will pass...

lancemb

i went in for a smog check recently. he did not check under the car. just under the hood and talpipe sensors.

goodluck!

timdf

I had similar concerns when I took my 911 Turbo in for a smog test.
I have a high flow exhaust with 100 cell cats along with other mods which are not legal in CA.

None the less it passed with flying colors and the tech only gave a cursory glance over the engine and exhaust.

He wasn't at all familiar with what was stock or not on a 911.

So I figure the best bet is to take it to a smog test station who wouldn't normally deal with your particular make of vehicle :-)

mleskovar

Great idea! If you have a Honda Civic take it to a smog station in Newport Beach and if you have a Benz take it to a station in Brawley? :-)

kirax2

i did, my coupe pass easy, my coupe is low too he didn't look under, i went to the same station with my accord coupe he didn't look under too and the car sit pretty high

wongster

bring it to clean air smog in san francisco. my friend works there n when i chill there sumtimes i noticed that that don't check for that stuff.

C230 Sport Coup

Smog tests aren't as strict in Santa Cruz...
you didn't even need to get smogged in this county until recently.

Point being, it wouldn't make sense for me to go to the valley to get tested, they have a different test.

chokaay

Ditto as of 1 week ago.

2003 S600

Today, the guy scanned my renewal and it said 5.8 L N/A, he saw the intercoolers and thought I added turbos. I argued with him and told him to call MB and ask if my vin came stock with turbos. He looked it up on Alldata and I was confirmed. He was trying to yank my chain. He did look under the car to verify 2* cats were there. It is hard to see 1*s without being under the car looking up but he said he saw them. It passed.