I hate California Smog check
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
I hate California Smog check
My car is 06 so this is my first time smog check this bad boy. Since it also has Kleemann header the smog check was pain in the azz. I only drive 2 miles round trip from home to office and 2 miles to my smog shop so at the first test, my car failed. The tech told me that my car is not warm enough so he did twice to get it pass. Then he was *****#$ing about the header as visual inspection not GOOD. Finally we talk thought and gave me a Go. Trust me, if i had a long tube header, I will never pass smog in here. The tech also told me that i need to let car warm up and run at least 10 minutes every trip or its not good for the car. I wish my office is a bit further .......
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From: LA
W213 E63
Yeah, had to go through the same thing a bit ago. It's a joke out here. I met a guy in the 818 who tells me it'll be even tougher this summer. Apparently the regime is starting to track the pass/fail ratios of shops all across Cali. The ones with "uneven" ratios will be "audited" for lack of a better word. I guess the plan is to track every vehicle, sort of like a DNA database. Who knows if it'll happen, just word on the street..
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From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
Yeah, had to go through the same thing a bit ago. It's a joke out here. I met a guy in the 818 who tells me it'll be even tougher this summer. Apparently the regime is starting to track the pass/fail ratios of shops all across Cali. The ones with "uneven" ratios will be "audited" for lack of a better word. I guess the plan is to track every vehicle, sort of like a DNA database. Who knows if it'll happen, just word on the street..
my E55 passed with flying colors, albeit totally stock when I smogged last week
most #'s were 0ppm - just the C02 was around 12-14 (out of 100-110)
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From: Bay Area, CA
E55 AMG, 72' Toyota Carina, 63' Ford F100, 72' Mercedes 250c, 15' Harley Davidson Softail
It's funny I just got smogged today with a muffler,resonator, and 2nd cat delete and the guy gave me no issues whatsoever. He actually complimented the cars "badassness" LOL. It really depends on who you go to, some guys don't sweat the visual.
Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
It's funny I just got smogged today with a muffler,resonator, and 2nd cat delete and the guy gave me no issues whatsoever. He actually complimented the cars "badassness" LOL. It really depends on who you go to, some guys don't sweat the visual.
Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
Off the top of my head I can't think of any header that's CARB legal.
that may be next for me, 2nd cats and x-pipe... gotta find someone who's done it already - I don't want the drone!
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2005 E55 amg
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
My car is 06 so this is my first time smog check this bad boy. Since it also has Kleemann header the smog check was pain in the azz. I only drive 2 miles round trip from home to office and 2 miles to my smog shop so at the first test, my car failed. The tech told me that my car is not warm enough so he did twice to get it pass. Then he was *****#$ing about the header as visual inspection not GOOD. Finally we talk thought and gave me a Go. Trust me, if i had a long tube header, I will never pass smog in here. The tech also told me that i need to let car warm up and run at least 10 minutes every trip or its not good for the car. I wish my office is a bit further .......
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From: Southern California
E55 w/ goods, Z32 Project underway
Lower that car all of the way down if you have something underneath to hide. 
And find the 'biggest' guy you can to conduct the check.
Yes, it works, for me. If you an see inspection mirror, move on.
And find the 'biggest' guy you can to conduct the check. Yes, it works, for me. If you an see inspection mirror, move on.
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From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
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From: LHC, Arizona
2024 GLE 63 S Coupe 2020 E 63 S
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From: Chicago
03 E55 AMG, 06 Harley Road King Custom 06 Ram 2500 Cummins, 97 Firebird Race Car, 88 Cutlass Supreme
California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country. At least when it comes to gun and emissions laws. You can feel free to influence the country some more with the way your women look. lol
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From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
I only had the Kleemann header and the guy pop the hood and saw it under the head gasket and said that's illegal. I was like.... wtf..... i guess thats why i kept my stock part.
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From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
I have no idea about the SMOG #. First time fail not because of the tune or header, just because my cat was still cold. He said I should run my car at least 10 minuted every time I start. I drive 1 mile then stop for 10 hours then other 1 mile stop for the day, not good for cars.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 69
From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
Yeah, had to go through the same thing a bit ago. It's a joke out here. I met a guy in the 818 who tells me it'll be even tougher this summer. Apparently the regime is starting to track the pass/fail ratios of shops all across Cali. The ones with "uneven" ratios will be "audited" for lack of a better word. I guess the plan is to track every vehicle, sort of like a DNA database. Who knows if it'll happen, just word on the street..
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: SoCal
07 E63 AMG / 07 C230 / 14 E350
Honestly, anyone that looks underneath the hood will probably said that it is illegal. Just need to find a legit smog place and let them do the pretest first to see if you pass or not. My smog guy does the same thing. So, I had him do a pretest and sure nuff it PASS.
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From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
I have no idea about the SMOG #. First time fail not because of the tune or header, just because my cat was still cold. He said I should run my car at least 10 minuted every time I start. I drive 1 mile then stop for 10 hours then other 1 mile stop for the day, not good for cars.
if you passed (or failed) - you should get paperwork showing your status - the #'s for CO2/NO2 are on there...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,411
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From: Socal, Chino
E55 2006 / CLS55 / S450 / Jag XKR2011
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,066
Likes: 37
From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 586
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From: Arizona
e63 NA
California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country. At least when it comes to gun and emissions laws. You can feel free to influence the country some more with the way your women look. lol
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 4,066
Likes: 37
From: Folsom, CA
2005 E55 AMG
California's crazy laws slowly migrate to the rest of the country. They need to stop electing these freaks that make up all these asinine laws in my opinion. CA is a bad influence on th3 rest of the country. At least when it comes to gun and emissions laws. You can feel free to influence the country some more with the way your women look. lol
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Orange County, CA.
one car at a time
As for headers being illegal, I do agree that is silly if the emissions are within spec....but oh well....
