Failed Smog Check ....chip?

[montokboy]

If anyone has any advice on repairs they had done to help pass smog check I would really appreciate a few words. I recently failed the smog check trying to get my car registered. When i took it in for a mechanical inspection they told me the exhaust was not bmw, it was some midas generic thing. I also hear that mod chip can fail a smog check. So im going to replace the orginal chip back in the car, I don;t knwo if its a Conforti or not yet. Any pics on how the original chip goes into the board? Is it difficult to replace the cat converter and exhaust system on this car? All I can think is replacing the exhaust and cat, and the original chip should help it pass smog. I can't think of anything else...it failed by a huge margin.

thanks
Sean

 

[bichmgnt]

It's probably the cat. I just had my car smogged today. Had to go through a test only station to findo out the thing wouldn't pass and then take it somewhere else to get it fixed. They determined it was the cat and cut it out and welded a new one in AND did a retest and gave me a certificate for $325. Before they replaced the cat all the numbers came up really high, all way above normal. After the new cat they all were in the weeds. He also did a minor adjustment on the AFM to get the O2 sensor to respond properly but it really didn't make a difference.

Now about that chip. I went in to the test only station the first time with the chip installed and it didn't pass. I went home and took out the chip, drove it around a while, went back for the retest and the numbers were virtually the same.

I'd say it's not your chip but your cat.

Good luck.

Steve

 

[xLibelle]

i was going to say, before i read bichmgnt's post, that it could be the cat. there ya go

Man thats aweful for you guys in cali... im thinking of replacing my cat with a resonator. heheheh

 

[chucko]

They determined it was the cat and cut it out and welded a new one in AND did a retest and gave me a certificate for $325.

Did they weld in a bmw cat, or one of those small universal ones? I was quoted $600 for a replacement cat for my 87 325i, and had to go with a smaller non bmw unit.

 

[Big Daddy]

Go non BMW at this point. I would not pay the BMW price. I concur that the chip makes little difference on the testing, assuming it is a quailty chip (Dinan, Conforti, Bavauto, etc.)

 

[bichmgnt]

It's definitely a non-BMW cat. He just pulled it out of the back and welded it up.

Steve

 

[montokboy]

Thanks very much to all!
I was going to go have a smog repair shop check it out, but as everyone is telling me it's the cat I'll go to a bmw mechanic and have it replaced. I haven't pulled out the chip to see what it is, but im planning on getting a conforti anyway. Would it be wise to change the muffler to a bmw one?

thanks
Sean

 

[rjp325i]

When I had my 1989 325i with a Conforti chip my smog test results were better than with the stock chip. I agree with the others, sounds like you need a cat.

 

[montokboy]

Could the oxygen sensor have any effect?
Does anyone have any experience with the effect a bad oxyegn sensor could have? In the Bentley manual it says it's either the cat or the oxygen sensor, or both.

 

[Big Daddy]

O2 sensor could be a problem. Do you have an idiot light for that on your year model?