Jhoffmann

As I have installed high flow cats and performance intakes on a number of my cars, I always go to an inspection place in a lower rent district that does not have a lift. In most cases they have never had a Cyman, a 911, or a 928 in for an ainspection, so are not quite sure what they are looking for. Plus, if they don't have a lift, they can't look under the car to get a closer inspection. This has worked every time for me.

dr bob

My guy just asks if anything has been changed. The belly pans hide the front of the cats but the rest is exposed. He doesn't even look anymore. It's critical of course that everything appears to be original. Fancy hoses, plumbing, fittings etc. look great but are a huge red flag for the smog guys. If I fif any obious intake mods, for sure I'd make a new "matching" hood label to support whatever is in there as an OEM install. Might be able to get a rear turbo through, but only if the underhood plumbing is really clean.

Bill Ball

As everyone has already said, RMB and small oil leak is not an issue for smog test. I've never had anyone look at the cats, and on S4+ they are completely hidden anyway by the rear bellypan. They will look for the air pump and some may try to check the gas cap for sealing, but that is variable.

This year I finally failed smog for the first time. High NOX. It looks like I am lean, have a miss or an air leak, but I have not been able to find it and my other gases are borderline failing too. My fixes so far just made things worse on 2 subsequent tests. So....I broke down and bought two new CARB-approved Magnaflow cats - yes, actually CARB approved for S4 and GTS 928. I never knew they existed. Found them online for about $125 each. CARB approval has to be make and model specific, and I never thought anyone would seek approval for our small production number vehicle. The approval process must have loosened up.

I visited the local exhaust whizzes and they said 2 hours and $200 later I will have new cats. New cats can cover a multitude of sins. So, until I can take the time to really track down why my NOX and other gases are high, I should be able to pass just with the new cats. I will report back later, probably next week, after I get the cats put in and re-test.

rickjaffe

not sure where the leak is. up front and high up, but that's not too helpful.
had it looked at awhile back and it went away but it came back or another one popped up.

Jim Devine

Welcome to California- they don't care how much your car leaks, brakes metal to metal, suspension completely worn out etc. It just has to have the smog stuff on & pass the test.
Don't let them park the car- stay in it & keep the rpm's up to keep the cats hot until it's tested.

Randy V

Never had a problem with the visual inspection portion of the smog test with the RMB on my GTS in California.

I always take the car for a 30 minute freeway run before the test and then leave it idling in the lot until they pull it into the bay.

cali4sun

+1

17prospective buyer

Stupid California emissions bull****... i pity Californians for that.