My car has essentially the same mods as yours and I just sailed thru a CALIF smog test with no problems. There was another thread on one of these forums that discussed some fellow flunking the "visual" part of the smog test (CA has two parts to a test...a visual inspection looking for non-OEM stuff and the emissions part) because he had installed the colored hoses. Gimme' a break...flunk a visual because of a different colored set of hoses? I've also heard of guys flunking because they had the silver billet colored diverter valves rather than the black ones....but that was hearsay. Like I said, I sailed thru with no problems. You might check around the forum for guys in your area when you get settled and see who they go to. Some of the smog stations are flat out chicken-$hit and use what appears to be subjective criteria that's unsupported by any real scientific data...I.E. based on "looks aftermarket". The smog computers are hooked directly into the central DMV computer, so any notations about a failure may be logged in there....that's why you need to check with the other TT guys in your area and see if they've had any problems with any of the stations because of hoses or some other rediculous issue. I developed "rapport" with several stations even though I don't run anything that shows except for DVs. The Europipe exhaust looks like OEM. Even with mods, these cars run really clean.

 

$525 a year to get your car registered? It costs me $60 a year here in Canada. That is absurd!

 

Good info. I'm also in the process of moving to CA from Ohio and have concluded I have to sell my cars before the move as there isn't a chance in hell any of my cars will pass inspections. This was actually the reason I've postponed the move over the past few years....

Look forward to meeting some of you Bay Area guys in 2010.

 

Don't sell your cars, either keep them registered in Ohio or talk to people here on 6speed that are local to your new home, they'll get you hooked up with who to take your car to. The smog shops out here are all independents that are using guidlines set by the govt as opposed to some states (AZ comes to mind) that require all smog centers to be run by the govt making it more difficult to pass. It's easy to pass out here, just gotta know who to go to, nothing a short time of sleuthing can't take care of

 

I've heard there are 'shops' I can pay to give me stickers, but given that I usually get a ticket or two a year, if any cop asks me to open the hood of the Z, my direct port is kind-of hard to hide ....let alone in my 8 yrs of commuting out there I've never heard a car out there as loud as my Z at idle....and standing behind it takes about 3 seconds to figure out I have no cats. My S4 engine bay is even worse with dual 3 in straight through exhaust. I could throw cats in each, but it's the visual that I assume I can't get around?

 

Really great info ! Thanks guys.

 

In CA cops do on the spot measures of emissions and Jamie is correct that his car lifestyle will have to be traded in for a new lifestyle.

Its all good because it was only a matter of time before settling into what he really wants in life:

 

wanna save some time and $$$$ find a way to reg your car in calavares county. only have to smog your car when you buy it and when u sell it not every two years. other than that were are just your reg comminust lib socialist state... try to stay away from marin county unliss ofcourse your are a commie lib then you will fit right in...

hey ard will be driving by latrobe on the way to the ranch for thanksgiving today, will not blink happy t day to all and to all a good day steve

 

heres some help on the to loud thing
it worked for on a old corvette years ago also a great simpathy getter put in a cut off switch !!! when you pull over turn it on , tell the cop hey it just stopped runnin when i stopped, try ito start it infront of him, get on your phon call a flat bed and i'll bet he will not write you for anything as he now feels guilty for stoppin u in the 1st place... it helps to let him hear you say an hour before you get here to the tow guy. that way he won't wait around to help you out. ya have to be a good actor in ca or gov is or was

 

Steve,

However Marin is such a stunningly beautiful place...one day, when I am old and just driving a CLS 550 to pick up my Social Security checks I plan on moving back to CA.

That is if it has not completely collapse into the sea literally or economically by then. Even the Terminator cannot rescue their budget.

 

dr grew up in mill valley, saw my old house my parente pd $14,000 for in the 50s it was for sale $1,400,000.00. but it was close to schools...

 

The only people I know of or ever hear of getting asked to pop the hood (or trunk!) are the import crowd and mostly in San Jose FWIW.

My meth injection nozzles in plain sight do not give me much worry currently. (Knock on wood). But then again most cops don't know the engine is in the rear of this car.

At least you can drive your fun cars year round in Calif!