hello,

selling my m3.


i'm contemplating purchasing a 2003 996tt with a ruf 550 conversion, vehicle is a florida car, no smog certification needed there. will this car pass calif emissions?

no guessing please, first hand knowledge appreciated.

any independents work on ruf turbos out here in so cal?

to anyone who has any ruf turbo out here, please give me any comments or faults you have with em.

thanks to all for any help.

hope to driving a pcar soon

 

My car is stock with the exception of a LOUD fabspeed exhaust and it passed smog but the catalytic converters had to be VERY WARM in order to do so. I have a hard time believing a ruf car would pass smog, but they may have some magic cats they install to make the car still pass smog. I know this is speculation, but I always go with my gut and my gut tells me NO it will not pass smog in CA! There are ways around smog, they just require you to open your wallet that much further haha.

 

AFAIK, should be no problem....

 

See:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php

if the conversion isn't listed there, it's not legal in CA.

 

What did Ruf say when you called them?

 

Ruf has NEVER been able to figure out Cali certification for CARB. That's just a FACT. All cars are 49 state. Good news it is a converted car...so no red flag w/VIN#. I think the 550 has different cams and that could be the only problem. It should have cats installed and probably stock cats at that...you need to check w/owner. Other than that it should pass no problem. No visual issues that would alert a smog tech. I've been down this road on several occassions on earlier Ruf cars. Call Wayne at Ruf Dallas and he is your best source. Also, find out who did the conversion BEFORE you call Wayne. If a Ruf cert tech then that's a very good thing. Wayne may even know the car as he usually knows what's for sale. Ruf Dallas currently has inventory which is always a good place to buy, even if at a slight premium. I have lots of 996 buddies w/cars modded out the ying-yang and they pass smog...or for $300 they pass smog regardless.

 

Ruf 550 uses stock cams , car was converted by Ruf technician Joe Huber

 

That's right...w/the 996's they leaned back on the ECU instead of opening up the engine for cams like on the 993. Based on my experiece here in SoCal w/smog issues my opinion would be that you are in good shape to pass. Even w/100 cell cats, get them hot and it should be no problem.

REMEMBER...you just need to do an idle sniff test as no 4 wheel rollers!!!

 

This is what has helped me

 

there's some bad advice on this thread.

1. Emissions - the car will almost certainly pass smog. You don't have to worry about that.

2. Visual - if the parts aren't listed in the ARB database referenced above, the smog technicians *can* fail the car. I don't know what's done to a 550 (presumably at least air box); an aftermarket airbox will fail you. This is, of course, easy to fix. If there are other parts (ie, headers, etc), you will be taking your chances b/c they can technically fail you.

3. One Other Risk - let's say you do get it smogged at your local smog station, they don't see any aftermarket parts, and you pass w/ flying colors. One day, you're driving down the road like an idiot (we all do), CHP pulls you over, and the cop just happened to have gotten his MOD-training. Even if he doesn't recognize anything, he can automatically send you to the State Referee - guess what? They will go over your car w/ a fine-toothed comb.


Just be aware of all of the risks.

- chuck

 

Ruf uses stock airbox with bmc filter and stock headers

 

if it's just programming then, you will be fine.

unless - and i'm speculating w/ no idea - CA refuses to recognize RUF VINs. not sure how this works but the original poster will want to read the DMV site carefully.

- chuck

 

conversion cars use stock vins so no problem, Ruf factory cars have there own vins

 

hey,

thanks to everybody for their input, after alot of research i'm pretty sure this will pass ca. emissions.

you guys have alot of great info,

thanks again.

bob

 

So which one are you looking at? Red, Silver or Grey?