Hi guys, I have an AWE setup (mufflers / cans) on my 2006 997.1 S and I "barely" passed my smog test last year and had to drive around for an hour to get it to squeak by on the smog tests.

Recently a friend failed smog with the same setup a few weeks ago and told me the new CA laws do not permit any Porsche aftermarket exhaust in CA (will not pass visual inspection).

So what's the real story here? I do not have any of my old OEM equipment and I can't imagine driving this car with OEM quiet exhaust. Thoughts?

 

I am not aware of any after market exhausts that will pass CA visual inspection

 

Exhaust only is fine. But if you cannot changeover the catalytic converters or they will flag you for a failure. Even if they are non OEM direct replacements if the car is under 10 years old.

 

its tuff here in CA. I bought a diesel truck so I wouldn't have to deal with smog,,,yeah right, now I have to smog my truck every 2 years, goodbye $65

 

Stock cats and anything after is fine.

 

Ok so then the consensus is I should probably find some stock cats and the aftermarket mufflers will be fine.

 

Headers and cats need to be stock or you will fail visual. It's possible they won't notice if they don't know porsche. Unsure if awe high flow cats will pass smog sniff test.

 

Ugh, no cats or headers, what a waste!

 

both of my cars have passed w/ cargraphic and fvd/brombacher exhaust. as recently as two weeks ago. visual and sniffr were not the issues, mine were "readiness" codes such as the upthread poster mentioned. PITA to get them reset. it's ain't easy to drive modded turbos at 30-40 mph and under 3k rpm... for an hour

 

The 'Smog Shop' I go to doesn't look underneath for headers, CATs, mufflers, etc. They do look over the motor compartment but basically it's an exhaust sniffing test at the rated RPM. IMHO if you have stock CATs or good aftermarket high flow ones you should be 'OK'.

 

...and yet another reason why I have not returned to California for anything other than a visit.