07-14-2021, 10:32 AM | #1 |
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CA Smog Testing on ECU Tunes Starting 07.19.2021
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07-14-2021, 11:45 AM | #2 | |
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ByeFelicia399.00 MisterF80M31047.00 |
07-15-2021, 08:53 AM | #3 | |
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If you live in California and run an aftermarket tune on your car, you might want to think about flashing your ECU back to stock before heading out for your biennial Smog Check. Starting July 19, 2021, testing stations will begin to check whether cars are running OEM or California Air Resources Board (CARB)-approved tunes. If your car isn't, it'll fail the test.
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07-15-2021, 01:10 PM | #4 |
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From my understanding (please do correct me if I am wrong), the checksum gets modified whenever you flash it to something other than OEM programming. Something like BM3 cracks just part of the DME, and you can never truly flash it back to the original flash and the checksum will never match again because you've never made a true backup of the entire DME. I believe that's how BMW detects your DME has been flashed.
My Guess: CA already has a database of checksum values for each make model year or they're in the process of collecting it and if yours doesn't match you'll be automatically failed at a smog station. They will send you to the state ref. where someone far more capable than a certified smog mechanic will go over your car in detail and then add a vehicle specific checksum for your vin so that next time you smog, your checksum must be in the set of allowable checksums. A change to an unrecognized checksum in subsequent smogs triggers that all over again. Thoughts anyone? |
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07-15-2021, 02:30 PM | #5 | |
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07-15-2021, 02:38 PM | #6 |
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If what I'm thinking is right, here's a few thoughts:
- Selling your tuned car in California is going to get a bit more time consuming and require some action ahead of time like a visit to the state ref. You have to be able to provide proof of smog that's only valid 90 days prior to sale. This would only be applicable to tuned cars >= 4 years old. So for example a 2017 or earlier tuned M3/M4 might fail and require to visit the state ref to be inspected prior to sale. Does the state ref cost money? - Tuned cars might be stigmatized even more than ever due to this. - Having a spare DME programmed to your VIN by BMW might make sense for smog inspections. No clue if they'd allow this. - You could get your prior tuned car inspected once by state ref and your new new checksum added to your vin. Then you can flash back to that tune every time you smog. - You don't need to smog until after 8 model years anyways so stop worrying about it for now? |
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07-15-2021, 02:59 PM | #7 | |
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I'm not sure if flashing back to stock won't reset the check sum value to the correct number. I know that going stage 1 on BM3 turns off your O2 sensors and can be rather problematic to turn back on. IIRC there is a reset protocol to get them to turn them back on but you'd still have the issue of the checksum value not matching what it needs to be |
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07-15-2021, 03:10 PM | #8 | ||
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07-15-2021, 08:52 PM | #9 |
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This happened to me. Feel free to ask away, but in essence, as long as you flash your car back to stock, you'll be ok.
Keep in mind that your first smog check (first EVER for the car) will serve as the reference point for future smog checks. The DMV will store your OBD2 checksum data into the database and if you try to fudge with future smog checks, you'll get sent to the ref. The only remedy would be for you to take your car back to the dealership and ask them to flash you back to stock (in the event that BM3/Ecutek/MHD "flash back to stock" is not appropriate data for your car based on checksum). "Referee Centers also reinspect vehicles that receive a "DATA CHECK FAIL" during a BAR-OIS inspection. A "DATA CHECK FAIL" occurs when data downloaded from the vehicle's OBD system during its last inspection is inappropriate for that vehicle. In order for the vehicle to receive a Smog Check certificate, the Referee must perform an inspection and verify the appropriateness of the data." https://asktheref.org/Information/Mo...iness-Concerns
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07-15-2021, 09:41 PM | #10 |
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Welcome to Commiefornia. High registration fees, gas tax, income tax, sales tax.
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07-15-2021, 11:29 PM | #11 |
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Even E85 is getting expensive here lol
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07-17-2021, 10:07 PM | #14 | |
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If the following scenario occurs… - no new baseline taken - flash to BM3 - reflash back to stock and get smog. Baseline and checksum generated - reflash BM3, get custom E85 tune etc - reflash back to stock and get smog again when time is due Will the existing baseline be safe and existing checksum be retained, or does something change that will affect secondary readings when compared to baseline. This is also making the assumption that after flashing back to stock, new drive cycle completed and all available readiness flags are set. Interesting game that is being played all for the sake of emissions… |
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07-17-2021, 10:12 PM | #15 | ||
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This basically results in you having to go to the dealer for a "reflash to stock" because of a failed smog check and then you go to the ref and they plug you in, analyze your data, check you have cats (they don't pop your hood, just use a mirror under the car) and once approved, you go back to your original smog place and get it resmogged and you should pass.
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07-18-2021, 11:50 PM | #16 |
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i passed a smog test on my tuned m4 last year. granted it was the FIRST EVER smog test on the car, but nothing went wrong accordingly to the inspector. honestly, i don't even think they cared. i just made sure the car was warmed up and on for 25 minutes prior. the car was 6 years old and i needed one for the sale of the car.
if it were a physical inspection that they would have cared about, for sure i would have failed. with exhaust, x pipe, intake, etc. it most likely should have been failed. i had a smog required on my on e46 years back. went into an inspection center and the guy said piss off. pre-judged that the car would fail/ wouldn't waste his time with all the mods. i think he would have failed it due to the visual inspection of being modded. i ended up at the smog station i went to for the m4, passed easily. the car was also tuned by dinan.
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07-19-2021, 12:12 AM | #18 |
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Darn. I am actually selling my car and apparently in CA the Seller needs to provide the buyer a smog certificate that the car can pass smog.
I don't have catless downpipes but I do have a stage 1 tune. I also have a cat back exhaust. I just flashed back to the stock tune and relocked the DME, but now I have to wait for the emissions controls to be ready, right? I heard this can take up to a week with a lot of freeway driving. Any insight? I'm afraid of smogging the car now and possibly failing and getting sent to the state ref. I'm pausing the sale of my car until I can figure this out. |
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07-19-2021, 12:18 AM | #19 | |
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You should also hook up a generic OBD2 scanner which beeps once a smog monitor has been set. It's super helpful to have for these situations so you can treat it as a game haha
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07-19-2021, 12:36 AM | #20 |
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What are your guys thoughts? I bought the car in sept of 2018 and had it smogged since it came from Texas. It passed with flying colors. Since then, I’ve tuned it with Bm3 and got the Awe swithpath exhaust system with AA EL midpipes. Now I reflashed to the stock tune and relockes the dme. If I try and smog my car again to get the buyer the smog cert, will the checksums be different and thatll screw me over?
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07-19-2021, 12:55 AM | #21 | |
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07-19-2021, 07:06 AM | #22 |
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I think all of this hinges on the idea that one can flash back to stock in order to get the checksums to be the same as what oem provides. Is that even truely possible? Isn't this the same technique bmw uses to detect tunes in the first place?
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