Passing Emissions test with Powerchip Tune

Has anyone that has the Stage II tune passed their emissions test, specifically their readiness test? It is supposed to allow for the readiness to pass as they say they are not just turning off the O2 sensors. Please let me know if you have the tune and have passed your readiness test.

+1

make sure and post your results here http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=383526

The lack of responses says a lot. There doesn't seem to be anyone that has passed emissions with the Powerchip stage II tune.

It's kinda mind boggling how little information we've been getting on here from people and inspections.

However not too surprising you don't find the vendors all over these threads

Ben335 wrote

Has anyone that has the Stage II tune passed their emissions test, specifically their readiness test? It is supposed to allow for the readiness to pass as they say they are not just turning off the O2 sensors. Please let me know if you have the tune and have passed your readiness test.

Try posting in the regional forum and see if you have better luck.

J08M3 wrote

It's kinda mind boggling how little information we've been getting on here from people and inspections.

However not too surprising you don't find the vendors all over these threads

No kidding, I had the PC stage 1 tune, which was awesome, but they accidentally turned off my rear O2 sensors so I know I will not pass. Contacted Mike and he will rectify the mistake but that involves shipping the tool, flashing the car, shipping it back and such. Since then I have put on the Dinan midpipe so now I have a bigger problem since I have no cats, so I flashed the car with Dinan stage II and will cross my fingers and hope it passes, which I doubt it will. If it doesn't pass I will put the stock midpipe back on sell the Dinan pipe and go back to PC since that tune is much stronger. Waste of $800 bones I suppose but I will keep everyone updated since I have to try to pass this month.

Most states don't make new cars go through emissions testing. It's pretty crazy that they'd try, I mean it's a brand new car. Just another tax scam.

FStop7 wrote

Most states don't make new cars go through emissions testing. It's pretty crazy that they'd try, I mean it's a brand new car. Just another tax scam.

+1

FStop7 wrote

Most states don't make new cars go through emissions testing. It's pretty crazy that they'd try, I mean it's a brand new car. Just another tax scam.

It's 5 years for Kalifornia, and we're the most NAZI state there is when it comes to smog.

FStop7 wrote

Most states don't make new cars go through emissions testing. It's pretty crazy that they'd try, I mean it's a brand new car. Just another tax scam.

tax scam? look how many people it stops from breaking the law. If no one had emissions testing there would be so many more people just cutting of their cats without thinking twice about it.

VA tests emissions every 2 years regardless of how new your car is.

I am still waiting to hear from Powerchip on how they will fix this issue. As of right now my car is useless. I have to agree with J08M3 that the lack of vendor response to these types of threads is very disappointing.

It should be pretty obvious to anybody 'tuning' their car it won't comply with emissions anymore. A 'stage 1' could pass or not, depending how the state tests cars (most likely it won't), but a 'stage 2' is out of the question. Also obvious is to assume you have no engine warranty anymore, as any tampering with the DME is traceable. I'd interpret the silence from 'tuners' as NO . Good day.

elp_jc wrote

It should be pretty obvious to anybody 'tuning' their car it won't comply with emissions anymore. A 'stage 1' could pass or not, depending how the state tests cars (most likely it won't), but a 'stage 2' is out of the question. Also obvious is to assume you have no engine warranty anymore, as any tampering with the DME is traceable. I'd interpret the silcence from 'tuners' as NO . Good day.

+1
i agree. if you do a tune, you risk not passing ... simple as that. dont do it if you have a state where emissions laws are strict.

so then you have to ask yourself is the few hp even worth it?

elp_jc wrote

It should be pretty obvious to anybody 'tuning' their car it won't comply with emissions anymore.

It is not obvious, because it is not necessarily the case. For 335i, most tunes & piggy-backs passed emissions if cats were intact. So it makes sense to ask around and be informed, and not just make an assumption "if you mod, you are screwed in every way possible". Let's post up some real data. Anyone fail emission test with just a tune and no cat removal?

Mine passed few days ago, because I asked Jeremy not to turn off the rear O2s when he flashed the car with PC's stage 2 software. I used my modified stock exhaust and x-pipe to pass inspection, and when it's done, AA exhaust goes back on the car. Pain in the butt that I have to do it every year (NYS), but I think it's worth it.

MaxL wrote

It is not obvious, because it is not necessarily the case.

I said 'comply'. It's against federal law to tamper with emissions (ECU is part of it), so ANY tune puts you in non-compliance category. It's a fact, and you know it. That you don't get caught, operator/dealer doesn't catch it, you remove it before testing, or even if car passes emissions with it, it's a different issue. Plus you also have the issue of warranty: If you have engine trouble, would you tell dealer you had a piggy back module or tune? Didn't think so.

My point was ANYBODY modding their cars that way should be well aware of the possible implications of doing that. It's like cheating on your taxes, or on your wife/GF/SO; nobody thinks of getting caught, but it happens. As long as you're aware of the risks vs benefits, and you think benefits outweigh the risks, you're fine. Yes, there're rarely engine problems related to tunes, and even rarer to get prosecuted for violating emissions rules (you just fail), but thinking there're no risks when tampering with the ECU is just stupid IMO. Signing off. Have a good one.

elp_jc wrote

I said 'comply'. It's against federal law to tamper with emissions (ECU is part of it), so ANY tune puts you in non-compliance category. It's a fact, and you know it. That you don't get caught, operator/dealer doesn't catch it, you remove it before testing, or even if car passes emissions with it, it's a different issue. Plus you also have the issue of warranty: If you have engine trouble, would you tell dealer you had a piggy back module or tune? Didn't think so.

My point was ANYBODY modding their cars that way should be well aware of the possible implications of doing that. It's like cheating on your taxes, or on your wife/GF/SO; nobody thinks of getting caught, but it happens. As long as you're aware of the risks vs benefits, and you think benefits outweigh the risks, you're fine. Yes, there're rarely engine problems related to tunes, and even rarer to get prosecuted for violating emissions rules (you just fail), but thinking there're no risks when tampering with the ECU is just stupid IMO. Signing off. Have a good one.

Do you work for the EPA?

Trier Germany wrote

Do you work for the EPA?

He lives in Texas Remember what Bush used to say? "You are either with us or against us".

stylinexpat wrote

He lives in Texas Remember what Bush used to say? "You are either with us or against us".

FStop7 wrote

Most states don't make new cars go through emissions testing. It's pretty crazy that they'd try, I mean it's a brand new car. Just another tax scam.

Yeah, in Cali, you do it after 6 years, or at sale (change of ownership), which ever comes first.

edit: Actually it's "Seven model years old".

http://www.autorepair.ca.gov/80_BARResources/02_SmogCheck/Vehicle_Model_Years_Subject_to_Smog_Check.pdf