I'm curious if anyone has input as to why my car switched over to Test-Only for it's smog checks when the car has always passed by a large margin and never had any fails or aborts. As of 2 months ago, my car was still tagged not-test only.....I'm due for my bi-annaul test in Auguest and I'm PISSED beyond belief b/k i've always been religious about smog, emissions and having my car pass by wide margins. I'm supper anal about not being tagged a gross-polluter. :mad

Are e36 m3's (or OBD-1 m3's) as a class being rolled into test-only carte blanche? Anyone have any clues? :confused

All of my cars have always been test only. If it's going to pass then who cares?:dunno CA is probably just trying to crack down on smog.

All of my cars have always been test only. If it's going to pass then who cares?:dunno

Word.

whats so bad about test only?

More expensive test.

after a certain age, cars go test-only. I want to say 10-12 years?

What's the difference? I never really paid attention to it, now that I think about it, haha.

^ What IS the difference?

Smog centers will both test and repair smog equipment, they are usually cheaper and a little more lax.
Test only centers are well, test only.

Why do they even have that? What's the point of having a test only center. I know the state requires it, but why?

More expensive test.

Thats not true when i was shopping for a smog place i found many test only with really cheap prices.

Smog centers will both test and repair smog equipment, they are usually cheaper and a little more lax.
Test only centers are well, test only.

That part is obvious question is whats the advantage or disadvantage of one place over another? What do you mean more lax?

More lax as in they will work with you to help pass the car. Test only stations are more like State Referee stations. They don't help much, they just test.

Another way to look at Test only vs Test and repair is that a Test only station has no real benifit in failing the car, they can only test. A test and repair might fail you because they can then up-sell you cats, repair services, etc. I've used Test only for a long, long time. No problems.

Test only stations can only TEST, they cant touch your car at all or suggest any repairs or anything like that. Test only stations also can certify your car if was labeled a gross-polluter but gold shield stations can do that too.

Test and repair stations can test and perform repairs only emission related if you failed. Repair stations cant certify gross poluters but can repair them so that they can pass then get sent to a test only.

It doesnt really matter which one you go to unless you are directed to a test only by dmv by either being a gross polluter or w/e else reason they said..

i just got mine smogged last week at a test only place, everything went well :)

^
My first smog on the ///M was in Feb. and it had to be at a TEST ONLY STATION.
I thought that was werid because this was my first time getting the car smogged ever and it had to be at a TEST ONLY STATION.
But yeah, it passed but thought it was werid because I thought the TEST ONLY STATION was for cars that had bad history of not passing smog.

Test only is for cars that are at a certain age (i dont know the age) but test only will only test and they will do a visual test as well, so no mods. Even if it will pass smog with mods they will fail it on visual, unless its CARB legal

I don't think it's by age b/k my 94 honda accord is not test only but my 95 m3 IS test only now. Both have had similiar 1-shot-1-kill pass histories and low emissions on record so it's not by age (ie 10-12 years).

I suppose what's logical is that it's by categories of cars that are statistically failing more often or have higher emissions than average. But my car's been so clean damnit.

What's the difference? I never really paid attention to it, now that I think about it, haha.

Being free to choose is like being American; choice rulez.
It also gives you 'options' if a car is very modified.

It's also a selling point to the car if you ever DO choose to sell: Any savy performance buyer would find value in a car that is unrestricted.

This is why i've been so anal about all my cars; i'm keeping my concours (and retained value) level higher. On the flip side, I don't buy cars that are tagged as gross polluters or have failing smog histories b/k that's a crazy headache in-of-itself. (smog check EVERY year for gross polluters). A failing history or even a high-emitter profile is like getting tagged as a "person-of-interest" by CARB....you just don't want to be on their lists....

Man, if you guys hate emission standards now...just give it a few more years...lol

The standards are gonna go up and there is not a damn thing anyone can do about it.

I noticed everyone here is registered in an Enhanced SMOG area. Test only was implemented years ago for enhanced areas to reduce "photochemical smog". We all know enhanced is dyno testing and a more accurate way of reading a vehicle's emissions. Whether you go to a test only or test and repair, it is just the BAR's way of gathering information. Both places perform the same smog test and whether you pass or fail is up to the vehicle's running condition, not the tech. A test only tech is no different than a test and repair tech. There are no rules that differ between the two stations for performing the smog test.

It is not based on the age of the car. Test only is issued on BMW's because they are typically high polluters (when we pass we barely pass) as compared to other cars. An example is my 1988 mazda is always at the bare minimum of the scale and my 1996 328 is always at the max (my 1989 325 was also always at the max). There is nothing you can do about it.

It is not based on the age of the car. Test only is issued on BMW's because they are typically high polluters (when we pass we barely pass) as compared to other cars. An example is my 1988 mazda is always at the bare minimum of the scale and my 1996 328 is always at the max (my 1989 325 was also always at the max). There is nothing you can do about it.

A friend of mine works at the DMV and told me that test only is completely random BUT you will have a higher chance of getting test only based on where your car is registered. So if your in the Bay Area, LA and areas with high pollutants you have a higher chance of getting tagged for it.

just had my car smogged, it passed ;)

I had the same shit, reason stated that the car has "profile of high emitter vehicle"

I wouldn't be worried my 1999 corolla got Test Only as well.

More lax as in they will work with you to help pass the car. Test only stations are more like State Referee stations. They don't help much, they just test.

I've had really good experience with Test only stations, when i was smoggin my 318 my gas cap did not pass the portion of the test, so the tech grabbed a generic cap and put it on there. Didnt charge me anything extra

i just got mine smogged last week at a test only place, everything went well :)

Really, mind posting your results with that AA supercharger :devillook haha.

from ca BAR website:

High Emitter Profile - The majority of vehicles directed to Test-Only stations are selected by application of the High Emitter Profile (HEP), which identifies the vehicles most likely to fail their Smog Checks. The High Emitter Profile (HEP) uses data from several different sources. Some of it comes from the state Vehicle Identification Database (VID), which collects data from each Smog Check performed in California. The VID is used by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), BAR, and other government agencies. In addition, general vehicle data such as make, model-year, vehicle miles traveled, and engine size help define the HEP.
This information is used to determine which vehicles are most likely to fail their Smog Checks, especially at Gross Polluter levels--at least two times the emissions level allowed for a particular vehicle. No single factor identifies a vehicle for a Smog Check to be done at a Test-Only station. The data is weighted and vehicles selected using this computer profiling of vehicles most likely to fail their Smog Check. DCA/BAR has gradually increased the number of vehicles directed to Test-Only stations to meet the air quality improvement goals of the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The SIP is a blueprint outlining the methods California will use to meet federal air quality standards.
Two Percent Randomly Selected - As required by State law, two percent of the vehicles in the Enhanced Areas are also directed to Test-Only stations for their Smog Checks. These vehicles are selected randomly to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the Smog Check Program.
How Motorists are Notified - The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notifies owners of vehicles that have been selected to have their Smog Checks performed at a Test-Only or Gold Shield station. The registration Renewal Notice sent for these vehicles will say "Smog Certification Required at a Test-Only or Gold Shield station".

i just got mine smogged last week at a test only place, everything went well :)

Yea how the hell did you pass with the s/c? Do you know someone or just got lucky?

Yea how the hell did you pass with the s/c? Do you know someone or just got lucky?

Yes we are all assuming he got "lucky" :D:D

update on how to fix fuel sender/pump leaks to pass smoke fuel-line testing in California.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=613266

test only isn't too badd but smog check i know a guy that is hella cool

I know its an old post but exactly the opposite happened to me. Is it a mistake or do they take cars off the test only program to regular smog?

I know its an old post but exactly the opposite happened to me. Is it a mistake or do they take cars off the test only program to regular smog?

It's my understanding once your car is tagged 'test-only' it stays test only. Unless your situation is something like your (newer) car was on of the random % that is tested by county in a test-only location.

I see, well i bought a car that has been failing smog for a couple years, fixed it had it tested at a test only station as required, passed with really good numbers and after i registered it they gave me new plates and it's no longer tagged as test only.

Yes we are all assuming he got "lucky" :D:D

let's just say I met someone named "Jose" :)

Update: Today I passed my biannual smog check with flying colors (as usual) and, in checking out the California smog hx website, my car is no longer tagged Test-Only. This is interesting b/k i have never seen a car that, once committed into the Test-Only program, revert back to vanilla 'any-ole-smog-check-place' ok.

I can only assume a very low emission profile triggers a 'stay' in the Test-Only designation. Whatever the case, I'm stoked. :cool