Greetings everybody!
This is my first post on this forum, thought i would ask the local guys first..

I really want to put a turbo on my 90 535i, and there is a company about to release one on the market. But they are smaller company and didn't pay the 50,000$ bond to get their turbo kits approved by C.A.R.B...

Is there any way I can get the car to pass smog with a modified turbo setup?? Are there any shops in the area that can build me a turbo setup that will be legal??

Thanks for your time!

Deke

http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com:eyes1

bribe the smog guy or take it off to smog

bump is there any body with costom turbo in cali that passes smog with out a bribing the Tecs? I know this is an old thread but I would like an answer to this question.

It's not legal if it's not carb certified - if you had a supercharger one option would be to 'obtain' a dinan supercharger carb certified sticker, and hope it passes, but I don't believe any turbo systems are legal according to ca emmissions... perhaps mosselman?

I guess that is the only way I can get close to the power level that I want to get to and be totally legal but I already drive with out a front license plate and my widows will are tinted to about 30% not to mention some of the speeds I drive around at are illegal and I don’t in tend to changing the plate, tint, or driving the speed limit all the time any time soon. If I was to get a turbo would run a track pipe and when it came time to smog swap it out for the stock for smog them go right back track.

I know that as far a emissions coming out of the pipe that it will pass with cats the emissions is not that much more then stock if everything is done right that but I’m concerned about the visuals, the polished intake, intercooler, and all the shiny, polished, bright panted aftermarket parts. I know people in CA turbo there BMW’s and was wondering if all the polished stuff was just over looked or they bribed the Tec.

If I understand the laws correctly you might be able to keep a non-CARB turbo legal. You'll have to go to a referee station for the smog check and they'll evaluate the whole thing and determine if it complies with laws regarding evaporative systems etc, then they'll smog the car to make sure the tailpipe emmissions are within spec. If the only reason the part/system isn't CARB certified is the company not wanting to pay the $50,000 bond you should be able to pass a referee inspection.

I have no idea how to go about finding a referee station or what exactly they require, but they pretty much are there to certify cars that aren't using CARB certified parts but are perfectly clean emissions-wise.

I actually know of a referee station. Its at Las Positas College in Livermore. Thank you that helps. :)