Guys,

Need some help here. I shipped the wife's 03 M3 cab over to Japan. The Japanese have a very strict and VERY Expensive emissions testing system for any car that is imported. Because her car is US Specs and a convertible (not sold in Japan), it had to go through a $1900 test. I was assured by BMW Japan that the US emissions standards are very high and that it would have no problems passing. BTW the car has 4800 miles. Completely stock... the only thing that has changed from when we bought it was the initial oil... by the dealer.

The testing is done on a rolling chassis dyno in two phases... a warm cycle lasting about an hour and a cold start cycle. The problem is, it barely passed the warm cycle and it may fail the cold start cycle. The testing guys say that the emissions numbers are unusually high for a BMW. The CO levels were way above baseline during on throttle transitions... almost zero during steady state.

Does anybody know how the US GOV tests these things and what kind of number are normal? If I fail the cold cycle, I'm in a world of sh*t. The car is impounded until it can pass another test... at $1900 a shot. I am worried because the guys at the testing center are worried. If I fail, how hard should I lean on BMW? Obviously, something is wrong... I assume they will fix it (it is still under the worldwide 2 year warrantee) but I wonder if they will cover the flatbed truck to the dealer and the cost for another test.

Any EPA guys or BMW dealers out there?

Thank,

Cheuk (now in Japan)

Make sure that nothing is clogging up the air pump. BMWs use an air pump to dillute their exhaust. What it does is, under cold start up, the air pump switches on and pumps fresh air into the exhaust to dillute it... this way the exhaust numbers aren't as high.

As for the warm running test... I guess Japan is more strict than the US :95

I think it depends -- you need to get a print out of the particles ... that would enable us to assist you more. Is there anyway you can get what your percentages are for each of the test areas?

I mean, it could be a charcoal canister, etc. Perhaps run 100+ octane through the car as well, BG 44K, etc ...

You hear all the rumors about the US and why they wont import the Skyline, BUT Japan is very strict when it comes to Transportation...after all, it is the size of California, they would prefer if people used public transportation (ie the Train)...

I know for a fact that you cannot buy a new car in Japan, if you dont have proof of a parking spot...yes, it sounds funny and weird at the same time, but space is a big issue there...

As far as emission, I am not aware, but they do have periodic (depends on how old the car is) inspection for registration purposes...they have certain standards (ie. lowering, mods, etc) and if they are not met, your car will no receive the thumbs up...

I doubt your wife will be modding her car, but just a little information I can offer to you...good luck on passing the emissions !

Great news.
It passed... barely. I think they will issue the ppm numbers with the paperwork. It does kind of p!ss me off that the car was so close to failing. Maybe BMW made it just clean enough to pass.

It is a nightmare getting a car registered here.
Let's see $1400 to ship it. $800 for the customs hassle (stupid law about not being able to drive the car to the customs office). $1900 for the emissions test. $20 for the parking certificate (the police come out to the house and measure the parking spot). $40 for all the temporary plates. $50 for the base inspection. $330 for Japanese Mandatory insurance. $1900 in additional insurance coverage. And looks like another $1000 in road and usage taxes. That and all the bouncing around Yokosuka, Yokohoma and Yokota. All that and $5 a gallon for hi octane. Thank god I didn't have to pay customs duty taxes.

Should have just bought a piece of junk, dime a dozen, cheap Skyline. :stickoutt

Should have just bought a piece of junk, dime a dozen, cheap Skyline. :stickoutt

Yep...

State side storage $50 month for a two year deployment ~$1200

Hey Cheuk, did you get rid of your BMW?

Would have shipped and stored in the states but I don't know how long I would be here in Japan.

I got rid of the Z3. I am considering buying a new car later to replace the Pulsar... I HAD to have a car. The RX-7 is shipped/stored. I was considering another BMW but I really don't like the new designs and BMW Japan doesn't have a nice military arrangement like BMW Korea had. Although Mercedes has a nice program.. for a Japanese specs model, the price is based on European retail price in Euros minus 15%. A great deal 2-3 years ago.... bites now with the Euro continuing to rise against the $. If the Euro ever drops down into the 1.15 or 1.2 $ range, I will probably buy the AMG SLK55. I don't really like it either but the wife does and it will have great resale value here in Japan. Who knows, might buy a used BMW... the prices are a little steep here but the Japanese really really take great care of their cars and hardly ever drive them. My 95 Pulsar doesn't have a single door ding and has less than 30K miles.

Nice, that was one of the baddest Z3's around. Turbo right?