The car I'm about to pull the trigger on has pretty much everything done to it. Interior is gutted, its got a full race exhaust, etc. The exhaust I can handle, but my concern is for the interior. For example, I think he's taken out the hazard light button because the console was removed. He also relocated the window switches. I believe the airbags are still intact, but its very bare bones.

Should I be concerned? I don't want to buy this car if I'm going to have to invest thousands to register it.

Anyone know a very "friendly" shop that might inspect this one for me?

TIA

Checklist from MD MVA site

• Steering system
• Wheel alignment
• Suspension
• Brake system
• Wheels / tires
• Fuel system
• Exhaust system
• Bumpers
• Fenders
• Lights
• Electrical system
• Mirrors
• Glazing (windows)
• Wipers
• Hood / catches
• Door handle latches
• Floor / trunk pans
• Speedometer / odometer
• Driver seat
• Safety belts
• Motor mounts
• Gear shift indicator
• Universal and CV (constant velocity) joints
• Emissions equipment

If it's a track car why are you tagging it for street use?

If it's a track car why are you tagging it for street use?

I don't have a tow vehicle, so it'll be driven on the streets only to and from the track.

The car I'm about to pull the trigger on has pretty much everything done to it. Interior is gutted, its got a full race exhaust, etc. The exhaust I can handle, but my concern is for the interior. For example, I think he's taken out the hazard light button because the console was removed. He also relocated the window switches. I believe the airbags are still intact, but its very bare bones.

Should I be concerned? I don't want to buy this car if I'm going to have to invest thousands to register it.

Anyone know a very "friendly" shop that might inspect this one for me?

TIA
My car passed while it was gutted, but I am in PA. They actually have a law here where it is emissions exempt, since I drive it less then 5,000 miles a year.

in MD...I can almost bet it will fail, this state is pretty darn strict...unless you know of an inspector who will be "kind" to you;) ...my advice...get a truck and trailer.

...my advice...get a truck and trailer.
Fixed.

in MD...I can almost bet it will fail, this state is pretty darn strict...unless you know of an inspector who will be "kind" to you;) ...my advice...get a truck and trailer.

Thanks for the advice, but for as much as that would cost, I'd sooner just insure the car, slap a tag on it just to drive to and from track events, and take my chances with the fines.

what kind of track car is it? is it a racecar? if so in what and what class? knowing that can determin how much interior is gone. my m3 is in JP meaning we have very little dashboard left, that is all. infact we tore the roof lining out today with scissors and just pulling very hard. As we ripped perfectly good peices of trim in half i though i bet there is some nut out there looking for this exact piece, then i thought but ill never know how much wieght i saved if i sell it.

what kind of track car is it? is it a racecar?

I know where you're coming from, unfortunately though it's not a racecar, just a stock car that's heavily (and I mean heavily) prepped for the track. It has some of the dash (both airbags), but the passenger side glove box and vents are out. The center console is completely gone, and he relocated the power window switches to a little metal tab (just a one-off job). There are still the stock seatbelts for the driver and passenger, but I didn't see any for the rear seats in the photos. The only seat in the car is the driver's seat, which is a racing shell with a 5 pt harness.

He will be putting the stock exhaust and emissions components back on the car before selling it to me so I only have to switch them once after the test is performed. So I'm not worried about passing emissions or that portion of the inspection. Mechanically its tip-top. Like I said, its really just the lack of standard passenger car stuff that worries me for the inspection a bit.

On a different note - I know what you mean about the interior. This one is completely gutted, and without the stock stuff I have no way to know how much savings there is. Guess I'll just have to weigh it as-is. :)

As we ripped perfectly good peices of trim in half i though i bet there is some nut out there looking for this exact piece, then i thought but ill never know how much wieght i saved if i sell it.

:confused Why don't you remove each piece intact, weigh it, then sell it?

take too long, some pieces had roll bar marks also.

wait what color is this m3? from what you describe i think i rode with some guy at shenandoah that had an m3 prepped like that, atleast from what u describe. is it silver?

take too long, some pieces had roll bar marks also.

So your previous post made no sense. Got it.

It will pass.
If its low enough, it will not even be emissions-tested.

It will pass.
If its low enough, it will not even be emissions-tested.

Really? I thought they always do the OBD check on '96+ cars. Do you mean the dyno test during VEIP, or the visual inspection to make sure all emissions components are there during the state inspection?

Thanks, this is at least somewhat reassuring

take too long, some pieces had roll bar marks also.

wait what color is this m3? from what you describe i think i rode with some guy at shenandoah that had an m3 prepped like that, atleast from what u describe. is it silver?

It is silver actually, yes.

Really? I thought they always do the OBD check on '96+ cars. Do you mean the dyno test during VEIP, or the visual inspection to make sure all emissions components are there during the state inspection?

Thanks, this is at least somewhat reassuring

They do.

When they OBD tested my Boxster they still had to drive it across the rollers to get to the testing machine but a car would literally have to be two inches off the ground to not be able to go over them.

Now the dyno-test for pre-96 cars - if your car is too low you'll get an exemption.

My '97 was deemed too low to test. It was greater than 2 inches off the ground at the time. Any "race/track car" with a splitter/lip is gonna be too low to test. To be sure, if it has coil-overs, just slam the car to the ground temporarily . . .

Now the dyno-test for pre-96 cars - if your car is too low you'll get an exemption.
They may exempt the dyno but they'll still run the tailpipe sniffer....of course none of this has anything to do with the inspection.

They may exempt the dyno but they'll still run the tailpipe sniffer....of course none of this has anything to do with the inspection.

You can't even pull into the "testing garage" if the car is too low. This is how it was in G'burg, anyway. If you're too low, you get a free pass - period.

In terms of the inspection, as long as the car is "safe" and meets certain basic regs, you are OK. In other words, exterior lights, bumpers, reflectors, brakes, shocks, tires, glass, wipers, horn, fluid leaks, electrical, etc.

Air bags and passenger seating is not an issue, I don't think. There is a simple check list - I'm sure somebody has one around or online

They may exempt the dyno but they'll still run the tailpipe sniffer....

They may, they may not. Some folks on here have gotten an exemption straight up on pre-96 cars, no testing at all. I think it depends on the operator. There was a slammed ricer Honda that must have been three inches off the ground getting dynoed at the Columbia facility near me when I went to get OBD tested. So it's fairly hit or miss.

In terms of the inspection, as long as the car is "safe" and meets certain basic regs, you are OK. In other words, exterior lights, bumpers, reflectors, brakes, shocks, tires, glass, wipers, horn, fluid leaks, electrical, etc.

This is how it's supposed to be, but if you go to a place in Columbia you can get failed for whatever they want to fail you for on any given day. Happened to me with my hooptie SHO (failed for rusty parking brake cables, even though it still worked perfectly) and happened to Marisa's basically-new Jetta 1.8T (failed for too much toe when it was within factory alignment specs). :rolleyes

They may, they may not. Some folks on here have gotten an exemption straight up on pre-96 cars, no testing at all. I think it depends on the operator. There was a slammed ricer Honda that must have been three inches off the ground getting dynoed at the Columbia facility near me when I went to get OBD tested. So it's fairly hit or miss.

At the Owings Mills facility, they gave me an exemption one year for the car being too low. Last year, I mentioned that I thought my car was too low and the bytch told me to go over the rollers anyway. THUD! I bottomed out.

I was pissed and she didn't give 2 shyts.

My circuit racer passed the emissions test with flying colors. :dunno

the bytch told me to go over the rollers anyway. THUD! I bottomed out.

I was pissed and she didn't give 2 shyts.


Awwww man. You let her drop dung on you like that? What kinda man are you?! :nono

My circuit racer passed the emissions test with flying colors. :dunno

Good point! I forgot to mention that my car did pass and I use it for closed circuit racing also. It's a racecar that I drive to work.