[MJCRO]

Currently living in NY and received a job offer for a role in San Jose. Would like to relocate with my M2 if I like it out there. Has anyone had any experiences importing cars into the state and what it would require/cost to make the car pass smog? I’m assuming it’s more cats on the exhaust?

Thanks!

[F87source]

Originally Posted by MJCRO

Currently living in NY and received a job offer for a role in San Jose. Would like to relocate with my M2 if I like it out there. Has anyone had any experiences importing cars into the state and what it would require/cost to make the car pass smog? I’m assuming it’s more cats on the exhaust?

Thanks!

Can't speak much regarding this situation since I'm not from the states, but as long as your car is stock it should be able to go from NY to CA without hassle, since all Bmw's imported into the states and Canada are all the same spec and in order for that to be the case all cars must pass the most stringent smog test even if sold in a place that isn't as strict.

This allows for cost savings as they only have to build a single spec and have it be one size fits all.

[kpaso]

Originally Posted by MJCRO

Currently living in NY and received a job offer for a role in San Jose. Would like to relocate with my M2 if I like it out there. Has anyone had any experiences importing cars into the state and what it would require/cost to make the car pass smog? I’m assuming it’s more cats on the exhaust?

Thanks!

What engine mods are on your vehicle? It's not hard to import vehicles into the state, but you will need to be able to pass smog.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by kpaso

What engine mods are on your vehicle? It's not hard to import vehicles into the state, but you will need to be able to pass smog.

+1
If it's stock then you shouldn't have any issues, if you have carb certified parts then you probably will have to show certificates so slightly more hassle but possible.

[MJCRO]

Just running JB4, rest of the car is stock. Can easily remove it.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by MJCRO

Just running JB4, rest of the car is stock. Can easily remove it.

I heard the jb4 was going to a carb certified route, talk to Terry about it since I haven't been really looking into the jb4 since flash tuning was out. If this is the case he could probably send you a carb certified certificate.

[pz619]

You will need to take your car to a smog station as well. If you are stock, no problem.

[_morandi_]

Smog testing in CA also isn't required until a car is over 4 years old... so depending on what year your M2 is, you'll have some time to sort it out.

That said, nothing except a modified downpipe/cat should should trigger a smog test problem.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by MJCRO

Currently living in NY and received a job offer for a role in San Jose. Would like to relocate with my M2 if I like it out there. Has anyone had any experiences importing cars into the state and what it would require/cost to make the car pass smog? I’m assuming it’s more cats on the exhaust?

Thanks!

No. No. Drive it! Buy some trakktape to cover the front and take 8 days to drive across. I have driven from Rhode Island to San Diego in my ZHP and Toronto Ontario Canada to San Diego. Both longer than NY to San Jose. You should at least take one road trip in your m car. Go through Utah, monument valley etc. Best memories I have with my M car. So glad o did it. I even had my wife and two kids in the 1M. Seriously. That is what these cars are for. Shipping companies will probably damage something anyway. That would be painful. A bad death. If something got dinged driving across the country that is a righteous good death. Just quoting legends of the fall. Seriously why would you ship? Drive it!

[matty_f]

I did this with a 6 year old car several years back. The process may have changed, but it was straight forward. Get a smog certificate, make appt with DMV for inspection. They check smog stickers on car. M2 should have a 50 state emissions sticker under the hood. They look at your smog cert and give you plates on the spot.

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by MJCRO

Currently living in NY and received a job offer for a role in San Jose. Would like to relocate with my M2 if I like it out there. Has anyone had any experiences importing cars into the state and what it would require/cost to make the car pass smog? I’m assuming it’s more cats on the exhaust?

Thanks!

NY smog laws are identical to CA.

[chmura]

Originally Posted by _morandi_

Smog testing in CA also isn't required until a car is over 4 years old... so depending on what year your M2 is, you'll have some time to sort it out.

That said, nothing except a modified downpipe/cat should should trigger a smog test problem.

Every out of state vehicle being registered in California needs a smog check. My M2c was brand new and I had to smog it because I purchased it out of state.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by chmura

Every out of state vehicle being registered in California needs a smog check. My M2c was brand new and I had to smog it because I purchased it out of state.

Yep this. Any car brought in outside of California will need an initial smog certificate to register it.

[_morandi_]

Originally Posted by chmura

Every out of state vehicle being registered in California needs a smog check. My M2c was brand new and I had to smog it because I purchased it out of state.

Originally Posted by pz619

Yep this. Any car brought in outside of California will need an initial smog certificate to register it.

Ah, had no idea. Good to know!

[nachob]

Originally Posted by matty_f

I did this with a 6 year old car several years back. The process may have changed, but it was straight forward. Get a smog certificate, make appt with DMV for inspection. They check smog stickers on car. M2 should have a 50 state emissions sticker under the hood. They look at your smog cert and give you plates on the spot.

Yes pretty much that process. The inspection does have to be at dmv though can't be done by third party . You water half day but straightforward. M2 is 50 state car.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by _morandi_

Ah, had no idea. Good to know!

It's just. $50 test they plug machine to OBD reader. That's all.

[kpaso]

Originally Posted by nachob

Yes pretty much that process. The inspection does have to be at dmv though can't be done by third party . You water half day but straightforward. M2 is 50 state car.

Can do it at AAA too and avoid the DMV altogether .

[nachob]

Originally Posted by kpaso

Can do it at AAA too and avoid the DMV altogether .

No you can't. That's why I posted. Out of state inspection ONLY at DMV. Cannot be done by AAA. I'm on my third out of state into California import. Only DMV for inspection.

[kpaso]

Originally Posted by nachob

No you can't. That's why I posted. Out of state inspection ONLY at DMV. Cannot be done by AAA. I'm on my third out of state into California import. Only DMV for inspection.

That's strange, I've done it at AAA before when I bought my vehicle in Oregon. Maybe it's changed since then.

Either way OP, you'll be fine with smog once you flash back to stock.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by nachob

Yes pretty much that process. The inspection does have to be at dmv though can't be done by third party . You water half day but straightforward. M2 is 50 state car.

AAA can do the inspection. I just did it on my new to me e90 m3

[akkando]

Originally Posted by nachob

No you can't. That's why I posted. Out of state inspection ONLY at DMV. Cannot be done by AAA. I'm on my third out of state into California import. Only DMV for inspection.

I literally had AAA do the inspection 2 weeks ago from a car I brought in form Florida.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by akkando

I literally had AAA do the inspection 2 weeks ago from a car I brought in form Florida.

Ok you win my last out of state was longer than that so the probably allow it now. Was not allowed for all three out of state cars I've tried. That's good news. I stand corrected then. My apologies.