California Will Start Testing for ECU Tunes During Smog Checks

[Nate047]

Gotcha, and there are no other CARB legal tune options, right? Although it sounds like someone got passed with a Build Journal tune...???

[usdmej]

My e36 with a Dinan tune is up for smog soon, I figure it should be fine because they pay a shot load of money to get CARB exemption.

Is a Dinan tune even worth it for the e46?

starting with the E46 it seems like DINAN started having too difficult a time finding legal power. this compounded by more and more people being open to mods that were more "tuner" in nature and you can see why their reputation has declined over time

[Obioban]

This surprises me but considering the source, I'm inclined to believe it. Is it possible to elaborate a little to save this law-fearing CA citizen from plunking down $199 on snake oil?

The underlying issue is that the Dinan tune is from the era before people understood how the MSS54 works. They did their tune in ~2001, and it was on par with what was offered at the time (which was basically changing values in the dark). Since then, most companies have improved their offerings or just don't sell anything anymore. Dinan persists in selling their original tune, pretty much based on brand and CARB legality.

They're lost of the M3forum void now, but every dyno I've seen with the Dinan tune made less power than stock/same hardware.

[ridebikes]

No-- it's worse than stock.

This surprises me but considering the source, I'm inclined to believe it. Is it possible to elaborate a little to save this law-fearing CA citizen from plunking down $199 on snake oil?

[Obioban]

My e36 with a Dinan tune is up for smog soon, I figure it should be fine because they pay a shot load of money to get CARB exemption... But I'm gonna leave a but of time incase I have to go back to stock and do a drive cycle.

Is a Dinan tune even worth it for the e46?

No-- it's worse than stock.

[Nate047]

My e36 with a Dinan tune is up for smog soon, I figure it should be fine because they pay a shot load of money to get CARB exemption... But I'm gonna leave a but of time incase I have to go back to stock and do a drive cycle.

Is a Dinan tune even worth it for the e46?

[Samsonite79]

BAR rejected my public records request on the grounds of trade secret protection. That is such horseshit. I might fight this.

that is complete horse shit, some of the records for smog shops who does clean plugging are on court dockets which shows what they're looking for prior to the July19th, the use this evidence to fine or close smog shops who fake their smog results but the fact that they're not releasing to the public is complete lack of transparency...

[Icecream]

BAR rejected my public records request on the grounds of trade secret protection. That is such horseshit. I might fight this.

You couldn't get data for records CARB is using to tell us what we can and can't do? That does sound like horseshit.

[skristedja]

BAR rejected my public records request on the grounds of trade secret protection. That is such horseshit. I might fight this.

[old///MFanatic]

Highly doubt the Dinan tune will pass if they enforce CVN verification

True it probably wouldn’t meet that. But it should not have to since it carries a CA Air Resource Board (CARB) E.O. making it exempt/approved. Just like CARB Exempt intakes, superchargers, cats, do not get failed on the visual.
Unless they revoke their current CARB EO number that underwent testing and CA Approved then I don’t see why it would be failed?

[terra]

Highly doubt the Dinan tune will pass if they enforce CVN verification

[old///MFanatic]

Is the Dinan tune worth it at all? That seems like the only fully compliant option right? I assume it would be a mild tune at best

Well it’s very early to see how they will flag still. But if someone did get flagged (and not software savvy) where they were going to have to pay dealership for stock tune. Then I would say buying and installing the Dinan tune instead would be a much better opinion.

[ridebikes]

Is the Dinan tune worth it at all? That seems like the only fully compliant option right? I assume it would be a mild tune at best

[sev]

keep em comin!

[jet_dogg]

Excellent data point thanks for adding.