California: CSL Intake Smog

[andrewlobel]

I know there are a couple threads about this but I'm planning on installing a csl intake and I live in California. My local smog said their is no problem having the intake installed when getting the car smogged, but I understand that I'd have to run a tune after I install the intake and that's were the issue is.
He told me if I have a tune of any kind it would flag the system and automatically state ref the car, I'm wondering if I flash the ecu back to stock settings when I need to smog , would the system still flag the ecu being tuned?
Wanted to hear from some people with csl intakes in California

[EthanolTurbo]

You can flash back to stock and revert all hardware to stock, and it should pass. There are other ways as well. Your best bet is to just run that Eventuri hybrid CSL intake, you could run that with stock tune and if they don't care about visual it will pass smog. Or easily slap stock MAF box back in.

Or do a hot smog and leave it all intact like a rebel.

[LSB4Me]

Don’t quote me, but …

I’m pretty sure the “tune flag” applies to the models after the e46. This is what I’ve been told by smog shops over the years. (I ask random, but targeted, questions about my other cars when I smog something else.)

I’m very sure that they just plug in to check O2 readiness.

Regardless, if they pop the hood and see an airbox, you’ll fail visual and that’s that.

Best practice: get your O2s to read “ready” and find a shop that doesn’t visual.

Clear paths to success: revert to stock, find a “friendly” shop, or Montana.

[Nate047]

There are also a few smog exempt counties in California, if you are extraordinarily motivated.

[EthanolTurbo]

There are also a few smog exempt counties in California, if you are extraordinarily motivated.

That's how my car is registered. Haven't smogged since 2020.

[LSB4Me]

That's how my car is registered. Haven't smogged since 2020.

Am I correct that this is via a box at that special P.O. Box location?

[EthanolTurbo]

Am I correct that this is via a box at that special P.O. Box location?

For me, I have it registered at a residential home address.

[Nate047]

Has to be a physical address.

[dustyice]

This is the only reason I dont have one ... The eventuri intake looks like a solid option, but i dont see how it could sound like a true CSL intake.

[bavarian3]

This is the only reason I dont have one ... The eventuri intake looks like a solid option, but i dont see how it could sound like a true CSL intake.

the install isn't difficult at all once you do it once. i'm not worried about smog at all

[LSB4Me]

This is the only reason I dont have one ... The eventuri intake looks like a solid option, but i dont see how it could sound like a true CSL intake.

Smog seems more daunting than it really is.

But if I run into trouble, I have a foreign LLC ready for title transfer so I’m bolder than most.

[9kracing]

Ask ChatGPT what a DMV 'statement of facts' is, and how it relates to smog when your car is out of state

[Turboixxi]

The only issue I have with flashing back to stock is resetting the OBD drive cycle. Is it just my car or is the e46 m3 a very difficult car to pass the OBD drive cycle?

[zzyzx85]

The only issue I have with flashing back to stock is resetting the OBD drive cycle. Is it just my car or is the e46 m3 a very difficult car to pass the OBD drive cycle?

it's difficult because the E46 M3 wants to run 😄. It really didn't take me much effort to get all the readiness monitors ready. As long as your system checks out and you follow the procedure, it should take 1 drive. The only one I had issue with was SAI and it was most likely because I didn't let it idle long enough at cold start (needed at least 5 minutes).

I have a CSL box in CA and I swap back to stock airbox and DME every 2 years. If I'm busy (or lazy) I make sure to pay the registration fee before it is due (because getting their money is all CA really cares about) and swap back to stock airbox and DME whenever I get the chance. Then it's just making ready all the readiness monitors and getting it smogged.

[dreamdrivedrift]

Has to be a physical address.

UPS box address is a physical address just like if you were to use it to register a LLC.