Originally posted by dreamdrivedrift
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California: CSL Intake Smog
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I revert from Karbonius back to stock every 2 years for CA smog. It's really not hard, it's an afternoon of total work, once every 2 years, and you don't need to be particularly mechanically inclined. You don't even need to jack up your car or anything, I don't think it gets much easier than this tbh.
To deal with the tune aspect easily, I actually have two DMEs: the original MSS54 DME that came stock on my car (it's a 2002) which has the stock airbox tune on it, and then a MSS54HP with the tuned CSL software to run the CSL box. Takes minutes to switch between the two. Should be pretty cheap to pick up a used MSS54 on ebay?
If your smog guy is okay with you leaving your CSL airbox in, then one thing you could try is swapping in a DME that has a stock tune (or flashing one to your current DME) and just hooking up a MAF and duct tape it to the inside of your csl airbox housing? It's a quick fix and the car will probably run kinda like shit, but it should still pass smog once you get the emissions monitors ready?
Again, I'd personally just do the swap every 2 years. It's kind of nice to be reminded what the car feels like stock and then going back to the CSL airbox and a tune after.Last edited by ATB88; 09-17-2025, 09:53 AM.
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This is a fact that nobody talks about. Pretty sure I ended up smogging my GT3 the year after smog was due with the registration. They won’t send you the stickers until you smog it, but I don’t keep up on those silly things anyway.Originally posted by zzyzx85 View Post
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.
Again, smog checks should not be the reason that you keep the stock airbox.
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It works 😉 Seriously. My registration comes in the mail, I pay it, and it's done.Originally posted by Nate047 View Post
You could give it a try, DMV might flag you though? Like if they actually look at the address and see it's a UPS and not another business or residence. I have no idea if or how well anyone checks these things out...Last edited by dreamdrivedrift; 09-18-2025, 07:01 AM.
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Do you have to re-sync the EWS every time you swap it? Unless you disable it on both DMEs and call it done assuming no other procedures?Originally posted by ATB88 View Post
To deal with the tune aspect easily, I actually have two DMEs: the original MSS54 DME that came stock on my car (it's a 2002) which has the stock airbox tune on it, and then a MSS54HP with the tuned CSL software to run the CSL box. Takes minutes to switch between the two. Should be pretty cheap to pick up a used MSS54 on ebay?
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Yes.. I still have EWS on my OE DME but my HP DME has EWS disabled. I need to sync it up every time I switch back to OEOriginally posted by Epsilon View Post
Do you have to re-sync the EWS every time you swap it? Unless you disable it on both DMEs and call it done assuming no other procedures?"your BMW has how many miles!?"
2003 M3 coupe - Imolarot/Black 6 M/T - JRZ - Ground Control - Volk Racing - Karbonius - SuperSprint - Recaro - Schroth
1989 325i sedan - track project coming soon!
2007 GX470
build/journal
ig: @zzyzx85
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Yep! I keep EWS enabled and re-sync on swap. I have a step by step for doing it with tool32, takes a couple minutes. But disabling on both should also be fine and easier.Originally posted by Epsilon View Post
Do you have to re-sync the EWS every time you swap it? Unless you disable it on both DMEs and call it done assuming no other procedures?
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