are there any products out that are carb legal? such as a cold air intake. in a few years from now i dont want to have to deal with sticking the oem intake back in so that i can get it smogged or get pulled over and get a fix it ticket or w.e it is.

 

K&N products are. I don't think theyhave a CAI specifically for the MINI yet.

Unfortunately I don't believe any of the specialist vendors have carb approved power upgrades.

I plan to keep the original parts and swap back for the smog test if it will be an issue, which is not much hassle with bolt-ons like intake and exhaust.

I presume the JCW tuning kit is CARB compliant but I don't know for sure.

 

It's been a while since I've looked at the rules, but I believe exhaust that is cat-back doesn't have to have carb certification. Anything that touches a carb will. Intakes generally need carb cert. Air filters don't.

Most smog shops wouldn't even notice a cat-back exhaust that kept stock looking tips. Remove a cat and you're done though.

 

I notice that the K+N filters state that they are NOT CARB compliant. Alta doesn't mention whether they are or are not ...so I assume they are NOT?

California sucks for mod-ding cars.

 

you can use the K&N panel filter (prob ALTAs panel too) and still pass as long as it's in the OEM airbox, unless the guy is a jerk and takes the time to open the airbox. ANY open air filter will not pass visual in CA afaik.

I had been swapping in the original airbox back on every two years. It takes less than 5 minutes of work, 10 minutes of scrubbing to get my hands clean though. After the sniffer test, i just hang wrap it back up in a garbage bag and hang up in the garage out of the way for another two years. My Acura's had the same air filter for 10 years now.

As for a fixit ticket, you'd have to be a jerk to the officer, driving like an a$$, caught racing or your vehicles making some crazy noises under the hood/spewing smoke after you get pulled over...