Question: How important is it that a MINI dealer do a state inspection as well as a emission test. This is my MCS’s first one and I was a bit curious.
Any thoughts, bdawg

 

For anyone commenting according to his profile this question is in regard to the [b]Pennsylvania[/i] inspection.

 

In my State (NC), they require Vehicle Inspections some counties also do the exhaust inspection, which requires the dealership to perform the inspection. I've never seen the cost itemized but I'm sure it's buried in there somewhere.

 

In Massachusetts, all vehicles must be state inspected within 5 (?...it's definitely under a week) after transfering ownership. This means that new cars need to be inspected, and generally, the dealer does it. You could refuse, but you'd have to get it done someplace within the time limit.

The first inspection on a new car (in MA) is very basic and is almost entirely safety. Then, each subsequent year it gets more rigorous. It's a basic (static) tailpipe sniffer for the 2nd and 3rd year...and then after that a rolling test using special equipment that measures emissions at various engine speeds and in different gears. That particular test then rolls around every 3 years until the car is classified as an antique at which point it goes back to safety only.

But you didn't really want to know about Massachusetts, right?

 

From PA :smile:


If you mean upon taking delivery.... mine was already done and ready to drive. They just... do it.

If you mean "does a MINI dealer have to do it?"... No. It matters not whether you take it to the dealership (though if your wallet's too heavy this would be the preferable route) or a state liscenced inspection station.

My uncle owns the latter so, although he doesn't give family discounts, I am assured of the quality of the work and an independantly owned service station will almost invariably be cheaper than the dealer. Besides which, I'd rather give my sheckles to an indy businessman anyway.

 

Ehhh just move to South Carolina. No Inspections.

-V--V-

 

here in virginia, there is a safety inspection every year and an emission inspection every two years from the time you bring the car into the state. hybrid cars are exempt from emission inspection and i believe suvs are exempt from a more stringent emission inspection where they actually put your car's drive wheels on the roller and "drive" at 25mph. since most suvs are four-wheel-drive, they cannot do the roller test. anyway, the inspections are done at a state approved garage including all dealerships and some gas stations. everyone i know takes his car to the gas station to have it done unless the dealership gives out free inspection. if your car doesn't pass, you get an "x" on the windshield and must have it corrected within a reasonable time but it doesn't have to be at the garage who operates the state inspection.

 

Here in Arkansas there is no inspection. I see cars often with headlights out, no or one tailight, no license plate, tires with the cord showing, mufflers falling off, (just a couple of days ago the muffler from a pickup in front of me came completely off...I dodged it.

Nobody cares


R.E.

 

bobdawg,

I'am a pennsylvania state safety & emission tech,you can have it done by any one you please AND trust !! no dyno test will be done if you are under 5000 miles,and you are the first owner, you will recieve a new car exemption.
enjoy your new mcs

regrads, jeff

 

Hey,

Fellow Pittsburgher here..........I asked Bill at the dealership (MINI Of Pittsburgh), and they do state inspections. I'm lucky enough that my first oil change is due at that time, so I'm getting it all done together. I just trust the dealership more; whether it's silly or not I don't know!

 

Funny you ask. I am sitting in the lounge at the MINI dealers now waiting to have my inspection done. You can have it done at any official inspection station but I did not want anyone not familiar with MINIs inside my car. Also I wanted to get the v.36 software flashed. So here I sit for the next couple of hours waiting for my MINI to get the once over.

 

Here in New Jersey, they hand you a screw driver at inspection.........cause you're getting SCREWED!!!! Took my SL 500 through inspection and they failed me for the gas cap not holding pressure. I called the dealer and he printed up a receipt for a new gas cap. Went back through inspection.....the flamer took off the gas cap....tested it....checked the Mercedes receipt...and passed me... The damn dope had no idea it was the same cap, but because he thought he made me pay and was put out, it passed. I also had a Mazda truck that did not go into reverse....It passed inspaction for 5...YES...FIVE years like that... What a bunch of crap....You can fail for a burned out turn signal....but if your car does not go into reverse...SO WHAT!!!! Can't wait till I can move out of the Arm pit of the Nation!! The New Jersey State Motto is...BOHICME......Bend Over Here It Comes!!

 

well, in DC/Nova area, I REFUSED to have my deaerl due my inspection and tags.. I did them myself.. and saved a few hundered dollars... you will have to do it, but take it to whoever you want, you may haev to bitich becasue many peopel don't do it, and dealer will forget you told them you were goignto do it yourself... jsut remind them and make sure they don't charge you for it

 

>>...You can have it done at any official inspection station but I did not want anyone not familiar with MINIs inside my car.

I 2nd that emotion, at least for the immediate couple years of future...

There was a NAM thread a while back, with a post from an unhappy camper, whose MINI got broken by a clueless tester who either failed to turn off DSC or (nightmare scenario) seeing that the driver had turned it OFF, the tester turned it back ON, at the start of the test procedure...

I may not be remembering this exactly right - I printed the post so at EPA Test time I would have it in my wallet... but, that was before I lost my wallet

Anyways, an ounce of caution...
Tatt

 

Hey there Jenz, I tried to get an oil change done but was told another 2,000mi. funny thing though, the shop found about 6 things wrong with my MCS's engine in addition to the state inspection. Kinda makes you wonder whether the parts are the problem or how they were put together. I really dont think that a regular garage would have found them! bdawg

 

Well, I am glad they found those things....If it's not too nosy, did it cost you a lot?

 

Jenz, actually I only paid fot the state insp. & emissions :smile: around $53. I could only imagine if the warranty was up ! $$$$$ What about your MC, any little problems develop from driving in the Burgh? ?

 

HEY, are you guys saying that by going through an inspection process that puts the MINIs front wheels on rollers that spin real fast can actually DAMAGE the car/transmission? All the inspection stations in Jersey put your front wheels on rollers, then the guy gets in your car, drives the front wheels between two rollers, and gives it gas until it's up to a "stationary" 25 MPH. This is to test for emissions under load. It's pretty scary too, I've seen them do it on some cars with bad alignments and the car swings back and forth in the rollers...it's not a pretty sight.

It doesn't make sense that a process like that would trigger the DSC, because DSC only tries to detect and prevent slipping or when one wheel is moving faster/slower than the other... wouldn't both front wheels rotate at the exact speed when placed on one of those dyno-type machines (even though they aren't dynos at the DMV).

*****...that's a scary thought...have your MINIs tranny/DSC system blow up at a state inspection... I don't think it's possible though... well, in New Jersey anything is possible...

-Joe

 

DSC may have a problem with haveing the front tires moveing and the rear not. Since the DSC can limmit engine speed, DSC would see that the front moveing and the rear not. So, it would probly limmit the engine speed thinking that the front tires were slipping and try to regain traction to make the rear tires move at the same speed, which will never happen since they are not on the rollers.

 

Bobdawg,
No problems so far, just tiny scratches that drive me nuts!! I washed and waxed her last night, and about froze, but she's looking good.

Are you in the PittStop MINI Club?

_________________
[img]<IMG SRC="http://www.geocities.com/jennybraun/Adorable.jpg" >[/img]

 

Jenz, yes to the club as shadybob. Kinda new, for me it's kinda hard to fine time to do any club activities. Perhaps this spring/summer

 

That's cool. I was only asking because today we had a track day/school at BeaveRun. Just got back and it was so much fun!

 

I know theres been alot of talk about Beaver Run lately. Did they make snow or something? Were you able to really open-up your MC on their track? Great day for an outing! I had tickets for the Pitt game, they lost I'll check out that track someday.

 

the entire sordid affair was documented in a thread called "Poor MINI is sick again", I just went lookin' and found it. Prolly it's worth reading. It was the traction control system not DSC, which was broken @ the testing station. Sorry for the confusion. The SEARCH functionality, is an awesome NAM tool. I got yet another printout of that thread, to go in my NEW wallet

Buttoning my back pockets now,
Tatt

 

They put some sand on the track, and we practiced skidding in it. Lots of fun! We also got to do some laps on the track, but I couldn't keep up!

We also slalomed and practiced steering while braking, etc.