Hello everyone,

I’m new to the forums and new to the Mini scene. As a matter of fact we haven’t even purchased a mini yet but will likely buy one in the next 2-3 months. We are making some big changes in our life. We will be moving from just outside of St Louis to the L.A. area (Pasadena) due to a job transfer and the fact that we love the area and have some friends there. The changes in our life coupled with rising gas prices and our current ownership of 3 gas guzzlers leads us to Mini ownership. There are only 2 or 3 small cars I would consider and the Mini easily tops the list.

I have a few questions about car ownership in California.

First of all I hear these 3rd party horror stories about modifying a car in California. How true are these? I don’t plan any major modifications, just bolt-on’s like a CAI, Cat back, tuning, etc.

Secondly I notice some products have CARB approval and some don’t. Do they really check for these things when they are just bolt-ons like a CAI? Here in the Midwest we need an safety inspection but there are inspection stations that do a “look out the window” inspection. I even had a place where I could call it in for my 69 coronet. Is the situation similar in California? I.E. are there shops know for friendliness towards car enthusiasts? I don’t need specific names, just if it is a possibility.

Third, how strict is the emissions testing? We have no emissions tests in my county and I have never lived in an area that required it. Do the emissions have to be close to a “stock” mini or just under a certain level? I can’t imagine any mini polluting as much as say an Impala.

Lastly has anyone made a list of comprehensive CARB approved modifications/parts? I have found miscellaneous threads on here but have never seen a complete list of CARB approved mods.

Sorry for all the boring legal type questions. If any of you could take the time to help a new guy out I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Jay

 

Hi Jay,

Welcome to the wonderful world of MINIs. Unfortunately, I don't have all the answers for you, but I live in SoCal with a moded MINI and haven't had any problems.

When you get here, feel free to check out the SoCal MINI Maniacs (SCMM.org). You'll have a blast!

Chris

 

Well emissions testing is strict in the sense that, they are pretty much electronically controlled about what comes out of the tailpipe. I have no problem with that, as a modded car more than likely runs cleaner than a stock one. But then there is the visual inspection. That is where it could be a problem. I'm sure there are places that have bad eyesight, if you know what I mean . I hope to find a blind man myself . Anyway , welcome to California.

 

u should come to the ONT meets!!! I work in LA and drive there ever week. you meet some of us mini people that are go to a lot of meets and tune our cars...

Also check out socaleuro.com .. I'm there all day long. We have euro meets across cali. the biggest ones so far are the weekly Manic monday nights and the one is SD

 

BTW... i have an un-smogable VW that i have ways of getting smoged.

But you should take it to a place and dont tell them any thing and let them come to you to let you know what and why they cant smog it.

most places will see past the intake and only reject you car if it is thowing a code.

i havent had to smog my mini yet, but i'm going to guess after i add the header, that its not going to pass on its own

 

Thank you all for your quick responses. It’s nice to meet some friendly mini owners in California. The camaraderie is one of the things that appealed to us about mini ownership. After viewing a few of the bickering threads I was worried the camaraderie was a misconception, but after delving into the forums the nice people seem to vastly outnumber the not so nice.


I look forward to getting together with fellow laid back Mini lovers after we make the big move. I also look forward to learning more about my mini and getting advice from those “in the know”. It’s a big change from the classic bugs, mustangs, and mopar muscle cars of my past. As a matter of fact, outside of a Yugo I once bought for $100 (seriously), this will be my first front wheel drive car. Of course 25 mpg+ will be a big change also.

 

might be too late for this Jay, but try amviv.com if you fancy 300+ MINI's in Las Vegas next weekend...

welcome to the club!

 

Why do you say it won't pass if you add a header? Now if you don't use a cat then I could understand you.

 

Hi Madhatter,

Thanks for the link, which looks exactly like the type of event we would love to participate in. It is happening just a bit too soon. We are so busy with all the changes in our life (promotion, moving, purchasing new home, etc) that we can’t do a trip like that quite yet. We love Vegas though and perhaps we can do this event next time. I look forward to meeting up on weekends with local mini enthusiasts though. We will hopefully be able to participate in larger events after we are more settled. It’s a hectic but exciting time for us.

Thanks again
Jay

 

 

Welcome jay. I also would suggest chekcing out clubscmm.com.

Which Mini did you get

There are a few CAI that are CARB certified. I beleive that the KandN is. Cat back system are legal if they are cat back and not too noisy. The other mods will not affect smog like software. If you are worried you can always remove the software before the test. Also you will have I think 4 years to worry about getting the car smogged if you bought it new

 

Hello Mbotvinick,

Thanks for the great welcome and the info. We haven’t purchased our mini yet but I can now honestly say there is a 100% chance of a mini in our future. I think we have decided to go with a brand new mini s hardtop automatic. My wife wants to pick her options. She has already built countless mini’s on miniusa.com. She is leaning heavily towards the red with white top and tan leather interior. Even though this will primarily be my wife’s car I imagine we will share it on weekends (if she lets me).

Depending on how her mini works out we may become a 2 mini household. ( I would go with the 1st gen cooper s manual trans)

I checked out http://www.scmm.org/ and it looks great. I will register on the forums when I get back. I am leaving for L.A. tomorrow on a business trip and will be back home on Monday. Can’t wait to move out there!

Thanks again everyone you have been great.
Jay

 

Hi everyone, the Los Angeles- Montrose Mini Cooper Rally as you are probably are aware, is set for April 27th, 2008 (just 23 days away). The course marker rally is for all Mini Cooper owners & enthusiasts that what to have some motoring fun with other Mini owners on that Sunday. Our goal is to have a minimum of 40 Mini Coopers participate in the rally (& it’s all free!)

We are rapidly approaching deadlines for commitments needed to support the rally and with that in mind, I would ask that if you are already planning to participate in the rally but have not yet signed-up please do so now. If you have already part of the rally squad THANK YOU!

Please encourage your motoring friends to sign-up as well as a “Squad Member” at www.minicooperrally.com or www.montroseminicooperrallies.org.

The 1st place Mini will receive $100 cash, 2nd place Mini $50 cash & 3rd place $25 cash... Rally On!

 

IF YOU PURCHASE A NEW MINI-buy it from a California dealer-then-you will NOT have to have it smogged for 6 years!! otherwise it is every 2 years. vins that end in odd number get checked on odd years (7=2007 smog check, etc) and even vin ending # - even year checks. I bought my brand new 05S from a dealer in new york and upon its arrival in California, with a 50 state emissions legal statement of origin, I STILL HAD TO HAVE IT SMOGGED and am now on for the very other year test. generally a CAI WILL NOT pass a visual, although they are usually as clean or cleaner at the tailpipe. cat back exhausts usually do not get any scrutiny if the numbers are ok. the left coast when you actually get here and be sure to join us for breakfast at SCMM!!