I've got an '05 R53 with 80k miles that is not setting the 'catalyst monitor' in the OBD system. Since I'm in California, this means that I cannot pass the smog test. Has anyone experienced this issue and found a solution?

Some notes:
- I recently installed a used 30k OEM header and cat
- I have done the drive cycle, and have put plenty of miles on the car
- no codes, errors, or driveability issues

It's been at a shop for a few days, and they have not been able to find any issues with the car. They have run it on a dyno at 55mph for ~30 minutes with no change.

The car is modified as follows:



Any thoughts and/or suggestions? This is beyond frustrating...

 

Anybody?

 

you are not completing the drive cycle it's very very very specific

probably the 20-30mph for 4 min, or the 40-60mph for 15 min and that one you cant use more than some percent of the throttle

the bmw sites have the exact test cycles

 

This may help

Going to add the thread to the FAQ thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...arameters.html

 

Thanks for that!

I have done those things, in addition to driving the car for ~500 miles over many days and trips.

Plus my shop has run it on the dyno to replicate the cycle.

And it still won't trigger. It must be something else in the car, as there is no way that it should be that hard to set the monitors, otherwise we would hear this question a lot more frequently.

The problem is all other readouts look fine: O2 sensors, temperatures, trims, etc.... I think I'm going to end up pleading my case with the smog referee.

 

this question is posted all the time, very common issue

the throttle input limit probably gets you, it's hard to drive 40-60 mph for 15-20 minutes without giving it too much gas or letting off too much, exceed 60 and you need to start over

 

Just updating this.

The shop gave up without succeeding

They did the drive cycle (as per MINI TSB) both on the road and dyno, and also again after replacing the rear O2 sensor. They are a smog shop, so they know how to do a drive cycle properly.

The car throws no errors or codes, and all the diagnostics look fine.

I guess at this point I'll try to get the OEM tune flashed on the car. Not really sure what else to do.

 

No Mini experience but I have uncountable times managed to drive my cars (Porsches) after clearing an error code and getting all readiness monitors to complete.

I just drive the car normally. A cold start, a brief idle, then a mile or so on surface streets to the freeway. Then (if I'm lucky) freeway speed all the way to near work, about 28 miles. A mile or two on surface streets and done.

One has to avoid using lots of throttle. At some point the engine controller will go open loop mode to satisfy the torque demand signaled by how far down the pedal is pushed. This going open loop mode may render the drive cycle invalid and one might need to start over.

I would hazard a guess the problem is not with the drive cycle, but with the converter. The engine controller is detecting something "wrong" and while it has not logged an error code and turned on the CEL, that it hasn't set the converter readiness monitor to complete is a good sign this is what is going on.

Observation of the O2 sensor voltages might spot signs of a converter problem. One sign of a possible problem -- the converter is losing its abilty to store oxygen -- is if the #2 sensor -- the one after the converter -- produces a low voltage reading too often. Something less than say 0.6 or 0.7 volts, under 0.4 volts.

Just a warning. You may not get much if any sympathy from a referee if you mention the mod's.

Also, before you can get the waiver you have to spend $650 in an attempt to address the reason why the car won't pass smog.

And this waiver only buys you until next year when it comes time to smog check the car again. It must pass this time.

 

Okay, final update.

I took it to the dealer and they flashed on the 'updated' OEM tune and then it passed immediately.

Note to self: if getting a new tune, be sure that the OEM tune can be reflashed to pass smog.