Moving to CA - Mod help

Discussion in 'MidCal MINIs' started by agranger, Oct 22, 2012.

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  1. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Howdy, all!

    I've been living in Texas for over 12 years and have had Jango, my '06 MCS for almost 7 of those years. My wife just got a new job in San Francisco, so we are headed that way in the next few months. This will be a permanent move (well... as permanent as anything these days), so I'll be registering Jango in California.

    Over the past 7 years and 85,000 miles, I've accumulated a fair number of mods.

    I need some advice on what mods I'm going to have to remove to pass CA inspection:

    Here's a quick list of the major mechanical items (I'm skipping the cosmetic stuff, but see my garage for pics and a full list):

    Suspension:
    • Coil-overs (KW v2)
    • Rear Swaybar
    • Lots of frame stiffening braces

    Engine:
    • Cold Air Intake (DDM works w/ oiled filter)
    • Cat-back Exhaust (already removed and replaced w/ stock exhaust)
    • Tune
    • JCW Injectors
    • Coilpack and plug wires
    • GMRS Intercooler

    I've already pulled the Alta cat-back exhaust as I know it was not CARB certified.

    Is there anything else I'm going to need to do (other than remove the tint from my front windows) to pass CA inspection?

    Thanks for the help!
     
  2. drabdub

    drabdub Well-Known Member

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    I believe the intake as well.
     
  3. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Thanks. Good thing I kept the factory airbox around (and it's easy enough to swap on and off, should I decide to).

    Anything else?
     
  4. eMINIparts

    eMINIparts Well-Known Member
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    And be prepared for the high price of everything...the Bay Area is expensive..Awesome but expensive
     
  5. drabdub

    drabdub Well-Known Member

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    i think just the airbox because it would need to have a carb sticker. are you actually going to be in san fransisco or a surrounding area
     
  6. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Not sure where, exactly yet. Easy access to public transportation will be a key factor. The wife's office is in the Financial District (smack downtown SF). Once we sell the house, we will probably move out there, rent somewhere for 2-3 months and enjoy the process of finding a neighborhood that we like.

    Sounds like I might be swapping the factory airbox onto the car shortly. Given the way we will probably have to move in stages, I don't want to be digging through storage spaces trying to find a box with the stock parts under a pile of dishes and DVDs.
     
  7. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Congrats to your wife on the new job and you for the move to SF.

    Sorry about your Mini since you have to take off all your fun mods for that state.
     
  8. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

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    #8 jiminni, Oct 22, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2012
    Where I'm from, Central Ca, it's probably the most strict area in Ca, account of, some of the worst air in the nation. Your intake would not pass. Your cat-back would be fine, it's a "cat-back", as long as your using the OEM header you will be fine. My car passed with, cat-back, BVH, injectors, coil and wires, tune....and a bunch of other stuff. Just have to remove my intake and header. Possible that your IC might be a problem? My GP is close to stock so they didn't see it, but I believe your GRS is noticeable? Good luck, and welcome to the Golden State :Thumbsup:
     
  9. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Hmmm... intercooler too? Oh well... that's easy to change too.

    The exhaust was too loud... sounded brilliant, but it was gonna cause problems.
     
  10. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

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    Intercooler...maybe? It actually is part of the air system. Loudness is no big deal, my modified Alta is loud, even with the OEM header. Forgot on my first post, running a aftermarket cam too.
     
  11. 05r50

    05r50 Well-Known Member

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    Keep it as a Texas car for as long as you can. As an example, being in Texas you probably have Tint. I don't think them folks in CA like that stuff much.

    That way maybe you can slip past the local LEO with the "im just visiting from Texas excuse"
     
  12. drabdub

    drabdub Well-Known Member

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    Tint is a fixit ticket only and you would only have to touch the fronts. Exhaust should have been okay. Cams should be fine as well.
     
  13. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

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    Fixit tickets now cost money :crazy: Ask me how I know.......got two of them going over Hwy 17 to Santa Cruz, no front license plate, and no red reflectors on the rear of my car.....both cost me :cryin:
     
  14. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

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    Tint is fine...as long as its not on the windshield or the two front windows. Dark as you want anywhere else.
     
  15. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Wow... I read on the CA DOT website that there is NO tint allowed on the front side windows. Some definite deltas between RW experience and the legal code here.
     
  16. jiminni

    jiminni Well-Known Member

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    Usually you can get away with 50% tint on the front sides, but sometimes no, depends on the mood of the cop.
     
  17. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Do they still charge the extra $300 lic fee to register an out of state car?
     
  18. agranger

    agranger MINI of the Month June 2009
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    Hey Nathan... we need a "Bend over... no lube" smilie!

    :skep:
     
  19. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Don't know how much of a smile that would be.
     

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