Best Option to Sell Car in California *won't pass smog*

[HubbaHubbaLife]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

 

[mash on it]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

LS.
Done.

Dan'l

 

[lbhsbz]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

If you can’t afford a new BMW, you definitely can’t afford a used one. Put it on C-list for a couple thousand bucks and make it someone else’s problem.

 

[SBMech]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

I am assuming the 110 means 110k. Give it away. Seriously, list it for 1k and let it be someone else's problem like Ibhsbz said.

I'd even say that they were way under estimate. They were horrible vehicles.

 

[Fastdadtsmith]

If you can’t afford a new BMW, you definitely can’t afford a used one. Put it on C-list for a couple thousand bucks and make it someone else’s problem.

^^^^ This! We got rid of our 1st one a year after the warranty expired because it was cheaper to have a new one!

 

[CLdrinker]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

Drop that bitch off at pick a part.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

Keep it ! Just “borrow “ an up to date registration sticker and drive it , that’s what everybody in Ca does .

 

[Willie B]

…I like the idea of dropping it off in a Tijuana neighborhood with the keys in the ignition…

 

[Slats]

So…did the Honda ever get fixed or sold. I might need a commuter car.

 

[dribble]

I would go this route but don't expect them to last as long as oem. Also check warranty as well, I have had cats replaced that were 6 years old from the dealer, worth a shot.

CARB requires they last 50,000 miles.

 

[dribble]

Wouldn't take much to make the 49 state CARB legal....


View attachment 851067

Has to look like this with the correct EO# on it.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Keep it ! Just “borrow “ an up to date registration sticker and drive it , that’s what everybody in Ca does .

I actually had a neighbor give me his sticker and he told dmv his got lost so they gave him a new one. Sneaky Easy Peasy

 

[dribble]

In answer to your original question. If you state on the bill of sale that the car is being sold for the "purpose of being dismantled" (per VC 24007) have the buyer acknowledge with his signature, you can sell the car and he cant come after you.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Has to look like this with the correct EO# on it.

View attachment 1180455

Every other vehicle on the road near LA is a cammed, lowered silverado with no cats and a truck club sticker on the back.....
Just need the smog guy who checks a little less carefully lol. Got a cat? Yep! Ok cool......scan.....pass.......

 

[SBMech]

I actually had a neighbor give me his sticker and he told dmv his got lost so they gave him a new one. Sneaky Easy Peasy

You do know that each sticker has a serial # on it that matches the plate it belongs to...right?

Just checking. If you get caught in CA if you are an immigrant nothing will happen, if you are a homeowner they will rape and pillage.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Every other vehicle on the road near LA is a cammed, lowered silverado with no cats and a truck club sticker on the back.....
Just need the smog guy who checks a little less carefully lol. Got a cat? Yep! Ok cool......scan.....pass.......

I've learned a bit speaking with a car guy friend .... he's got a side hustle buying at auction and fixing and flipping here in CA.... the smog situation is a bit tricky.... he had a guy who for $300 would pass my failed car.... well, turns out the system tracks and can fine ($) a smogger if illegally passes a failed vehicle. Not sure how state does this but what he said. Fear of penalties to keep smoggers honest it sounds like. Who knows... open to more knowledgible input fellas.... I'm good with my neighbor scam again next year, lol

 

[lbhsbz]

You do know that each sticker has a serial # on it that matches the plate it belongs to...right?

Just checking. If you get caught in CA if you are an immigrant nothing will happen, if you are a homeowner they will rape and pillage.

Eres Racista

 

[lbhsbz]

yet nobody caught the fact that this dumbass newb has one post and joined just to bring this thread back from the dead? EPA? CARB? BAR? AQMD? Dipshit?

Place yore votes

 

[RogerThat99]

Every other vehicle on the road near LA is a cammed, lowered silverado with no cats and a truck club sticker on the back.....
Just need the smog guy who checks a little less carefully lol. Got a cat? Yep! Ok cool......scan.....pass.......

They just busted a guy like that last week in LA or the Bay Area. $300 and he would pass your car. They also busted about 300 car owners, and impounded their vehicles. They were mostly import tuner cars.

I wouldn't do it. My buddy was a DMV Investigator (he just retired about a year ago). They take it very seriously.

 

[RogerThat99]

This is a very informative thread.... glad it returned cause I missed it a year ago. A friend gave me title to his 2004 BMW 545 w/ 110 miles on it. He moved to Maui and had cars out there already. I tried to smog the thing and no go. So registration is out dated and I've got a primary vehicle so it sits in my garage leaking oil. I put a new battery in it. I take it around the hood once a mth to keep things moving. No idea what I'll do with a car that won't pass inspection. Took it to a trusted mechanic I've used to fix my broke girls rides over the years and he laughed saying he doesn't touch BMWs but referred me to a BMW specialist down the street. I left it with them for a day and paid him to survey it.... well, it kinda needs appx $6500 in repairs and that really just takes care of all the oil leaking it does from what I read on his estimate sheet. His quote on SMOG is "Multiple fault codes pulled including Catalytic converter conversion bank 2 fault/ secondary air faults at bank 1/ bank 2. variable intake system plausibility."

What do you think fellas? Drop it off on a side road past Tijuana with keys in ignition? I know my friend left me this thing with good intensions but spending cash on this pit makes no sense to me. Inmate feedback appreciated..... I always miss some details on chicken shit like this situation and we got some techs on thread.

Some people run seafoam through their car to clean everything out (including the cat(s)), so they pass smog.

 

[spectra3279]

Leave the keys in it at the Mexican border. Then claim it on I surance.

 

[Jyruiz]

Try this,

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Try this,

Dang... pouring laquer thinner into your gas tank. So much info online.... RDP knowledge source at all time high.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Leave the keys in it at the Mexican border. Then claim it on I surance.

VIVA!

Some people run seafoam through their car to clean everything out (including the cat(s)), so they pass smog.

Seafoam & Laquer thinner poured in gas tank, check.....

 

[dribble]

They just busted a guy like that last week in LA or the Bay Area. $300 and he would pass your car. They also busted about 300 car owners, and impounded their vehicles. They were mostly import tuner cars.

I wouldn't do it. My buddy was a DMV Investigator (he just retired about a year ago). They take it very seriously.

DMV doesn't do the investigations on Smog Shops. They don't license them so they do not have the authority. The Bureau of Automotive Repair issues the licenses does the investigations. When I did those investigations and forwarded the information to DMV, it was like pulling teeth to get them to go after the crooked dealers (who were buying these pieces of shit cheap at auction, getting them illegally smogged then selling them to customers). I know the Bureau has never impounded a car. They have seized some smog analyzers but only with a criminal filing and the District Attorney issuing the seizure order. A couple of Judges have ordered cars be surrendered after a guilty verdict or plea. I would think that 300 cars being impounded in a case like this would be huge news.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

They just busted a guy like that last week in LA or the Bay Area. $300 and he would pass your car. They also busted about 300 car owners, and impounded their vehicles. They were mostly import tuner cars.

I wouldn't do it. My buddy was a DMV Investigator (he just retired about a year ago). They take it very seriously.

Yup... heard this.

 

[dribble]

They just busted a guy like that last week in LA or the Bay Area. $300 and he would pass your car. They also busted about 300 car owners, and impounded their vehicles. They were mostly import tuner cars.

I wouldn't do it. My buddy was a DMV Investigator (he just retired about a year ago). They take it very seriously.

Yup... heard this.

I just spoke with a friend (former co-worker) who runs Smog Check and Auto Repair enforcement in Southern California. Didn't happen. According to him, there have no major Smog busts in Socal or the Bay Area and not one car been impounded, as a result of a smog bust. DMV is working on recyclers dealing in stolen catalytic converters an and using the Bureau labs to store them because they don't have the room.

 

[Tamalewagon]

Left field idea but how about donating it to a high school shop class? You could get a good tax write off. Just a thought...

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Thanks to all... quite a thread over a couple years.... you guys are a great source of info. Of course most of us are full of shit... and I appreciate that too.

 

[RogerThat99]

They just busted a guy like that last week in LA or the Bay Area. $300 and he would pass your car. They also busted about 300 car owners, and impounded their vehicles. They were mostly import tuner cars.

I wouldn't do it. My buddy was a DMV Investigator (he just retired about a year ago). They take it very seriously.


I just spoke with a friend (former co-worker) who runs Smog Check and Auto Repair enforcement in Southern California. Didn't happen. According to him, there have no major Smog busts in Socal or the Bay Area and not one car been impounded, as a result of a smog bust. DMV is working on recyclers dealing in stolen catalytic converters an and using the Bureau labs to store them because they don't have the room.

That is weird. I heard it on several news updates on KFI 640 in LA, and one of the shows discussed it.

 

[dribble]

That is weird. I heard it on several news updates on KFI 640 in LA, and one of the shows discussed it.

There was a big case in SoCal six years ago with several defendants that the EPA latched onto and took the credit for but even in that case cars were not impounded. Only BAR Engineering has access to the data needed to find anomalies in test patterns. I know exactly how they find it because I worked there for 28 years. All DMV gets is smog cert information. There may have been a shop busted somewhere for clean plugging in the news but that is pretty common.