Philes' Forum by Vic Lucariello

Hello, Bimmerphiles! This month I have some follow-up on the new NJ vehicle inspection program. This topic is the most popular in the history of Philes' Forum!

You may recall that when I last addressed this subject, I said that I intended to take my '88 M3 [E30]for inspection in June, and attempt to have it inspected as a low-mileage vehicle. Any vehicle which would normally be subject to the enhanced, dynamometer emissions test [IE: Most '81 and newer two-wheel-drive, gasoline vehicles.] can be given a low-mileage exemption from the dynamometer test if the vehicle is driven fewer than 10,000 miles in the two-year period between inspections. Low-mileage vehicles receive a 2500 RPM no-load test. The significance of this is that the no-load test does not check for Oxides of Nitrogen [NOx], the most difficult pollutant to control. Moreover, the no-load test does not require that an inspector 'drive' your car on the dyno, as does the enhanced test.

I originally learned of the low-mileage exemption from the 'Dr. DMV' column in the Star-Ledger. I received confirmation of the exemption's existence directly from former DMV Director Richard Kamin when I had the opportunity to meet with him at a SAE meeting.

Well, on 29 June my M3 and I arrived at the Flemington Inspection Station at about 6:40 AM. I found one of the three inspection lanes in operation and only a few cars ahead of me. I was not confident that the Parsons Infrastructure personnel would be aware of the low- mileage vehicle exemption. Director Kamin had told me to ask to see the station manager if the inspection personnel had any problem with a low-mileage exemption.

To my surprise, two of the three inspectors in my lane knew exactly what I wanted when I asked to be inspected as a low-mileage vehicle. Moreover, they seemed to be quite customer-satisfaction oriented, and stated that I could have whichever test I wanted. Indeed, one of the inspectors gushed over my M3 and allowed that he was looking to buy one just like it!

You may recall that in my first column on the new inspection system, I complained that the inspectors slid an RPM sensor around on my hood in an attempt to get a reading for the idle-speed emissions test my 1980 320is received. Well, when my M3 was tested, the sensor was held above the instrument panel inside the car, where it apparently was able to sense the pulses in the tachometer or its wiring.

The 2500 RPM test went without any problems whatsoever, and the results were as follows:

GAS MAX. PERMISSIBLE READING

NOx [ppm] - -
HC [ppm] 100 7
CO [%] 0.50 0.03
O2 [%] - -
CO2 [%] - 15.1
RPM : 2412 Low Mileage Exception

[CO = Carbon Monoxide; HC = Unburned Hydrocarbons
O2 = Oxygen; CO2 = Carbon Dioxide]

As you can see, the CO and HC readings were far below their respective permissible values. These readings are typical of a modern car, regardless of make and model. I don't yet have any data to support this, but I am certain that even 'chipped' or otherwise reprogrammed cars will do about the same on a no-load test. The O2 and CO2 are indicators of sampling and exhaust leak problems. I am not sure why the 2500 RPM test does not print the O2 value, but it should be near zero on a modern car with no exhaust leaks and no auxiliary air pump. CO2 of 15 % is about perfect.

As I understand it, when my M3 is due for reinspection in June, 2002, the inspectors will compare my odometer reading to that recorded in June, and if I have logged less than 10,000 miles, I will qualify for another low-mileage exemption. If not, I should receive the enhanced, dyno test. I have taken the precaution of copying my inspection report, which indicates my 29 June odometer reading, and keeping it in the car in case there is any question in 2002. I suggest you do the same.

In another recent column on the new emissions inspection, I wrote that I had interviewed a NJ- and ASE- [National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence] certified tech who had performed over 100 enhanced [dyno] emissions inspections on fleet vehicles, with only one failure . I contacted the tech today and he says that the current figures are over 200 vehicles inspected, with maybe 6 failures. Most of the failures are for excessive NOx, and most of the fixes are simple; like a tune-up or new Oxygen sensor. One of the 6 failures needed a new catalytic converter, but the vehicle had 150,000 miles and had not received much, if any, preventive maintenance.

The following was received from Bimmerphile Jeff Whyte:

"I hope your summer is going well. I wanted to pass on two bits of info for you.

"The first relates to your ongoing survey of the NJ emissions inspection system. You may or may not know that I bought a '99 M3 [E36] back in May. Well, by the end of June my 30 days were up and it was time to get inspected. A survey of the NJ DOT Web site revealed that there are no State inspection stations in Somerset county (where I live) and only 1 in Morris county (where I work). Because I actually do assign some value to my time, I decided to opt for a private inspection at a local Mobil station. The dyno they used is a set of rollers sunk into the floor. There is a plate that raises and lowers to allow the car to be driven onto the dyno then lowered onto the rollers. After the cursory inspection of lights, horn, wipers, the technician started the car, checked his manual to see how to turn off the traction control then set his [sensor] for rpm verification up against the base of the windshield (he didn't slide it around on the hood!). The car was
lowered onto the rollers and checked at about 15 mph with a fan blowing in front of the car to simulate air flow from driving. The car was never tied down in any way (front wheels were blocked). With this system it is hard for me to fathom how a car could be damaged. Is this different from the system used by the State facilities? Given the care shown in the whole process and the speed with which it was done (appointments are convenient), I left feeling that this was money well spent."

Jeff's test results are as follows: [The fact that NOx data appears confirms that he received the dyno test.]

NOx 56 ppm
HC 63 ppm
CO% 0.10
CO2 15.0
O2% 0.0
RPM 1710

Jeff, what you describe is essentially the State system with the exception of the cooling fan. The reports which I have seen re vehicle damage told of tire damage due to the tires contacting the side stops on the rollers. The stops need to be positioned properly prior to the dyno test. I agree that vehicle damage [manual shift vehicles; I shouldn't have to make that qualifier as I doubt anyone who reads this column drives an automatic!] is extremely unlikely if the equipment is properly used.

Jeff continues:

"The second story is one of caution that you may want to use for Philes' Forum as a follow on to your recap of people helping each other. [July, 2000 report on Tech Fest I] A neighbor owns a '95 740i. He's a handy person but mainly is a wood worker. We had been chatting and he mentioned that he was going to replace his rear brakes and had a quote of $600. I opined that number was a little stiff and that replacing pads and rotors was reasonably simple and I could help him out. A few days later on a lovely Saturday morning we get a somewhat distressed phone call: "Uh, Jeff... I think I need some help." I was running out to do some errands and offered to stop by. The wheel was off, the new Brembo rotors were in the box as were the Pagid pads. "I got this far but now what do I do?" I showed him where the caliper bolts attached and how to take off the dust caps for the allen bolts. Just as I got my head out of the wheel well, the car started to move and we watched it fall off the jack!! In my haste I hadn't taken the time to see that the car was properly secured and supported. Luckily neither we nor the car was hurt. The big lesson here is that even when you're called in to help, take the time to be sure everything is set up safely. To end the story, we went back to my house and retrieved a proper floor jack, jack stands and the correct tools (most of his were English, not metric) and we were able to get his job done in short order."

Chapter Treasurer, inveterate driver school hot dog, and Lime Rock committeeman Warren Brown sent the following:

"I just went through with my wife's 525i, (141K). Freehold has a new inspection station with 6 lanes, 3 or 4 were operating when I went. I was on and off their property in 25 min. at 6:30 in the morning. The emissions portion of the test involved driving the car on the dyno at ~15 mph for a minute or so, the inspector may have been new to the job or not used to a stick. He accelerated looking at the monitor ever so slowly, I don't think that was the procedure as it appeared that the monitor gave a bar graph showing a fixed correct speed, for most of the test he was on the slow side. For whatever reason he repeated the test a second time. They had looked under the hood early in the inspection process, it appeared that he was looking for a distributor which the car doesn't have, he made faces and closed the hood. They did not used any kind of tach as far as I could tell, certainly nothing on or under the hood.

"The results:

Gas Standard Reading Result
NOx 853 156 Pass
HC 114 12 Pass
CO% 0.63 0.03 Pass
CO2% - 15.8
O2% - 0.0

"The car has had new a new O2 sensor, Plugs and G&A Filter in
the last 2 to 3 thousand miles. [Warren and I had discussed the new sensor prior to his going for inspection.]

"All in all it wasn't bad."

Thanks, Warren!

Yet another Bimmerphile has reported in. Driver school instructor Walt Selva:

"FYI, I'd like to tell you my experience with my 140,000-mile old '88 M5:

"I arrived [Edison Inspection Station] on the Friday afternoon at 1:00 PM before the 4th of July weekend. No wait whatsoever. They told me I would immediately fail the inspection because I gave them a *copy* of my insurance instead of the original. I told him I could drive home, bring the original back, and do the inspection in an hour. The inspector said it was my choice; then he allowed me to back out of the station in order to do so. Then a second inspector stopped me and said I *must* go through the emission portion of the inspection now regardless of the status of the paperwork. Whatever. So I pull back in.

"OH MY GOD! IS THAT A 1988 M5?!?!?!" exclaimed a third inspector. "That's okay, guys, I got this one!" he said. So he did the inspection. He let me observe closely throughout (other drivers had to wait in a booth down the line and not be near their cars) and politely answered all my questions while gushing over my M5, asking me if I'd like to sell it, etc., and talking about some cars he's owned. Needless to say, we got along swell. I knew from inspections (under the old rules) on two other cars last year that they do indeed check for window tint. However, wouldn't you know it, this guy didn't bother after I had removed it all. (The procedure is to roll down all windows halfway so they could inspect the edges closely.)

He checked the brake, blinker, head and tail lights with me in the car. They checked only the front tires by asking me to turn the steering wheel. They didn't check the rears. Then he asked me to get out so that he could drive it to the dyno. "No hole shots," I warned him. He placed the rear tires on the rollers and ran the motor at a steady 15mph (first gear) for 30 seconds. The emissions readings were as follows:

"Gas Standard Reading Result
NOx 1110 357 Pass
HC 148 74 Pass
CO% 0.83 0.28 Pass
CO2% 15.1
O2% 0.3

"The oil was last changed 3,000 miles ago, spark plugs changed and the valves last adjusted 15,000 miles ago, and it had a 125,000-mile old K&N air filter. So, it was already due for maintenence, yet it still passed easily. He didn't notice the small crack in the windshield, nor did he notice the glaring "brake lining" light (a short in one of the sensors), nor did he look under the hood for my European header. He waived the paperwork violation. And they certainly never put any [RPM sensor] on the hood. He left me his name and number in case I decided to sell the car.

"All in all, I'd have to say my first experience with the DMV under the new rules was quite a positive one."

Thanks again to Jeff, Warren and Walt for sharing their experiences with us. I have previously asked the rest of you NJ Bimmerphiles to send me copies of your inspection print-outs and a few have complied. If it is more convenient for you to simply send an e-mail with the emissions test data as shown above, please do so. I really appreciate it as it establishes a database of what emissions levels should be expected from a particular Bimmer model.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Philes' Forum should contact me via the info on the masthead. I'm interested in tech tips, repair /maintenance questions and/or tips, dealer horror stories, product evaluations, etc. Please call before 8 PM, and if you leave a message, PLEASE INCLUDE A PHONE NUMBER WHERE I CAN REACH YOU ON WEEKDAYS. Also, please be patient, I try to return every phone call, but it sometimes takes a while. If you don't hear back from me within a few days, please call again. The best way to contact me is via e-mail.

Copyright 2000 - V.M. Lucariello, PE