My 528e had her last Virginia emissions inspection today, as she'll be 26 years old (registered age) when the next registration renewal is due and will not be required to have an emissions inspection. It's interesting to note that this last inspection this morning was so clean, that the equipment was checked and tests run again. Not the first time this has happened, but at 25 years old (by build date), with the original catalytic converter still in use and a non-BMW ECU/DME chip installed (E.A.T.) it shows what the longevity of a 528e can be, given proper longterm care and consistant maintenance. The emission numbers and her strong performance says it all.
I think perhaps it might be time for a new ride, though. Something different.
-Rod
My 528e's Last Emission Inspection!
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C.R. Krieger
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Re: My 528e's Last Emission Inspection!
Like what; an '84?rodpaine wrote: I think perhaps it might be time for a new ride, though. Something different.
-Rod
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grahamular
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Re: My 528e's Last Emission Inspection!
I wish Maryland had a rolling-exemption date like VA does. In MD anything '77 or newer is required to get a bi-annual emissions inspection, and the cut-off year is fixed at '77.rodpaine wrote:My 528e had her last Virginia emissions inspection today, as she'll be 26 years old (registered age) when the next registration renewal is due and will not be required to have an emissions inspection.
Now that she's finally exempt you gotta keep her!I think perhaps it might be time for a new ride, though. Something different.
I got a call last night from my BIL. His 86 k10 chebby PU passed MA safety inspection. Due to some computer glitch, it didnt need to pass emissions on the roller. 
Anyway, in conversation with the tech , he was told that as of 9/08 MA cars older than 95 will be emissions exempt. The state is doing away with dyno tests and just scanning OBD II for codes BTW, Rod, my 88 528e passed emissions at 332kmiles on the orginal cat.
Anyway, in conversation with the tech , he was told that as of 9/08 MA cars older than 95 will be emissions exempt. The state is doing away with dyno tests and just scanning OBD II for codes BTW, Rod, my 88 528e passed emissions at 332kmiles on the orginal cat.-
rlomba8204
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That's great.
I wonder, however, if the M30 is a dirtier running motor than an M20. My 535 won't pass unless it gets a fresh tune-up (and next time, it will need a new OEM cat) each time, even if the next Inspection I or II is not due for a while. I thought maybe my car was just dirty, but I noticed that Mike Miller, in this month's Roundel, also mentioned that most e28s won't pass modern smog tests without a tuneup and a pretty fresh cat.
So what's your secret, besides good maintenance, for all that clean running? A lot of highway miles?
I wonder, however, if the M30 is a dirtier running motor than an M20. My 535 won't pass unless it gets a fresh tune-up (and next time, it will need a new OEM cat) each time, even if the next Inspection I or II is not due for a while. I thought maybe my car was just dirty, but I noticed that Mike Miller, in this month's Roundel, also mentioned that most e28s won't pass modern smog tests without a tuneup and a pretty fresh cat.
So what's your secret, besides good maintenance, for all that clean running? A lot of highway miles?
Re: My 528e's Last Emission Inspection!
Close, C.R. but more like E34 M5, if a really mint one surfaces.C.R. Krieger wrote: Like what; an '84?
riomba8204 - No tricks, just simply taking care of business and doing a lot of preventive maintenance on those things that the E28 is known to have problems with. Yes, driven mostly highway mileage and never less than 50 miles locally, because I am rural.
a - Check your speedo gears, they've got to be causing the odometer to be jumping major amounts of mileage. 332k on original cat? Ya, right!
wkohler - Naw, let the guy play his game, his engine compartment is filthy. Hardly something I would expect to see on the "cleanest 528e in the country".
-Rod
Re: My 528e's Last Emission Inspection!
You should consider a e34 540i 6speed. Either Sport package, or if you really want cool and different, get the M Sport version.rodpaine wrote:Close, C.R. but more like E34 M5, if a really mint one surfaces.C.R. Krieger wrote: Like what; an '84?
riomba8204 - No tricks, just simply taking care of business and doing a lot of preventive maintenance on those things that the E28 is known to have problems with. Yes, driven mostly highway mileage and never less than 50 miles locally, because I am rural.
a - Check your speedo gears, they've got to be causing the odometer to be jumping major amounts of mileage. 332k on original cat? Ya, right!
wkohler - Naw, let the guy play his game, his engine compartment is filthy. Hardly something I would expect to see on the "cleanest 528e in the country".
-Rod
Re: My 528e's Last Emission Inspection!
a - Check your speedo gears, they've got to be causing the odometer to be jumping major amounts of mileage. 332k on original cat? Ya, right!
It's the original cat and IP. Speedo and odo work fine. I tune up the engine with new plugs and air filter. a quarter tank of 93 octane amd an Italian tune up . The Grape passes emissions easily too. It did even with a cat that blew its innards out the tail pipe.
It's the original cat and IP. Speedo and odo work fine. I tune up the engine with new plugs and air filter. a quarter tank of 93 octane amd an Italian tune up . The Grape passes emissions easily too. It did even with a cat that blew its innards out the tail pipe.
I own examples of both engines, and can't see any difference in the emissions pass/fail in either one. The M20 that I have has 180,000 on the clock, original cat, and passes both CA and CO emissions tests (I/M240 dyno) without any fuss, and without a tuneup.
My M30 with more than a 1/4M will pass the CO tests and has never failed. I'm not particularly fussy about maintenance, either: I just replaced an O2 sensor that had been on the car since I replaced it in '99. The plugs, injectors, and so on weren't new on any emissions test in the last 8 years, and I didn't do anything special. The first few years I used a Dinan chip until I replaced the ECU with a non-28 pin unit. I replaced the factory cat in '97 for an aftermarket one because some idiot convinced me it was a good idea (it had pinhole leaks, probably from hitting something; I should have just patched it). After sufferiing through 3 after-market cats, I bought a factory cat in 2000, and have never looked back. The 535i 'fast-passes' the I/M 240 every time. I'm sure it won't be any different with the new D'Syla chip in the car now.
I suspect that M30's are driven hard and put away wet more often, and probably subject to more abuse, as it has a higher fun quotient, which might account for a more finicky reputation. Nevertheless, I rate, from my own experience, both engines as about equal in emissions issues. Not terribly fussy, not particularly sensitive to maintenance for strict emissions purposes, and very very durable. I've always used original equipment, correct Bosch O2 sensors, the proper plugs, consistent valve adjustments, frequent oil changes, and factory original BMW cats. My experience with aftermarket c*** on euro cars, including BMWs, P-cars, Alfas, Fiats, etc., is that using other than factory or factory approved and spec'd parts isn't a good idea. Cats especially. Bosch fuel injection (Motronic) is very good at adjusting for the general condition of the engine. For example, the car continued to pass emisssions in 1998 to 2000, even though I had cam wear (and lower-than-normal compression due to a faulty oil sprayer bar) and wound up replacing the head in late 2000.
FWIW:Both of these engines are used in an urban environment but with substantial in town highway miles. Neither one has had a lot of track time.
An E34 M5 would be my choice as well - in Calypso Red.
My M30 with more than a 1/4M will pass the CO tests and has never failed. I'm not particularly fussy about maintenance, either: I just replaced an O2 sensor that had been on the car since I replaced it in '99. The plugs, injectors, and so on weren't new on any emissions test in the last 8 years, and I didn't do anything special. The first few years I used a Dinan chip until I replaced the ECU with a non-28 pin unit. I replaced the factory cat in '97 for an aftermarket one because some idiot convinced me it was a good idea (it had pinhole leaks, probably from hitting something; I should have just patched it). After sufferiing through 3 after-market cats, I bought a factory cat in 2000, and have never looked back. The 535i 'fast-passes' the I/M 240 every time. I'm sure it won't be any different with the new D'Syla chip in the car now.
I suspect that M30's are driven hard and put away wet more often, and probably subject to more abuse, as it has a higher fun quotient, which might account for a more finicky reputation. Nevertheless, I rate, from my own experience, both engines as about equal in emissions issues. Not terribly fussy, not particularly sensitive to maintenance for strict emissions purposes, and very very durable. I've always used original equipment, correct Bosch O2 sensors, the proper plugs, consistent valve adjustments, frequent oil changes, and factory original BMW cats. My experience with aftermarket c*** on euro cars, including BMWs, P-cars, Alfas, Fiats, etc., is that using other than factory or factory approved and spec'd parts isn't a good idea. Cats especially. Bosch fuel injection (Motronic) is very good at adjusting for the general condition of the engine. For example, the car continued to pass emisssions in 1998 to 2000, even though I had cam wear (and lower-than-normal compression due to a faulty oil sprayer bar) and wound up replacing the head in late 2000.
FWIW:Both of these engines are used in an urban environment but with substantial in town highway miles. Neither one has had a lot of track time.
An E34 M5 would be my choice as well - in Calypso Red.