CA Smog ESS 625 Tune

[M5280RCR]

I am coming up on CA smog (star certified this year FWIW) and am planning on reinstalling my OEM mid and rear exhaust) and installing the "detune" that ESS emailed me.

I am not quite sure how the tune installs, I assume I just connect the my laptop to the OBC (with originally supplied ESS cable), open the files (there are two of them) and I will prompted what to do. I asked ESS to confirm, but I have not heard back from them. Then I understand I should drive it a few days keeping RPM's under 4k. Any idea how many miles I should put on it?

So, the questions I have are:

Is installing the detune as easy as I am assuming above
Does anyone have advice on installing the "detune".
Has anyone in CA successfully smog a car in CA via this method

Thanks in advance.

[atranho]

Not positive on the detune but I know you will need to go to a shop that doesn't care / skips the visual. Im guessing as long as all your sensors are ready and there is no CEL you should be fine

[Aktavate]

Finding a star cert station that will overlook visual is going to be even more difficult than a normal one but I'm sure people do it.

[roastbeef]

If you have a supercharger installed, you won't legitimately pass. Pipes/tunes don't matter.

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by M5280RCR

I am coming up on CA smog (star certified this year FWIW) and am planning on reinstalling my OEM mid and rear exhaust) and installing the "detune" that ESS emailed me.

I am not quite sure how the tune installs, I assume I just connect the my laptop to the OBC (with originally supplied ESS cable), open the files (there are two of them) and I will prompted what to do. I asked ESS to confirm, but I have not heard back from them. Then I understand I should drive it a few days keeping RPM's under 4k. Any idea how many miles I should put on it?

So, the questions I have are:

Is installing the detune as easy as I am assuming above
Does anyone have advice on installing the "detune".
Has anyone in CA successfully smog a car in CA via this method

Thanks in advance.

As soon as they pop your hood and see the huffer you will fail the visual unless the huffer has a CARB exempt number.

That is the reason why I won't do a blower. Otherwise I would be contacting Mike at BPM for a Harrop.

Dave

[M5280RCR]

Originally Posted by Aktavate

Finding a star cert station that will overlook visual is going to be even more difficult than a normal one but I'm sure people do it.

Thanks for the feedback Aktavate. I notice you have a 996 TT and I am toying with the idea of replacing my E92 (which is my DD) with a 996 TT. How would you compare the rides; or usability of the TT as a DD? Also, I see the mods on your E92 in your signature, any mods on the TT?

Thanks

[Aktavate]

Originally Posted by M5280RCR

Thanks for the feedback Aktavate. I notice you have a 996 TT and I am toying with the idea of replacing my E92 (which is my DD) with a 996 TT. How would you compare the rides; or usability of the TT as a DD? Also, I see the mods on your E92 in your signature, any mods on the TT?

Thanks

Only real thing I have on the M3 is ohlins RT and wheels, no tune. 911 also has KWV3 coils, wheels, ECU flash, LWFW, and catless exahust, still on stock turbos, and some other minor mods. To my mind theyre very different cars but thats why I wanted the M3; 911 has tons more torque and is basically 'faster' but I also wanted a high revving car that you kind of have to really flog to get all the performance out of which is why the s65 is cool. Never been in a S/C M3 myself but it may be comparable to the 911 as far as acceleration feels. Daily is hard to say, kind of what youre willing to put up with and if you want to keep it stock. Stock vs stock theyre probably very similar as far as utility goes, just more low speed power in the 911. If you have more specific questions I'm happy to try and answer, just shoot me a PM.

[M5280RCR]

Originally Posted by Aktavate

Only real thing I have on the M3 is ohlins RT and wheels, no tune. 911 also has KWV3 coils, wheels, ECU flash, LWFW, and catless exahust, still on stock turbos, and some other minor mods. To my mind theyre very different cars but thats why I wanted the M3; 911 has tons more torque and is basically 'faster' but I also wanted a high revving car that you kind of have to really flog to get all the performance out of which is why the s65 is cool. Never been in a S/C M3 myself but it may be comparable to the 911 as far as acceleration feels. Daily is hard to say, kind of what youre willing to put up with and if you want to keep it stock. Stock vs stock theyre probably very similar as far as utility goes, just more low speed power in the 911. If you have more specific questions I'm happy to try and answer, just shoot me a PM.

Thanks, much appreciated.

[Honda]

From e90 M3 to 996 TT, that's a downgrade in my opinion in every department except Probably HP. I wont bother doing that in my opinion unless you aim for 997.2 TT