Hey, I have a question for anyone who drives a gasser in California. I am moving to California, and as I mentioned in another post, we are thinking of buying an old RV for the trip rather than rent a moving truck. The point of this post is not to argue the merits or detriments to that idea, so let's leave that part be.

My question is, this thing is a 1976. I just read that automobiles are only smog exempt if they are at the fixed date of 1975 or earlier... so that would mean we would have to have it smog checked or that whoever would buy it from us (we plan to sell it after getting there), would have to have it checked.

How hard is it to pass the smog checks, and is the standard the same for all gas vehicles? If you don't pass, or can't get it to pass, I read there is a fee. How much is the fee?

Thanks for the help

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Well every car has a different allowed level of emissions. There are no fees if the car doesn't pass smog, but you must get the smog problem fixed in order to continue to drive the car. You can get an exemption and have like 1 to 2 months to get the problem fixed, but you cannot resale the car if it doesn't pass smog.

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http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

'76 and up has to have a smog check. Some counties are stricter than others, espeicall around the Los Angeles and SF Bay Area.

Here's a FAQ from the state goverment site with some introductory information.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

when you get there,pull the engine,weld a hitch on the front and sell it as a trailer!!

It maybe exempt or have very lax regulations, because it's basically a big ass truck. I've seen many here that are just billowing smog.

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'77 300D 387,000 Miles . . .

'69 280S (SOLD)

'79 300CD (SOLD)

I am wondering how extensive the check is. I have looked at the DMV's website, but I didn't see exactly what they check. Do they just test the exhaust to see what the emissions are like? (that's all they do here in WI) I have heard they might put it up on a lift, look for exhaust leaks, etc...

When I go to check out this motorhome, I want to try to look it over as closely as possible to hedge my bets on whether it will be a problem.

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It might pass in your state but here in california it might not. They have much tighter tolerances on smog.

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http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s...titled-1-3.jpg
1981 300d

They do a visual:

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/StdPage.asp?Body=/geninfo/otherinfo/vehicle_inspection_report_glossary-may_1996.htm

If they think you messed with smog stuff, you have to put it back to factory.
NO LIMIT at ALL on the cost to you to do it.

Plus, hefty fines could attach.

But depending on the smog station, the visual checks can be perfunctory.

What they really care about are the numbers on the computer, when they put the sniffer up the tailpipe, and then run it at idle, then at full out accelleration.

Those NOx readings......

Once they hit send, the Information goes AUTOMATICASLLY to the State Computer and can't be changed.

A friend of mine had an '82 380SEC tested by a Calif Smog Check station, and by ACCIDENT the tech hit the "Gross Polluter" button (even though the car wasn't) and he was entered into a Karfkaesque nightmare of no fault of his own, or his car's

there was NOTHING he could do to get out of it. Cost him Hundreds of Dollars to get out of it, through the tech's error.

And this guy, this friend of mine, was a LAWYER!!!!

So be careful at those Smog check places.


See if you can get out of it. Is it possible the thing can be called a truck or something other than a car to get out of it in some way?

Diesels have NO smog checks in California, those lucky guys are home free.
Maybe a "legislative oversight" or something - some of the old ones really emit huge, noxious, greasy, clouds of black smole!!! lol

There are NO safety, lights, or ANY other inspections of vehicles in California.
Years ago there were for a while. Now you can run some ugly, rusty, dangerous rattletrap without lights and all you have to to is pass the smog, and you are legal in California.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Denatured alcohol, a Magnaflow Cat, some time, and a trip to my trusted smog man, and I think it will pass....

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I would like to know the same thing. It is a roughly 20ft RV with a ford 460 in it. I consider that a truck, but I don't know what they consider that in California.

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Wow, I just talked to someone at the DMV and they said all (non diesel) vehicles 1976 or newer need to pass emissions, and that all vehicles have the same standard for emissions, regardless if it is a truck, a car, whatever.

I think I might have just scratched that idea, because I have a hard time believing that a 32 year old truck that has probably never had an emissions test (in rural Wisconsin, where it is from, they don't have emissions tests at all) ever would pass the smog test.

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Why not search for a similar, say, 1974 model??

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1985 300TD
1984 380SL
1983 280SE (full Euro, trunk triangle and all!)

Formerly owned:
1986 420SEL
1984 300D
1983 300D
1981 300SD
1976 300D

They don't call them "Smog Nazis" out here for no reason.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I'm always amazed at what a bit of denatured alcohol will do for an emissions test!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks for the advice guys.

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