too high HC in smog test :/

[harri525ixT]

HC value is too high on idle. >2000 rpm it's back to normal, and otherwise
all is well (good mileage, smooth engine etc). any ideas before I submit it
to the $tealer lottery thing?

thanks,
--
harri
-95 525ixTA

[Hallmark]

In January my '95 525 failed the state emissions test for HC and NOx at a local Kwik Lube place. I took it to a local BMW indy (Lone Star Bavarian) who looked over the results from the printout and thought they were suspicious. He took it to a place that knows BMWs and had them redo the test. It passed with flying colors.

The indy told me that it's pretty rare for a well maintained Bimmer to fail emmisions. From now on I'll take my car to a place that knows the type instead of the local place that just happens to have the equipment.

[MarkD]

HC value is too high on idle. >2000 rpm it's back to normal, and otherwise
all is well (good mileage, smooth engine etc). any ideas before I submit it
to the $tealer lottery thing?

thanks,
--
harri
-95 525ixTA

So what were the numbers? I am wondering how badly it failed. As Mark H mentioned, there may be nothing wrong with the car, or you may just need to change the oil, warm up the car and run the test again.

Mark

[TimGinCentralNJ]

Harri-

Although this was posted on the FirstFives website, it might still be of some help to you.

Cheers,
Tim G.
'91 535iM

http://www.firstfives.org/faq/smog/smog_faq.html

[shragon]

mine failed for HC as well. it's because they let my car sit, and the cats cooled down. drive the car for about 15 min, and make sure they test the car right away.

[harri525ixT]

the HC value was oscillating between 90 and 130 (ppm?), while
the local limit is 100. so nothing serious there.

talked to a bmw mechanic, he said that 99% sure that everything is ok
and the reason was just that the cat was still cold. when they get older
they get more lazy. no real problems since >2000 rpm everything is
fine. it was -15C the night before and the inspection
station is just a couple of miles away from my home. next time
I'll take the long route

so far I've only owned -70's benzes with no cats and no worries.