CA legal exhausts - educate a Texan

[snarbles]

Thanks for all your input on the legalities of my 337 in http://www.socaleuro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21914


Call me paranoid but:

Over here in TX everyone says that Neuspeed is one of the few legal exhausts (i'm guessing this is for sound? smog?) for CA. Are there any others?

I've always had my heart set on a B&B:
http://www.bbexhaust.com/car/gti/

But I'm guessing it's a no go in CA :confused:

Is the B&B legal as I don't want any extra tickets. Not really digging the exhaust tip on the Neuspeed compared to the rounded tip of the B&B.

Better to know the laws and break them than to be ignorant.

[MikekiM]

Provided your exhaust system maintains your catalytic converter and is reasonably quiet, you won't have any legal issues with your exhaust.

[snarbles]

Provided your exhaust system maintains your catalytic converter and is reasonably quiet, you won't have any legal issues with your exhaust.

when you say "maintains your catalytic converter" does the mean maintains my stock cat? or does that mean maintain "a catalytic coverter" such as in a full B&B turboback?

[idrivea2002golf]

bring your factory system for smog inspection if you plan on registering it in california. or you can try a smog with what you have and pray it passes if not then swap out the exhaust and most places will give you a free re-smog.

as was posed earlier (i think to someone else who is moving) if you have someone (or if you are keeping a house) in texas keep the car registered there. you won't have any issues with licencing out here. they may pull you over but they won't do anything about it.

as far as the sound, turn off the car if you get pulled over. you have the right to not start the car for the officer. beyond that, don't do anything stupid and you'll be ok. i have been running an exhaust on my golf for 4 years now and not once have i had an issue with it and the police.

[Agent Orange]

bring your factory system for smog inspection if you plan on registering it in california. or you can try a smog with what you have and pray it passes if not then swap out the exhaust and most places will give you a free re-smog.

as was posed earlier (i think to someone else who is moving) if you have someone (or if you are keeping a house) in texas keep the car registered there. you won't have any issues with licencing out here. they may pull you over but they won't do anything about it.

as far as the sound, turn off the car if you get pulled over. you have the right to not start the car for the officer. beyond that, don't do anything stupid and you'll be ok. i have been running an exhaust on my golf for 4 years now and not once have i had an issue with it and the police.
X2!!

[idrivea2002golf]

just another heads up after re-reading your post. no exhaust is legal in cali, even though neuspeed is here in cali. but like i said ealier just do as you wish but switch your plates over on a factory system. thats all you have to worry about until your car is 7 or 8 years old. then you meet a new enemy called "test only"

[snarbles]

just another heads up after re-reading your post. no exhaust is legal in cali, even though neuspeed is here in cali. but like i said ealier just do as you wish but switch your plates over on a factory system. thats all you have to worry about until your car is 7 or 8 years old. then you meet a new enemy called "test only"

That's just crazy. I find it hard to believe that no after market exhaust is legal in CA. If this is true, I don't know that I will last very long in CA.

[mobbin6]

Excessively noisy exhaust systems and mufflers (27150, 27151 VC). Many aftermarket exhaust systems and parts are illegal. Look for parts that meet California law. If it doesn't say it meets the law, it probably doesn't.http://www.chp.ca.gov/images/streetlegal06.jpg


Exhaust systems which meet smog requirements but are still too loud. Exhaust equipment that states it is, "Legal in all 50 states," refers to smog, not noise.
Note: New law (27150.2 VC) does not require law enforcement to use sound level meters to test for excessive noise. Citation is based on officer's judgment. Cited violators may have testing done at smog referee stations or may be directed by the court to have testing done. Vehicles in violation must be brought into compliance. A fine may also be imposed.
From the chp website

[sandiegobmx]

You'll be fine as long as it, one, has a cat, two, doesn't sound like a kazoo.

P.S., I run a cat-less 3" downpipe mated to the stock cat-back. Don't give no fucks.

[cmanns05]

You'll be fine as long as it, one, has a cat, two, doesn't sound like a kazoo.

P.S., I run a cat-less 3" downpipe mated to the stock cat-back. Don't give no fucks.
does it smell with no cat?

[joeandhisjetta]

im going catless in a month or so, ill switch out the for the stock exhaust when it comes time for smog, i have access to a shop so it only takes me about an hour of effort and 4 bucks for a gasket to switch them out.

[sandiegobmx]

does it smell with no cat?

Not that i've noticed. I generally don't catch things like that, though.

[themandillon]

i got pulled over and the cop asked if i had any mods and i told him"just exhaust", im running a flowmaster muffler with 2.25" piping. he said "just exhaust huh" and i said "yea" he let me go and told me to slow down i was like wtf i wasnt even speeding... but as for emissions my car tested like an 07 with no emissions so i dunno about smogging it.

[sandiegobmx]

does it smell with no cat?

Changed my mind, yeah it smells. I have an exhaust leak, too, though.

[SUNNYMK4]

most local exhaust and muffler shops won't even bother trying to install an aftermarket downpipe if it doesn't have a catalytic converter. tuner shops most likely will though.