You have a head start if you still have copy of CA title and registration, hypothetically.
Letter for US Emission Standard for Imported 3.0 CSI
- Thread starter Farzad Arjmand
- Start date
Amazing! I just cannot imagine such nonsense. Just what is the goal here? Is whatever impact, truly measurable? I am shocked that so much energy is put into preventing the use of a collector car that will be driven negligible miles per year, and will have zero impact on any "targets". I guess I was not up to speed as to what California requires, but really, is California DMV up to speed? Or is speeding not allowed either? 
Me? No stickers, or even pre-restoration photos of CA stickers. I do have the PO's registration, but not a copy of his CA title. So I'd expect to be stopped and frisked at the border. At best. I'm mostly curious for potential future buyers in CA. Thanks, Don.
And I just discovered this in the car's files. Should I be excited about this CARB get-out-of-jail-free card? I expect not, with the swapped engine... (sorry to hijack the OP's thread.)
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the swapped engine is most likely not an issue.
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1. The form isn't dated.
2. No inspection results are included (unless there are additional pages)
3. I think the conclusion is at the bottom of the page... "No match with DMV records"
4. My guess is this form is the only output from the test system after the car data was entered. No actual test was (or could be) performed
4. It would be interesting (but probably not important) to learn who took the car to an inspection station, when, and why.
2. No inspection results are included (unless there are additional pages)
3. I think the conclusion is at the bottom of the page... "No match with DMV records"
4. My guess is this form is the only output from the test system after the car data was entered. No actual test was (or could be) performed
4. It would be interesting (but probably not important) to learn who took the car to an inspection station, when, and why.
Farzad Arjmand
Active Member
I just tried them , they said NO . its not possible to get waiver ...you might be able to get one in a lifetime waver.. complicated
Vehicle Emissions California Waivers and Authorizations | US EPA
This page lists Federal Register Notices concerning California Waivers originated by the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ).www.epa.gov
Google "California DMV Consultants". There are a bunch of them. My guess is that plenty would gladly take your money and not deliver results, but there must be a few good ones that can help come up with a creative, but honest solution based on your particular situation. If you are successful, it is probably not going to be easy, quick, or cheap.
If the documents you have would allow another owner to license the car in their state (every state has different regulations), an alternative might be to sell the car into one of those states where it could be licensed and look for another to purchase that has a California title.
Farzad Arjmand
Active Member
Does any of you have the sample of the letter from BMW of North America , so I can see what it says ,,, BTW I called DMV and they said they will send my title back with no problems and I can register it in another state,,, I am looking for letter that BMW gives for Canadian imports,,,, this thing is getting crazy Thank you for all your inputs .... also My car is registered as CS but it has a injection engine ... so I am going to ask for CS title ,,,not that it makes a difference to me....
BMW doesn’t provide those letters to anyone I don’t believe. US and Canada both got the same EPA/DOT compliant coupes with the EPA/DOT engine bay sticker. What is your VIN, is it a true CSi or a CS? It doesn’t matter what title says your model is. DMV wants to see matching VINs on body and paperwork and evidence of DOT/EPA compliance.
Farzad Arjmand
Active Member
VIN# 2213669 its CS converted to CSI DMV wants US Emission letter from manufacturer
If you mean California DMV, I don't think that will help. See Don's post #6.
I think the letter you refer to is used when importing a fairly new car from Canada. It is to certify that the US and Canadian cars are essentially identical from an emissions standpoint. Even then, there are DOT requirements that have to be met when importing a fairly new car from Canada since there are differences between the countries that need to be addressed.
BTW, BMW of North America was established in 1975. If your CS is older than this, they would not be involved in your car.
Did the DMV say they would register it if it had the EPA sticker?
DMV would never be that helpful.
Farzad Arjmand
Active Member
Oldenzaal in Netherland
Farzad Arjmand
Active Member
They just told me they need a letter from manufacturer that this car is US emission certified