On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 7:15 AM, Mitch Haley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Alex Chamberlain wrote: >> But your local governments may also have something to say, which >> complicates matters. This is the case in Oregon, for example. >> There's no rolling exemption---all vehicles made since 1974 must pass >> a smog check. > > How stringent is that smog check? I wouldn't be surprised if it were 5x > or 10x the emissions allowed for a brand new car of that vintage. Seems > like a perfect running euro car might pass the test.
Good question, but I'd guess not very stringent. My '80 Euro 280SLC passed just fine. The problem I had registering it in Oregon was with the "visual inspection for functioning emissions equipment" part of the test, wherein the state employees claimed that since a USA-spec 450SLC of the same year was built with catalytic converters, mine should have them too (and that since it didn't have any, ipso facto I must have removed them myself in violation of Federal and state law). > When they were gray market importing the new cars in the 1980s, the > conversion costs were really > something unless they could just replace every related part with US certified > parts, because meeting > current year new car standards is never easy without having a major car > company's R&D budget. Or unless they faked it. Don't know how common it really was, but there were plenty of stories back in the heyday of the gray market about catalytic converters with nothing inside and side-impact beams made of PVC pipe. Alex _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
