Mods people in Cali are doing?

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Bonafide_Spd3

Member
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2007 Mazdaspeed3 GT Cosmic Blue
I'll be moving out to Norcal next year and want to know what to expect with modifications. I want to upgrade my exhaust while I'm out there and want to know if I could probably get away with a high flow cat w/ cbe. I know you could do the whole tbe but would have to drive at own risk of getting pulled over. Kinda sucks the emissions are against this good stuff. Also are they pricks over there for having an aftermarket bpv? And what about window tint? and the front window having a tint strips? Any info would be apreciated, thanks
 
You wont pass smog with a turboback, but you could drive around with one, and as long as you dont drive around like a tool, youll be fine.

aftermarket bpv are fine. the only people that really get bothered will be those who dont circulate, and vent it, and its extremely loud.

California laws say nothing on the front windows, but a tint strip is perfectly fine.
 
Yeah, an aftermarket TBE would probably get you in our state, catted/catless. You can drive around in one, just make sure when it's time to smog, you have your stock down/midpipe. As for tint, the rear windows can be whatever, but the fronts can be tinted to a certain degree. And for a BPV, just get the black Forge one so it looks like stock. And you'll be good.
 
Cali is rough! If you live in frisco cops will rarely ever look for carb stickers and what not,the real b**** is smog. CPE said their catted down pipe will pass the sniffer but not the visual inspection(no carb sticker) so keep your stock parts if the after market ones dont have a carb sticker.
 
Actually, you can go
4" strip on the top of the windshield, any darkness can be used
no more than 30% of the light can be blocked, no less than 70% of the light can be let in on the driver and passenger side
rear 5, any darkness can be used

Trust me, I did my research on this about a month or so ago when I got my front windows tinted to 70% for heat reduction...and a comp from my man for the rear glass.

Cops, it depends on where you live. I'm in the east bay and they seem to be pretty cool over here. As long as you follow the rules they're fine with whatever.
 
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well on the exhaust it has to be under 95db i think it is. you will get a fix it ticket and they will mic it to check. front strip they are dead on, front windows in the doors can have nothing but this one clear uv protectant(no light blocking just uv rays) rear doors and hatch are no bars. you can spray paint them black. they worry about seeing you in the front and two front doors. bpv's i cant tell you when i bought my greddy rs it says right on it off road only. intakes be sure that you get a carb approved (mscai is, injen and aem are pending). if its not and the cop notices you will get a fix it ticket and fail smog automatically. any emissions related mod that is heck. noi removing cats legally. and depending on where you live they even have road side smog checks. well hope that helps you out.
 
Thanks for all the info, I think my front windows are 30% and the rest is 20% I like the window strip alot because it helps keep some of the sun out of the car. That kinda sucks about the front windows not having tint. I'll be moving by sacramento area. So hopefully they are pretty cool since I'll probably be working for the city or county. How many years do they do smog?
 
Bonafide_Spd3 said:
I'll be moving out to Norcal next year and want to know what to expect with modifications. I want to upgrade my exhaust while I'm out there and want to know if I could probably get away with a high flow cat w/ cbe. I know you could do the whole tbe but would have to drive at own risk of getting pulled over. Kinda sucks the emissions are against this good stuff. Also are they pricks over there for having an aftermarket bpv? And what about window tint? and the front window having a tint strips? Any info would be apreciated, thanks
Click to expand...


wooooohooooooo NorCal gets another MS3...sweet...wow we are have a huge group now...wow...honestly it really depends on where you live...people say in E.Bay you get messed with, i can see that...but on the Peninsula you really don't, i think it has to do with the economics...the cops are pretty knowledgeable in general, but remember the cops have a lot bigger issues to deal with here than just picking on peeps that love cars...and really the bay area is huge with car enthusiasts...ie...my neighbor a cop in San Mateo...huge car fanatic...owns a 2002 M3 and a pearled out 67 Camero...oh and he lets the neighborhood here that thing...hahaha

i have tint on all the rides except the SP23...the element 20% on fronts, the tundra too and the speed as well...a lot of the speed guys here are modded heavily...
 
oh and i've never been f'd with for NOT having a front plate...and i've been driving for 16 years now...wow...time flies...
 
Bonafide_Spd3 said:
Thanks for all the info, I think my front windows are 30% and the rest is 20% I like the window strip alot because it helps keep some of the sun out of the car. That kinda sucks about the front windows not having tint. I'll be moving by sacramento area. So hopefully they are pretty cool since I'll probably be working for the city or county. How many years do they do smog?
Click to expand...
The 30% on the front you might want to get lightened to 70% or else you'll definitely get screwed by the CHP. If you feel so inclined to check out the laws on the DMV's site then go ahead (dmv . ca . gov) but you will be supafly with that set up. (cool)
 
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it also depends on where you are moving to. sf is pretty damn strict but if you come to the northbay they are pretty chill as long a you are driving safely.
 
We'll be moving by stockton/lodi area. I was there a couple months ago and didn't see any speed3 out there. Thanks again for all the info
 
I dont know if you ever heard of Irvine but cops here are real assholes. They got nothing better to do but to pullover cars with loud exhausts. Luckily I've not fallen victim yet. I have a CP-e CATTED tbe.
 
The only reason I would go down south is to visit my bro. He lives down in LA. He hasn't had any problems with the cops and his STI. I don't think he has the whole exhaust done though. Haven't talked to him about it
 
just make friend with a cop....and whenever u get pull over for stupid shiet... have ur friend write the ticket off....
 
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