E30 Zone

Just took the e30 325i out after 3 years to get it mot ed and it failed on the emissions saying the co2 is too high on norrmal and fast idle and lambda

The car nas been sitting for a while and is due a service as it ismissing slightly, but its been like that for years and passed last time with no issues.

What do i need to do to get the co2 down?.

Ive got ten days to sort it!!
Thanks

CO or CO2? Very different gasses. Also, what are the other gas results? You should have a printed sheet from the test station.

google "italian tune-up"

Brianmoooore wrote:CO or CO2? Very different gasses. Also, what are the other gas results? You should have a printed sheet from the test station.

It was CO brian - il put up the emission test sheet.

Tester says it smells of fuel so probably running rich.

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Forgotton how to put up pics

Second idle test:
C0 0.550 fail
Lambda 1.072 fail

Natural idle test:
Co 0.699 fail

What's the date of first registration for your car?

Its a 1993, was a 1.8 but that engine died and a 2.5 m20 was put in

This is where things get complicated! Note the passage below, which is taken from section 7.3 of the current MOT manual.

"Vehicles fitted with a different engine must be
tested to the requirements of whichever is older, the
engine or the vehicle.
e.g. A 1995 car fitted with a 1991 engine (of
whatever make), test to 1991 standards for
emission purposes.
Note: The onus is on the vehicle presenter to prove
engine age

Has the M20 engine been installed with a cat. and lambda sensor in the exhaust system?
Do you know the age of the M20 engine? If it was made before 01/08/1992, then the testing limit for CO on your engine is 3.5%.

An exhaust that smells of fuel can indicate either a rich or weak mixture (with weak mixture, fuel fails to ignite, and passes straight out of the exhaust), but high CO does indicate a rich mixture.

Aah now that helps...i think i remember telling the previous testers about the engine change but i didnt know they adjusted the test to suit...

So if i go back to the same place and tell them, they should adjust to suit the earlier engine and should pass?

If there's no Cat., then you'd struggle to get it down to the post 7/92 limits.
Note that the onus is on you to prove the engine age. An old test certificate with gas results sheet would probably do, if it's passed before.
Most M20B25s were pre 8/92 of course, since saloon production had finished by then, and only cabs. and tourings were produced for about six months afterwards.

Brian you are quite simply the yoda of this site!!

Thanks