Well I went and looked at a 91 Tsi for sale, and took it for a drive, to cut things short I need to have it. But.....I love in California and of course we have to get screwed over here, and my parents wont let me get the car because they dont think that it will pass the visual test. What I was wondering is which things wouldnt pass? Is there anyway I can get around this other than paying someone off, or switching the parts before the check? Heres a list of the mods done to it so far, he was asking 3500 for it but moved it down to 3000 because he needs the money for his gsx.

EVO3 16G TURBO
FMIC (Front mount Intercooler)
WALBRO 190LPH FUEL PUMP
RC 550CC INJECTORS
NEW RADIATOR
NGK SPARK PLUG WIRES
NGK PLUGS
GREDDY TYPE-S BOV
2.5" DOWN-PIPE
TUBULAR O2 HOUSING
APEXI SAFC2
DSMCHIPS.COM STAGE 3 CHIP ( WWW.DSMCHIPS.COM FOR MORE INFO )
PIONEER DECK
DATALOGGER
CLIFFORD G5 ALARM SYSTEM
NEW HEAD GASKET
NEW CYLINDER HEAD
SPRINT SPRINGS
SUSPENSION TECHNIQUES REAR SWAY BAR
MEGAN RACING UPPER FRONT STRUT BAR


It also has a MBC...and a K&N filter on it too...I was just thinking the filter would be my only problem? But my dad says the FMIC would be and Im starting to think the mbc would be too. Thanks a lot-

I don't see anyting illegel about that setup. As long as the catalytic converter is in place and functional, and the exhaust is satisfactory, I don't see a problem. To my knowledge, there should be nothing wrong with a new filter and a FMIC. The car should pass. I hope somebody corrects me if I'm wrong.

I don't see anyting illegel about that setup. As long as the catalytic converter is in place and functional, and the exhaust is satisfactory, I don't see a problem. To my knowledge, there should be nothing wrong with a new filter and a FMIC. The car should pass. I hope somebody corrects me if I'm wrong.


I would hope so, I heard that any modifications to the car would pretty much fail the visual test.

I don't live in Cali, but from what I've heard, if the engine bay is anything but stock, or doesn't have CARB stickers on everything, you're screwed. Aftermarket turbo, FMIC, and the exhaust are gonna kill you. Good luck.

Where is Sphdyer he would know I think he is from Cali.

If it did include the FMIC and stuff like that, then Im pretty much screwed...What I really need is someone to do it illegally, which Ive heard a lot of smog people will actually do around here in cali...Oh well just one more reason to move the hell out of here as soon as possible

where in cali are you? I'm in bay area.....anyways, ask the seller to take care of the smog for you, if he can't do that then you know it won't pass smog. But, do you really want a talon thats already been beat up? Its probably been drivin pretty hard, and cmon all the fun stuff is already done to it! I say look around for a clean 1g for 2-3k and start from scratch...more fun that way ;). But either way, the choice is ultimatly yours. If you think the car will pass smog....which I really don't know if it would with all that aftermarket stuff on it...and they fail you on the visual, you can go to the state ref.

the only engine mods that are smog legal in California on that car are the plugs, wires, and radiator. All of the exhaust, induction, and engine control stuff it has isn't smog legal in California.

where in cali are you? I'm in bay area... Where in the bay area, I will be going to SFSU in the fall.

Well about your car passing smog, I dont think those injectors and fuel upgrades are going to let you pass. I'm not 100% sure but that is what I have heard.

From what I've heard from my friend who has done a smog test in CA is that anything that is modified without a CARB number is illegal. I still have over a year until I need to do a smog test. My friend passed with his highly modded GST spyder because the smog inspector didn't care.
The seller should have the car smog tested and pass before he/she sells it to you. You shouldn't have to do it yourself.

where in cali are you? I'm in bay area.....anyways, ask the seller to take care of the smog for you, if he can't do that then you know it won't pass smog. But, do you really want a talon thats already been beat up? Its probably been drivin pretty hard, and cmon all the fun stuff is already done to it! I say look around for a clean 1g for 2-3k and start from scratch...more fun that way ;). But either way, the choice is ultimatly yours. If you think the car will pass smog....which I really don't know if it would with all that aftermarket stuff on it...and they fail you on the visual, you can go to the state ref.


Im in the bay area as well. The guy would smog it before he sold it to me only because he says he knows a guy who wont even lift the hood of the car. However, you need to register you car ever other year so even if it was smogged now I would need to take it in January 2006. The guy seems pretty knowledgeable, but I know theres always that risk involved. Since Im just getting into cars he would have probably done a better job than I could hope for, but then again I still want to learn. Yet even if I did want to mod it myself I just screw myself right? I would pretty much have the same problem in the end.

Oh, and also theres a 90 tsi fwd for sale...150k with no stereo, a ps leak,needs new rotors and needs a new slave cylinder for 800. Its smogged and runs good, it just cant go anywhere cus of the cylinder. But Im not sure about it..its all stock. Im kind of on a tight budget with only 4k to spend, and here finding a tsi, or gsx gst with low mileage for cheap is becomming pretty impossible. I was actually thinking of waiting till the guy got desperate and offering like 500 for the car, fool around with it till it breaks down and just pay for the engine rebuild. I heard that not many modded dsms with high mileage can take the abuse. Would this be a possible route? How much is the average rebuild? Is it worth it? Thanks again.