What Does It Mean When A 1999 540i

[Delmarco]

09/16/2004 Texas
Inspection Station
Houston, TX
Failed emissions inspection


I'm about to buy my dream car and I just saw that the carfax came up with this report. The vehicle failed then passed inspection on the same day but then it was put up for sale right after....which seems suspicious to me.

But for an E39 how important is that test for predicting whether that E39 is a good car or not?

here is the link to the car

http://www.bmw-forums.com/forum/inde...howtopic=35633




thanks guys

[bad man working]

I wouldn't worry too much it properly failed first time because it wasn't hot enough, and normally emission faults are only oxygen sensor which isn't to bad cats do go on them and that can been expensive. I'm a Brit so I don't know how your test differs from ours?

[frank3]

I agree w/bad man working. Not to worry. Since it passed, either it wasn't hot enough the first time, or the mechanic just had to do a little tweak to get it into specs.

In Cali, you can fail a smog test if one of your brake lights is burned out.

[Slvr e39]

yea cali is a bi*** about emissions, im a test only car so I can only go to selected places for smog check. 1/2 of the cars are test-only