G3TDI
Veteran Member
This 2003 stage 2 Malone tuned Golf passed without any issues a couple of days ago:

Thanks for reporting back! I'm not due for smog for another year, but I'm hopeful that Matt is right and I won't have any trouble with my 2004.This 2003 stage 2 Malone tuned Golf passed without any issues a couple of days ago:
You’re very welcome we are all in this together!Thanks for reporting back! I'm not due for smog for another year, but I'm hopeful that Matt is right and I won't have any trouble with my 2004.
My only issue is that I'm stage 4 tuned with 3 bar map. You kinda give me hope that I didn't have to flash back to stock.This 2003 stage 2 Malone tuned Golf passed without any issues a couple of days ago:
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Only pre-2005. I am much more certain they will nail you if you have a 2005 or up since VW has made it public information what the CAL-ID and CVNs should be.Just for clarity's sake, some of you are passing the new, stricter emissions testing which is supposed to flag aftermarket tuning without flashing back to OEM software first? And does this apply to all years or only pre-2005?
Shhhh. We knowDeleting emission devices is a federal crime , besides a state crime .
Tune another ECU and have the immo deleted. EasyI too don't disagree with everything said above, and am too young to have witnessed how bad smog used to be Los Angeles. It's interesting though when I first purchased my TDI that it didn't even require a smog check, then a few years later I have to. The car has been passing just fine, though now this can come as another hurdle that might have to be passed if I ever run into any issues.........
For people that need to jump over it, I've been reading they just simply retune the car back to OEM stock, and put whatever parts needed back on. I was also thinking they can swap ECUs, but then there is the hassle of needing the instrument cluster and immobilizer that need to be installed as well, which sounds like more work then just getting it retuned.
It sure is becoming more difficult to own a modified car that wasn't manufactured before '76 here. I'm not about to even get into classic cars with how the market for them has been - it's insane.
-glenn
They passed you with your upgraded SMIC? Do you have upgraded charge pipes as well or just the SMIC on factory pipework?My alh passed today in Orcutt Ca running stage 4 Malone tune. I'm happy.
Big thanks for that matt! I can see my 05's information in here!Only pre-2005. I am much more certain they will nail you if you have a 2005 or up since VW has made it public information what the CAL-ID and CVNs should be.
Any more details? The flash got you?Update!
Had to revert back to stock. CARB not messing around this time! Lol
Had Malone stage 4, 3bar map, Tacotaco SMIC.Any more details? The flash got you?
Stage 4 BEW 2004? Did I get that right?
What intercooler do you have?
So you are running factory clamp style new charge pipes? Any pics? Love to see.I painted the sides of the SMIC black so it appears stock and I passed that way.
I've got a BEW but I'm running stock ALH pipes. The inlet of the lower pancake pipe still has the quick connect style but the outlet is regular clamp style. From there the rest is ALH piping until the 90° elbow that goes into the ASV.Thanks!
So you are running factory clamp style new charge pipes? Any pics? Love to see.
I'm surprised they had the id for a 2004! What's avail to the public from this thread starts in 2005.
Did they say anything or just fail you?
I think that the ALH was the cut off for this.I'm surprised they had the id for a 2004! What's avail to the public from this thread starts in 2005.
nice wagonFWIW...
For the sixth time in a row, my Rocket Chip stage 2 tuned ALH passed the biennial smog test without issue here in the Sacramento, Ca area.
Which tune do you prefer? malone or rc?Both my Sedan (RC3+) and my wagon (Malone 3) passed. Both 2003 ALH.
It passed with aluminum sidemount intercooler and factory pipes.They passed you with your upgraded SMIC? Do you have upgraded charge pipes as well or just the SMIC on factory pipework?
Technically cant upgrade the intercooler. I've thought of painting the tanks of an aluminum black and running it on the factory pipework to make it as invisible as possible.
Big thanks for that matt! I can see my 05's information in here!