redballoon

Hello, i am looking to import a celsior into california, is the ls400 and the celsior the same emissions wise? my worst fear is i spend a bunch of money to get it here and it doesn't pass smog. Does anyone have any experience with this? thanks.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

lol please search. You have much google-ing to do.

The Celsior isn't eligible for import into the US for at LEAST another year (date of title/manuf.) if you intend to pick up a '90 per the 25 year law. I highly doubt you'll get a show/display approval for it given the quantities it was produced in.

But to answer your question, no, it won't pass smog out of the box. There are significant differences as far as I recall. Again, searching will yield your answers.

steve2006

I know for a fact that the Celsiors do not have any EGR system fitted as it is not required in Japan, if it is required in California I wouldn't like to retrofit one as the ECU is also diferent.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

correct, cali has the strictest smog laws in the US and out-of-the-box the celsior will not pass emissions testing.

you will have more problems than just smog alone, such as DOT lighting and meeting 5mph bumper regulations just to list a few. importing a car made for another market is very difficult here, but not impossible. as stated, do more research.

per the 25-year law, R32 nissan skylines are now available for registration however finding a clean one that's worth it will be a feat in itself. it is also not cheap!

Shmee

iTrader: (3)

We are been able to import JDM cars after 15 years up here in BC. Additionally we have a mirror image smog system as Cali does and most of the JDM cars we we are in no way close to passing smog testing. It's also exceptionally hard to find really clean examples...

I personally wouldn't waste my time importing a 1990 Celsior. For the money it would cost you, you could probably buy an amazing 98+ USDM Ls400 and not have any worries or problems.

Having driven a TON of JDM cars, driving a RHD car in a world setup for LHD, it's not as fun or as cool as you'd think. In fact it can be a massive inconvenience and downright dangerous at times. Left hand turns at a busy intersection have been the end of a few nice LHD cars I know of..

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

very jealous of canada in that regard that you folks can register JDM cars. never knew about the smog being the same up there too! so how does one register said cars? add emissions systems?

i share the same grief driving RHD cars in a LHD country. merging onto the hwy and even ordering in a drive-thru is a massive inconvenience! the wow factor is a nice plus however.

Kingsoup

Well the Celsior does have the same Cats as the LS400, but no EGR will make the Cali cops crazy.

The RHD thing in a LHD world isn't really that much of a problem, I'm pretty used to it now after 6yrs of having them, and I drive LHD all the time as well as the right hand cars.

You can occasionally still find a very low km early 1990 Celsior for sale in Japan, but again for all the hassle I'd just get a 98+ LS400 car.

Its nice we can have 15yr old Japanese cars, but its nice you have summer all year round and no -45c 6months of winter, I think I'd take that over my JDM imports )

Shmee

iTrader: (3)

Timmy, the smog thing is BC specific, to the greater Vancouver area. It's not province or country wide.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

ah makes sense, thanks for clarifying. how do you make a JDM car compliant in BC?

i talked to a JDM importer here in the states that used to import RHD accord wagons for use in rural areas for mail delivery. they had to do crash tests, convert all lighting to DOT compliant units, change the speedo to MPH, and add smog emissions such as OBDII ports and the like. it was very tedious and expensive. most cars that didn't pass were crushed (including twin turbo MKIV supra turbos, R34 skylines, and s15 silivas).

Yamae

Figures tell. The CO chart is missing but they have strict regulations there in California.

Shmee

iTrader: (3)

Timmy, I personally have never imported a JDM car, so I'm not 100% on it, but I do know it differs from province to province. In BC, it needs to pass a basic but comprehensive mechanical inspection for things like brakes, suspension, CEL's, DRL, LHD headlights (where needed, a lot of guys just get eBay lights or something cheap and then put the JDM stuff back on afterwards), etc...

Once cleared, it gets a unique BC VIN plate, and then is subject to the emissions restrictions depending on the region of licensing. 99% of the geographic area of BC require no emissions testing, where as 90% of the population lives within that 1% area. Think of it sort of like only the greater LA area requires smog but the rest of Cali has no smog testing.

Kingsoup

I've imported lots of JDM cars, in Canada once you clear customs, you basically just have to pass a comprehensive safety exam. Its harder in BC as they are stricter, LHD headlights, DOT tires, and emissions in Vancouver. Here in Alberta its better, a comprehensive safety exam and DOT tires, but not headlights (as new HID LS400 headlights are pricey, that works out nice for me!) just need to be safe and no emissions here. We're just getting R34 Skylines in right now, I have a 1999 Subaru Legacy RSK B4 twin turbo with 66,000kms up for sale, I'm working on getting some 25yr old skylines for import into the USA, I have seen a few now coming in from port, destination usa!

Greg5OH

i odnt understand this 25 year law for jdm cars in the states.. in all the maginzes i read when i was younger i saw so many rhd r34s, supras, s15s etc all from the states...how do those guys do it?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

they get crushed when ICE finds them.

Motorrex imported r34s for a while.

Kingsoup

Motorex cars I think mostly,(skylines) then it turned out they were shipping drugs in them I think it was in the end?

I read a really neat article on the rise and fall of those guys, interesting stuff.

Honestly I don't get the skyline thing, they are really expensive from Japan, I haven't driven a GTR but the GTT's are nice enough but not that much nicer then other offerings domestically.