No dog in this one, you mention an ECU and being a 998. I have never seen a injected 998. Good luck you will need it. Steve (CTR)

Right you are Spank, but keep in mind, the last Canadian spec minis were exported from the U K to Canada in 1980

Would be hard to find the charcoal/canister set up now

Big AL

If $ is no object or problem, I would LOVE to hear the results of this and see you become a trailblazer for others who want to follow your lead.  Later minis came with catalytic converters and an evap system and so did Japanese Spec minis. Perhaps you can retrofit one of their setups. I believe canadian minis also had a charcoal canister setup for the evap system.

Yep, pretty much agree with all the guys here. If it were that easy (or even possible) to get Rover Minis registered in California, you would see a LOT more of them. 

Personally dealing with the emissions updates is a huge expensive gamble that I wouldn't make. Sell it and buy one with a CA title already. There is a reason that Minis already registered in California come with a higher price tag. 

You should find out if you still need to get the crash rating stuff done too. I don't know how any of the CA laws work, but if the company just does the emissions part you will still have to pay a lot to have the crash safety up to standards too.

But if the company does everything required to get the car legal, and it truly is *only* $5000, then that may be the way for you to go. But it would be easier to find an earlier model as every has stated.

My knowledge is very limited on Minis so far, but I haven't seen a CEL on my car yet. I don't know if they can tie an EVAP system into the ECU or maybe it will be a standalone unit with its own ECU? These are questions you could email the people who do the work and get more info that way.

caliMini.. my guess the costs IF even possible would be $10 large PLUS..  better off to just sell the mini and buy one in Calli with Calli title.  and forget about this PIPE DREAM to make legal there in  lala land..   later bc

Thanks for the offer!  There's a "Gray Market Laboratory" in Southern California that is willing to do the work to get my car up to CA emissions standards.  The cost doesn't really bother me, but it takes 3 months and they do intend to install an EVAP system (!!) and catalytic converter.

Is anyone familiar with the EVAP system on a classic mini that only has ~50 hp?  Will the EVAP system be wired into my cars ECU?  Will the EVAP system forever haunt me with check engine lights that I have to go get diagnosed and fixed?  If the EVAP system turns on a check engine light, is it easy enough for me to "reset" the ECU to prevent it from failing plug-in smog checks?

Sorry for what seems to be random questions, but I am really stressing out over all of the potential avenues to pursue with this car.  Don't want to let her go so easy!

Thanks,
Justin

If you do decide to keep it and get it smog and all legal I have a catalytic converter you can have for free.  Must be picked up from around Seattle WA.  I might be persuaded to throw in the down pipe to mount between the header and cat.  I just recently replaced my exhaust because the rear section was rusting away.  Down pipe and the cat are still in good condition.

Yes, you only gave a "DEPOSIT OF FEES". You can request that deposit back in full. They will mail you a check in about 60-90 days.

Sell it and buy a car already in CA.

Unless your going to keep it registered on the out of state plates it wont work. even if it comes into California with an out of state license you will not be able to register it California for the same above reasons...................

Thanks for the messages guys.  If I were to register the car in another state, what all would I need to do in CA?  I've already started the registration process in CA, except it's incomplete because of the smog.  Do I just walk in to the DMV and cancel the registration process and ask for my money/documentation back?

Thanks,
Justin

I think your on a hiding to nothing with this car, even if you manage to meet smog compliance it will not meet DOT saftey standards for a US compliant 91 vehicle. Since Rover didn't import mini's into the USA you will not get a manufacturers certificate of compliance, it simply does not exist. California has made it all but impossible to import any post 75 car into the state. and as the last mini officially imported by BMC was in 1968 that is the cutoff year for an easy registration. I think your best course is to sell it out of state and find a "legally" registered car already in California. There are a lot of cars like yours registered as pre 68 by VIN swopping, this is an illegal way of getting a car registered but is fraught with problems with insurance liabilitys and not least having it seized and crushed!

Justin, Sad to say but that may be your only option

Big AL

Hi guys - posted something up here yesterday, but it didn't seem to actually post to the forum...I've recently purchased an out of state 1991 Rover Mini Mayfair (998cc), that was originally imported from Italy.  The car is beautiful, literal like-new condition.

Problem is, registering it in CA has turned out to be something of a headache.  In CA, all cars after 1975 are subject to the 2 year smog laws.  Being a 1991, my car must be smogged before I get my license plates.  Unfortunately, because it's been imported from Italy it is missing all of the US emissions controls (no catalytic converter, charcoal box, etc.).  

There is only a single shop in CA that is licensed to perform the modifications and certifications necessary to get my car up to CA standards.  It has been quoted to cost $5k and comes with an 8-12 week lead time.  I called the shop and they said they would do things like install a catalytic converter, and EVAP system.

1. Aside from the cost and lead time, can anyone tell me what impacts an EVAP system will have on my car?  Does it require a complete Dyno re-tune?  Will I forever start receiving check engine lights because of small evaporating leaks?  Is a 1991 Mini considered OBDI or OBDII?  Sorry for the newb questions, please don't flame me.

2. One other route is to visit a CA Smog Referee.  But I need a Certificate of Conformance, essentially a document that states the manufacturer meets US emissions guidelines.  I've googled European COC's, but does anyone know whether these are the same documents that show the manufacturer followed US guidelines?

3. Anyone outside of CA interested in buying a classic Mini?  Only half serious...

Thanks,
Justin