Any advice on an emissions test in Milwaukee or Racine? | FerrariChat
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Any advice on an emissions test in Milwaukee or Racine?

Discussion in 'North Midwest - USA (ND, SD, MN, IA, WI, IL)' started by Mera, Jun 11, 2007.

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  1. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #1 Mera, Jun 11, 2007
    I need to have my 1990 348 emission tested by Friday. I went a few times today and looked at all the kids that do the test. I just hate the thought of having to do this every other year. I once talked to one supervisor there last year on testing a Ferrari. He was a nice guy and said it would be no problem. I did not get his name and have not seen him there this year. Does anyone know of a testing site that has an automotive enthusiast in charge and is willing to try and keep owners like me happy? I'll go anywhere in Milwaukee or Racine.

    Rodney Dickman
    1990 348 TS
     
  2. Jeff328

    Jeff328 Formula 3

    Sep 5, 2006
    2,293
    WI
    #2 Jeff328, Jun 11, 2007
    I took my 328 to the station in Cedarburg. They did an idle-only test, they didn't put it on the dyno rollers. They said they don't dyno test any car with low ground clearance. They also let me drive the car through the station (which is technically against the rules).

    After 30 seconds it passed the idle test, then they had me pull farther ahead and shut off the car. Then they did a visual inspection of the engine compartment, which was amusing since the technician was an older woman and I really doubt she knew what she was looking at.

    Finally, they had me remove the gas cap for the pressure test. Of course, they didn't have an adapter for it so they waived that part of the test.

    Overall quite painless. When I first pulled up the guy ran into their little office, then poked his head out and asked "8 or 12?". Then he had me pull forward past the rollers. I noticed on the emissions results sheet the automobile make was listed as "Other".
     
  3. Jeff328

    Jeff328 Formula 3

    Sep 5, 2006
    2,293
    WI
    #3 Jeff328, Jun 11, 2007
    BTW, I think any of the testing stations would follow the same procedure.

    You may already know this but in 3 years when your 348 is 20 model years old you can get collector car plates and then not have to worry about emissions testing or registration fees ever again for that car.

    My 328 will be 20 in January and I'll be getting collector plates for it then. One last emissions test, $160 for collector registration, then no worries about that ever again.
     
  4. 67alloy

    67alloy Karting

    Jun 11, 2007
    111
    #4 67alloy, Jun 11, 2007
    I believe that they will still do an initial test upon issuing collector plates. However, the way around that is by putting an address "where the vehicle is kept" on top of the application, that is outside the testing counties.

    I feel your pain and the whole thing is a boondoggle.
     
  5. Mera

    Mera Formula Junior

    Aug 13, 2005
    768
    Milwaukee, WI
    Full Name:
    Rodney Dickman
    #5 Mera, Jun 12, 2007
    Drove to the testing station in Racine. First with my Lexus just to check it out. There was a nice older guy there and the manager lady was nice also. There were a few "kids" there also. We (the older guy and the lady manager) talked for a while. I left and went home and got my 348 and went back. I drove in and at first the older guy told me to shut it off and get out. I hesitated and asked him if I should just leave it running and he seemed to get the hint and told me to pull farther in. Did the idle test and it passed easily. I drove out and parked and went back in and thanked the manager lady. She agreed this is how they should test a car like mine. If anyone goes I suggest going in the early morning. No one was there. Make sure the older guy is there and the lady manager is there.

    So it was a good day. :)

    Rodney Dickman

    1990 348 TS

    PS: Hate the looks of those collector plates. I'll probably keep doing the tests just to not have to have those icky looking blue plates.
     
  6. bpu699

    bpu699 F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Dec 9, 2003
    17,690
    wisconsin/chicago
    Full Name:
    bo
    #6 bpu699, Jun 12, 2007
    Yep, thats what happened to me Rodney. Just tell the manager you have a ferrari, and they restrict themsleves to the idle test. It helps if you say it doesn't have a "rear lockout" in the manual trans.

    I tested my 914 a couple weeks ago, the older guy insisted on driving it. He promptly put it in reverse and almost drove out of the testing station! They then decided to do the idle test on this car too..."because its so old and the trans is in a funny configuration"?

    They seem like nice folks at the Racine station, and quite accomodating.
     
  7. Jeff328

    Jeff328 Formula 3

    Sep 5, 2006
    2,293
    WI
    #7 Jeff328, Jun 12, 2007
    Glad to hear it went well.

    I also don't really like the blue collector plates but I like bi-annual emissions testing and annual renewal fees even less.
     

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