Emission control-air pump on E36 M3. Do I really need it ??

[bonesxu1]

Hi Guys, Do I really need the Emission control-air pump on my euro E36 M3 3.0 ? Can I do away with it and the cats?

Bonesxu1.

[Thejimreaper]

As far as I know, the emissions air-pump isnt needed as MOT's test these when the car is hot.
I can only presume that they were required for new car regulations, especially in america where the regulations are more stringent.
If you remove the cats then yes it will fail an MOT.

Neil

[naetype]

No, you don't need the air pump but you do probably need the cats. As for the air pump I pulled mine off quite some time ago. It's only there to help heat up the cats for the first minute or so then switches off. If you do remove it mind and blank off the holes for it on both the airbox and the manifold/plenum intakes.

Edited by naetype on Wednesday 10th September 16:51

[bonesxu1]

The American market didn't get the same engine as Europe, they got a version of the M50 engine not the same as the Euro engine which the US guys call a real M3 engine (S50). I live on the Isle of Man and we don't have to have an M.O.T every year like you guys on the mainland so that could be a good thing.
Any ideas what to do with the wires that go into the cats if I remove them ?

[Cliffv8]

a friend of mine runs without the air pump and cats as the S50 is in a E30 so doesn't have to then been a '89 car and hasn't had a problem

[bonesxu1]

It's good to see that I haven't been the only one that has been thinking about doing this to my car. I could really do with having a word on an M3 engine specialist to get a second opinion before taking the pump and cats off I think. Cliffv8 your mate's E30 should be a real rocket ship with the E36 M3 lump under the hood.