alex.  A few true MPI,S were imported to OZ.. but I think they could only be imported direct from the UK. I an article in MINI EXPERIENCE mag  some years ago about this..  maybe someone can post it..  later b c

Aren't they Australian though ?

Not sure if any of you have seen the Youtube channel Mighty Car Mods.  One of the presenters has a 1998 JDM Mini, it is an MPI.

I think it depends on what you mean by MPi.
They had "MPi" components, block, fuse block and maybe other items, but the injection was single point.

Plus there were additional variations that accommodated the air conditioning components.

MPi with a side mount I believe, though the automatic ones were still SPi I think.

Good question on the Japanese SPi/MPi cars. Were they SPi cars all the way or MPi with a side mounted radiator. Or a mix. The block looks MPi.

Our 95 SPI JDM has the side rad because they need to have the A/C compressor mounted and all the associated plumbing. The only way it fits is if it stays in the "wing" (fender).

mini mover. yes all the Jap specks minis only had SPI.. and I think some had front mounted rads for some reason.. ?? this might have been an aftermarket option..?? later bc

If Malsal were not playing International Jet Setter he would answer this in detail. lOL

Big AL

That is an excellent resource C. However, didn't the Japanese market cars have SPI systems all the way to the end of production? I think my 1997 is SPI.

A little clean up on some earlier postings. These should be pretty close. 
SPi first introduce in Oct 1991.
998 (always carb) died in 1992
When the 998 died a carb'd 1275 took over. HIF38.
1275 carb died by August 1994.
SPi died August 1996.
MPi came out in Oct 1996.

+2.. you might get an ICI  to do this.. but bet cost would be $20 large.. I think there is one in LA.   later bc

+1

I believe the last mini with carbureation would have been the 1993 mini Rio by Rover

Correct me if lam wrong

Big AL

I was thinking the same thing. I'm sure the 1275 engines were the only Minis with fuel injection. 1991 was the transition year, where MPI was introduced, but the 998 was phased out in favor of the 1275. I doubt the car in question has an ECU.

From work I've done with CARB in the past, the EVAP system will purely deal with evaporative emissions. They would want the fuel tank to be a non-permeable material (steel is good), but they'd want the vent to go through a carbon canister to absorb fuel vapor. The canister would then have to be connected to the inlet manifold, possibly with a solenoid valve, to allow the carbon canister to be cleared of fuel vapor when the engine starts, and to actively recover fuel vapor from the tank while the engine is running. They're also going to want a non-vented fuel cap. This bit is relatively easy and they can used pre-certified components and fuel tank materials to meet the requirement. None of this needs an ECU of any kind.

But that's just the fuel tank. The biggest issue you're going to have is the engine. The A-series engine does not have a certification. An evaporative certification on an engine series is a HUGE undertaking. You'd need several engine 'samples' and a certified emissions lab to undertake a test which takes months. An engine with a carburetor is going to find it very difficult to pass the test, as the fuel in the jet is always exposed to atmosphere.

On top of this, I'm pretty sure CARB would want exhaust emissions certification for the A-series engine particular to the model year of your car. Again, this doesn't exist, so you'd need to go back to the emissions lab and have them run an exhaust emissions test to verify that the engine meets the exhaust emissions specification. You'd probably have to do your own testing before hand to make sure the engine is even capable of meeting the exhaust emissions standard, which it may not be. The place you've found who thinks they can get your car emissions legal probably doesn't realize that there isn't any engine data for our cars in the CARB system.

You see how complicated and amazingly expensive this gets? If it was easy, someone would have already done it and be importing Minis from abroad.

It's sad to say, but your best bet is to do as others have said - sell your car out of state and find a car already in California. You're going to want a 1974 or older to avoid any further CARB complications.

Sorry, but the very best of luck.

If you really want to throw $5 large away, go ahead. There's no way you will ever get that registered in California. Can't be done. Ask the company wanting the $5 large if they guarantee that you can get it registered? Are they willing to give you the money back if you can't? If they say no, then run away and sell the Mini.