Headers?

Where can you find some Good headers for a good price? And does it make a big difference that you can feel?

Originally Posted by AlexE46

Where can you find some Good headers for a good price? And does it make a big difference that you can feel?

I won't even venture to guess to what kind of responses you're going to get. Especially with this kind of inuendo potential







p.s. Sorry, not an answer that you would find helpful, but the post made me snicker

Headers usually work best in conjunction with other mods, like CAI, a chip upgrade, large-diameter free-flow exhaust, etc. All these mods combined would probably net you around 30-35 rear-wheel HP at a cost of somewhere around $2500 (nobody said horsepower is cheap!) Or, you *could* install a nitrous system and get 2 to 3 times that increase for under $1000....as they say, "You pays your money, and you makes your choice"....

Regards,
Bob

Wouldn't that be "Header" it is a inline six.

Originally Posted by Artslinger

Wouldn't that be "Header" it is a inline six.

Do me a favor, Art...read your question *again*....

Regards,
Bob

Huh?

Inline 6... one Header.
V8... two Headers.

Originally Posted by Artslinger

Huh?

Inline 6... one Header.
V8... two Headers.

Actually, I was referring to your statement "it is a inline 6"....my point being, if you`re going to criticize someone for using incorrect language, you should try to not be guilty of the same thing....furthermore, any group of exhuast pipes exiting the head are known collectively as *headers*, regardless of configuration.

Regards,
Bob

Originally Posted by Fast Bob

Actually, I was referring to your statement "it is a inline 6"....my point being, if you`re going to criticize someone for using incorrect language, you should try to not be guilty of the same thing....furthermore, any group of exhuast pipes exiting the head are known collectively as *headers*, regardless of configuration.

Regards,
Bob

Why do they call it a Header on the online parts catalogs?

Not sure for the M54 motor, but I've seen split banks of headers for other BMW inline-6 motors. That would be 2 separate units, indicating headers.

While we are wrestling about semantics.

headers

Hmmmm.... interesting what is the purpose of the split headers? You will need to connect the two headers into one pipe to exhaust, unless two pipes will fit under a 3 series.

I admit I was wrong on this one.

Originally Posted by Artslinger

Hmmmm.... interesting what is the purpose of the split headers? You will need to connect the two headers into one pipe to exhaust, unless two pipes will fit under a 3 series.

I admit I was wrong on this one.

The standard E46 exhaust on a 6-cylinder uses split manifolds, so they are a direct substitute:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...83&hg=11&fg=50

Originally Posted by jsc

The standard E46 exhaust on a 6-cylinder uses split manifolds, so they are a direct substitute:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...83&hg=11&fg=50

The split design must be for clearance and installation issues. And for the headers it would make it easier to design equal length tubes.

Originally Posted by Artslinger

The split design must be for clearance and installation issues. And for the headers it would make it easier to design equal length tubes.

Add to this the fact that one long exhaust flange is a lot more likely to warp from the heat....

Regards,
Bob

Originally Posted by Artslinger

Hmmmm.... interesting what is the purpose of the split headers? You will need to connect the two headers into one pipe to exhaust, unless two pipes will fit under a 3 series.

I admit I was wrong on this one.

The 325/330 uses dual pipes all the way back to the tail pipes.

The 323/328 uses dual pipes up to the first resonator, then goes to single pipe to the rear muffler, then has dual tail pipes.

Note that due to the fact that a six-cylinder engine fires (and exhausts) every 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation and the fact that the exhaust valves are open for more than 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation, if you feed every alternate-firing cylinder into its own collector and muffler/pipe system it will avoid having two cylinders exhausting into the same system at the same time. This reduces back-pressure and increases the savenging effect.

Good design.

There are a few companies that carry headers. I believe most of them are made by super sprint and should give you 15ish HPs. In addition to headers you will need to deal with a work around for your catalytic converters. The stock headers have the cats built in so you will need to get aftermarket cats and locate them where the center resonator is currently. You will also need to extend the O2 sensor wires and deal with all of that as well.

Tim

Originally Posted by tim330i

There are a few companies that carry headers. I believe most of them are made by super sprint and should give you 15ish HPs. In addition to headers you will need to deal with a work around for your catalytic converters. The stock headers have the cats built in so you will need to get aftermarket cats and locate them where the center resonator is currently. You will also need to extend the O2 sensor wires and deal with all of that as well.

Tim

So if the catalytic converter needs to be replaced you have to replace the whole stock header?

Originally Posted by Artslinger

So if the catalytic converter needs to be replaced you have to replace the whole stock header?

Yup because they're both in one piece. There are two cats/exhaust manifolds on the car.