headers and mid-pipe... :) - United Bimmer Community

**BaLAnCe17** · 05-03-2005, 12:41 AM

so whats up guys....i was thinking a little today after i wrote a 4 page essay on Robert Frost....why the heck haven't i gotten a full exhaust. then i remembered...i have money for it but do i really want to spend it? so ive been looking around a bit and for headers i have only come up w/ supersprint which is way to damn expensive and Bavauto. the bavauto one is $600 i believe which isnt too bad i guess. now the problem i run into is the mid-pipe or x-pipe. whatever

. AA sells theirs for way too much, especially for the OBDII cars because you need those o2 sensors...so all in all, i am asking for other companies who makes those parts and the prices. and any feed back from the people on here. i know Komodo has the mid-pipe so ya... lol later guys. thanx

**Addicted?** · 05-03-2005, 01:08 AM

from what i have garthered headers arent really the best thing to spend your money on... well not really the best bang for your buck... theres a guy in seattle that makes his own track pipes (almost identical to the aa one) loud as hell etc... ill try to get his name for you! is exhuast the last thing you wanna do to your car, or do you got other ideas?

David

**BaLAnCe17** · 05-03-2005, 09:13 AM

ok...heres the deal, if i do any more mods it would be strickly bolt on stuff. ya i could do the whole m50 mani thing, but then i would need software ect and its notsomething i really wanted to do. and yes, a full exhaust is probably the last thing i want to do... but are there any other companies that make headers and the mid-pipe for e36's besides the ones stated above. this is just preliminary i dont have ALL the money right now, i just wanted to see what my options were. thanks guys!

**EuroStyle** · 05-03-2005, 11:40 AM

Hey,

Turner makes "shorty" headers for the e36, but they cost almost as much as the SS headers. I know that SS also makes a resonator to replace the cat, but I believe it's machined to fit w/ SS's header and extaust system. Personally I wouldn't do any more exhaust work. Its not going to do you that much more good than your cat back unless you have more air flowing in.

Hope this helps.

-Matt

**komodo** · 05-03-2005, 01:32 PM

I have a Borla Off-Road X-Pipe. The common price I can find it for online is around $700... but I got lucky and bought mine off a guy I met at the dealership used for $100 cash. It does make a decent difference in the power, but the sound is a bit raspy. If you can find one for a few hundred bucks, go for it, otherwise it's not worth $700. And I don't have O2 simulators, haha, I just deal with the check engine light. Doesn't affect anything.

I'm considering an m50 manifold though, as it's supposted to help my top end greatly and would be a nice pair to install with my UUC Pulleys (still haven't gotten them on yet), since they increase low end.

**4themasses** · 05-03-2005, 10:34 PM

I put a 97 M3 OEM catback on my 328. Figure it's good for 240hp or more so it should handle all I'm going to invest in it. $120 on Ebay. If there isn't any "extra" air coming in, there's no need to get out for $600-$1000 in headers and exhaust. $ wise it's not "best bang for the buck".

**Spieluhr** · 05-03-2005, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4themasses

I put a 97 M3 OEM catback on my 328. Figure it's good for 240hp or more so it should handle all I'm going to invest in it. $120 on Ebay. If there isn't any "extra" air coming in, there's no need to get out for $600-$1000 in headers and exhaust. $ wise it's not "best bang for the buck".

very good point! I think if you look up a lot of numbers you will find that headers, etc. do not give you the kind of numbers for the $$$ that a CAI, software, pullies, etc. would do for you for much less money. I also do not think you need to get new software when you go with an M50 manifold. but i may be mistaking

BTW Komodo, O2 sensors make a lot of difference, they affect your MPG quite a bit from what I have read.

**Addicted?** · 05-04-2005, 12:18 AM

Stock m3 exhuast is a pretty good upgrade, as long as you get it from a 96-99 (bigger piping) anyways sounds pretty good too!

David

**BaLAnCe17** · 05-04-2005, 12:58 AM

haha, sounds like that idea is tossed then, i have this feeling im done spending money on my car for a while unless something breaks....we will see how well that goes

thanks guys!

**komodo** · 05-04-2005, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spieluhr

very good point! I think if you look up a lot of numbers you will find that headers, etc. do not give you the kind of numbers for the $$$ that a CAI, software, pullies, etc. would do for you for much less money. I also do not think you need to get new software when you go with an M50 manifold. but i may be mistaking

BTW Komodo, O2 sensors make a lot of difference, they affect your MPG quite a bit from what I have read.

Really?

Hum... didn't know that. Haha, how drastic is it? Does it affect performance at all?

**tomctx** · 05-04-2005, 08:25 PM

Eurotuner just did a project on a 93' 325IS. They installed a Conforti Intake, UUC pulleys, TMS chip, and a USed M3 cat-back. They gained 27 hp at the wheels. What's the point? They gained the power with a used OEM system. Evidently, the exhaust works pretty well. So, unless you're looking for the last 3/10ths of a horsepower, spend the money on something else.

PS: I ordered an aftermarket cat-back system myself. Wish I had read the article first.

**komodo** · 05-04-2005, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomctx

Eurotuner just did a project on a 93' 325IS. They installed a Conforti Intake, UUC pulleys, TMS chip, and a USed M3 cat-back. They gained 27 hp at the wheels. What's the point? They gained the power with a used OEM system. Evidently, the exhaust works pretty well. So, unless you're looking for the last 3/10ths of a horsepower, spend the money on something else.

PS: I ordered an aftermarket cat-back system myself. Wish I had read the article first.

Sure, but you're talking performance.

I'd pay the extra few hundred dollars for the sound. When you buy an aftermarket exhaust (like an intake), it's mostly for the agressive sound, very little hp difference. At least that's my opinion.

**tomctx** · 05-05-2005, 12:11 AM

YEAH! That's the ticket! That's why I bought it! The sound!

Everybody needs sound.

Thanks Komodo.

**BaLAnCe17** · 05-05-2005, 01:42 AM

the uuc tse is the best IMO, the lightest, sounds awesome, and the most hp gains i saw on websites

**Spieluhr** · 05-05-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by komodo

Really?

Hum... didn't know that. Haha, how drastic is it? Does it affect performance at all?

yes. when ever someone is diagnosing bad MPG they always suggest changing plugs, fuel filter, and o2 sensors. They can also mess up your fuel-air ratio. If the sensor can not detect what is in the content of your exhaust it will not be able to properly maintain the fuel-air ratio that will work the best for your car.