[franksinatra]

I've seen there are some pretty nice gains to be had with headers and a tune (approx 20hp?). I already have the 3 stage intake manifold. Will be doing MILVs this spring.

My only concern with headers is the smell and the noise. Don't care about emissions testing as I don't have any where I live. How loud are headers if I keep my stock exhaust? Does anyone have a sound clip they can share? I see lots of clips but they all have other exhaust modifications (which I wouldn't do).

Any opinions on which headers to get? I saw AA is good but Roundelwork is cheaper and an exact copy?

Car is a 2011 328i xDrive.

[Biginboca]

I ran AA headers with otherwise stock exhaust for a while. Sounded stock and no noticeable smell with the secondary’s in place

[Moisture]

You're gonna get a lot of engine sound from the front and sides of the car but the exhaust itself will still be rather muffled.

The other 50% of the gains will only be unlocked after an ECU tune.

I would recommend AFE Catted headers for your car.

[yupetc]

I also have AA catless headers with stock exhaust, it's very tamed, no extra noise except during cold start for a minute or two, then it just gets quiet. Even going for WOT the stock exhaust keeps it pretty quiet. You won't hear much, but you'll feel a bit more pull with these headers. Tune is a must to see the gains, though. Without a tune, your butt dyno won't even tell much.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

I ran AA headers with otherwise stock exhaust for a while. Sounded stock and no noticeable smell with the secondary’s in place

Same here. AA Headers, stock secondary's, and Magna-Flow catback.

No smell at all. The Magna-Flow actually gives it the sound. With just headers and stock everything else.....you can barely tell a difference in sound vs. a stock car.

[ECSTuning]

One of my guys here in the office has the AA headers paired with a Supersprint system, it sounds awesome.

When he was just headers, the sound was very similar to stock, it was mild and unassuming. I'd say you'd have to have two cars (one stock one with headers) side by side to really notice a drastic difference.

James

[iahawkeye]

+1 that headers and stock exhaust is very quiet overall, more engine noise than anything. Next on my list is probably a muffler since I was expecting a tad more sound.

Otherwise, great gains, minimal smell so it's a great mod. I'd equate the smell to a car from the early 1990's (by my memory anyways), not obnoxious, but you can tell there's something if you're up close.

[franksinatra]

Now that I've got the headers on, I notice more of a tinny/raspy sound with the windows down. Anything that can be done to give it a better tone without increasing the volume?

[ronin_pdx]

Originally Posted by ECSTuning

One of my guys here in the office has the AA headers paired with a Supersprint system, it sounds awesome.

When he was just headers, the sound was very similar to stock, it was mild and unassuming. I'd say you'd have to have two cars (one stock one with headers) side by side to really notice a drastic difference.

James

I did AA headers with Super Sprint system through you guys Im very happy with my car. Kinda sounds like E36 M3 with SuperSprint. I recommend it hands down.

[rick100]

Personally headers with charcoal delete and k and n drop filter sounds very nice.

As per the smell.... i would have to somewhat disagree. It does smell outside but not inside the car.. specially on a hot day or when u run it hard...

If u have ur windows down and wind is blowing to the front u will probably smell it a little bit..

However windows up . No smell inside the cabin

[Machspeed93]

AA + SS system has 0 cats, correct? I might be moving to a similar setup and am curious

[hassmaschine]

You shouldn't be smelling raw fuel - these aren't 1960s American cars with points ignition and carburetors. Outside of WOT, they run pretty much exactly at stoichiometric, so there shouldn't be significant unburnt fuel leftover.

Cats are primarily for NOX, CO2 and other pollutants, that you can't smell anyway.