[The HACK]

I was looking for headers for my MZ4 Coupe, and realized that the pickin’s rather slim for products designed specifically for the E86 M but there’s plenty of products for the E46 M3 that could be modified to fit.

Anyway, on a whim I also looked for headers for my wife’s old E92 328i (don’t have it anymore) and was surprised to find the available products are even slimmer than the MZ4 Coupe. I would think with the sheer volume of E9X 328i's and E82 128i's sold in North America that there should be plenty of offering from the aftermarket. At least plenty of E46 M3 S54 engine products can be made to work with the MZ4 Coupe with little to no modification. The biggest hurdle for me is finding tunes and programs for the header on the MZ4 Coupe since there’s literally like 2 companies providing scant support for the MZ4 S54 ecu.

I managed to find 3 companies that make headers for the 3.0 liter naturally aspirated N52 (outside the generic eBay offering that require a lot of cutting/welding). Figure I post it here instead of letting all that time go to waste.

1: aFe



I did not know this, but the intake company makes exhausts, headers, and a slew of other products for BMWs.

+ 16 HP
+ 18 lbs*ft torque

Retain factory sensors
Replace with high flow catalytic converter

$1,359.75 with free shipping.

2: Supersprint



This one is a no-brainer, Supersprint makes headers and exhaust for EVERY single BMW ever made. Although, this header only appears on Supersprint's global site, not Supersprint's North America site.

+12 HP*
+11.8 lbs*ft torque*

*Number measured on euro race header sans catalytic converter

Retain factory sensors
Option to replace, remove, or retain factory style cat
Known commodity (Supersprint has been the leader in BMW headers/exhausts world wide for decades).

There’s a fantastic install/review on 1Addict.

$1,436.95 plus shipping on Turner MotorSports.

3: MXP



This one is more of an unknown but I’ve come across it on multiple online posts. I looked on MXP’s site and they don’t list it…But you can still find it on HorsePowerFreaks.com. I’d be suspect of the factory support on this one, but I figure I listed it anyway because, well…Them pickins ARE slim.

No factory dyno numbers available.

$1,187.50 plus shipping from HPF.

Hopefully this will help someone down the line hunting for quality performance headers for their NA N52 equipped E9X 3 series.

**NOTE: All these headers would require aftermarket tune for the O2 sensor readings I would assume.

[Mavus]

Originally Posted by The HACK

I was looking for headers for my MZ4 Coupe, and realized that the pickin’s rather slim for products designed specifically for the E86 M but there’s plenty of products for the E46 M3 that could be modified to fit.

Anyway, on a whim I also looked for headers for my wife’s old E92 328i (don’t have it anymore) and was surprised to find the available products are even slimmer than the MZ4 Coupe. I would think with the sheer volume of E9X 328i's and E82 128i's sold in North America that there should be plenty of offering from the aftermarket. At least plenty of E46 M3 S54 engine products can be made to work with the MZ4 Coupe with little to no modification. The biggest hurdle for me is finding tunes and programs for the header on the MZ4 Coupe since there’s literally like 2 companies providing scant support for the MZ4 S54 ecu.

I managed to find 3 companies that make headers for the 3.0 liter naturally aspirated N52 (outside the generic eBay offering that require a lot of cutting/welding). Figure I post it here instead of letting all that time go to waste.


Hopefully this will help someone down the line hunting for quality performance headers for their NA N52 equipped E9X 3 series.

**NOTE: All these headers would require aftermarket tune for the O2 sensor readings I would assume.

I am hoping to meet with Stig to check out his installation, noise levels etc. If I can maintain dd ability I will be installing SS headers in the spring.

[Johnny D]

The info is appreciated.

[StealYourFace]

From what I've read, the best deal pwer/dollar seems to be stock manifolds with the cats cut out. There's a member that sells like $700 with 15 hp/ lb tq gains throughout the pwr band, esp the middle range. I am looking to do this over the winter, I expect the additional tq to help this thing up the hills at the glen

[Eagle1oh7]

Mapleridge has some custom ones!

[Mike.]

Originally Posted by StealYourFace

From what I've read, the best deal pwer/dollar seems to be stock manifolds with the cats cut out. There's a member that sells like $700 with 15 hp/ lb tq gains throughout the pwr band, esp the middle range. I am looking to do this over the winter, I expect the additional tq to help this thing up the hills at the glen

im in NY as well...how would you get around the visual inspection for emissions?

[StealYourFace]

Emozoo, if you know somebody that is willing to inspect the car you'll be fine as long as you have the AA off road tune. Besides, how many nys inspection mechanics know that there are cats in the manifolds on these? They might just see the secondary cats, plug the car in and call it a day. Its a risk of course, so better to find a friend to do it for you.

[StealYourFace]

Also looks like the AFE catted headers above could be a nice solution while retaining cats.

Also noticed they have a pair of pipes to eliminate the secondary cats for only 260 bucks. I'd like to know if these would bolt up to my PE. Would be a much less expensive
way to pick up a couple hp and some extra sound, rather than doing the manifolds, which looks like a complete bitch.

http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...e&engineid=72&

[Mike.]

Originally Posted by StealYourFace

Also looks like the AFE catted headers above could be a nice solution while retaining cats.

Also noticed they have a pair of pipes to eliminate the secondary cats for only 260 bucks. I'd like to know if these would bolt up to my PE. Would be a much less expensive
way to pick up a couple hp and some extra sound, rather than doing the manifolds, which looks like a complete bitch.

http://afepower.com/shop/details_new...e&engineid=72&

interesting ill check it out thanks

[Taskmaster]

Are there any dynos of any of these headers?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by TheAxiom

Are there any dynos of any of these headers?

aFe Dyno:



SuperSprint Dyno:

[Taskmaster]

The AFE one seems like the best deal - IF the CEL doesn't come on because of the high flow cats.

Thanks for the graphs.

[StealYourFace]

Ahhh the pros and cons of it all..

Best street version seems to me the AFE. Would be nice to know if they had their secondary cat delete pipe on there as well.

BUT... I like the idea of catless manifolds because of course the closer the cat to the motor, the higher the loss. Also, less heat in the engine compartment means more power and longer life for the electrical components under the hood. And then just leave in the stock secondary's to clean up the exhaust.

Would love to see a vendor that carries both types to do a back to back dyno on the same car.

[Eagle1oh7]

2.8l? I thought it was a 3.0l engine?? What??

[Rival]

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

2.8l? I thought it was a 3.0l engine?? What??

thats a non-US n52.

[BudVlad]

Originally Posted by Rival

thats a non-US n52.

I don’t think so. The dyno was done in California on 328i. Some people think that 328 has 2.8l and 335 has 3.5 l engine.

[nadans]

Thanks for the info!

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Eagle1oh7

2.8l? I thought it was a 3.0l engine?? What??

Originally Posted by Rival

thats a non-US n52.

There are no "2.8L" N5X engines. It's either a 2.5 liter block for non-US cars, or 3.0 liter for any of the inline 6es. I think there's a 2.0 liter inline 6 available in Europe too. The product description from the link says it's the 3.0L N52.

Sometimes "we" forget that people outside of the enthusiast community don't live and breath BMWs. Heck, I remember talking to someone about diesel trucks and I had ZERO idea that there's like literally a dozen different diesels of various size, shape, capacity, and tune that Ford uses on the F-150. But when I told him that BMW's 335d was a 3.0 liter twin turbo DIESEL, he drew a complete blank and asked "BMW makes diesels?"

I'll give aFe some credit, they seem to carry a lot more BMW specific product than your typical aftermarket company that makes products for nearly the entire gamut of cars available. But unless the dyno operator is a big BMW fan, often times BMW's own nomenclature will confuse even the best of them.

Heck I once had a BMW service advisor refer to my old E46 323Ci as a "2.3 liter."

[SDemetris]

Has anyone gotten the AFe headers and checked for fitment? they seem legit so i would assume they bolt right up, but I would like some verification on that before I go ahead and order. I need something to keep me entertained during the winter

[andrey_gta]

+1 i am interested to learn more about the AFE headers, esp since they copy euro exhaust manifold design and abit of Supersprint , and feature a high flow cat.


Does anyone know how many cells is a OEM cat?

[MBP0202]

I believe (don't quote me) the primaries are 400 cell and the secondaries are 200...

[Amini77]

Anyone have any info on gains for OBX ebay headers?