Installing JVT (eBay) Headers on Z4M (S54)

[Caddyshk]

After reading this entire thread; Stock has all the HP I need - I am going to add the SS mid pipe if I can find a good price - If not I may get someone to fabricate one.

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

After reading this entire thread; Stock has all the HP I need - I am going to add the SS mid pipe if I can find a good price - If not I may get someone to fabricate one.

I don't know, even with the hassle I think it will still be worth it. The headers definitely add power, probably one of the best mods $$$ to HP. If my SES light is off with the new code, it will be perfect. If you don't want to trouble with "fitting" the headers you could pay a little more for the Turner MS headers or find a used set on the forum classifieds.

[mpower03]

I have been running ebay 100 dollar headers for well over a year now, i also have the ess tune with o2 sensor delete. My o2 sensors have been tied off inside the engine bay the whole time. No CEL.

[Diokaef]

I would never choose a full delete of the O2 since it's not recommended by any tuner out there, that is just me tho.

[wrh3]

The DME came today around 3PM and I had a chance to take about 4 "trips" to see if the SES/CEL would light up......and it didn't.

Not sure if AJ had to update my software to be header specific (if wrong code was loaded initially) or if ESS had made changes to the header code file since my DME was flashed 2 years ago, but it seems to be working now.

[Diokaef]

I believe that they just deleted completely your downstream O2 sensor^, Have fun hope you are happy with it.

[mfanatic325]

hehe, I just got my JVT headers installed last week
AA ECU header tune; no CEL light

I was lucky that my friend bought JVT headers for his E46 M3 before they stopped production. He ended up just giving me the headers for helping him swap OE headers back into his car (he's selling his car)
And since he's a close friend of mine, he offered to help me swap out my headers as well. All it cost me was a dinner meal

Will start a new thread once I get DynaPack and DynoJet runs in ^_^

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

I was under the impression if you turn off your secondary O2s, it doesn't matter where they are placed because their readings are no longer used. You could zip tie them together if you wanted. Is this not the case?

You sir, are correct. My friend worked the O2 sensors for me so I'm not 100% clear as to how he placed them, but from what info he did mention, I believe you are correct.

[wrh3]

About 500 miles now since reflash, still no SES light and the car is noticeably stronger with headers- I would do this before exhaust.

I don't think the post cat O2 sensors are turned off, but are turned down so that the delta between the pre and post cat sensors will ALWAYS show the cats as functional. If they were turned off we could simply unplug them and not worry about doing anything with them, that was my question for Roman before installing headers. The O2 sensor heater check still occurs, this is why they need to be plugged in- at least this is my understanding (which may be incorrect) with ESS code.

[F360C]

Originally Posted by wrh3

About 500 miles now since reflash, still no SES light and the car is noticeably stronger with headers- I would do this before exhaust.

I don't think the post cat O2 sensors are turned off, but are turned down so that the delta between the pre and post cat sensors will ALWAYS show the cats as functional. If they were turned off we could simply unplug them and not worry about doing anything with them, that was my question for Roman before installing headers. The O2 sensor heater check still occurs, this is why they need to be plugged in- at least this is my understanding (which may be incorrect) with ESS code.

Your thinking is correct in that they are still on but just "turned down". I know this because my brother has taken his car through a state inspection and the secondary 02's still read "ready"

[esqu1re]

Just wondering, does the car emit a noticeable difference in smell from the exhaust now that 2/3 of the cats are gone?

[wrh3]

I don't notice a difference in smell, but have some MagnaFlow cats stored if the secondaries ever need to be replaced.

I don't know if it's 2/3 of the cats now removed, the secondary cats are pretty large......large and efficient enough that there are no cat inefficiency codes thrown by stock DMEs when the post cat O2 sensors are relocated to the section 1 pipe. I believe the only purpose of the primary cats (US only) are to light off quicker and start working faster, it might be interesting to see just how much of a difference it makes once the secondaries are "hot".

[F360C]

Originally Posted by esqu1re

Just wondering, does the car emit a noticeable difference in smell from the exhaust now that 2/3 of the cats are gone?

Mine def smells different especially on start up but not anywhere as bad as my friends m3 that has no cats at all

[Starscream]

I need to get a set of these

Hopefully the ESS tune holds as I too have an ESS tune (not for headers) that I'd like them to re-flash when I get the headers,

Was there a cost to re-flash your DME for the flash with header tune?
Obviously already paying $800+ for the first flash I'd hate to pay that again for the same thing bar header tune,

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by Starscream

I need to get a set of these

Hopefully the ESS tune holds as I too have an ESS tune (not for headers) that I'd like them to re-flash when I get the headers,

Was there a cost to re-flash your DME for the flash with header tune?
Obviously already paying $800+ for the first flash I'd hate to pay that again for the same thing bar header tune,

No cost for me other than paying the shipping back to them, but I was supposed to have working header code so they covered the return shipping to me (really they should have covered it both ways since it was their mistake).

I'm not sure what the fee is, or if there is one, for code changes. Best method of contact is to call and talk to Roman.

[EDIT] Based on this thread it looks like $100 for the flash + shipping for changes:
http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=399214

[Starscream]

Ok cool thats not too bad,
I'm assuming I don't have the tune for headers, all I know is I have the ESS flash,
Not sure if that automatically includes turning down the O2 senors,

now just got to find a set of headers,

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by F360C

Mine def smells different especially on start up but not anywhere as bad as my friends m3 that has no cats at all

Now that you mention it, mine smells a little worse at cold startup since the cats have not had time to heat up and start working.....but once warmed up I don't think there is a significant difference. Definitely healthier and less smell than my no-cat cars

[mfanatic325]

hah, mine's running no cats at all right now, so it definitely smells. But not nearly as bad as my MR2 turbo (also without cats)

Also, I DIY-ceramic-coated my JVT headers before I went through with the swap to help with increased flow
All I used was a high-temp header paint. It's called VHT (Very High Temperature) ceramic header paint. Available at parts stores like O'Reilly or Kragen, etc.
My friend and I like to DIY paint small items. It's pretty rewarding once it turns out nicely. I wish you guys should see my OE strut bar (which came as silver, even though I told them I wanted black finsh) that we painted to match the factory wrinkle finish. It looks spot on

[esqu1re]

Originally Posted by wrh3

I don't notice a difference in smell, but have some MagnaFlow cats stored if the secondaries ever need to be replaced.

I don't know if it's 2/3 of the cats now removed, the secondary cats are pretty large......large and efficient enough that there are no cat inefficiency codes thrown by stock DMEs when the post cat O2 sensors are relocated to the section 1 pipe. I believe the only purpose of the primary cats (US only) are to light off quicker and start working faster, it might be interesting to see just how much of a difference it makes once the secondaries are "hot".

That's good. IIRC, the eruo Z4m doesn't have the cats in the headers and that's stock---so I suppose the cats that were removed arn't really necessary in order to have acceptable emissions...

[mousitch]

Wish you luck with CEL. Mine didnt pop on till 500+ sometimes after I cleared them. Hope it's fixed.

[Starscream]

Guys is there a good place to source these headers online?

Or anything like them?
Is it worth spending the extra on SS or AA headers?

[F360C]

Originally Posted by Starscream

Guys is there a good place to source these headers online?

Or anything like them?
Is it worth spending the extra on SS or AA headers?

Which headers were you looking for? The JVT ones?

[Starscream]

Originally Posted by F360C

Which headers were you looking for? The JVT ones?

Pretty much,

If they work as good as the others why not,
If its worth spending more on the AA or SS headers or Euro BMW ones then I will get those