Installing JVT (eBay) Headers on Z4M (S54)

[wrh3]

If I was only getting one of the codes I would not have a problem thinking one might have gotten damaged but both? I hope they don't try to feed me that line. I can say that after sending an email and PM, I have had zero response. I am calling them today.

[mousitch]

Originally Posted by wrh3

If I was only getting one of the codes I would not have a problem thinking one might have gotten damaged but both? I hope they don't try to feed me that line. I can say that after sending an email and PM, I have had zero response. I am calling them today.

Im not sure they will have good news for you. They also mentioned to me that the tune might not work on certain headers(?). I like thier tune but they didnt sound real confident about turning the sensors off but I rolled the dice and ended up with a CEL light. Powerchip said they did not have the capability either. I guess the E46 M3 DME is much easier to program but ours is a different animal. I know they can turn those off(E46 S54). Talking to Bren Tuning and he said it could be done but again I need to see it to believe it before I shell out $1000 for headers and $600-$800 for a tune. I believe with the AA headers,OEM nuts and gaskets plus tune I shelled out around $2200 for the header install. The install was not bad either. Took me about 8 hours outside my garage.

[Eccentric]

sick numbers on that m3 site. i'm convinced

[mousitch]

Originally Posted by Eccentric

sick numbers on that m3 site. i'm convinced

With a good euro header tune Id say you get another 10-15 horses too. Even though the light still came on, I could feel a difference in power(longer torque curve too in the midrange) from the stock DME with headers compared to the DME with a Euro map(ESS). So I believe 30-35 HP gain is possible. Wish I would have baselined my vert and we would know but I was impatient and put the headers on as soon as I got them

On a side note, good luck finding authentic JVT headers at this point. They are scarce and the no-name Ebay headers are hit and miss with fitment and flange straightness and thickness. TMS has a set of stepped headers for our cars that is well made yet pricey but still cheaper than SS or AA(the only other ones that are confimed to fit without a hammer or a grinder). If I choose this route again these will be the ones i get. Ceramic coated too.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._ID=TMS.BEH799

[wrh3]

The TMS headers do look nice- I think these would be my choice too if I decide the cheap ones are not working out.

[F360C]

Originally Posted by mousitch

ESS never got mine turned off either. They claimed I damaged the 0'2s in install but no way did that happen. I called bullshit but they wouldnt retune. I dont think they know how to turn them off. I also believe NO tuning company can turn them off so no blame to ESS. But when you shell out $800 for a tune PRIMARILY to turn off sensors and they say it CAN be done, well that's just wrong. IMHO it didnt affect performance but it is embarrasing to have a nice car with a Check Engine light on. It drove me nuts. It would go off and on every couple hundred miles. This is why until somone can prove to me they can turn them off the 08 will remain with stock headers. I miss having them so dont get me wrong there, loved the sound and power upgrade.

This has to be something to do with the way they tuned your ecu. Both my brother and I have the jvt headers and the ess tune. Neither of us have a check engine light. I knew the guy who had the original header tune from ess and he had to send his dme back 3 times before they actually got the tune correct so the cel would not light up

[mousitch]

Originally Posted by F360C

This has to be something to do with the way they tuned your ecu. Both my brother and I have the jvt headers and the ess tune. Neither of us have a check engine light. I knew the guy who had the original header tune from ess and he had to send his dme back 3 times before they actually got the tune correct so the cel would not light up

Thats good info.

[Eccentric]

Originally Posted by mousitch

With a good euro header tune Id say you get another 10-15 horses too. Even though the light still came on, I could feel a difference in power(longer torque curve too in the midrange) from the stock DME with headers compared to the DME with a Euro map(ESS). So I believe 30-35 HP gain is possible. Wish I would have baselined my vert and we would know but I was impatient and put the headers on as soon as I got them

On a side note, good luck finding authentic JVT headers at this point. They are scarce and the no-name Ebay headers are hit and miss with fitment and flange straightness and thickness. TMS has a set of stepped headers for our cars that is well made yet pricey but still cheaper than SS or AA(the only other ones that are confimed to fit without a hammer or a grinder). If I choose this route again these will be the ones i get. Ceramic coated too.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html..._ID=TMS.BEH799

thats a shame, especially about the lack of authentic JVT ones. i was hoping to steal some great headers for $200

[wrh3]

JVT is no longer available but these look like another option:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=798546

[wrh3]

Originally Posted by mousitch

Thats good info.

x2

Have tried contacting ESS via email, PM, and phone with zero results this week. Guess I will try again next week.

[ZStig]

looks like a lot of work for someone with no welding experience like myself =/

[Nate2046]

I have a set of JVT's I just removed from my coupe if anybody's interested.

[ZStig]

are they gonna be bolt-on? already welded and dented? I might be interested

[Eccentric]

Originally Posted by Nate2046

I have a set of JVT's I just removed from my coupe if anybody's interested.

whyd you remove them?

[onelove]

Originally Posted by wrh3

If I was only getting one of the codes I would not have a problem thinking one might have gotten damaged but both? I hope they don't try to feed me that line. I can say that after sending an email and PM, I have had zero response. I am calling them today.

I get the same rear cat inefficiency codes as well as one saying my rear O2s are swapped (which they are not). ESS told me that it was an installation error or I needed to contact the header manufacture.

When I first talked to them they said the rear header location was likely the problem and that Euro Headers was what their tune was recommended for. I questioned this as the Euro headers don't have rear O2s and they must be added, so how could the position be accurately compared if that were the case ?

In the end I've swallowed my pride and resorted to using my scanner tool to clear the code whenever i'm sick of staring at the light. As far as performance, I did notice some gain with the headers of course, but my butt dyno didn't notice anything additional with the tune and I've never bothered to throw her on my dynojet to confirm that.

[wrh3]

I finally was able to get in touch with Todd at ESS and as it turns out the tuner may have loaded the code that does not turn off/down the rear O2 sensors......so if the code comes back I will be sending the DME in for recoding.

[mousitch]

Just wanted to thank Bill for his awesome website. I have been using it for a couple of years now as a refernce point and tool on many of my mods on both M's I have owned. Well done and thanks again

[inTgr8r]

^WHS+1
Thanks for providing a great resource Bill!!

[wrh3]

Thanks for the comments guys

[vortex_tuning]

Thanks for the great info!

[F360C]

Originally Posted by wrh3

I finally was able to get in touch with Todd at ESS and as it turns out the tuner may have loaded the code that does not turn off/down the rear O2 sensors......so if the code comes back I will be sending the DME in for recoding.

I am glad you are going to be able to resolve this! I knew something had to be up with the software if myself, my brother, and tintboy (the guy that originally helped ESS get the header tune right so there would be no light) were able to run JVT headers with no issues.

I think i may be sending my DME back to get them to add the 8500rpm redline.

[onebluemcm]

This is admittedly off topic - I don't get the need or desire for 8400+ rpm redline in a stock engine. In Grand Am, Turner, FallLine, Automatic - all the big boys running the S54 topped them out at 8400, and this with fully bluprinted and balanced engines. I'd personally never exceed maybe 8100 in a stock engine, just too much unnecessary risk for a catastrophic engine failure.....

Back on topic - if JVT's aren't available anymore, what is the next best low-dollar option again?