Would You Buy The Ebay Headers? And Why

[JeffchaPz]

Hello everyone,

I've been thinking about getting headers for my 07 z4m but I would like to know if they're worth it or not. Also, once they get installed - would I pass the Texas inspection?

Any thoughts or comments or suggestions would be appreciated.....



Thanx

Jeff.

[Jumbosock]

After spending 6+ hours force fitting them onto my last E46M3 I do not recommend them!! I ended up getting the euro headers and throwing the ebay ones in the trash.

[JeffchaPz]

Thanks for the info.... I figured that they are too good to be true.

With the new ones, do you feel a big difference in power? did you pass inspection yet?

[mpower03]

i just want to make one thing clear, these are actually a better fit than on the e46 m3 because the is more room in the engine bay. I can't comment on if you will pass smog tests or not. I personally installed these on my car over 20,000 miles and i have had no problems with them.
The issues with them:
The flanges on the header are thick.
The flanges are not level. This is the problem with the ebay headers. The solution the would solve the problem is use e36 studs. They are inexpensive and can be purchased from getbmwparts.com or any dealership. While you are making the purchase i highly reccomend buying oem gaskets as the ones provided are crap. I also reccomend buying new copper nuts these are inexpensive also.
The only other problem is that the end of the header near the collector, is close to the passenger floor board, so sometimes at a certain rpm it will slightly touch and cause a slight rattling sound.

Those are the main problems with the headers.
I personally agree they are not of the best quality, but if something ever happened to my ebay headers i would replace them with ebay headers again. i dont see spending more than $1000.00 more on something that would save me a little bit on installation. If you research the topic on ebay headers and header installs in general on m3forum.net, you can get a good idea on what is involved. It is not a difficult installation by any means, the only thing required is basic hand tools, a way to lift the car off the ground whether you have a jack and jack stands or a car lift, and patience, it can be installed very simply. I did the install in 4 hours from start to finish, the only reason for that was because one the stud issue, and i had to man handle it lol and two the fact that i had to take them off after i installed them and reinstall them.
All in all it can be done in no time if you either know what your doing or research.

I say DO THEM!

[DataStream18]

I have two sets for sale for cheaper then you will find on ebay!! Gaskets included!

[ZStig]

I wouldn't be afraid of buying a used set thats already been made to fit well

[Shipkiller]

If you do a search, you will find a ton of posts that will answer most of the questions you have.

[inTgr8r]

^WHS +1.
There are TONS of posts on headers.

One thing about ebay units is there is zero consistency.
There are a bunch of different ones out there all with varying degrees of QC.
Some are absolute rubbish & others are OK.

Personally, I'm going with used OE Euro headers.
You can still save a little cash & still have OE BMW quality.

[Mirko]

There is a group buy going on right now at m3 forums for Fabspeed headers from VAC. I'm just waiting on pricing but I think I will go that route.

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=381604

I emailed VAC a little while before the group buy and asked if they fit and they said the fit is the best out of the options they have. I've found a few posts on here and some have said that you might need to remove or bend the heat shield on cylinder 5 but that issue might have been addressed. I don't know for sure so I reached out again to VAC and will let you guys know what I hear.

[Z4-VILLA]

Euro headers are fairly priced and give great out put

[kennyfrc]

Originally Posted by Z4-Villalona

Euro headers are fairly priced and give great out put

+1

See the dyno thread I started.

[JeffchaPz]

Originally Posted by DataStream18

I have two sets for sale for cheaper then you will find on ebay!! Gaskets included!

What do you have and how much....

Can you post pics?


Thanx.

[DataStream18]

I can polish em up for ya before i ship them out if you'd like too!

$100 obo

[kennyfrc]

Originally Posted by DataStream18

I can polish em up for ya before i ship them out if you'd like too!

$100 obo

OBX?

[DataStream18]

no idea honestly, I bought em before deployment.

[Jumbosock]

Originally Posted by mpower03

i just want to make one thing clear, these are actually a better fit than on the e46 m3 because the is more room in the engine bay. I can't comment on if you will pass smog tests or not. I personally installed these on my car over 20,000 miles and i have had no problems with them.
The issues with them:
The flanges on the header are thick.
The flanges are not level. This is the problem with the ebay headers. The solution the would solve the problem is use e36 studs. They are inexpensive and can be purchased from getbmwparts.com or any dealership. While you are making the purchase i highly reccomend buying oem gaskets as the ones provided are crap. I also reccomend buying new copper nuts these are inexpensive also.
The only other problem is that the end of the header near the collector, is close to the passenger floor board, so sometimes at a certain rpm it will slightly touch and cause a slight rattling sound.

Those are the main problems with the headers.
I personally agree they are not of the best quality, but if something ever happened to my ebay headers i would replace them with ebay headers again. i dont see spending more than $1000.00 more on something that would save me a little bit on installation. If you research the topic on ebay headers and header installs in general on m3forum.net, you can get a good idea on what is involved. It is not a difficult installation by any means, the only thing required is basic hand tools, a way to lift the car off the ground whether you have a jack and jack stands or a car lift, and patience, it can be installed very simply. I did the install in 4 hours from start to finish, the only reason for that was because one the stud issue, and i had to man handle it lol and two the fact that i had to take them off after i installed them and reinstall them.
All in all it can be done in no time if you either know what your doing or research.

I say DO THEM!

I agree with this post as far as the problems. The issue I have with ebay headers is that I don't want ANY rubbing whatsoever AND the headers can be so unaligned that they may eventually leak. There can be a LOT of force applied just to get them to sit against the engine right. But the main thing is I do not like having to do the job more than once. It's tiresome. I say do it right the first time with oem euro. Oem fit is such luxury when you've experienced a poorly aligned ebay header. I was so exhausted!

[DataStream18]

Also I didnt see that you had an M, the ones I'm offering are not for the M. Sorry for the mistake! Good luck!

[mpower03]

Originally Posted by Jumbosock

I agree with this post as far as the problems. The issue I have with ebay headers is that I don't want ANY rubbing whatsoever AND the headers can be so unaligned that they may eventually leak. There can be a LOT of force applied just to get them to sit against the engine right. But the main thing is I do not like having to do the job more than once. It's tiresome. I say do it right the first time with oem euro. Oem fit is such luxury when you've experienced a poorly aligned ebay header. I was so exhausted!

if you being exhausted is worth 500 or more dollars than by all means, but it seriously isn't a bad install on these cars.

[Z4-VILLA]

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

OBX?

dude those headers are gross...get that garbage out of here. seriously. We own M cars....not walmart shopping cars

[Z4-VILLA]

Man up and buy a set of euro headers and never worry again about fitment issues...plus the power is amazing. Even if you heard success stories on ebay headers dont buy into all too soon... I almost went this route but I savvyed up quick and learned the truth about saving money while modding...you spend more down the road. Best of luck

[mpower03]

Originally Posted by Z4-Villalona

dude those headers are fucking gross...get that garbage out of here. seriously. We own M cars....not walmart shopping cars

Wow, that is completly rude. I hope you dont go around public like that giving the rest of bmw owners a bad rep.

[mpower03]

Originally Posted by Z4-Villalona

Man up and buy a set of euro headers and never worry again about fitment issues...plus the power is amazing. Even if you heard success stories on ebay headers dont buy into all too soon... I almost went this route but I savvyed up quick and learned the truth about saving money while modding...you spend more down the road. Best of luck

Look, to the person who started the thread if you have the money to spend to purchase bettder quality headers, by all means do that. Just remember what you have to gain. Horsepower? Very similar. Quality? Different. Peace of.mind? Debatable. Do tbey dk the job? Yes.