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04-13-2013, 04:12 PM | #1 |
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Euro headers and euro cat FINALLY installed!
I finally got around to doing the header install. I ordered the headers from Donovan, and they were in excellent condition. There was a delay in receiving them due to the freak snow storm in England, but they eventually arrived.
I jacked my car up and took off the old headers. It's such a good feeling to have those restrictive US spec headers off. I originally decided to fabricate my own cat using the stock part. Thanks to Beta and Finnegan for the o2 and EGT bungs, I had my buddy weld them on there for me. They won't win any beauty contests, but I pressure tested them after MIG welding and NO LEAKS. I threw a little brass on top of the EGT bung too to make sure there would be so leaks. After welding the pipe up, I decided to give it one more shot to try and find a used euro spec cat. I've been trying for a while to find a used one because brand new, they are like $2000. So I hit google.de, and low and behold, I found a Z4M euro spec cat from a car dismantler in Germany. The part had fewer than 5000k on it and the price was only 650 euros so jumped on it. I speak German so this came in quite handy with the whole process. The dismantler shipped the part with Deutsche Post Luftpost. After almost 3 weeks, I had about given up on receiving it, but then the post office called and said they had a package too big to deliver. As usual, the Germans were very meticulous, and the part had PLENTY of protection for the journey. I could barely fit it in my other car. It took me 10 minutes just to unwrap it. Here is my euro spec cat! And here is the euro cat compared to the one I made. I am planning on keeping the cat I made as a backup, but if the euro cat continues to function, I will probably sell the one I made on here. I "unfolded" my o2 wires. Luckily length wasn't an issue since my part from Germany came with the euro spec o2 sensors. However, I did have to switch the EGT sensor because the euro spec cable didn't mate with the USA spec. I was very careful to make sure the sensors were plugged in correctly. Hopefully the sensors that came with the euro cat will function, but if not, I still have the original post o2 sensor cables from my car that I can install. All that was left to do was to take it for a test drive. I took my car out and did a drive cycle. It took about 20 or 25 minutes, but I did not get any CELs! In total, I have driven about 35-40 miles since the install. Fingers crossed that a CEL doesn't pop up. I couldn't quit smiling because the acceleration just felt brutal. However, it did seem to lag a little bit it in 2nd gear. I'm hoping this is because the DME has not had time to adjust completely. Either way, I have ordered ESS euro spec software, so I'm thinking this will take care of it. I hope it all works out! |
04-13-2013, 08:44 PM | #3 |
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Thanks! I would like to update that I've driven about 75 miles now with no CEL, and the lag in 2nd has stopped. I think the DME has adjusted. The added power just makes up the car feel right. So far so good!
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04-15-2013, 02:13 AM | #4 |
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Looks like it was done right. You won't get a CEL with your modded piece. Congrats either way.
However after looking at the added length of the Euro Sec1 next to your mod'd US one... I'd keep yours. Less cat / more power. Sell the Euro. |
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04-15-2013, 04:12 PM | #5 |
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I just put my CSL headers on from Donovan. Sounds fantastic.
Did run into a snag with my Euro Cats though. As they came out of an M3 I am going to have to have the flanges rotated 90 degrees. Kinda odd they did that but whatever.
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AFE Intake/Euro Cats/CSL Headers/Sportline CSL/H&R Springs 1217/1815 !!! BOILER UP !!! |
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04-15-2013, 04:32 PM | #6 |
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Great write up. Nice work on your modified section too. No leaks and works > beauty!
Talk about packaging! That's an amazing amount of protection! |
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04-15-2013, 07:29 PM | #7 |
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Thanks guys! I'm just hoping the sensors that came with the cat are functioning properly because I reaaaally don't want to get back under the car to take them out. Taking off the x-pipe is a pain, and I found that there isn't enough room to get to the secondary o2s while the s pipe is still in place. That means I'll have to unhook it from the headers too. Oh well.
Johannes, I'll have to think about which cat to use. Although the one I made would work fine and probably give more power, I like knowing that my car is pretty much European stock. I get my ESS euro tune tomorrow so we'll see how that goes. Swashplate, I couldn't find the csl headers, but the regular euro M3 headers really make the car sound more aggressive. I can only imagine how the csl headers would sound. Finnegan, I was concerned about it possibly getting stolen in the German Post system. I read a german article about rising theft. It was seemingly taking forever (although after looking back on it, delivery only took 1 more day than their 12 business day estimate), so I started looking up things on the internet. That's never a good idea because you then hear all the horror stories. But after getting the cat, I'd like to have seen somebody try to steal it by casually walking out of the sorting facility with that huge box hahaha |
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04-16-2013, 12:26 AM | #8 | |
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AFE Intake/Euro Cats/CSL Headers/Sportline CSL/H&R Springs 1217/1815 !!! BOILER UP !!! |
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04-18-2013, 09:13 PM | #9 |
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Error codes
Well it looks like I may have jinxed myself. I drove about 165 miles, and no CEL came on. I decided to go ahead and install my ESS software. After I had installed it, I checked my codes, and I had these 4 codes:
2c9e Control heater sensor after cat 2c9f Control heater sensor after cat (bank2) 2c92 EGT sensor electric 2c93 EGT sensor plausibility I've cleared them and will see if they come back on. If they do, I have a suspicion that it may be the o2 sensors that came in the euro pipe. Hmmmm |
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05-06-2013, 06:36 PM | #11 | |
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05-06-2013, 07:06 PM | #12 |
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Nice!
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CSL headers*Euro cats*Arqray exhaust*DKF hangers*Evolve Tune*Genuine CSL rims*10mm Macht Schnell front spacers*modified Hamann bumper*Tekarbon 2X2 CF spoiler*Turner CF grills*AS SSK*KWV3*OEM Strut bar*Rogue RSM*Polyurethane anti-roll bar bushings*Deka ETX30L battery*Nav Video module*front & rear cameras*Ipod module*stubby antenna*R-Dash LED license lights*LED Ziza interior lights |
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05-08-2013, 12:08 AM | #14 |
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05-08-2013, 01:59 PM | #15 |
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Very nice summary of the mod... I think maybe next year (or over the winter) this will be something I'll do, seems like the bang for the buck is unbeatable.
Do you have the stock exhaust otherwise? What's the difference in sound like with the stock exhaust?
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05-08-2013, 02:28 PM | #16 | |
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I don't have a completely stock exhaust. My mufflers are Eisenmann Sport. Some jackass rear-ended me last summer so I got his insurance to buy me new mufflers. However, even with the new mufflers, the sound difference between the stock headers and the euro headers is just all-around better. It's a little deeper at low rpms, but starts to scream at higher ones. The other big differences that I've noticed are at idle and when you let off the gas. It sounds more exotic now at idle because it kind of has that blop blop blop blop sound. When you let off the gas, there is a good, but not obnoxious, amount of back-cackle. I feel like I have a new car. |
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05-08-2013, 03:52 PM | #17 |
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Is there a "go-to" source for acquiring the euro-headers?
I would think the power differences between these and say supersprint are minimal to none, and I'd love to stay OEM. Just starting to put my ducks in a line for "if" I grab a coupe/roady soon...
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~Ken~ {'99 M coupe : 1 of 35} - Built by Maximum PSI 623 whp 516 wtq; RIP 3.24.13
{'01 M coupe : 1 of 16} - Nick G Tune, CPI Stepped Headers, SS X-Pipe, TCK S/A ~294 whp 237 wtq {'13 Golf R} - GIAC stg 1, VWR intake, magnaflow catback; LED Tails |
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05-08-2013, 06:55 PM | #18 |
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Yes, member Donovan will hook you up. Also, the euro cat that I made is for sale
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05-08-2013, 11:35 PM | #19 |
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05-09-2013, 07:39 AM | #20 |
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The only IF, is me deciding on MZ4 or another MZ3 but S54 this time. The headers would fit either...
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~Ken~ {'99 M coupe : 1 of 35} - Built by Maximum PSI 623 whp 516 wtq; RIP 3.24.13
{'01 M coupe : 1 of 16} - Nick G Tune, CPI Stepped Headers, SS X-Pipe, TCK S/A ~294 whp 237 wtq {'13 Golf R} - GIAC stg 1, VWR intake, magnaflow catback; LED Tails |
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