Help installing headers/removing heat shield!!!

It's integral to the exhaust manifold...all the same part iirc...and I'm sure I do.

You know how many problems ebay headers have given people, right? I suspect from your question that you haven't read enough yet. You really should study up until you puke...so you know what issues guys have had and how they resolved them.

I can't recall one header thread where there wasn't an issue...

dmax said:

It's integral to the exhaust manifold...all the same part iirc...and I'm sure I do.

You know how many problems ebay headers have given people, right? I suspect from your question that you haven't read enough yet. You really should study up until you puke...so you know what issues guys have had and how they resolved them.

I can't recall one header thread where there wasn't an issue...

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Yeah, no shit. Just like anything else, it could fail. I thank you for sharing your opinion, but I didn't ask for it. My question was pretty straight forward.


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lucianoromero said:

Yeah, no shit. Just like anything else, it could fail. I thank you for sharing your opinion, but I didn't ask for it. My question was pretty straight forward.


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Instantly being hostile is never a good way to get information.


Ill post back in a bit Kpeng had a thread on eBay headers some place. Haven't seen it in ages. Search his name maybe you will find it.


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You must remove all of the exhaust manifold bolts. Then you can slide them out from the top. There are 2 heat shields. Bank1 (clyinders 1,2,3) Bank 2 (cylinders 4,5,6)

lucianoromero said:

Yeah, no ****. Just like anything else, it could fail. I thank you for sharing your opinion, but I didn't ask for it. My question was pretty straight forward.


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It was so straightforward that I knew you hadn't studied the diys.

People around here are jerks all the time--offering opinions without being asked.

It's not that they fail...they actually almost never fail...they just often don't fit or trigger the CEL...perhaps causing you to fail an inspection.

Be nice, or I'll have to remember you and troll you...and call upon my friends to do the same...no sh!t!

Welcome to fanatics!

dmax said:

It was so straightforward that I knew you hadn't studied the diys.

People around here are jerks all the time--offering opinions without being asked.

It's not that they fail...they actually almost never fail...they just often don't fit or trigger the CEL...perhaps causing you to fail an inspection.

Be nice, or I'll have to remember you and troll you...and call upon my friends to do the same...no sh!t!

Welcome to fanatics!

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I apologize for my first response. I didn't mean for it to come off as offensive. I've been under my car for a while now and the last thing I wanted to read was the cons of installing headers.

I have read many threads regarding the issues people have with headers, such as emissions. In the state of Florida, we're fortunate enough to not have to worry about that. I also got an o2 simulator for the SES light to not come on.

Thanks for the advice, and I hope we didn't get off to a bad start!


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lucianoromero said:

I apologize for my first response. I didn't mean for it to come off as offensive. I've been under my car for a while now and the last thing I wanted to read was the cons of installing headers.

I have read many threads regarding the issues people have with headers, such as emissions. In the state of Florida, we're fortunate enough to not have to worry about that. I also got an o2 simulator for the SES light to not come on.

Thanks for the advice, and I hope we didn't get off to a bad start!


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Whew...I've only had one fanatic I need to go after in all my time here...though it is kind of fun! I'm one of the nice guys here and didn't mean to come across mean...just somewhat 'cool' on making any changes to essential components in a bmw, particularly the engine.

I still don't get why bmw wouldn't have given the car an exhaust mani properly designed for the car. There must be a reason it was designed as it was...but I think that about the entire car. I keep mine stock...and at 255K miles, I still get 34 mpgs on the highway and it's started every time but twice in the 6 years I've had it.

You won't be reusing the exhaust gaskets/heat shields (if you thought you were,...don't). Buy new ones. In order to get better access to the nuts, bend the shield up and down (over and over again). They are just riveted to the gaskets so they'll eventually come loose.

Teddy7 said:

You won't be reusing the exhaust gaskets/heat shields (if you thought you were,...don't). Buy new ones. In order to get better access to the nuts, bend the shield up and down (over and over again). They are just riveted to the gaskets so they'll eventually come loose.

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This. Just pull on them, they will rip out. And get BMW gaskets, don't use the aftermarket ones you may have gotten with your headers or you'll be doing all of this again in 3 weeks...
BTW, did what you're doing just last weekend. BB gen 3 headers, fitment was excellent. Had a good fight with the mid-pipe to manifolds nuts...:rofl:
Unless you want it loud, keep the BMW midpipe and it's resonnators. The sound is almost like stock until you step on it, then it wakes up but is decent.
Challenges will include emissions testing and airpump/post O2 CELs. There are cheats around the CELs.
Good luck :thumbup:

dmax said:

Whew...I've only had one fanatic I need to go after in all my time here...though it is kind of fun! I'm one of the nice guys here and didn't mean to come across mean...just somewhat 'cool' on making any changes to essential components in a bmw, particularly the engine.

I still don't get why bmw wouldn't have given the car an exhaust mani properly designed for the car. There must be a reason it was designed as it was...but I think that about the entire car. I keep mine stock...and at 255K miles, I still get 34 mpgs on the highway and it's started every time but twice in the 6 years I've had it.

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That's the magic of bimmers. You treat them right and they'll repay the favor. Thanks a lot to everyone for their input, and I'll be posting my opinion after a few miles. :evil: